My new training partners...mosquitoes!

I am on fire this week!

Despite the rainy and stormy weather—I have been training for track and field. Mostly inside, because of the wind and rain. But the past few days I've been getting some outside running in and for the most part, it's good. It's just those...mosquitoes.

Is it me, or are there more of them this year? And are they BIGGER than usual? (For some really big mosquitoes, check out the Superman Duffy graphic novel AMELIA!) It almost makes me not want to run...

But Grandpa says I need to work hard, like the race horses we saw at the Stampede a couple of weeks ago. I did some research, and just like for track and field, a horse’s training schedule depends on the race—most importantly, the time and distance. And just like humans, their fitness plan has to be properly coordinated to prevent injury.

I wonder if they eat canola, too? I’ll have to ask Grandma about that. Proper fuel is key, right?

And so is knowing your body well enough to understand how to achieve your personal best. Take me—I’m a sprinter, but I still need to log some longer runs to keep my endurance at peak.

Lucky for me, the canola fields are in full bloom and I can run along the roads by Grandpa’s crops. This year, I’m going to shatter my record!

As long as I can outrun those mosquitoes...

Gotta jet!

~ Chase Superman Duffy

Reading all day is good for you

You probably think I'm making that up, but according to research, reading is a more effective stress reliever than listening to music or going for a walk—even more effective than doing yoga (even though my mom doesn't believe me.)

It's not that I'm stressed—but I admit, all of this rain is kind of bumming me out. It's stressful for my grandparents, too, who could use a little, okay a lot of sunshine. Flooding could be an issue this year...many of the streets where I live already are.

Sometimes I love running in the rain, but not with these downpours lately. And since we're looking at another rainy weekend, I plan on getting a good jump on my Summer Reading Challenge. What better way to spend a rainy day than immersed in a good book?

And you know what? After reading, I might take a nap, or watch something on Netflix. Because next week when the sun (supposedly) makes an appearance, I'll be busy with chores, training, and if I'm lucky, an afternoon at Klondike Days.

How are you spending your rainy weekend?

Gotta jet!

~ Chase Superman Duffy

Giddy-up! It's Stampede time!

Today is the first day of the CALGARY STAMPEDE!

I love the Stampede. It’s not just the rides or the food though once I ate a slice of pizza with bigs on it which was pretty amazing.) For me, the Stampede is a ten-day celebration of agriculture—and since my grandparents are crop producers (mainly canola), I have a special connection to “the land.”

Every year, my entire family heads to the Stampede grounds to check out the rodeo, bite into some delicious (or strange) food, take a spin on the Zipper, and of course, tour the pavilions.

Every year I look forward to seeing what's in the Alberta Canola Producers’ Commission booth. Not only can you learn a lot about canola from the producers who take time away from the fields to talk to consumers about their crops (and answer any questions), sometimes they have life-sized statutes of "cartoon me" and many other characters from the Superman Duffy series of graphic novels. If you see "me" there, take a pic!

Put your picture on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter and tag @SupermanDuffy for a chance to win a signed set of the comics. That’s16 books!

Gotta Jet! Hope to see you at the Stampede. Wahoo!

~ Chase Superman Duffy