Matt Corker » Athletics

Introducing my 100 before 100

Matt Corker — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 14:41:56 +0000

In January, I created a list of 100 things I want to do before I turn 100. They were not goals (as they didn’t provide direction or a deadline), but experiences I thought would be totally rad to have. Experiences that would create ear-to-ear smiles, belly laughs, tears of joy, nostalgic excitement, or all of the above combined. If my goals created the road I was walking on, my 100 before 100 were designed to remind me to have TONS of fun along the way.

After my sister created her bucket list, she gave me a hard time for keeping my 100 before 100 so close to me (or just away from her … I couldn’t tell). But I felt as though this list o’ good times couldn’t just be released to the world at any old time. It has such excitement in it (for me and others!) that it needed a day that could withstand its presence.

So today, on my birthday, I introduce you to my 100 before 100. [Note: I've also created a 100 BEFORE 100 page on my site so you don't have try to find this blog post again as the years go on.]

Hope today makes you smile.

Eat an avocado smoothie after a morning of surfing with Jason Mraz
Host a talk show
Show up at the airport and buy a ticket for the next flight that day
Attend a 10 day silent meditation retreat
Complete an adventure race
Row a single in False Creek
Be the creative director for a music video
Design a house
Invite my entire family to an all-inclusive vacation/reunion (on me!)
Get married – and throw one heck of a celebration to go with it
Drink tea in Nepal
Bungee jump
Experience the Northern Lights
Learn a dance taught by Mia Michaels (or any SYTYCD choreographer)
Help run an overnight camp for the summer
Eat only raw food for 40 days
Host a Mr. Vanier 10 year reunion
Design a line of vests for men
Ride a camel in Egypt
Complete a Masters degree in change management
Teach my kids to fish
Give a keynote presentation at a leadership conference
Take my nephews on their dream vacation
Release a CD – co-starring my friends and family
Party on a houseboat
Create an inspiring leadership development program for my company’s staff team
Sunbathe naked
Watch the sunrise from the top of a mountain
Eat Dim Sum in Hong Kong completed April, 2010
Author a book
Emcee a friend’s wedding
Take up a sport my kid really loves – just so I can help my kid practice
Bike the Vancouver Ferry loop (North Van – Richmond – Victoria – Nanaimo and back)
Learn to play the ukulele
Sing on a worship team
Dance with Ellen
Be in a “4 generations of Corkers” picture
Take my dog camping
Hike the West Coast Trail
Create a piece of art with Christine Paige
Open my leadership facility – the perfect place for offsite retreats and inspiring foresight
Surf in Hawaii
Make a homemade ice cream cake for a friend’s birthday
Fly in a float plane with my Dad
Raise $3 million for a charity making a difference
Walk the red carpet at a movie premiere with my Mom
Ride an elephant
Name a star for someone
Go white water rafting
Have an art gallery in my house – featuring my friends’ masterpieces
Kiss the Blarney Stone in Cork, Ireland
Drive across Canada in a VW Jetta
Make smores with my sister (and our families) at CampFire Point at Fair Glen
Become a Big Brother
Host a dinner for all my mentors (whoa – talk about a power meal!)
Travel to an Olympic Games as part of the Canadian Olympic Team
Ride in a hot air balloon
Crash a wedding with Andrew Haas
Eat Chinese Food on Christmas Eve with Adam in Calgary
Walk on fire / hot coals
After all these years, have a beer with Mike Bonici
Donate blood
Read my kids my favourite childhood stories (e.g. Robert Munch, Eric Carle)
Milk a cow
Experience St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland
Try my hand (/feet?) at grape-stomping
Sleep outside in a hammock
Go on a bro vacation – just Doug and I
Tour with a band
Create a “Corker Cookbook” filled with family recipes
Write for a collaborative online publication
Scuba-dive in the Great Barrier Reef
Help my sister cross of 10 items on her bucket list
Teach a spin class completed June, 2010
Have a romantic dinner on a rooftop patio – reserved for two
Dine with Seth Godin over breakfast
Find a kangaroo-rat
Be part of a nude photoshoot
Own an entire outfit that was put together by “one for one” businesses. (i.e. Shoes by TOMS, tie by FIGS, etc)
Go on a roadtrip with Wesley George, Ryan Ferguson, and Andrew Haas. (It won’t matter to where)
Get colourful at a Holi festival celebration in India
Cold beer + Sarah Topa + Ontario cottage country. Need I say more? Pull me up some lakeside patio please.
Jump around doing Parkour
Do yoga for 80 consecutive days
Make chocolate by hand
Party in the Greek Islands
Take a tap dance class
Play a full round of golf with my Dad and James
Bike across Confederation Bridge
Experience a zero-gravity flight (on purpose)
Pay for a random couple’s meal. It would make for a great (first) date!
Walk under/shower in a waterfall
Attend at least one high school reunion
Find the Corker totem pole on Vancouver Island
Read the Bible cover to cover
Create a time capsule with my kids and open it 20 years later
Go on a wine tour by scooter
Visit a huge amusement park with my friends
Give out free hugs overseas
Leave the world better than when I found it

Pick of the Post: Asher Roth – G.R.I.N.D. (Get Ready, It’s a New Day) (unofficial music video)

[Spoiler Alert] Ellen DeGeneres dances on SYTYCD

Matt Corker — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 15:24:48 +0000

For the season’s finale of So You Think You Can Dance, the judges select their favourite dances from the season to be performed one more time. It is amazing to revisit how far the dancers have come and be reminded of how incredibly talented they all are.

The most memorable dance of the season was the hip hop dance between Alex Wong (a ballet dancer) and tWitch (an all-star hip hop dancer). Twitch teaches Alex how to push ballet “outta his mind” as they light up the stage in a NAPPYTAPS routine. Check out the video if you need a reminder of how great it was.

But, the week after this epic dance was performed, Alex injured himself and was sent into surgery and off the show. Devastating! The up-side? For the season’s finale, Ellen DeGeneres decided to step up and take Alex’s place. I have never loved a season’s finale more! Take a look at the video below to have a great start to your day:

Pick of the post: K’Naan – Take a Minute (official music video)

Underwear Affair 2010 – Your Great Assets

Matt Corker — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 20:24:12 +0000

Running is not enjoyable for me. I like going fast (hence the love of rowing and cycling/spinning) and my two feet hitting the pavement are not what I would call “fast.”

But running is definitely enjoyable when you get to do it in your underwear! The BC Cancer Foundation’s Underwear Affair was, like last year, a total riot. New costumes, a new addition to the Great Assets team, and more of that summer fun in the sun! And, between the three of us, our team raised almost $1,200 for taboo cancers below the belt in a week. Un-freakin-believeable!

Huge thanks goes out to our friends and family that supported us through monetary donations and by raising awareness of the cause both on and offline. It was so good to run with you behind us. You also have great assets.

Best part of this year’s race? A personal best for my 10 km time AND pictures like this (and more)….

The Great Assets

9 km in - one last hill climb over the bridge

Super runners!

... ugh

Avatars

No Cancer Here

Pick of the Post: Pink – Glitter in the Air (stellar live performance)

Showing some skin, for the win!

Matt Corker — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 20:15:40 +0000

For the past 2 years, The Great Assets have ran around Vancouver in our underwear – and this year is no exception! This revealing, and incredibly fun, 10 km run in the heart of the city is one of the highlights of my summers, but I need your help!

Firstly – why do we run in The Underwear Affair? Easy. It’s for an incredible cause.
This event raises both awareness of and funds for cancers below the waist (prostate, cervical, ovarian, uterine, bladder, colorectal). These cancers account for 42% of all cancers diagnosed in BC and are responsible for 32% of cancer deaths in our province. But since these are so “taboo,” they do not get the attention (and funding) they need. My Dad had a scare with a cancer below the belt before, so I want to make sure there is available support for him (and others) if a scare turns into reality.

To keep it simple, here are 3 ways you can help us:

Monetary donations. Each member of The Great Assets must raise a minimum of $300 to race. Please visit my personal page to donate to me or one of my incredible teammates.
Spreading the word. This race is as much about raising money as it is about raising awareness for these cancers. All of your tweets and posts help us achieve this goal.
Race support. Even though this is a short race, cheering fans on Saturday July 10th are VERY welcome! Race route details here.

Thank you to everyone for your continued, or first-time, support. We literally couldn’t race / cure cancer without you!

Pick of the post: 3OH!3 ft Ke$ha – My First Kiss (official music video)

Corker’s Spin Class Schedule @ UBC Birdcoop

Matt Corker — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 21:23:20 +0000

I have some glorious news for your heart and hamstrings. I’ve joined the team at the UBC Birdcoop (map) to teach indoor cycling (spinning) classes! If you’ve ever wanted to try out a spin class but were too intimidated, incorporate cycling into your cross-training schedule, or just have some fun on the bike with me – now’s your chance!

Of all the available classes, I will be teaching:

Hot Wheels Sprint classes – Tues & Thurs 5:00-5:45 pm

These 45-minute work-outs are high energy and pack a punch that will leave you and your quads smiling. If you have a staff or public membership to the Birdcoop, there is no extra cost to attend a class. If you don’t have this membership, you can pay the drop in rate – only $5 for UBC students, and $8 for everyone else! You can also upgrade your student gym membership to include these classes or pay as you go. Check out the Birdcoop membership options for more info. The trek out to UBC is worth this great, cost-effective workout.

New to indoor cycling? Some helpful tips:

Bring a small towel and a water bottle with you into class
Wear comfortable work-out clothes and stiff-soled athletic shoes (bike shorts and shoes are not necessary for these classes)
Arrive 15-30 minutes before class to sign-in, get on a bike, and lightly pedal to warm before the fun begins
Be ready to sweat and smile – I guarantee both

Hope to see you in the saddle soon!

Pick of the post: Tiesto ft. Three Six Mafia, Sean Kingston & Flo Rida – Feel It (official music video)

Making excuses

Matt Corker — Wed, 26 May 2010 15:32:31 +0000

I just got out of one of the worst yoga classes I’ve had in a long time. My butt got seriously kicked on that mat. I always find that a great morning yoga class helps me start my day on a good foot. But if I had a bad class… not good!

After unplugging this past weekend however, I made a commitment to my rejuvenated self to stop making excuses. To stop settling for mediocre because “I didn’t drink enough water,” because “I don’t have enough time,” because “that would never work here,” or because I’m afraid to have a difficult conversation. There will always be an excuse for why we can’t be great.

But that’s all they are: excuses.

It’s time to take ownership of our actions and our future. It’s time to have a friggin’ great day!

Pick of the post: Christina Aguilera – Not Myself Tonight (official music video)

My Mom – the Marathoner!

Matt Corker — Mon, 03 May 2010 02:20:17 +0000

5 years after Steph and I ran our first marathon, together, my Mom flew to Vancouver to follow in our footsteps! While Steph was becoming an Ironman and I was continuing to run around in my underwear, this power momma was hitting the pavement – determined to become a marathon finisher. When her big day came, Steph and I grabbed our bikes and chased her around the course – cheering her on, giving out high fives to those around her, and spreading a lil Mo’Happy as we snagged a couple pics.

After countless knee surgeries, a knee replacement, and making it through the definition of crappy weather to run (and bike) in, she crossed the finish line still smiling!

As Dean Karnazes says:

You burst across the finish line filled with pride, forever liberated from the prison of self doubt and self-imposed limitations that have held you captive. You have learned more about yourself in the past 42.2 kilometers than on any other single day in your life.

A marathon finish is more than just something you earn; a marathon finisher is someone you become. No future struggle, doubts or failure can wipe away what you accomplish today.

You have done what few will ever do – what you thought you could never do and it is the most glorious unforgettable awakening.

You are a marathoner and you will wear this distinction not on your lapel but in your heart, for the rest of your life.

Congratulations Mom! You did it! And we couldn’t be more proud!

Pick of the post: Michael Jackson – Working Day and Night

UBC’s Best Volunteer Experience

Matt Corker — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 05:06:02 +0000

Three years ago, the night before applications were due, I caught a friend of mine heading into the pool as I was leaving. Knowing that he was a great photographer, I asked him if he had submitted his application yet to be a part of the UBC REC Media Team. He sheepishly said “No… should I?”

Working his way up the ranks, from Assistant Director to Facilitator, he’s now spent three years in UBC REC and made on impact on his teammates, his fellow staff members, and the thousands of students that storm walls, paddle longboats, and win championships.

While the winner for best paid job I had while I was a student easily goes to being a Residence Advisor, I have never had a volunteer opportunity that tops being part of UBC REC. So, on the night before applications are due, … do I really need to tell you UBC students what you should be doing?

“Give back. Give big” Apply now.

Pick of the post: All American Rejects – The Poison

“#19 – Never Give Up,” they cheered.

Matt Corker — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 05:59:46 +0000

En route to the Canada vs. Sweden Sledge Hockey game, Liz King told me about the new pin she recently acquired. During the Paralympic Opening Ceremony she was seated behind a Team Canada sledge hockey player’s proud parents who made pins with their son’s number on them (#19). Being the newly addicted pin collector that she is, she was quite excited when they offered her one of their son’s pins. You can’t get more authentic than that!

What was even more exciting was when we took our seats in the arena – coincidentally in front of the 50 fans that flew in from Ottawa to cheer on their “hometown hero.” Sure enough, #19 (Todd Nicholson) was that hero. All the small and large Canada flags they brought along had #19 in the center of the maple leaf with other words of encouragement around it. We knew right away that this was going to be a great game.

Final score aside (10-1 … heck yes!), what made the game memorable was cheering on Todd with his proud fan club. Our section literally went wild every time he slid onto the ice. The crowd usually cheers like that when a goal is made – when the team does something remarkable. Todd, however, was doing something remarkable when he strapped himself into his sledge. He was never giving up.

Sidenote: If you want to cheer on Todd too, check out his athlete profile and his family’s blog they are updating daily during the Games.

Pick of the post: Regina Spektor – On the Radio (Official music video)

Behind the Scenes of the 2010 Olympic Ceremonies

Getting back to a sound mind

Matt Corker — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 07:03:22 +0000

With a familiar routine coming back into my life, it’s time to focus on my health. When I saw this ad for Asics, it reminded me that along with a strong body comes a strong mind. Getting more than just an endorphin rush, by exercising you refresh your outlook on life and strengthen your commitment to it.

Check. I’m ready to kick a little asphalt.

Pick of the post: John Mayer – Perfectly Lonely (live at Beacon Theatre)

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