I’ve had a mix of happy news and quirky discoveries this week – so let’s start with the headline act:
I got a spot in the Cape Town Marathon for May next year! I’m so excited!
Getting in wasn’t straightforward. This year’s marathon was cancelled at the last minute because of strong winds, and everyone was allowed to defer to 2026. Of course, this meant fewer slots for newcomers like me. But somehow I got lucky!
The organisers also confirmed that finishers will receive a provisional Abbott World Marathon Majors star. For anyone collecting stars, this is gold. Cape Town is lined up to join New York, Boston, Chicago, Berlin, London and Sydney as the seventh Major – which probably means that Cape Town will attract more international runners in future.
And since I seem to enjoy ballots, I also applied for the London Marathon in April. They promised results in the first week of December, so right now I’m nervously refreshing my inbox the way students check for their exam results. Fingers crossed London plays along!
Now for Learning of the Week #1:
When I run, I often carry nothing but my phone and a house key. And sometimes, the thought hits me: If something happens, how will anyone know who I am?
Well, it turns out both Apple and Android have a built-in emergency function that can be accessed even when your phone is locked. Tap “Emergency,” then “Medical ID,” and voilà: name, emergency contacts, medical info. Everything.
All you have to do is fill it in on your Health app.
Please tell me I’m not the last person on Earth to know this!
Learning #2:
I’m still powering through Duolingo French – 167 days and counting – and while the app is fun, colourful, and addictive, it has one glaring flaw: almost no grammar explanations. Since I want to take the DELF B2 exam, I need more structure.
Enter Gemini’s Guided Learning mode. I asked it about the exam, and it delivered a full roadmap of everything I need to know, from grammar to writing tasks. Since then, it’s become an incredibly efficient tutor: explaining tricky rules, generating flashcards, quizzing me, giving multiple-choice tests, guiding me through 200-word essays, and pointing out every mistake with merciless precision.
I keep circling back to the tricky corners of French grammar (ah, the subjonctif!). Gemini fills in the structure Duolingo skips, and together they’ve become a solid teaching duo. I’m confident this combo will get me where I need to be.
Duolingo:
And here’s an extract of Gemini’s instructions – not as fun, but useful.
Learning #3:
Birchie mentioned a “List of 100 Dreams” on her blog, based on a book she read. It made me realise my own list is… a bit thin. Sure, I have the obvious ones like run the Cape Town Marathon, but I don’t have the bolder, weirder, richer items – the ones that add colour rather than just destinations. I could include things like trying graffiti, creating a family video, reconnecting with an old friend, living off the grid for a week, finally earning a pull-up, or doing a 30-day vegan or keto challenge. Or learning French, ha!
It made me think my list needs to grow, not in size, but in depth. Things that bring joy, challenge or meaning, not only the “big achievements”. Something to work on!
And finally, we ended the week with a hike with a few student girls we’re mentoring. They’re not used to physical exercise, so it pushed them a bit, but they stuck with it and finished strong. Here are the photos to prove it!
- What would you add to your List of 100 Dreams?
I am linking up with Jenny from Runners Fly and Jenn from Runs with Pugs for Tuesday Topics as well as Runners’ Roundup with Coach Debbie Runs, Confessions of a Mother Runner, Mile by Mile, and Runs with Pugs!
Congratulations on getting a place Catrina! And good luck for London, I will come and cheer you on then! Imagine double lucky?!
Regarding 100 Dreams – it seems like coming up with 100 dreams in itself is a goal. The line between goals (which were meaningful to you already) and ‘meaningful goals’ may be blurry. A good friend of mine in the US (met through running) have just written our List of Marathons to Run and if we have common ones, we will run them together. Learning another language is quite an undertaking, maybe to level up and make it more a meaningful dream or make the Finish Line as ‘read a classic French Novel.’
Alternatively, there’s a book called The Passion Paradox – its (simplest) premise is that the process itself is the reward, the prize is just the aftermath. So with whatever dream we all come up with, enjoying and working hard towards achieving the dream (like training hard for a race or the over hundred days on Duolingo, now finding Gemini) is already the prize. Winning in your age group, speaking French… they are but a product of that hard work and process you’ve undergone.
Monica, thank you! If London comes through, I’ll absolutely take you up on that cheering-squad offer. I’m still so sorry you didn’t make it into Cape Town, it would have been fantastic to meet up here.
I really like what you said about the 100 Dreams list. Getting to 100 is already the first challenge. I’ve started drafting mine, and it’s surprising how quickly it highlights what actually matters. And yes, the line between “goals” and “meaningful dreams” is definitely fuzzy. I love your idea with your friend, a shared marathon list and running the overlaps together is brilliant.
You’re spot on about the language learning, too. Levelling it up beyond just an exam makes so much sense. My vague dream is to chat comfortably with native French speakers, but reading Les Misérables in French is a concrete, meaningful and measurable challenge I could easily get behind. Thanks for that idea!
And now I clearly need to look into The Passion Paradox. The process as the reward – absolutely. The miles, the training, the streaks… the finish line is just evidence that we showed up. Same for all the training you’re pushing through in Oncology right now. I’m sure you’re finding moments of joy in the work, even if it’s brutal at times.
Thanks for this! Plenty to think about!
Glückwunsch zum Startticket!
Wenn du der letzte Mensch warst, der von der Notfallfunktion auf dem Handy erfahren hat, war mein Gatte der zweitletzte: dem habe ich das gerade vor einigen Wochen erst erklärt 🙂 Aber keine Ahnung, ob er es ausgefüllt hat oder nicht …
100 Träume finde ich für meine Restlebenszeit schon arg viel. Kommt natürlich drauf an, wie man das definiert. Kleine Wünsche sind es vermutlich sogar mehr – große Träume … hmmm … fällt mir so spontan gar keiner ein sondern nur dieser schmalzige Schlager: “mit 17 hat man noch Träume …”
Insgesamt halte ich mich auch mehr ans Realleben als an irgendwelche (Tag)Träume und versuche, das zu tun, wonach mir ist und Umsetzungen anzupeilen.
Einen Wunsch hatte ich z. B. seit einigen Jahren: (mindestens) ein Konzert in der Hamburger Elbphilharmonie anhören. Inzwischen sind schon Karten für zwei Konzerte im Rahmen des internationalen Musikfests dort gekauft. Also: nicht lange träumen – einfach machen! Und wie ich lese, hältst du es ähnlich 😉
Danke! Ich freu mich so!
Ha, zum Glück bin ich nur kurz hinter deinem Mann, das tröstet mich etwas! Jetzt kannst du ihn ja heimlich kontrollieren, ob er’s gemacht hat oder nicht….
ELBPHILHARMONIE!!! Du hast Tickets!! Wunderbar!!! Was für ein Konzert und wann? Ich war noch nie im Gebäude, habe es nur von aussen gesehen. Super, dass du das machst, liebe Lizzy!!
Yep, 100 Träume sind viel – aber du “darfst” ja auch Sachen dazunehmen, die du schon gemacht hast. Zum Beispiel alleine mit dem Enkel im WoMo durch die Gegend tuckern, das wäre doch ein Kandidat für die Liste, den du abhaken könntest. Kleine Wünsche gehören auch dazu, das macht ja die Liste so grossartig. Ich habe zum Beispiel einen ganz einfachen Traum, mal in Zürich auf den Üetliberg zu wandern (1 Stunde) und dort oben bei Sonnenaufgang einen Tee aus dem Thermos zu trinken. Wollte ich schon immer machen, aber irgendwie habe ich es nie priorisiert. Und kostet keinen Rappen, mal vom Strom für das heisse Teewasser abgesehen. 😅
Das mit dem Üetliberg machst du eben beim nächsten Mal!
In Hamburg war ich zuletzt zu meinem letzten Marathon. Beides ist also fast 11 Jahre her:
https://powerlizzy.blogspot.com/2015/04/marathonjoggen-in-hamburg-mit-eis-in.html?m=1
Damals war die Elbphilharmonie noch nicht eröffnet; ich kannte
Sie nur aus „Skandalpresseartikeln“.
Im kommenden Mai findet dort ein
Musikfest statt:
https://www.elbphilharmonie.de/de/festivals/internationales-musikfest-hamburg/1249
Eine Freundin und ich werden uns u.a. ein von Pierre Bleuse dirigiertes Konzert anhören.
Das mit den Enkeln im Wohnmobil… ist schon mehrfach abgehakt. Inzwischen gehört es mehr zu deren Träumen als zu meinen 😋
Genau! Der Üetliberg rennt ja nicht davon.
Ha, höchste Zeit das du wieder mal Hamburg besuchst! Danke für den Link, dein Marathon-Experience werde ich mir gleich mal anschauen.
Das nennt man PLANEN! Super! Du bist schon im Juni 2026 – dann kannst du dich auch entsprechend lange auf das Bleuse-Konzert freuen.
Ha, ich sehe schon, wir müssen eine 100er Liste für deine Enkel machen…😅
Hoffen wir doch mal stark, dass der Berg weder Beine bekommt noch weggeweht oder durch Steinschlag zerbröselt wird, bevor du da oben deinen Sonnenaufgangstee getrunken hast!
Die geplanten Konzerte sind im Mai, nicht im Juni … was nicht heißt, dass ich nicht sogar schon für den August – mit einer anderen Freundin – wieder eine Wanderwoche fest gebucht hätte 😀
Wozu Traumhalden auftürmen wenn’s auch einfacher geht?! Ich habe es schon immer geliebt, Dinge lange im Voraus zu planen und abzustimmen. Das steigert bei mir die Vorfreude bzw. habe ich länger was davon …
Ah, dann habe ich wohl falsch geguckt… aber immerhin, bis zum Mai ist es auch noch ein bisschen hin.
August auch schon geplant… uuiui, jetzt werde ich nervös, dass ich unsere Mehrtageswanderung im August in Österreich/Deutschland noch nicht geplant habe! 😅
Wow, das ist gut formuliert! Traumhalden! Du hast recht, machen wir doch lieber Vorfreudenhalden. Und sowieso, heisst es nicht, dass Vorfreude die schönste Freude ist? Oder war das Schadenfreude?
Congratulations on the marathon spot! I’m keeping my fingers crossed London works out as well.
And thanks for the Gemini top tip – yes it looks more boring but much more helpful and thorough if one is truly trying to learn a language.
I’ll have to think about the 100 Dreams! Although a hundred dreams sound like a lot… Maybe I’ll start with 25. 😀 😀
Thank you so much, Riitta! I’m so looking forward to it!
I know, the 100 Dreams sound like a lot! But you can also add things that you’ve already done – I’m sure you’ve already seen the Northern Lights (I haven’t), so if that would make it on your list, you could already cross it off. I’ve started on mine, and it’s surprising that many things are quite “small” – like I’ve never grown my own vegetables, ever! Next summer, I should plant some cherry tomatoes, so at least I’d know how it would feel like to eat home-grown veggies!
I hope you’re keeping well! By the end of the month your days will be getting longer again! ☀
Guten Morgen, liebe Catrina, schön, von dir zu lesen ! Die Erwartungen an die bevorstehenden Marathons sind groß, du wirst sie alle erlaufen, ganz sicher, die Sterne stehen gut für dich, no doubt !!
Was den Notruf anbetrifft, das habe ich z . B. schon lange in meinem Android erledigt, immer in der Hoffnung, dass es nie genutzt werden muss.
En ce qui concerne le français, j’ utilise Duolingo tous les jours quatre langues depuis plus de cinq ans, et le français est l’une de mes préférées. Quand j’étais jeune fille, j’ai passé un an dans un pays francophone et je suis revenue chez moi en pensant en français.
Bonne chance et continuez à travailler dur !
À bientôt, chère Catrina.
Uuii, ich hoffe, dass ich die Erwartungen erfüllen kann! Es ist keine schnelle Route und häufig haben die Läufer mit Gegenwind zu kämpfen… aber ich freue mich sehr darauf!
Ah, du bist also eine der gut informierten Läufer! Super, du bist für alle Notfälle gewappnet. Ich sehe schon, ich hätte mich da viel früher schlau machen können.
Oh, tu apprends quatre langues depuis cinq ans! C’est fantastique! J’avais appris le français à l’école, mais ça fait plus de 40 ans. Parfois je rêve en français, mais c’est tout! 😅
Merci – profite bien de tes runs à la plage!
congrats on the getting the spot although I would think with your time you can quality for any marathon now!
I don’t have 100 goal list either because what they are shifts over time and I don’t want to stuck with any list if they lose meaning. Instead few goals a year would be more doable. I have the goal of completing all majors, which may be unattainable but still a worth pursuit goal as I enjoy the process even more.
Thanks, Coco! I’m so glad it worked out. Nothing like getting a slot to the marathon that starts at your front door!
I like that approach! I’ve started on the list and I can see that it will become a moving target, a sort of living list that needs to be updated regularly. You’re already doing so well with all your yearly goals in your busy life. It’s good to have a distant dream like all the Majors – it’s something to work towards, even if you don’t attain it. I know I will most likely not make all of them, because I can’t see myself travelling all the way to Sydney just for a run! 😅
Liebe Catrina,
woop woop! Gratuliere zum Startplatz vor deiner Haustüre! 😀
Wäre es nicht arg knapp davor auch noch in London zu starten? Trotzdem – ich bin gespannt, ob du dort auch reinkommst.
Danke für deinen Sprachprogrammvergleich. Ich lerne ja auch Französisch mit Duolingo – leider nicht ganz regelmäßig – und stehe oft vor dem gleichen Problem, wie du. Ein wenig Erklärung wäre manchmal echt hilfreich. Wobei ich erstaunlicherweise trotzdem weiterkomme. Da ich kein spezielles Ziel habe, außer mein Hirn nicht einrosten zu lassen, werde ich wohl dabei bleiben. Und da sind wir auch schon bei den 100 Träumen … Ich habe immer ein Problem mit diesen Bucket-Lists, Traumsammeln, und ähnlichem, weil das für mich einerseits dieses (vielleicht durch Socialmedia so negativ verkommene) “abhaken, nächster Punkt” in sich trägt und andererseits vom leben abhält. Klar sollte man immer wieder mal innerlich mit sich abstimmen, was man erleben will, wie man leben möchte, etc. aber ich finde es wichtiger, kleine schöne Erlebnisse im Alltag zu haben, als zuhause sitzen zu bleiben und rumzuhirnen. 😉
PS: nein, du warst nicht der letzte Mensch, der von dieser Notfallfunktion erfahren hat! Aber jetzt weiß ich es auch. 😆
Danke, liebe Doris! Zehn Minuten bis zur Start- und Ziellinie — ich freue mich riesig!
Duolingo ist wirklich toll, wenn man locker-flockig unterwegs ist und seine Kenntnisse auffrischen will. Und ja, es weckt definitiv die alten Gehirnzellen wieder auf 😅.
Ich verstehe genau, was du meinst. Diese Bungee-springenden, aufmerksamkeitsheischenden Influencer, die irgendwo in Bali oder Thailand ihre Bucket-Lists abhaken, gehen mir auch auf die Nerven. Aber genau darum geht es bei dieser Liste, wie du so schön sagst: kleine, schöne Erlebnisse im Alltag. Dinge, die keine weiten Reisen erfordern und wahrscheinlich auch gar nicht Instagram-tauglich sind. Zum Beispiel mit Chaya durch den Schnee stapfen oder ein Winterschwumm bei Vollmond (ok, die beiden wären vielleicht doch Instagram-tauglich 😄). Ich wette, wenn du eine eigene Liste machen würdest, hättest du die 100 Punkte jetzt schon voll!
Ha, Doris, habe noch vergessen zu sagen: die beiden Läufe Cape Town und London sind 5 Wochen auseinander. Schon sehr nah… aber mit viel Pause (hoffentlich) machbar!
Liebe Catrina,
Glückwunsch zum Startplatz vor der Haustür! Hoffentlich wehen dann nicht wieder zu starke Winde! Für London drücke ich dir die Daumen, dass es auch dort klappt. Allerdings ein wenig verhalten… 2 solche Läufe nah beieinander ist schon ein dickes Brett. Zumal du sicher nicht im Genusstempo laufen wirst… Aber ich kann dich auch verstehen, so interessante Läufe!
Diese App kannte ich noch gar nicht. Ich laufe auch nicht mit Smartphone aus Sorge, dass es bei einem Sturz Schaden nimmt. Als ich vor wenigen Tagen mal wieder zu Boden ging, irgendwo im unbewohnten Gelände mit den nächsten Häusern weiter weg, hatte ich allerdings schon den Gedanken, was wäre, wenn ich nun wirklich Hilfe bräuchte? Da bist du gut gerüstet!
Sprachen … ich hatte Englisch und Französisch als Abiturfächer, zwischendrin noch Russisch als freiwillige Zugabe. Leider ist Französisch ja etwas komplizierter (oui, oui, le subjonctiv!) und man ist auch nicht so umgeben davon wie mit Anglizismen. Ich halte mich ein wenig aufrecht mit einer Illustrierten, die explizit für Auf-dem-Laufenden-bleiben-Wollende erscheint. Mit Vokabeln, Grammatik, Lerntipps. Deine Methode klingt auch gut. Viel Spaß und Erfolg!
Mein einziger Eintrag auf einer 100-Träume-Liste wäre, nicht auf so etwas einzugehen. Ganz ehrlich, 100 Träume – wie sehr will man sich Stress machen und unter Druck setzen. Klar, man sollte Ziele und Träume haben, aber da geht mir Qualität vor Quantität. Lieber eine überschaubare und realisierbare Anzahl Träume und dann aber auch die Chance haben, auf sie hinzuarbeiten, sie zu erreichen und sich dann daran erfreuen können.
Liebe Grüße
Elke
Liebe Elke,
vielen Dank! Ja, ein Startplatz vor der Haustür! Es ist noch näher, als die Startlinie für den Zürich-Marathon war! Im Mai sollte es weniger windig sein… hoffen wir, dass alles klappt! Du hast schon recht, April und Mai sind sehr nah beieinander… ich hoffe, dass ich das Training für beide nutzen kann. Mal sehen, dafür gibt’s danach eine längere Pause!
Ah ja, stimmt, du nimmst das Telefon nicht mit! Ich bin sicher, du würdest nach einem Sturz schnell von hilfsbereiten Menschen gefunden werden… das ist auf alle Fälle immer mein Gedanke. Bisher bist du ja jahrzehntelang gut damit gefahren.
Haha, der Subjonctif! Ich hasse es, und alle anderen blöden Zeitformen auch (obwohl Deutsch wahrscheinlich noch schwieriger zu lernen wäre?!) Deine Methode mit der Illustrierten ist ja super! Ich schlage mich gerade mit den Reclam-Büchlein herum, aber die Erklärungen in den Fussnoten sind nicht immer klar. Gemini ergänzt das Ganze bei mir wirklich gut, gerade bei Grammatik und gezieltem Üben.
Und bei der 100-Träume-Liste hast du völlig recht: Qualität geht vor Quantität. Man kann sich schnell selbst unter Druck setzen – aber die Idee bei dieser Liste ist, dass man den Fokus auf alltäglichen Dinge setzt. Vieles, dass du schon gemacht hast, wäre auf der Liste schon abgehakt. Zum Beispiel Z(w)iebele Märit Besuch (fehlt bei mir), oder Kuh-Miss-Wahl, oder Malen/Zeichnen, etc… Es wäre dann eine Mischung aus erreichbaren, kleinen Freuden und ambitioniertere Ziele (Berlin Marathon, kannst du auch schon abhaken). Mehr Spass als Stress! 😂
Congrats on your entry into the Cape Town Marathon!!! I think I’ve told you about my childhood friend who has run all 7 World Major Marathons–multiple times. She’s also an Abbott age grouper, so she is offered bibs that way. I don’t think she’s run Cape Town yet–I’ll check to see if she got in and let you know. It would be fun to connect you 2 speedsters!
I don’t know about 100 things! But one of them would be to become a 1000 miler on the Ice Age Trail. Idk if it will ever happen, but it’s a dream for me!
What is the DELF B2 exam?
Oh, that would be so exciting, Wendy!! Yes, please let me know if she’s running Cape Town! I’m sure she will get an entry ticket as a multiple times World Major finisher! I’d be really interested to meet her and then hopefully to run with her!
Well, I think you are well on track of getting those 1000 miles on the Ice Age Trail! You must be well over half way there already, no?
The DELF B2 is an upper-intermediate French exam (A1 = beginner, B2 = upper intermediate).
Big congrats on the Cape Town marathon! Hope they get better weather next year!
I’ve also thought of that issue with not carrying id when running or something else, a few years ago I bought the Road id tags for myself and my husband to wear on our watches, mine doesn’t really fit my new watch but I think my husband is still wearing his. I’m not happy about giving my medical details even to Apple but it’s a good idea to at least have name and emergency contacts there!
I’m so excited, Susanne!
Ah, yes — I also didn’t want my health data on an Apple device (same reason I avoid storing credit card details there). But it’s the only way to get Medical ID working, so I begrudgingly filled it in last week. I do have a Road ID too, but I rarely think to wear it. It’s such a hassle having to attach it to the watch every time before heading out for a run or walk.
That is so exciting that you got into the Cape Town marathon and that it will be a major! Very cool! And I did not know about the medical tag. I really need to fill it out! I used to run with a runner ID tag on my shoe but I haven’t in many years. And I see you have a sister named Lisa!! 🙂
That hike with your mentee looks amazing! The views were so rewarding!
I have never done a list of 100 dreams but I should give it a shot. I have a lot of travel dreams. An easier one to achieve is visiting a lot of national parks in the US. I am hoping Phil and I can go to some of the Utah ones for a 10th anniversary trip in 2027! A bigger dream is climbing Macchu Pichu! I worry they will stop allowing people to do that trek but can’t see us doing it until we are retired.
I’m still buzzing about Cape Town, Lisa! I’m glad I’m not the only one who didn’t know about the Medical ID on the phone. I do have a Road ID too, but like you, I rarely wear it – attaching it to the watch every time feels like too much effort.
Haha, yes, my sister is also Lisa! And I think Wendy has a sister named Lisa too… it’s clearly a thing! 😂
I love your idea of visiting the US national parks! There’s another blogger, Debbie, who even has a map on her wall where she can cross off the parks she’s visited. She went to Montana this summer, it looked absolutely spectacular. Visiting some of the Utah parks sounds incredible, and 2027 isn’t that far off! Like you, I sometimes worry that some of these sights won’t be accessible or won’t even be around forever, the glaciers in the Swiss Alps are a sobering reminder of that.
Congrats on the marathon place!!! Hoping London works out as well. What an epic year of racing ahead.
I’ve done Laura’s list of 100 Dreams and found it so helpful. I think the reason 100 is so important is because it really allows you to dig deep and come up with a range of big and little goals. I really should review my list. It has been a few years. I had crossed a lot of things off (some of my goals were to: buy a BBQ, having many houseplants, etc – it’s not like I was listing go to the moon!), but I honestly have no idea what is still left and what “progress” I might have made. I’ll have to pull that up. Maybe between Christmas and New Year’s? That sounds like a good time to do some reflection!
Those views look like there are very much worth any climb!!!!
Thank you, Elisabeth! I so hope London will work out, too! I’m a bit nervous – it nearly seems like wishing for too much at once.
I love what you said about Laura’s 100 Dreams list. That’s exactly it, having to come up with 100 really forces you to think beyond the obvious and include a mix of big and small goals. It really is helping me to clarify my priorities. I can see how that list needs to be reviewed and updated regularly – and around New Year sounds like the perfect moment for reflection!
And yes, the views from that hike were absolutely worth every single step. Some climbs are just pure payoff for the effort!
Congrats on winning the lottery!!! That’s exciting!!! Also thanks for the explanation on Gemini. I’ve been working on Spanish and I’m using a combo of DL and Pimsleur. I like Pimsleur for the vocal practice and the “real time” learning through conversation, but I feel like I could use more of an explanation and more writing practice. I’m planning to add these things in after I finish the first unit of Pimsleur. I use DL because it’s free and quick.
I like the 100 dreams list because it’s long enough that you really have to think to fill it. I haven’t formally written it out, but I have to imagine that my list would be fairly short. Here’s to our 100 dreams! I am here for the graffiti!
Thanks Birchie! So excited!
You mentioned Pimsleur before and I had a look at the website. It looks very useful! Yes, writing practice is what I’m missing too, and Gemini gives you a lot of it. I would take your approach too, finish the first unit of Pimsleur and then check out other options. My next problem will be speech practice – I will need to find a poor French-speaking victim who is very patient!
Let’s do the graffiti thing!! Also, I have a weird dream of going up our local mountain in Zurich with a thermos full of tea and drinking it at the top when the sun rises. I always wanted to do that pre-FIRE and I still haven’t done it!
Oooh a list of 100 dreams! I need to think about this, and I’m glad you mentioned it. I am a person who works on being really present in the moment, which is GREAT except…I could probably add a little to my list of dreams. Since I don’t actually have a list. Maybe I’ll start with 10? Anyway this is a great exercise to do.
I love that you’re learning French! I’m back on Spanish, but what I really need is someone to converse with. I feel like I can read and understand it pretty well, but I don’t have the conversational skills to carry on. Maybe this will be the first thing on my list: find a friend who speaks Spanish so I can have a casual chat with them.
Congrats on the marathon!!!
I knew there was an emergency call on the iPhone but I should make sure my health data is filled out. Just in case! But a few years ago I slipped on the ice (I was fine, it was just icy) and my Garmin watch notified my husband that I was “in danger.” It was quite a thing! I guess it was the motion of my arm, it actually sparked a call!
Ah, starting with 10 sounds like a perfect idea, Nicole! And you can totally include things you’ve already done, like riding a camel or making your own scarf! Honestly, once you start, I don’t think you’ll have any trouble reaching 100!
This is exactly what I was saying to Birchie, my next challenge is finding someone willing (and patient!) enough to practice French with me. Ideally, they shouldn’t be fluent in English, or I’ll just slip back without even noticing. Maybe an online option? I’d love to hear how the conversation-thing works out for you!
Oh wow! I can only imagine the fright your husband got! But it’s proof that these things really do work. I definitely need to check my Garmin settings and activate my alarm system, that’s a great reminder!
Congrats on getting into the Cape Town Marathon – fingers crossed you also get into London!
After almost a year of doing Duolingo for Spanish I stopped (about two years ago). I’m cheering you on with perfecting your French. What a genius idea to incorporate Gemini into the learning process!
Similarly, I saw a comment made on someone’s blog (maybe yours) where the person said she had a list of 25 in 2025. I loved the idea so I’m working on a 26 in 2026 list.
Debbie, thank you! I’m thrilled about Cape Town, and yes, fingers crossed for London. That would make 2026 a really good running year.
Spanish for a year is impressive, even if you stopped. Funny enough, I did Spanish too a few years ago, and then I stopped as well. I guess because I didn’t have an immediate use for it. Spanish isn’t used widely in Switzerland or in South Africa.
It wasn’t on my blog, but you are right, I saw it somewhere, too. I love your idea of a 26 in 2026 list. It’s structured without being overwhelming – and it pushes you just enough. Let us know what you have on your list when you’ve finished, I’m curious!
You’re not the last person to know about the emergency function on an iphone, because I think I am. Thanks for the info!
Congrats on getting into Cape Town- and now I’m anxiously awaiting the news about London. Also- I know other people who do the “100 dreams” list but I’ve never done it. Maybe it’s a project for 2026!
Jenny, haha, thanks for joining me in being the last row!
I’m still over the moon about Cape Town — and yes, fingers crossed for London. The waiting game is real, argh!
The 100 Dreams list is fun, and I totally think 2026 could be the perfect year to start one. It’s amazing how just writing things down makes you think differently about what you actually want to do.
Congrats. That’s so exciting that you got into Capetown.
You can practice your French with me. D’accord?
So excited, Darlene!
I was thinking of you when I wrote about learning French. I need you to move to Cape Town!
Bravo you got into that local marathon! Nice to hear. London is next perhaps. Maybe they will see what happened last time and give you a nod?
As far as learning other languages, Duolingo is only small tool in the process. I had a 3000 day streak or near that and dropped it recently. I was not learning anything from Lucy, Eddie & Bea nor from Priti and Junior. YouTube has many excellent instructors along w FB. The most important thing about learning a language is dedicating time for it daily. One needs to make notes and not just hope to remember. That really does not work. I do one hour a day for Spanish. One needs to make it part of their lives. It is easier now than ever w all the streaming and online communities. Internet radio in all languages are accessible. Films too w subtitles to assist. Music too like on Spotify. Find friends & meet up w them online or in person. Buy a good dictionary & have it around the house and look up words as you think about it during the day too. I have several. I highly recommend one as it is a beautiful picture dictionary w 5 languages, English, French, German, Spanish & Italian. I will post the info on Strava for you. Make French part of your life. Lots of tools. Bonne chance! Pas de problèmes!
Merci, Yves! I’m still buzzing about Cape Town! Ha, yes, 2024 with the pre-London stress fracture was a bit of a drama – let’s hope 2025 plays nicer!
I completely agree about language learning – Duolingo is fun, but it’s only one piece of the puzzle. I can’t believe you dropped a 3,000-day streak! What will Lucy & Co. say about that? 😂 Mine are Eddy, Vikram, Oscar, but I do have a Junior and Lucy, too!
I love all the tips you shared. I only started making notes when I began Gemini a couple of weeks ago, and it’s already made a huge difference. So far, I’ve added daily practice, films with subtitles, and reading a book before bed. But your tips show me there’s so much more I could do – internet radio, connecting with others… that’s totally missing from my routine. I use online dictionaries, but I’d love to know more about the one you mentioned. I really need to immerse myself more.
And your Spanish tidbits on Strava, so useful, even for me as a not-currently-learning-Spanish person! I’m guessing you speak French too, right?
Merci pour tout the encouragement — it’s incredibly motivating! Pas de problèmes, indeed! 🙌😀
yes the emergency contract info can be a lifesaver literally. I also have a small road id attatched to my Garmin strap with all the emergency contact info. Congrats on the marathon. I tried for years to get into the London Landmark half and then got in the year of covid and obviously could not go to London alas those days are over.
Yes, the emergency contact info can literally be a lifesaver! I have that Road ID too, though I don’t always remember to wear it, I really should!
Oh no, that must have been so frustrating with the London Landmark Half! Finally getting in, and then Covid hit. At least there’s still the donation option for London. It’s pricey, but it’s for a good cause, and at least it’s a way to secure a spot!
Congratulations on Cape Town! That is so exciting. If Cape Town does become a major, I guess we will be heading there for G. he already has Comrades pencilled in. Our future daughter-in-law is South African, so we would probably try to get them along as well (not to run, just to do some visiting). Good luck with London, the ballot for that would be lucky to get. G got his ballot entry for Berlin next year, but he will also start to get a go in the second chance ballot for people who have done three of the majors, so I guess he should have more luck with Tokyo.
I love the view on the hike—spectacular. The girls look very happy and proud, well done.
I have my 101 list but it’s a bit different because of the limited time frame. I usually include a selection of things that would go on a 100 dreams list if I had one, plus a few more everyday things, so that I make time for the things that I value. I look forward to hearing what you put on your list, if you’re able to share it. (I find goal lists fascinating)
Comrades!!! That sounds incredible! I ran it in June this year, and it was one of the absolute highlights of my running life so far. Combining Cape Town in May with Comrades in June makes perfect sense. And with your future daughter-in-law being South African, we might just manage to meet up in Cape Town… in 2027, maybe?
I did Berlin a couple of years ago and loved it. It’s so easy for spectators to hop around on the train and cheer on runners from different spots. Fingers crossed for G’s Tokyo ballot, hopefully we’ll all get some good news on our upcoming races!
The hike was really special, the girls gave it their all, and seeing their pride at the top was priceless.
Of course, you are the queen of lists! I love your approach to a 101 list, mixing bigger dreams with everyday things is such a smart way to keep life full and meaningful. I’ll share my list once it’s a bit further along. I find goal lists fascinating too, and it’s so interesting to see what others are doing.
Congrats on getting into the marathon! I hope London works out for you too.
I didn’t know about that feature on my iPhone … I have emergency contact info on my home screen photo.
How wonderful to mentor those students — maybe they will catch the hiking bug from you!
I’m so happy about getting the entry, Coco!
Ah, I like that idea with the home screen photo – that makes it even easier!
I hope so… they seemed so exhausted at the end, I will have to do think of some extra motivational speeches to get them onboard next time! 😂
Oh Catrina, CONGRATS on Cape Town!!!! That’s exciting 😉 Yes, I do know about the emergency contact feature (which is very impressive considering what a tech idiot I am). I also wear my RoadID every time I leave the house, which also has the pertinent info on it. Again, congrats!!!!
Thank you so much, Kim!! I’m still buzzing about Cape Town. It feels so exciting! 😉
Haha, I know what you mean about the tech stuff, I’m not techy myself. I have a RoadID too, but I don’t always wear it. I should though, because it’s very practical!
Congrats on Cape Town, and I hope London works out! I want to run London at some point when my kids are older. That list of 100 dreams is a great idea!
Oh, that’s a great idea about London, Lisa! It’s a great opportunity to combine a trip to Europe with a race. I like that the 100 dreams don’t always have to be big things, but include everyday things, too.
The List of 100 Dreams from the Birchie Pie Project sounds like a great idea. The things that bring joy, which life should be all about.
Congratulations on your entry at Cape Town Marathon. That is huge, given that many of the entries would have been deferrals due to the cancelled race.
So much respect on your languages and you now learning French, Catrina. I am a bit embarrassed that I don’t know much French despite Canada being a bilingual country. I did take 2 years of French way back in my school days, but that is over a half century ago. This area I live is predominantly English and I have lost much of my French.
Yes! What I love about the 100 Dreams idea is exactly that, it’s about small, genuine joys, not ticking boxes for social media. Low pressure, high value. I’m curious to see where it goes for me, too.
And thank you for the Cape Town congrats! With all the deferred entries in the mix, I honestly didn’t expect to get in. I’ve already heard from several runners who didn’t make it for next year, so I’m very aware of the luck involved.
As for the language bit, really, don’t feel bad, Carl. I’m in the same boat: French is one of Switzerland’s official languages, I had six full years of it in school… and I still can’t speak it properly. If you don’t use a language, it slips. It only comes back once you actually need it again, and I’m sure a lot from your school days would pop right back up.
I saw that Canada had its first snow! Beautiful, but also a strong reminder that winter means business where you are!
So exciting about Cape Town! And I have my fingers crossed for London! that would be amazing! Seven stars! Can you believe?
I have so many things to put on a list. I think a big one is to visit Alaska. And see the whales. And the glaciers. One day.
Love that photo of you with the young women you are mentoring! I love how encouraging you are!
Jenn, I’m still buzzing about Cape Town too — and yes, fingers crossed for London. Those two races would make for a great running year.
Alaska is a brilliant dream. Whales, glaciers, that massive sense of scale – I guess it’s one of those places you don’t forget once you’ve seen it. Definitely belongs on a list.
And thank you! Mentoring those young women has been one of the most rewarding parts of my year. They put in so much effort, it’s impossible not to cheer them on.
I would add making modifications to my obituary to my List of 100 Dreams. If you’d like me to elaborate on that, Catrina, I can tell you more.
I’ll need to read your previous blog posts to get an idea as to how many Marathons you usually run per year.
I do know how to dial “911” using my phone with the click of a single button, but I’m not sure what I’ll use Apple and Android’s built-in emergency function for. If someone who is filling out a form asks me what/who my emergency contacts are, and I don’t have an answer for him/her, that I will consider to be a problem, yes. But then, I don’t see a need for the function that you’re referring to. I rarely run in the wilderness is basically what is going on here.
In the meantime, I do hope that DuoLingo or Gemini can explain the difference between Standard French and the French – or I may need to use the plural of “French” here – that is spoken in Switzerland, yes.
Well, that sounds intriguing! I’d actually love to hear more about your obituary idea if you’re willing to share. Do you have a blog where you’ve written about it?
In a typical year, I run a mix of marathons and ultras, depending on the schedule. I don’t count my races, so I have no idea how many marathons I’ve done.
I get what you mean about the emergency function. For me, it’s more of a “just in case” thing. It’s reassuring to know that first responders can access my info (and my family’s contacts) without any delay.
You’re right about the regional differences between Swiss French and standard French, even simple things like numbers can vary. However, my main challenge is that Duolingo offers very little grammar explanation, which I really need for my exam. That’s where Gemini has been a game-changer as a tutor.
Well, thanks very much, Catrina. Now, what happens here is that I found that my obituary that I write can inform me of what the priorities are in my life right now. In fact, I’ll write different versions of obituaries for myself. An example would be when there is an organization that reached out to me to give me a job offer – which, by the way, did actually happen, and is not a scenario that just jumped out of nowhere from my daydreams – I will assess whether leaving my job right now to take this job is going to be worth it. There are a lot of methods and tools to assess it, of course. One of the methods and tools to assess it is to think about if I take this job, then in the end, what I will write in my obituary. Then, I write this obituary. Then think about the scenario in which I do not take this job, and in the end, what I will write in my obituary. Then, I write this other obituary. I can then compare and contrast these 2 obituaries.
So, as you can see, there will be many overlaps between the things I write in my obituary and my List of 100 Dreams. I do write blog posts, but I have not written about my obituaries in my blog posts. Here’s my site in which I write my blog posts: https://www.wuyukun3dprintersupply.net/. What happened in the past – especially in 2023 – was that there were several authors with whom I’ve discussed the obituaries that I’ll write. I’ve also discussed the obituaries that I’ll write with the staff members at several funeral homes. In fact, I can send the screenshots of the discussions of my obituaries with the authors if you’d like me to, Catrina.
In the meantime, I do think it will be reassuring to know that first responders can access your info as well as your contacts without any delay, Catrina.
Wow, Yukun, that’s such an interesting approach! Using different versions of your obituary to weigh life choices is really creative – it’s a clever way to see the long-term impact of decisions like taking a new job. I can definitely see how there would be overlaps with a List of 100 Dreams. Both reflect what truly matters to you and help you to set priorities.
I’ll check out your blog, thanks for sharing the link!
And yes, having first responders access your info and emergency contacts quickly is a small but important peace-of-mind measure.
Liebe Catrina,
Glückwunsch zum Startplatz! 🙂
Vielleicht klappt es ja mit London auch noch. Wäre schön! Ich wünsche es dir, dass es klappt!!!
Ich hab mal nachgeschaut, 2011 bin ich Berlin und Frankfurt gelaufen, auch mit einem Abstand von 5 Wochen. Es ist machbar, nur habe ich damals nach einer langen Ultra-Saison nur noch aufs Ankommen geguckt. Berlin: 3:27 Std. und Frankfurt dann immerhin noch ne 3:31 Std. Mit meinen damals zarten 55 Jahren 😆 wäre mehr drin gewesen, aber ich hatte dann 8 WKs mit über 312 WK-km in den Beinen! (Knapp 3.000 km insgesamt.) – Du könntest dich ja in London warm laufen und in Cape Town auf die Zeit schauen, oder du ziehst in London voll durch und siehst was dann noch in Cape Town drin ist! 😉
Da ich nicht gerne meine Daten digitalisiere, mache ich das mit solch einer App auch nicht. Da nehme ich eher einen Zettel mit, hinten in der Handyhülle drin, auf dem alle wichtigen Daten stehen. Könnte nicht gerippt werden! 😳 Ich hab da ne Macke, ich weiß!
Du bist vielleicht fleißig! Da wünsche ich dir gutes Vorankommen! – Ich hab mich in der Schule so sehr mit Französisch gequält, da will ich meine Ruhe haben und mich nicht noch als Rentner quälen müssen! 🙄 Sprachen sind nicht so meins, bin froh, dass ich im Deutschen mich auch mal auf bildungssprachlichem Niveua ausdrücken kann und könnte!
100 ?!? Träume! – Das ist ja so weit weg und unerreichbar! Da bleibe ich lieber in der Realität. Erfüllte Dinge würden für mich nicht gelten, da sie ja keine Träume mehr sind, sondern erlebte (Alltags)Abenteuer oder dergleichen. Zudem würde ich enttäuscht sein, würde ein Traum auf der Liste stehen und ich merkte, ich kann ihn mir nicht erfüllen. Dann gucke ich, was ich demnächst so anstellen kann und dann gehe an die Umsetzung, also eher kurzfristig und baldigst umsetzbar!
So, jetzt hoffe ich, dass du nächste Woche London-Vollzug melden kannst und wünsche dir dann viel Spaß beim Training, brauchst ja meine Hilfe nicht mehr! 😆
Aus dem dunklen Darmstadt
liebe Grüße Manfred
Lieber Manfred
Danke dir! Ja, ich bin gespannt, was London macht. Ich sage es leise, aber es wäre mir tatsächlich wichtiger als Cape Town. 😉
Mit 55 hast du die Berlin–Frankfurt-Kombi gemacht! Sehr stark, vor allem mit der Ultra-Saison davor. Mein Plan ist, London alles zu geben und für Cape Town noch zu schauen, was drin liegt. Die Route von CT ist hügelig, von daher wird eine gute Zeit eher schwierig, vielleicht London 3:20 und Cape Town 3:40 oder so? Mal sehen!
Deine Lösung mit dem Zettel in der Handyhülle finde ich sehr pragmatisch! Eine gute Lösung, die immer funktioniert!
Sprachen ist nicht jedermanns Sache! Ich kann das sehr gut verstehen, vor allem, wenn du die Fremdsprache gar nicht brauchst. Mir ging es mit Spanisch so… einige Jahre investiert, aber nie wirklich gebraucht und jetzt habe ich auch keine Lust mehr, mich da reinzusteigern. Französisch ist da nützlicher, sogar hier in Südafrika (Kongo-Einwanderer).
Kurzfristig träumen und umsetzen ist ja auch gut! Die 100 Träume sind nicht als fixe, starre Liste von „grossen und unerreichbaren“ Dingen. Eher so ein Sammelsurium an Dingen, die Freude machen könnten und die man irgendwann mal vielleicht ins Auge fassen möchte. So vergisst man sie wenigstens nicht. Ich hatte vor ein paar Wochen die fixe Idee, Gorillas im Urwald sehen zu wollen. Jetzt habe ich irgendwie keine Lust mehr drauf und der “Traum” wurde wieder rausgekippt. Jetzt habe ich nur noch 99! 😂
Liebe Grüsse aus dem sonnigen Cape Town!
Congratulations on getting in to Cape Town! There’s one dream out of the way. I hope you get into London too.
For some reason I now want to learn French! I took it back in high school (a long, long time ago) and I really don’t remember much beyond “Bonjour!”
Coach Debbie runs here. Not sure why I’m anonymous but I didn’t intend to be!
Oh, I get you, Debbie! I guess Spanish would anyway make more sense for your area? Learning a language like French and then not being able to use it is definitely not fun!
Hurra für die Marathon Teilnahme. Direkt vor der Haustür, finde ich richitig gut! Dann noch London dazu, und vielleicht ist ja noch Platz für einen Ultratrail in zb Frankreich zwischendrin! Da könntest du gleich deine Sprachkenntnisse pflegen 😉 Ich konnte mit Duolingo übrigens überhaupt nichts anfangen, Lerneffekt = 0. Am besten lernen vor Ort, das klappt. Aber du hast da einen anderen Ansatz, viel Erfolg!
Eine 100 Träume-Liste?? Meine Güte … mein Tag ist voll genug, ich hab überhaupt keine Zeit für Träume 😉 (und Träume die man sich erfüllt, sind keine mehr. Man sollte sich immer welche erhalten).
**Trommelwirbel** mit London hat es auch geklappt!! Ich bin so happy, ich kann es kaum erwarten!
Schön, dass es bei dir auch wieder ein bisschen vorwärts geht. Jetzt schön geduldig bleiben, du hast ja für 2026 noch viel vor!
Dass dir Duolingo nicht gepasst hat, erstaunt mich nicht, es ist wirklich nicht jedermann’s Sache. Es wird mit der Zeit auch recht langweilig… ich kann Falstaff, Eddy und Oscar schon bald gar nicht mehr hören…
Du wirst es nicht glauben, aber an einen Lauf oder eine Mehrtageswanderung in Frankreich habe ich auch schon gedacht! Sozusagen 2 Fliegen mit 1 Klappe…
Ich hoffe, dass bei dir der Weihnachtsstress auch bald vorüber ist und dass es wieder ruhiger wird… damit wieder mehr Zeit für Träume da ist!
I’m playing catch-up on your blog Catrina! (and sorry I posted a duplicate comment above, and re-posting it seeing I wasn’t logged into WordPress).
Congratulations on your CT Marathon ballot entry. That was indeed, very lucky. I heard about the crazy wind situation recently that cancelled the event.
Medical ID is something I set up soon after I switched back to iOS a number of years back, but to be fair, I usually spent a couple of hours going through absolutely every setting when I get a new device like that.
Your combination of an LLM with Duolingo is a great way to learn. I do the same with new topics or subjects and find it a great way to distil large amounts of information, or look at it slightly differently. It definitely helps!
And I love the idea of 100 dreams. I really urge you to do some graffiti and post it here. I think that would be great. Maybe you and Kai could do a combined artwork? For the off-grid idea, maybe look at paddling with your supplies up Keurboomsrivier near Plett to stay in the totally off-grid cabin? We loved our overnight stay there, and without the busy schedule or excess number of kids would have really enjoyed a week long stay with no other human contact.
Kilimanjaro is pretty high up my ‘100 dreams’ list at the moment, but I could add tons of things to a list if I sat down and wrote them all out.
Haha, thanks, Sean!
Yes, the Cape Town wind drama was wild, so I still feel ridiculously lucky to have got in for next year.
Your approach to device settings is impressively thorough, the tech-nerd side is definitely showing 😄
I’m finding these LLM tools incredibly useful too. Just today I had a very legalese-heavy document and it was such a relief to ask Gemini for a second opinion. I also tried using it to fix my WordPress issues…partial success. The problems are still there, so round two is coming.
Thanks for the reminder about Keurboomsrivier! I remember your post now. How could I forget?? We’re heading to Plett in June for the Baviaanshike, so adding a paddle adventure would really be a nice idea.
And Kilimanjaro! Yes, I can absolutely see you up there. And plenty more hikes and runs too…maybe even the UTCT 100 miler next November 😉