Its Just Running

The day was an absolute spanking one for the MM yesterday, perfect conditions!  Met up with RJ around 9:30am and we hung around St Kilda Road opposite the Transport waiting for Flick (CR) to come through who was doing the half.  Saw her and gave her a mighy cheer  She got quite a mouthful of abuse from a runner as she waved back and crossed towards us, how bloody rude, no need for that!! 

We then started walking to our start line, well where we thought the start line was but in actual fact wasn’t.  Had to ask someone where it was   We were so organised, not!  Now because I talked RJ into doing this run, I promised her we would stick together and cross the finishing line together no matter what.  We started at the back of the pack and not long after the start found ourselves walking due to the congestion of people.  Even though the plan was to walk bits as RJ needed, we found ourselves walking when we wanted to run which was annoying.  We plodded along slowly with about two bottleneck areas of congestion.  Have to say crossing the Swan Street Bridge was a bit hairy as it was not blocked off.  All those people trying to cross bridge and stay off the road with cars driving past was quite challenging to say the least.   It didn’t seem to be that long before we found ourselves going up over the Bridge that leads down towards “the G” (?William Barak).  I think that was where we saw Jaykay and Sassycil zoom past us.  RJ was feeling like total crap and feeling a little dizzy and was having a one minute walk break.  Started to plod again down the bridge and before we knew it there’s the “500m to go” sign, WHAT THE???  Surely we hadn’t nearly completed the 5km.  As we entered the MCG, I somehow lost RJ!  I started to panic because I promised her I was going to cross the line with her.  So I pulled over to the side and looked back and forward, then ran back but couldn’t see her anywhere.  I was thinking what a terrible friend I am and that I was never going to hear the end of it Anyway ran back a little more and finally spotted her!  So we did end up crossing the line together thankfully   Collected our medal, had a drink and then collected our showbag.  Walking up to the Transport we had the big discussion on how we both rock because it was the first Fun Run in an eternity and we walked/ran it and we managed to get ourselves a pb, pmsl! 

Arrived at the Transport and the smiles were wiped of our faces when Andrew(ajh) and Jaykay informed us the course was in fact 4km!!!!  So in the end our time was the same as our usual 5km time but we only did 4km   Aahh well, at least we were out there doing something

Really great to have a chat and a drink with Jaykay, Andrew and meet Sassycil and Shells.  Had a good chat with Flick and caught up with many other Cool Runners as well.  A lot of happy runners around thats for sure.  Saw and chatted to Sara who was in full police uniform!  Hey Sara, on the CR site, someone commented on the cute policewoman who called out “Go Coolrunner”   It was a really great afternoon and of course has motivated me to no end.  Definitely will be doing the Half Marathon next year at MM and hopefully improve on last years time. 

Can’t end this post without a special mention to Alisonjc and Mrs Wombat who honestly seriously rock on their Full Marathon achievement……. inspirational stuff!!

Ok, I have had the insane moment and have entered the 5km at MM!!  I just couldn’t let it go by and have to say it was completely the social side of things that tipped me    The sort of bright side is it only cost $50 instead of $55 that was advertised on page of entry fees.  Really looking forward to catching up with everyone and of course, Jaykay, the mandatory drinks at the Transport afterwards!  I was going to contact you re:  running buddies but somehow, and I honestly don’t know how, but I managed to talk RJ aka “c RJ run”  into doing it as well!!!  She has done absolutely no running for an eternity because she has been busy with her brother getting their new business venture up and running.  When I spoke to her on the phone I said, it’s going to be 22 degrees, a beautiful sunny morning, we can leisurely walk run it and then have champagne at the Transport with the ausrunners and coolrunners afterwards   Aaahhh,  the power of persuasion.  Now I have to work out how the hell I am going to get to the MCG before Sunday to pick up race packs!

I was thinking about this event and I realised that I have now done the 10km (07), the Half Marathon(08) and this year it will be the 5km.  Hhhmmm, that just leaves the Full Marathon to have completed all events………

Went for a run down at Princes Park this morning and it was already quite humid by the time I set off.  Had a bit of a sleep in so I didn’t get there until about 8.30am.  All felt good apart from normal pain in the butt   I ended up having to cancel two physio appointments and have it rescheduled now for 6th Feb!   Have to make sure I get to this one as my physio is getting married and having a month off after that. 

Have been running consistently since Sri Chinmoy and jumped ship from Weight Watchers to Calorie King a few days ago.  I was getting really bored with WW and so far so good on the Calorie King wagon!

Driving home from PP this morning I drove past a burst water main and felt it was worth a drive back to show the kids.

I almost didn’t make this run today as I slept in and nearly decided to just roll over and go back to sleep.  What got me there was that I had made the decision that this was the run that was going to get me back on track.  I managed to get out the door by 7am.  After parking and registering, I made my way to the traditional toilet queue   After about 10 minutes with the line moving very slowly and after each person coming out saying, “eeewww grosssss”, I decided to make my way to one of the toilets on Royal Parade.  Just wasn’t sure I could face anything gross that early in the morning!  I had 20 minutes up my sleeve so went for a jog there and back.  As I was approaching the start line, I realised that they were about to start any second so I didn’t get time to get my breathe back.  My watch must have been 5 minutes slow  

I struggled today   I know I haven’t ran since the 10km Sussan run but I wasn’t expecting it to feel quite so bad.  At 2kms I felt as though I needed to walk and the self talk at this stage was very abusive!  I managed to hold off until the drink station and then walked for 1 minute.  My lower back has been giving me quite a bit of grief even though I haven’t been doing any form of exercise.  I thought maybe rest might help it but it hasn’t at all.  I also think driving back from Lakes Entrance for 3 and 1/2 hours non stop on Thursday may have aggravated it as well.  Anyway, started running again and had another walk break at the incline just after the underpass :(  At this stage I was feeling very disgruntled with performance.  Finished in 32 minutes   I know I can do better than that!

I was talking to one of the Coolrunner’s afterwards and I said to him that I couldn’t believe that I had ran a half marathon only 3 months ago and I struggled more today than I did in that.  He said to me, “don’t look back, just look forward”……….  I really liked that comment and thats what I am going to do.  Needless to say, I have a physio appointment on Thursday  

It was just what I needed today, to get out there with all the other runners and have a good chat afterwards.  There are some really inspiring people in the running community and even though I am not fantastic at running, I love being a part of it

It has been quite hectic in my household and we are in school holiday mode. We have RJ’s two boys over for a few days and with the my two boys, to say it is noisy, is a bit of an understatement My boys received the World Tour Guitar Hero Playstation kit which has drums, guitars and a microphone, get the picture! They are loving it but I am not sure about the neighbours, had no complaints yet but waiting! They have also been trying to break their record of staying up late and I can confidently say they broke it last night or this morning I should say. It was around 6.30am so I am looking forward to a quiet day

 Its RJs birthday today and she is coming over later this arvo with her hubby and we are all going out for dinner at the local Zagames. The food is not too bad and they have an indoor playground to keep the pesky 5 year busy. The boys keep themselves occupied with the $2 machines to try and lift crappy toys out of it so we should be able to relax a little, or at least until they run out of two dollar coins.

 I have an interview tomorrow at a Nurses agency so that I can start working when I get back from our beach holiday. It feels very weird re-entering the work force and this is the longest I have ever been not working. I am a little nervous but I know it won’t take long to get back into the swing of things and then I will be right. I will do agency until I can work out where I really want to be and what sort of shifts to do. I think at this stage I am leaning towards night duty shifts. As much as I use to hate doing stints of night duty, I think this will be the easiest way to keep up other commitments with the kids. It won’t be full-time so I am pretty sure I will be able to manage it.

 Can anyone one enlighten me, I have been trying to add a flickr badge with my photo’s onto my blog page but I can’t seem to do it? Not sure where I am going wrong…..  when I right click the feed link, I can’t see how I can copy and paste it onto wordpress.  I have also tried putting the jpg link from actual photo into the wordpress flickr line but even though link goes into box, the photo doesn’t show??  It has been a daily ritual of  trolling the help forums in flickr and wordpress and it is driving me up the wall!!!  I am always a doofus when it comes to computer techo stuff

 Happy New Year everyone and I will probably post again when we get back from Lakes Entrance

Quick post……..  Merry Christmas everyone!!  Another year nearly over, boy they seem to be flying.  Up with the birds this morning, my two boys were up at 5:15am!  I thought I would try and pull them into line and sent them back to bed with the time of 7am to get up.  That lasted until 5:50am and I gave up!  They were so excited about opening their presents

Had a nice breakfast and I have already had 2 glasses of champagne and orange juice   I am sitting here in my new Elmo Pj’s that I received for Christmas, they are so cute!!  I might wear them to the in-laws today.

Have a safe and happy Christmas everyone