Triathloners taking on the ocean at Second Beach!

Earlier in the year, Eric set a goal to participate in his first sprint triathlon - perfect for lululemon Goal Week! After the brisk swim at Second Beach, Eric and Natasha hopped on their bikes to tackle two loops of the perimeter of Stanley Park, totalling 20km.

Eric on the second leg of the triathlon.

Natasha on her bike!

After the ride, time for a 5km run through Lost Lagoon onto the North Seawall. With the rain still pouring down, both Eric and Natasha were looking strong.

Go Nat go!

Goal achieved! Congratulations to Eric, Natasha, and everyone else who braved the rain to participate or cheer on the triathloners!

Eric and Natasha, post-triathlon!

"Breathe deeply and appreciate the moment. Living in the moment could be the meaning of life."

I'll be honest, when I first joined lululemon and read the manifesto, my reaction to this statement was "That's great, but I already have my list of everything to do today!"

Ever wondered if we've organized ourselves out of appreciating what's around us? I am a relentless planner and a bit of an organizational powerhouse (it's when you start to make lists of lists that you know you have a problem). Recently, I realized that I rarely had a day off in my diary that wasn't already planned to perfection. What would happen if I went off the map a little more, I wondered?

day one:

I left my day off completely open (this gave me mild heart palpitations), and got a last minute tweet that Olympic freestyle skiers were giving a demonstration of their aerial skills downtown. I was there, camera in hand, 10 minutes later! I would never have caught this awesome event if, as usual, I had planned my day to perfection.

Score one for living in the moment...

day two:

Waking up to sunshine in Vancouver, I resolved to spend a morning appreciating the small things that make living here so amazing. Along the way, I spent some time with the fall leaves in Stanley Park, noticed that there is a great little cafe two blocks away from me where you can get a mean game of bocce, and chatted to a total stranger on the bus about my love of all things Twitter (only possible because for once I wasn't checking my planner en route). In the groove...

See what happens when you have time to look down?

day three:

Now in the swing of my new mindset, I flew by the seat of my pants and attended a brand new type of yoga class- possible only because I hadn't previously scheduled myself one to go to! When a friend of mine called one night and suggested I try Anusara, I swallowed my nervousness (partner yoga? what if I knocked them over?), and faced my biggest living in the moment challenge yet. One hour later, I couldn't believe it as my partner helped me into an inverted standing split. For once, my brain was not spinning out of control, anticipating the next few hundred things I was going to do. I was able to relax and just be in the physical moment, working with my body and setting no limits for where I could go.

What helps you to stay in the moment? I'd love to hear your tips!

Lifelong Vancouverite Alexis from the lululemon Store Support Centre has put together a list of nine of her favourite Vancouver hotspots for you to add to your itinerary. Create your own adventure challenge and see if you can experience them all for yourself!

1. spanish banks

To me, there is no better beach in Vancouver than Spanish Banks. To be sure, Kits Beach to the East is better for people watching, and Wreck Beach is definitely better if you can’t find your bathing suit, but Spanish Banks has it all going on: an amazing view of the North Shore Mountains, sandy beaches that extend halfway across the inlet when the tide goes out, and expansive grass where locals play beach volleyball in the summer and start up snowball fights in winter. The best part: the concession still serves cream soda floats, Archie Andrews-style. Wooo!

2. vancouver public library

The downtown branch of the Vancouver Public Library is my favorite place to sit with a coffee and observe life in Vancouver. The architecture of the building is phenomenal – tiered floors with light-filled nooks and crannies make getting lost in a book a pleasure, and if you close your eyes in the mezzanine for a moment, you’ll swear you're on a cobblestoned street in Europe with the smells of espresso and pizza tickling your nose. It's a great place to spend a mellow afternoon.

3. cypress bowl lookout

Wanna feel like you’re on top of the world…literally? Drive yourself to the top of Cypress Bowl and tell the clouds to get out of the way. On a clear day, you can see Mount Baker glistening from south of the 49th Parallel, the density of downtown Vancouver growing taller by the day, and the mighty Pacific beckoning from the West. The ultimate place for “I always-forget-how-stunning-my-hometown-is-until-I-revisit-this-spot” realizations.

4. sushi...any sushi

Along with coffee, you’d better get an affinity for raw fish if you want to dine like a Vancouverite. Sushi is a full-on obsession in this neck of the woods – from the suburbs to downtown and beyond, sushi restaurants are found on every street corner…and they’re packed, too. Any local worth his weight in sashimi can tell you their favourite places for takeout, gourmet, and the ultimate Vancouver sushi phenomenon, all-you-can-eat (my picks: takeout – Honjin, 140 Lonsdale, North Vancouver; gourmet – Miku, 1335 Robson Street, Downtown; all you can eat, Shabusen, 2993 Granville Street, South Granville). Advice for those new to this style of Japanese cuisine: don’t go too hard on the rolls at the start - you’ll bow out early. Trust me.

5. stanley park

This is the quintessential place that all visitors to Vancouver MUST check out. Stanley Park is older than the city itself; originally the site of the Musqueam, Burrard, and Squamish Nation First Nations people, the 400 hectare park is filled with totem poles, old growth trees, and secret paths that lead to the zoo, aquarium, and numerous gardens. Breathe in the fresh salt air on the seawall and get a birds' eye view of Coal Harbour, the original port site of Vancouver, and now the epicenter of the glass architecture movement our city has become synonymous with. In winter, you can take in a rugby game at Brockton Oval, near the lovely Yacht Club, and in the summer, artists and street performers line the walkways – if you’re lucky enough, you might even jump into a chalk painting Mary Poppins-style! Stanley Park also boasts many lovely beaches. I think I can speak for all Vancouverites when I say I feel lucky to live in a city with park like this at my fingertips.

6. seymour demonstration forest

British Columbia is Mecca for those who love coniferous trees, and there is no other place in Vancouver better to observe them in all their glory than the Seymour Demonstration Forest. Stately Douglas Fir, Cedar, Spruce and Pines line paved pathways that are perfect for biking, running or rollerblading. When you get to the top, enjoy a view of the Seymour Falls Dam and the satisfaction that comes with breathing in some of the cleanest air in the world.

7. chinatown

Like Stanley Park, Vancouver’s Chinatown district has roots that began before the inauguration of the city. Its wonderful, authentic architecture has been undergoing a recent revitalization and now is filled with lofts, bustling markets and underground clubs and lounges.

8. the commodore

Speaking of clubs, if you go  to see one live concert in this city, make sure it’s at The Commodore, located on the Granville Strip. With enough room for 2000 people to dance their faces off minus the annoyance of stadium seating, The Commodore is always the most fun venue in Vancouver, hands-down. Personal highlights: counting velour suits at the Snoop show, dodging the blood machine at Gwar, and the always-wicked TV On The Radio.

9. yoga

No day spent in Vancouver would be complete without a bliss-filled hit of our city's favourite pastime. Whenever I need to fit a bout of stretching and relaxation into my busy schedule, I visit my favourite yoga studio: North Shore Elements. There I will take class with instructor Will Blunderfield, who has achieved modest fame amongst Vancouver yogis for his unique talent: he sings while he teaches!

How do you love our fair Vancouver? Count the ways! What are your all-time favourite experiences and locations?