Christmas time...

Christmas 2015 was a lovely affair.

Presents for big people thought out with care for each. So much so I ran out of ideas. But everyone was happy in the end.

my blue/silver theme tree

Callum...always happy to have his photo taken

brewing the punch

 I did have some time to relax and enjoy among the hosting of this years lunch.

 After our lunch we played an eye opening game of Cards for Humanity. The adults learned a thing or two and the young adults liked the shock value.

 The usual shenanigans ensued when it was time for group shots. You wouldn't think it would be hard to wrangle 13 people into some photos but we managed with much laughter.

one of these 2 is a natural redhead

 The selfie stick was a handy addition this year

I hope your Christmas was as well celebrated as ours

A new era...

Now that Erin has finished school I find myself in a new and unsettling position, one that I am quickly adjusting to,
After 22 years of figuring school times and events into my lifestyle our focus has shifted. No more school fees is also a lovely reprieve. It has taken some time to change my thinking and even the mood in the house has altered.
Instead of our annual trip to Port Fairy we headed to Echuca for a getaway. While it was nice it wasn't the same. I missed the beach and our regular beach walking, rock scrambling, swimming and relaxed week. As the day approached that we would normally have departed I found myself irritable and in mourning for the trip. I had let the site go last year, not renewing our booking. Chris finally took me away and Echuca/Moama was able to be booked at short notice and not too far away.

the little unit, nice air con but a bit like staying at Nana's

we ventured over the border into NSW

We had a nice time but it showed to us both, and me in particular, that we are beach people and not river people. Plus it was really hot and busy. I was determined to have a run recorded on my Garmin so I headed out from our cabin, while Chris did the dishes from breakfast, and managed a paltry 3k before it became too much (even at 10am). I then jumped in the pool among a lot of children and cooled off.

pit stop at Elmore

we were amazed at the size and number of houseboats and mused over whether we would ever have a holiday in one

'Riverview' is a misnomer, there was no river view and to Chris' enormous frustration no internet access 

We did the touristy thing and visited the Holden museum.

When we pulled into the driveway at home Chris turned to me and said he would rather go to Port Fairy than back to Echuca! It was nice but it wasn't the beach.

I have to remember the things I don't like about camping at Port Fairy like being too hot without air con or too cold huddled in a blanket waiting for fireworks or watching the tent blow sideways worrying if it would stand up in the wind or the tent leaking in the rain. Ideally booking a  house close to the beach will solve those issues.

But we headed back to work feeling like we had had a holiday and as much as we have no school children to plan around Chris' holidays will still be dictated by term breaks where there are drivers available to fill the routes.

 And my next planned break needs to be in the mid year school holidays...more about that later.

Run, run,run...

The weekend had some running in it of course, not the City 2 Sea or Run from hills formal kind of running but very satisfying running.

Early on Saturday morning was Parkrun and the encouragement of pacers

My plan  was to stay ahead of this tall girl with the 30 min bib

I was able to stay ahead of Carly and run a PB. I wanted to have a number with a 29 in front of it and Carly's voice was behind me saying 'don't let me catch you Jo-Anne' and I managed to stay ahead and laughed out loud when I saw the times...28:59!! Just have to keep that up now.

I wanted to keep up with this guy but had no hope

Parkrun is such a good event. It is run by a great bunch of volunteers. It's timed. It's free. There is loads of encouragement for all, whether young or old, new runner or not, running with a dog or pushing a pram or even if you can't run a step but want to work towards that goal. And being a global organisation means you can run in other states or even overseas.

As you can tell, I am a big fan.

By attending Parkrun and talking to other runners I was able to join a local running group. This group organises informal runs and meets up at various places by putting out a call on facebook. I answered such a call and ran with a small group in the Gorge this morning.

This run was billed as an 'easy 5k trail run'. Trail running is not my first choice but thought I would give it another try as it was good chance to try with a welcoming group.
We set out at 9 on a perfect morning, I've walked this track many times but running it required a lot of concentration. The pace was good and though I felt as though I was holding the group back they never let on, even stopping at times to look at a wombat or goat. Luckily no snakes this morning.

great spotting Tom

I was too busy looking at my feet to admire any scenery

cooling off post run

Trail running is a bit like hill running for me...I have to convince myself I like it. I know it is good for me and I just have to embrace it. Although the run was hard I enjoyed the challenge and getting to run with these nice people.

Highs and lows...

since my plan to get my running mojo back on track has been in place the strategies have been working well. Setting some goals, volunteering and the improvement in the weather has worked well. My runs have felt good. Until last Sunday when  we did the second race in the Spring into Shape series and it was hard. Running Buddy and I both struggled with the 10k course and hot morning posting dismal times and feeling wretched at the end. RB had crossed before me and was there to greet me as I crossed the finish line. Our embrace lasted longer than usual as I needed her support to stop from collapsing.

Some runs are hard.

2 runs since then put things into perspective and showed us one bad day is not the end.

I am stronger than my excuses...sometimes

The last day...

Erin had her last day of school, traditionally called Muck Up day has now turned into a more sedate, prankless fun day

the last walk

 They dressed up

 and said goodbye to their teachers

and to each other.

Because exams are yet to come the realisation of the finality hasn't hit yet.

After a relaxed morning they were sent home to prepare for the Valedictory Dinner. They swapped dress ups for formal wear and we headed into the city.

with the aptly named Mr Love, favourite teacher

Cheers to you Erin!

The evening was very nice with good food, some speeches and presentations, finished off with a little dancing. School is over. Fees are done. A new chapter begins.

The Melbourne Marathon...

One day this report will be a race report about my experience of running a full marathon and hopefully it will be a triumphant one reporting an achievable time.

This report is of my experience of volunteering at a drinks station, providing much needed fluid replacement to those who had finished their 42km run.

This happy group were kept very busy handing out water and electrolyte solution to the thousands that had participated. The elite athletes that came in first were ushered over to a VIP area, then we had the rush come through between 3-4 hours after the start gun.

 We were slammed, barely able to keep up with the demand, filling garbage bin sized buckets with fluids continuously. In the beginning we had neatly poured with a jug several thousand cups but as the rush came we were dipping the cups straight from the bucket and only just kept up.
After the 5 hour mark the line dwindled to a trickle and those runners looks more and more exhausted. More training perhaps would give them a better result in better condition. But they can all still call themselves marathoners and have the medal to prove it,
It was a good experience and we had some laughs. The Cerebral Palsy Education Centre who coordinated the 1500 volunteers did a great job and I hope they were able to get some benefit from providing this service. The runners were all very grateful and thankful which was nice. From my perspective volunteering had done what I wanted it to do. I felt like I had contributed, I am inspired by the participants and am renewed in my enthusiasm to run.

 I want to be back on the other side of the drinks table.

Run Ballarat...

I knew I wasn't ready for a half marathon and a long way off the full marathon so decided to do a 12km run with Mel in Ballarat.
Fundraising for the the Ballarat Children's Ward, running through the streets of Ballarat and around Lake Wendouree had much more appeal.

I felt ready to do this run but still found the hilly course a challenge. The last 2 kms around the lake were tough for me.

run ballarat course

It was lovely to be out in the sunshine, doing some physical activity, supporting a good cause.

I recently had a 7 day trial pass at a Fernwood Gym. I tried out some classes and was shown the equipment. It confirmed for me what I thought and that is I'm not a gym person. I like to do the physical activities I enjoy and don't want to feel I have to to justify the cost. I'll stick to running, tennis, cardio tennis sessions and try to find a casual pilates/yoga teacher.

Then I know I will keep it up.

My running plan...

My plan to get back on track is working. The first step was to have a plan and then to begin.

Yesterday was Parkrun and a sub 30 time

A nice sunny morning to get you in the mood and no swooping!

Today was the first of the Spring into Shape series in Melbourne, 10km along the Yarra River. Running Buddy and I ran 1:03. Pretty happy with that. A really great morning  and we got some samples of magnesium powder and a new singlet. Can't complain about that.

Without any prior consultation RB and I turned up in the same singlet AGAIN!

I am planning to do Run Ballarat and the next 2 in the Spring series and volunteer at the Marathon. it certainly helps that the sun is shining again, my mood has lifted with the rising of the temperature.

I think that will have me on back on the straight and narrow again

Post run blues...

I think I have this thing.

I have felt a bit flat and took myself off to have thyroid, iron and hormones tested, turns out the results are all normal. I've been trying to train but the cold weather is all the excuse I need not to get out and run. Then I came across this article... post run blues.

It identifies how I've been feeling since the high of our trip to Sydney for the City 2 Surf. I've read all the tips and now I need to set another goal to work towards. I have also put my name down to volunteer at the Melbourne Marathon, if I can't run in it I can still be involved as they suggest.

Helping out at Parkrun has been good and I'm heading off to try to get a PB in the morning