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Last October Lynn Valley’s Heather McDonald kicked off a year-long challenge to get herself in the Guinness Book of World Records – one pedal at a time. As she approaches the halfway mark she is on pace to not only beat the record but also her original goal. 

I think I can, I think I can.

In 2021 McDonald decided to give spin class a try. She had low expectations: she had never done one, she wasn’t sure she could balance on a bike but was pleased it was stationary and she hated cardio.

“The classes were really hard and it really sucked,” she said. “But the more you go, the easier it gets. I was like wow – I am doing this! The studio was offering challenges and to stay motivated I gave one a try. Completing a goal felt really good.” 

That first year on the bike there was a big learning curve. 

“Anyone can do this. I literally hid in the back corner for six months. I could not find the beat. If people were up I was down. If they raised their right hand, I raised my left. It’s hard so everyone is focused on what they are doing and no one cares what you are up to. You just get better with time. Take it slow. It’s dark, you control how hard the bike is and you start where you are and get better.”

More than physical achievements, McDonald said she had a mindset shift and felt her self-confidence grow. 

“I was in my 40s and doing something new and it felt good,” she explained. “I went from a year before hating cardio to doing spin to thinking about other goals. I didn’t tell anyone about it. I looked up the record, sent off my application and planned to wait six to eight weeks to hear back.” 

She didn’t get time to second guess herself. Less than two weeks after filling on the form,  Guinness had accepted her plan to break the record for the most spin classes in a year. McDonald had another barrier she had to consider. Was she manic? She lives with bipolar disorder – a mental health condition that causes extreme mood swings that include emotional highs (mania or hypomania) and lows (depression).

“I didn’t tell anyone I was applying – I just did it. My first thought was am I manic?  Am I stable? This was so out of character that I checked in. I gave it time and applied and six months later I was intentionally planning and I was like – you’re good. [An athlete] is who you are now.”

As McDonald works through the attempt she wants to challenge the stigma that still surrounds mental illness. 

“I feel like as a society we are accepting of depression and anxiety – which is great but people hear bipolar and [gasp]. I would like to help get acceptance for more mental health. It’s part of who you are and does not define who you are.” 

As a busy working parent, her bipolar is far from the biggest challenge as she approaches the halfway mark of this year-long effort. 

“I work full time, I watch my nutrition, I have a teenager. Time management is the biggest challenge and sleep.” 

Working the plan

March 15 will be the six-month mark and McDonald is well past the pace she needs to hit 600 classes. The current world record is 585. 

“My goal is 14 a week. I did do 20 in one week and I won’t be doing that again. I thought it would be more about spin classes and less about clerical,” laughed McDonald. “The process is quite tedious. You have to record two to three minutes of each session which can be frustrating because the studio is dark and I had to figure out how to do it without disturbing other riders or the class. There is a logbook that has to be documented and signed by someone who works at the studio after every class. There will have to be two independent witnesses that watch the videos and look at the logbook and verify I did it. They want still photos as well. So, I will have to upload the 600 videos to their website for verification.”

With such an audacious plan, McDonald wanted to undertake the world record attempt at her home gym: Spin Society.  

“Instructors were super for it and so positive. The owner – I think – thought I was a lunatic and had practical concerns. They had questions about whether I was seeing a nutritionist, how I was preparing for it, was I listening to my body. They didn’t want me to be injured during a class.” 

Concerns address, it’s the same energy and support that got her through her first class at Spin Society that is carrying her through.

“I think what makes it about spin – whether or not it’s about a world record is the atmosphere. It’s the instructors, the other riders, the energy,” she said. “Spin can be a slog – good music makes such a difference.  Part of pushing through is using other people’s energy and excitement about how I am doing to cheer me on.”

She wrapped her 300th class – the halfway point – in the third week of February. Reflecting on how far she has come, McDonald is proud of another reflection. 

“Our generation – in our 40s – were raised on such horrible body image and expectations you were supposed to look a very certain way. I am riding next to 20-year-olds who are struggling in one class and it’s my fourth – it has helped me reframe how strong my body is and appreciate what my body does for me. I am strong.

Follow along with McDonald on Instagram as she continues towards her world record.

Looking for more?

There’s always something fun and exciting happening in Lynn Valley. Check out our Community Events Calendar or learn more about Local Activities, Mountain Biking or Hiking and Walking Trails.

Opening its doors soon, the new Romer’s Fresh Kitchen & Bar is the next venture from Lynn Valley icon Ron Slinger (formerly of the Black Bear Neighbourhood Pub) and fellow BC Restaurant Hall of Famer Kelly Gordon. Together with chef-partner Jim Romer and business partners Nate Dick and Justin Thompson, the new dining experience will serve up elevated food and beverages in the heart of Lynn Valley. And we are excited to offer you a sneak peek at the new restaurant before its doors officially open.

Raising the bar

With decades of experience behind Romer’s Fresh Kitchen & Bar, the new concept is building on the three existing Romer’s Burgers and giving a distinctly Lynn Valley spin with moody forest-inspired decor and an epic bar experience. 

“This is not the Black Bear. It won’t look or feel the same but it will have that same warmth,” said Slinger. “This will be an evolution beyond the other Romer’s paying respect to the North Shore. We embrace the dark green of the forest and are using murals to capture the images of the area.”

The new 150-seat restaurant is at Lynn Valley Centre on the large outdoor plaza allowing for a large 50-seat patio – with the goal to have it open 300 days a year. Dining and drinking outside will be available April 1st or sooner if the weather allows. 

“When you walk in the door there will be an oyster and sushi bar front and centre with 26 seats,” said Slinger. “We will have skilled bartenders – we are already working on some exciting drinks. The experience will be a step up from a neighbourhood pub with skills and suppliers, but it is still a place for everyone.”

The bar offerings include a sipping tequila list and eight taps. 

“The restaurant will feature a downtown cocktail experience far beyond the usual with a dozen unique hand-shaken cocktails some infused with smoke such as the smoky bourbon cocktail,” said Gordon. “There will be a dozen or more 90-point wines by the bottle and a selection of six- and nine-ounce glasses.”

Romer’s Fresh Kitchen & Bar will offer a daily brunch special starting at 10 am, as well as separate lunch and dinner menus. Known for its free-range BC beef and Alberta Wagyu burgers, Romer’s has won Vancouver’s Best Burgers five times with the Golden Plates. Covering everything from casual to premium steaks, a new edition for Lynn Valley is a brick oven for sourdough pizzas.  

“We want to welcome families. We will have a kids menu and sharing plates that will offer plenty of choices for families,” Slinger said. “The menu will be quite flexible – protein options. There is an entire section for vegetarian and vegan choices.”

The unique long space has allowed creative solutions. Along with the bar and patio, Slinger is most proud of two new skylights in the space to offer light towards the back. Lynn Valley locals may also recognize a few nods to the Black Bear.

Sneak peek

LynnValleyLife is excited to offer 10 couples a sneak peek of the new dining experience. Prior to the official grand opening, there will be three sneak peek services where diners will have an exclusive first taste of Romer’s Fresh Kitchen and support a good cause.

The offer to participate in a dry run for all staff from hostess to kitchen. You and a plus one will be invited to a Friday lunch or dinner or a Saturday lunch. Diners will be offered a random appetizer to share, a random main course, a random dessert to share and a beverage. Diners are asked to fill out surveys to provide feedback to improve the quality of experience. 

“We want constructive criticism,” said Slinger. “We need staff to practice all facets of service so you will be presented with a bill which will have a total of zero unless additional food or drink has been ordered. All tips – which are optional – are collected for donation to the ALS Society of BC. We – Romer’s Fresh Kitchen – will match all funds raised to double the donation.”

To enter a draw for one of the 10 invitations, for you and a plus one,  please fill out the form below. Winners will be contacted to confirm attendance.

Looking for more?

There’s always something fun and exciting happening in Lynn Valley. Check out our Community Events Calendar or learn more about Local Activities, Mountain Biking or Hiking and Walking Trails.

As a busy working mom, Vanessa Gladden knew exactly when and where she had to be to keep her business and family on track but somewhere in the heart of that she knew she was lost. Fast forward several years and Gladden is a life coach helping other women find a path that allows them to thrive.

Put on your own oxygen mask first

The expectations on women and mothers have never been greater. Pressures to put family first, career first and never themselves first, lead many women to lose vision of who they are, said Gladden. The life coach has launched a practice to support women as they face life’s transitions: career changes, kids growing up (ultimately a career change for stay-at-home moms) and divorce.

“I have been through this myself,” said Gladden. “I lost my confidence, I didn’t trust myself, I couldn’t hear my intuition.”

A social worker by training with a past career as an entrepreneur, Gladden started her coaching career to support her business. As she began to seek new directions in her own life she realized lots of women were facing the same challenges without much support.

“There is a lot of stigma around divorce and separation,” she said. “It feels very lonely. There is grief and sadness but it can also be transformational and an empowering experience.”

Those same feelings can be shared by women in other periods of transition such as when children head to school for the first time or when they become empty nesters. The same challenge faces them all: a loss of identity with an unknown future.

Vulnerability and resilence

It’s a situation Gladden faced herself. Her kids were getting older and she was struggling to even think about what her goals for herself were. She opted to take a year off work to explore what her future could be, and ultimately she chose to end her marriage. 

“Women face a lot of pressure to stay in unhealthy relationships,” she said. “I realized I was living on autopilot. I wanted to thrive. I needed to find the courage to put my mental health ahead of business and making money. Kids are resilient. You can prioritize your own happiness and keep your kids safe and secure. Your kids will be amazing.” 

Separation and career changes can feel overwhelming, she said. Fear can lead women to endure situations that aren’t healthy.

“You can feel grief and loss at the same time as excitement,” Gladden said, adding some of the influences that impede women from making changes. “Financial stress, worry about the kids, a loss of confidence and self-trust.” 

Support and vision

A life coach like herself can help women see a path forward to a new future, said Gladden.

“I am a big believer in therapy to understand how you got where you are. A life coach can help you figure out your future,” she explained. “The biggest consideration is personal fit. You need to connect with a coach and find someone who speaks to your soul.”

With Gladden, a typical coaching round lasts about 12 weeks and has six sessions. 

“It’s hard to envision the future. We work together to set challenging goals – with each session having its own flavour,” said Gladden. “We also have a celebration of what was accomplished.” 

The sessions are geared to the needs of each individual. For some, it could be helping navigate co-parenting or boundaries, for others, it could be dating and others exploring career options.

“It’s an intimidating process to start dating again. There are so many people to date, you will find someone. And if you don’t want to, then don’t. You can come back to that later – or not.”

To connect with Gladden she offers “discovery calls.” 

“It’s a 30-minute call where we can get to know each other. I hope everyone goes away with a useful nugget. I feel like if more people talk about these transitions then women can have more freedom of choice.”

To learn more about Gladden and her practice visit her website or follow her on Instagram. 

Images courtesy of Michele Mateus

Looking for more?

There’s always something fun and exciting happening in Lynn Valley. Check out our Community Events Calendar or learn more about Local Activities, Mountain Biking or Hiking and Walking Trails.

Barrie Street believes big goals matter. It’s essential motivation to live a full life. He is already planning his second TedTalk – for his 90th birthday. Street plans to complete his 3000th Grouse Grind on his 95th birthday. After that, it’s to make his 200th blood donation on his 105th birthday. The fitness enthusiast and volunteer advocate is proving an old dog can most definitely learn new tricks. 

Ready for a challenge

Barrie Street is feisty at 87 years old. To hear him tell his story it sounds like he has always been resilient and determined. A traumatic childhood where he was abandoned at six years old gave him a tenaciousness that has served him well. He fell in love with team sports like cricket, field hockey and soccer, and with that started a lifelong passion for moving his body. 

“Fitness has incalculable benefits,” said Street. “It’s my passion. I can’t imagine a life with a passion.”

Street has an incredible life resume: math teacher, marathoner, blogger, Iron Man, TedTalker, volunteer . . . In recent months he has added pickleballer. Some of these pursuits came naturally and some he had to fight for.

Open to new ideas

The opportunity to take on a new challenge or learn something new will be far more rewarding than succeeding at something you are already good at, said Street.

“I was running marathons in my 40s, then around 45 I got an Iron Man [triatholon] craving,” said Street. “But at 50 I couldn’t swim a stroke. It took me three months to swim a length. Over the next three months, I learned to swim 64 lengths – a mile. But it took me an hour and a half. In the next three months, I learned to swim that mile in 30 minutes and thought I was ready for Iron Man.”

Street says it was work – some of the hardest of his life. 

“It was the most challenging thing I have ever done – much harder than a marathon or an Iron Man. It was humbling to the nth degree. To start from nowhere and succeed makes it the most rewarding.”

As he approaches 90 he is still living by the goal to learn something new. He and a pal picked up some pickleball paddles recently and are getting a feel for the sport – “It’s good fun.”

He also took to the stage last fall for a TedxTalk sharing his passion for volunteering – which also has a poignant theme of valuing people society has written off. 

Getting started and trying again

With accomplishments like more than 50,000 kilometres of running and 2400 Grouse Grinds, Street has set himself up for long-term health and fitness. He has also learned lessons that life doesn’t always play fair. He took a painful hit almost four years ago.

“February 6th. I wanted a change from my usual route so I decided to walk up Lonsdale. I parked midway up and started walking. Just after leaving the top, I was hit by a car coming down an incline from the side of a house. I broke 12 bones.”

Prior to that, at 83, he was walking 10km daily, worked out at the gym three times a week and did the Grind twice a week. After the accident, Street had to start again. He still is working to get back where he was. 

“We can all be fit. We can adapt to pain,” he said. “The main step is to try and to be positive.”

On his blog Street very practical advice for adding fitness into your life. Simple steps like exercises to support balance and mobility. It’s a wealth of information that makes fitness success approachable.

“My advice for anyone getting started is to consult your doctor and get guidance on your abilities,” he said. “Set individual goals, there is no point comparing yourself to someone else – they have a different set of circumstances. Long-term goals are essential to have something to look forward to and short-term goals are needed to accomplish the long-term goals.” 

While Street regards fitness as essential, he recognizes not everyone loves it as much as he does. 

“Have a passion – spend time doing something you can’t imagine your life without – that will give you enthusiasm for life.”

Looking for more?

There’s always something fun and exciting happening in Lynn Valley. Check out our Community Events Calendar or learn more about Local Activities, Mountain Biking or Hiking and Walking Trails.

Lynn has a reputation for attracting creative types. Tucked away from the city the river was an early weekend getaway from Vancouver’s big city drawing artists to the forested oasis. Today’s artists and creators walk the same paths of The Group of Seven’s Frederick Varley. Both our feature profiles from this month – Vanessa Gladden and Barrie Street – have strong digital footprints. In that spirit, we have put together a list of five makers and creators worth checking out. 

Four to follow

We have put together a group of four people to follow. Some we have featured before and others are new. We are excited to nudge you in the direction of learning more about the interesting people that make Lynn Valley home.

Looking for more?

There’s always something fun and exciting happening in Lynn Valley. Check out our Community Events Calendar or learn more about Local Activities, Mountain Biking or Hiking and Walking Trails.

At this time of year, through all the hustle and bustle there are holiday solutions right in our own backyards. From quality caterers to specialty artists to great small shops. Lynn Valley has a thriving scene of makers, crafters, creators and business people offering great options to make your holidays more meaningful and more relaxing. 

Handmade with love

A knife from Lynn Valley Forge

We put the call out on our Facebook page asking for local entrepreneurs to share their small local shops.  We got a bunch of solid suggestions that we have shared before like Folia and Lynn Valley Forge.  We also got plenty of new suggestions.

In an effort to keep the list up to date and have an opportunity for others to add thier businesses or recommendations, we are redirecting you to our FB posts. They have a great list of holiday solutions in the comments. Check out this one for local crafters and makers and this one for local small businesses and services.

Check out our seasonal picks from past years (not all small businesses may remain active). Here are our picks from 2021.

Looking for more?

There’s always something fun and exciting happening in Lynn Valley. Check out our Community Events Calendar or learn more about Local Activities, Mountain Biking or Hiking and Walking Trails.