For my sisters...

A reflection this week on the anniversary of our Mother's death passed by in a busy haze. 9 years have clicked over without fanfare. People around me talk of their parents in a way that makes me want to shake them, an almost flippant way as if they will be around forever, perhaps I would too if circumstances were different.

 The roses were in bloom, Mum & Dad's budding.

Callum's birthday...

My boy is now 22.

Still won't crack a smile but I think he appreciated the fuss we made of him today. He got a card from Hayley and his grandmother in the post. They both did really well to have them arrive on his actual birthday, Hayley judging the UK postal system to perfection. I went out for a run in the rain this afternoon after work then raced back home to make a cake and his birthday choice of dinner (french onion chicken)

Erin took some pics and this is the best of the bunch

Happy Birthday son, love Mum and Dad. xxx

Downtime...

I needed a little down time today. After working full time last week then the marathon taking up the weekend then back to work I felt like I needed a bit of time to step back and take a break. I haven't run this week but played tennis Monday & Thursday nights and cardio tennis this morning. I haven't pulled out the vacuum for a few weeks and today got to clean the shower as well. I also needed to go into the bank and the post office and the library. Erin & I made caramel slice after school and I am off to a friend's Postie party tonight.

So much for having a break.

But all these things I accomplished today were at my own pace, no rushing and it was sunny and warm, unlike the freezing day yesterday.The weekend beckons with warm weather as well and I hope to pay a bit of attention to the weeds in the garden.

I heard on the radio today about a woman who has written a book about her gratitude project. She photographed something from each day for a full year that she was grateful for and reflected upon. She started doing it to help her with her depression as a nun had told her the secret to happiness is reflection and gratitude. I would like to do that but I know I start off with good intentions and peeter out. I might try it but don't want any complaints if I don't, like Hayley reminding me I was going to post every day. Same as I told her sometimes I don't have much to say or I'm too tired at the end of the day to say it.

Today has been a refresher for my batteries, back to full speed.

Post race...

I am still basking in the afterglow of my accomplishment. Several congratulatory messages elevate my mood even further. The best one was from Hayley who told me how proud she was of me.

I talked to a colleague today who instead of telling me I was mad or that they hated running said she wanted to run and had tried a run/walk style but wanted to run all the way. Lots of people are very negative about your efforts and offer you lots of excuses as to their current lack of fitness. I tell them I didn't decide last week that I was going to run that distance, that a lot of training has gone into it. I've had to make time and also listen to some grizzles from family about my time away from them whether its running or playing tennis. Reading about training/fuelling/shoes/stretching/breathing takes up just as much time. And to think 3 years ago I was the one with the excuses.

I am going to get back to my colleague and offer to be her running buddy. For me it would mean going back to the beginning but an easy run during the week wont hurt me and could be the impetus she needs.

I had 2 parcel cards in the letterbox this afternoon. I was shocked to see one of them was for Hayley's birthday present. She never received it and then she moved on. That package has been to Spain and back. I will send it on to her, my faith in the postal service restored.

Second time lucky.

A marathon day...

My marathon day started early. 5:20 the alarm went off after a fitful sleep. I was dreaming about work not racing so was happy for that to be over.
I picked up my companions and we headed into the city. It was a mild morning and were chatted excitedly in the car comparing race morning preparations.
It took us about 40 minutes to walk over to the MCG to drop off our bags, negotiating the 11,000 strong 10km run entrants who set off at 0730.

We set off at 0800 and made our way along the 21.1km course. It was a perfect morning for running, the course was nice and flat and we had thousands of other intent individuals to keep us company. Down St Kilda road and around Albert Park Lake and then back towards the city. Running Buddy's theory is that once you pass the half way mark your mind is like that of the donkey hired out for rides, when you are headed for home there is no stopping you.
I was cruising along until kilometre 18. I hit the wall. I walked longer than I wanted to through the drink station, there was a hilly bit and the others had kept going and were ahead of me. A voice beside me said 'push through, keep going'. I turned to look at her, a young girl with the obligatory nice ponytail, and I don't know if she was talking to me but I thought 'OK' and started running again. It was just what I needed and when we were peaking the footbridge I gave the same encouragement to another woman who was walking. We were so close then, the MCG was looming before us and the finish line was in sight.
My time was 2:22:59 so I'm calling that an even 2:23. Not bad for a first attempt. I was pleased to see that I was 219 amongst the old girls but 3204th gender position.

Just as we crossed the finish line the heavens opened and the day turned nasty. We got wet going back to the car but we were on a high so it didn't matter. I was thinking back to this time last year when I ran my first 10km in this marathon festival. Prior to doing that I had only run 8k and the sense of accomplishment is the same.

Now I am sore in the hips and I have an irritated spot under my arm which is very tender. I hadn't noticed that my toenail was bleeding until I took off my socks

And now I have my medal and bib as mementos of a great day

I'm ready...

Tomorrow is the big day.

We are excited now that our training and preparation is done, the only thing left to do is run the race. I have had a lot of emotions leading up to this point, from being daunted to overwhelmed but now excitement has taken over. I really want to do it now and to be able to say I have run a half marathon.

Yesterday we ran out of internet and we all felt it keenly. I don't know how you can use up 200 things of data but we did. Everyone denies downloading big files like movies etc but it was slowed  to virtually nil so we all had a day off. Cal played his guitar, Erin watched TV, Chris went to bed and I read a book. It was a good book that by chance the library had got in for me on Friday. It was 'The Time Keeper' by Mitch Albom, not very long but it was a nice read.  The internet has clicked over to the new month and we can all go back to our screens.

Race day report tomorrow, if I have the energy.

Study day...

It was a loooong day.

Quite boring and I wasn't really learning anything, and I think I turned into that annoying person in the audience that keeps challenging what you say. Sorry. BUT don't try to teach me how to suck eggs. Teach me what I want to know. At one point I was flicking ahead in the workbook provided to see if the content would ever be relevant to me and I had tuned out. I tuned back in when one of the other participants asked if we would be covering any relevant material. It was then that the presenter actually focused on what our needs were and the conversation turned to an interaction that was helpful. Pity it was late in the day and we will be covering more on that tomorrow when I should be playing tennis.

I'll try not to be bitter about that and pay attention.

October 8...

October 8 already?!

After a dreary day of governance, quality improvement programs with very little clinical time I was cheered by this glowing plant on my arrival home

 I couldn't resist getting my camera and quickly snapping some pics while they still had their faces pointing towards the setting sun.

 It had been a nice day and tomorrows forecast is for 27 degrees.

Tennis last night worked out well in the end, we fielded a team, played 4 sets on a beautiful night and had an unexpected win (lost overall).

Callum has been building this guitar. He has stripped the body, stained and sandpapered it and added new 'pickups' among other hardware. Each day another small packet would arrive in the mail - special screws etc until tonight he was able to actually play it. He has done a great job, its really beautiful.

I just hope the neighbours appreciate the time and effort.

The short day...

Daylight savings time started today so it has seemed really short. I didn't achieve much and am now faced with going back to work tomorrow with little done.

I had some success with iTunes but have had no luck in procuring a number 2 player for tomorrows return to tennis so we will have to forfeit those 2 games. I'll be missing Fridays cardio tennis as I have to go to an auditing workshop instead. I am going to hope both Monday night and Friday morning are wash outs to make me feel better about missing out.

Here is a pic of Chris doing his superman impersonation after his self haircut to cheer us all up a little.

I told you it was windy.

Taper...

This week I feel like I have tapered to a full stop.

Training has been minimal because of atrocious weather, gale force winds & rain, and Running Buddy has gone to Cairns for a short break. I gave myself my birthday off and allowed myself some wine time. Being on holidays has meant sleep ins and a break from routine.

So there are the excuses. In my reading today I found this passage from the Lazy Girl Running blog which I am sharing with you...

It’s great to have a goal – a big, scary goal that motivates you and inspires you to get out there and train for it. Something to look forward to and focus your energies on working towards. But it’s just as important to look back every so often.

Looking back to what you could and couldn’t do last week, last month or last year and how far you’ve come shows you how you’ve knocked down the barriers between what you thought was and wasn’t possible. And it makes you question what you still believe to be impossible.

Messages from Running Buddy in Cairns shows me she feels the same. Just 9 days to go and then we go back to finding the next goal to work towards.

Erin took some pics with my new camera when I got back from my run this morning. A run I struggled with because of the rotten wind and being solo.

I saw this recently on post about how you can doctor before and after pics to make you look like you have achieved 'miracle results'.

My before and after were taken seconds apart and look how much better I look with a smile, straight shoulders, arms out and gut sucked in. You should try this it is quite uplifting.

And only part of it is an illusion, there is hard work as well, no miracles.

October 4th...

Isn't this nice

My gift from Big Sister.

We had a lovely day today at her place, just chatting, doing a little crafting, a nice lunch in her local cafe and soaking up some sunshine (no wind today was a lovely change). She presented me with these Jayson Brunsdon flutes so I had to try them out tonight. I didn't have any champagne to christen them with so enjoyed a little white shiraz instead. I happened to have an open bottle from last night's birthdays dinner. It is rare for me to have any on hand these days but when I do from now on I will do so in style.

Thank you again for such a nice day and the reassurance that 50 is not so bad.

Birthday day...

Today is my birthday, a day I have looked forward to with some excitement and trepidation. I dont want to be old and 50 seems old to me. But it is just a number and you are as young as you feel right?

I got the camera I have wanted for ages, an 18 megapixel Canon Kiss, a digital SLR. It will be fantastic as soon as I familiarise myself with the feature of SLR. I took a couple of test shots today and only like one that Chris tried,

 Here I am at my desk facing out to the grape vine struggling to load a playlist onto the shuffle. iTunes and I could not get it together at all today.

Erin's second attempt at getting her Learner's Permit was successful and now I have the stress of teaching her to drive. I will feel every one of my 50 years doing that.

And I made myself some Tiramasu cup cakes this afternoon as my birthday cake.

A lovely long chat with Hayley tonight on Skype has bought this day to an end.

As someone said to me today 'Here's to the next 50 years'

October 2...

The last day...

Last day of 49.

And a very relaxed low key day it was. Vague musings of things to accomplish are yet to be so.

Who says every minute of every day has to be rushed and hectic?

Not me.

I'm off to full in some time watching Location, Location, Location Australia and Project Runway.

Auf Wiedersehen.

October...

October is my birthday month and for one more day I can say "I am in my forties". After Thursday I head into another decade, another race category, and another era of my life. The forties have been good but mentally I am not ready for 50. I don't feel it and I don't think of myself as that age.

2 years ago I joined in OctSober and stopped drinking alcohol. And after October was over I didn't go back. I was having wine daily and now have very little. I am now an Occasional drinker, the capital O meaning I partake on special occasions like Christmas or a Birthday not the little o of more regular consumption. It was the impetus I needed for my weight loss and it worked a treat.