Spring is here! Fine, it’s not TECHNICALLY spring, but:

My crocuses (croci?) are in full bloom
My daffodils are emerging
I saw some robins on my lawn yesterday

All these things add to spring! If you’re anything like me, spring energizes you and gets you excited for the warm weather ahead.

With that in mind, I thought I’d put together a list of the things around town I’m excited to do, try and participate in this year!

The Delta Triathlon

It’s back! After 3 years of cancellations, this popular event has historically sold out quickly. The course starts at the Ladner Leisure Pool with the swim and continues with the bike and run through the very flat side streets of Ladner.

Never tried a triathlon? This is a great one to see if it’s for you! The swim portion is 600m, the bike ride is 18.5km and the run is 5km. There’s also kids and youth divisions for those 8 years old and over.

Registration opens for Delta residents this Thursday, March 5th at 9am. Non-Delta residents can register two weeks later on Thursday, March 19th.

For more information, visit the City of Delta’s website.

Bike to Barnside Brewing

So this little brewery opened up in Ladner a few months ago and I have to say, I’m intrigued. Not only is it an easy bike ride from downtown Ladner but it’s gotten great reviews from friends. They brew on site with ingredients farmed locally - what’s not to love? Not only that, but they have a cranberry tart ale I’m dying to try!

I’ve heard rumours of grilled cheese sandwiches and charcuterie plates available as well. Maybe some food trucks will show up this summer? One can hope!

Sustainable Workshop Series - Gardening

Every spring, the City of Delta puts on a series of workshops focusing on sustainable gardening practices - honestly, I had no idea! This year, workshops focus on vegetable & herb gardening, mason bees, managing garden pests, backyard composting, soil management and more!

Gardening has so many benefits beyond the obvious sustainable and environmental reasons. A Swedish study linked gardening with improved cardiovascular health and increased longevity regardless of regular exercise. A Dutch study associated half an hour of gardening with a significant reduction in acute stress, suggesting a stressful day at the office can be (at least somewhat) mitigated by a good dig in the dirt. A study out of the University of Pennsylvania suggested regular gardening improves sleep as exposure to natural light helped regulate circadian rhythms. (Side note - this review of the literature has convinced me to start gardening.)

The best part? They’re free! All you have to do is sign up here.

Watershed Creek Fish Release

This one is a great event for the whole family. On Sunday, April 19th from 12-2pm, over 25,000 chum salmon fry will be released into Watershed Creek. It’s fun, it’s free and it’s a chance to see how we can support our local ecosystems.

Plus, you’re in the gorgeous Watershed Park! Bring your mountain bike or your hiking shoes and make a day of it!

That’s my list! What are you excited for this spring? Leave a comment below!

Stay tuned for the continuation of Nicole’s series on Injury Prevention in Running, with Part 3 landing here on the blog next week!