Instagram story viewer> @gingerbikerchick> Posts

Colleen Franks

@gingerbikerchick

2.1K

followers

2675

following

🏃🏼‍♀️🚴‍♀️🌲🏔✈️🦷🪥📗📸🧿
Lover of Life 🌎 🇨🇦 The Golden Rule 🌻Be Kind
2026 Word THOUGHTFUL
@conquistadorsofcancer 🚴‍♀️Captain
#leagueofgarmin @garminfitness

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

Reflecting today on some of the valuable life lessons of 2025.

-training for a marathon is still one of the most transferable tools to life; discipline and mental fortitude just to start.

-“No, you’re not perfect” jokes the family doctor, knowing I strive/ struggle with trying to be the best version of myself but still come up human.

-it’s okay to fail or not meet goals. For within our failure, we can learn, get up and try again.

-keep the glass half full. When the glass breaks, pick up the pieces and become a better version of yourself.

-take time to reach out to people who are important to you. Tomorrow is promised to no one. 💔

-a mother’s love…People always ask “Does she know who you are?” I was really struck on my last visit with mom, how much she loves me- I can’t explain it but I saw it in her eyes and smile, like I haven’t before. This year, I also experienced an unexplainable depth of love for my own children that only comes with motherhood.

-“He who is without sin, let him cast the first stone. “- a favourite biblical story from childhood, whether you believe or not. One my father also vehemently taught. A reminder of our (my) own flaws and need for compassion over harsh judgement of others.

-you don’t have to forget, but to forgive and move on is incredibly self healing.

#2025reflections #lifelessons #liveandlearn #glasshalffull #marathoner

📸 @0utside4ll.the.time taken in Panorama Ridge, Garibaldi Provincial Park, BC by @gingerbikerchick

56

0

10 months ago

Because it’s some kind of sin, to live your whole life on a “ might have been.”

~Brandan Flowers The Killers

2024 🌺 🌲 🌞

#throwingcaution #livelife #seethegood #happinessoutside #enjoylife #makelifehappen #takethegoodtakethebad #runforyourlife #runnergirl #onmyrun #runhappy #run #sunriserun #jump #shenanigans #keepshowingup #thisis50 #lifeisgood #carpediem #puravida
#leagueofgarmin #beatyesterday #teammuunca #nuunlife taken in Yasawa Islands, Fiji by @gingerbikerchick

75

2

2 years ago

Norma
We sat in a little cafe in Portugal. I heard a CD playing and as we left I asked the shop owner what the name was. I hadn’t heard Alanis in a while.
Doing my long run this past Sunday, this song from that album which became very poignant for me during that tumultuous time in my life came on, and rather than reflect on a lover, I remembered my step-mom, my best friend, whom I had been with in that cafe.
Never has a human had more of an influence on my life. If you knew her, you knew, she was someone special.
There are many things I miss as she was taken too soon. I can’t change that but I will never forget and often reflect and think what her input might be through life’s many challenges.
Each year I ride for Cancer, she remains top on my list of those I ride for.

Less than 3 weeks until my @tourdecurebc raising funds for @bccancerfdn I need to raise $2500 to ride. I ride for better outcomes. 🙏🏻

Link in Bio

#gonetoosoon #missingyou #whyiride #mystepmom #theoriginalinfluencer #somanymemories #mylifeisfull #gratitude #tourdecure2023 #betteroutcomes #beepic #effcancer #behappy #joyinthejourney #smilelaugh #befree #travel #teachjoy
@alanis Portugal and so much more… taken in Porto, Portugal by @gingerbikerchick

96

10

3 years ago

Mastering new strengths.
Just a wee thing I could not do in 2024 when I was training for @chimarathon and I tried weekly.
I’m sure this is not about this one exercise but a combination of weighted strength training.

Earning my cardio time in the gym. You’re never too old to get stronger.

#strenthtraining #strengthtrainingover50 #runnersstrengthtraining #getstrongstaystrong #justkeeptrying taken in British Columbia by @gingerbikerchick

41

14

4 days ago

Don’t let a cold get you down! . 🤧 ( It tried a few times😂)

Fall has been spectacular.

It’s great to be back on the trails feeling the mental and physical health benefits of a wandering mind and a moving body. 🏃‍♀️

The garden flowers and fresh bouquets have been a treat. Sunflowers 🌻 are my favourite and to see the birds 🦅 find pleasure in the yard, fills my soul in a generational way. This bird and flower stuff runs in the family blood. 😉 ( Thanks Grandpa 😍)

Family close by, seeing them all find their way, time outside enjoying the seasons.
All these little things fill me with gratitude.

#thankful #lifelately #gratitude #stillarunner #leagueofgarmin taken in Okanagan, British Columbia by @gingerbikerchick

50

2

8 days ago

The beauty of fall trail running.

#okanaganlife #exploremore #feedthemindbodyandsoul #backtonature #leagueofgarmin taken in Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park by @gingerbikerchick

25

2

14 days ago

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A deep entanglement of personalities and families and then their ultimate unfolding.

For me this book led to a unique introspection.
As someone raised by a single mother, moving a lot in my first 10 years and my unorthodox journey through childhood, it left me to ponder the what ifs each path or course our life can take.

There may be assumptions that one course is better than another but this we will truly never know and instead, we may always be left wondering about another course or
“The Road Not Taken.”

But there is such a beauty we can find in the way our path unfolds when we discover all the good that comes from the trajectory.

I was left with a thankfulness for my mother and the gifts her choices and her life gave me and made me who I am.

#freespirit #goodreads #littlefireseverywhere #trajectory #theroadnottaken taken in British Columbia by @gingerbikerchick

2

3

15 days ago

The shoulder season where if things time out just right after work, you can fit in a run before sundown!! The skies did not disappoint 🌅

#afterworktherapy #sunsetrunning #autumnvibes #justrun #okanaganviews taken in Okanagan, British Columbia by @gingerbikerchick

23

0

20 days ago

3rd annual family camping weekend.
“ What are we going to do tomorrow Jack?” “ Nothing!”😂 Time was dominated by good meals, walks, hikes and bike rides and fireside relaxing; indoor games when it rained and lots of time to connect and chill.

#camping #familytime #camplife taken in Bear Creek Provincial Park by @gingerbikerchick

18

0

21 days ago

September has been so good outside! 💚

#outsidetherapy #mydrug #naturephotography #getoutside #thisbeautifulworld taken in British Columbia by @gingerbikerchick

33

1

25 days ago

This was a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A novel that very easily captures real life situations and gives perspective on challenges like the hardships of losing parents, foster care, addiction and what recovery and life after is really like.

It’s a very long read/ audiobook but by the end I couldn’t stop looking for opportunities to listen.
I had been hesitant at first to begin this book as I loved Kingsolver’s Posionwood Bible I read many years ago but certain aspects of fanaticism and religion had struck a difficult chord for me.
She is an excellent author at building characters and realistic stories.
This would make a great movie!

#booksilove #goodbook #demoncopperhead #barbarakingsolver #libbyapp by @gingerbikerchick

7

2

a month ago

And here is the wildlife package.
The porcupine was the cutest and a resident close to the hut. He roamed freely.
The Pika’s were all along the trails chirping at us as we hiked.
Mountain Goats are just cool!!
My first patchy white Marmot and the ever cute chipmunk 🐿️ looking for handouts.
Never saw the mouse in the hut that chewed up my toilet paper 🧻 but otherwise we kept stuff secure from these little buggers.

None of these animals were injured, fed or disturbed to the best of our ability💗

#wildlifepackage #porcupine #animalpics #wildlife #wildlifephotography taken in Yoho National Park, British Columbia by @gingerbikerchick

34

5

a month ago