Tuesday 26 March 2013

The Run That Nearly Didn't Happen

Sunday was D-Day for the Brisbane Twilight Run.  The race that I had entered so many months ago when I was really motivated and committed to a healthy me, was happening.  The main problem was, I was not the same lady who entered and I wasn't sure I wanted to do it !

We went up on Saturday (thank goodness) to collect my 'race pack' (read 'racing number, vest (which doesn't fit given my weight gain) and pages of advertising gumph') which was great because an accident along Coronation Drive on Sunday ate into the extra time that we had allowed ourselves to get there with plenty of time to spare.

We left home at 3pm for an event that was just on an hour away at 5pm.  At 4.56pm I think I made it to the starting area - I can tell you that I was not in a great frame of mind at that point !!!!!!

We had the brain wave to go via town seeing as Coronation Drive was a parking lot - what we had forgotten about was Brisbane Roar were playing at Suncorp Stadium - soooooooooooooooo the quicker way we thought we were going, was not that quick.  I don't know if it would have  been quicker to stay on Coronation Drive or not - we didn't find out.

We were apparently '5 mins - UQ is just around the corner' away when three corners later and streams of cars at each turn did nothing to slow down my heart.  A 'suggestion' (by the driver of the car) of maybe trying to go another way saw A (the driver) cop a heap of abuse from me - totally unfairly - it was my race I should have known where we had to go but because he has done so much work at the uni lately, I expected him to know what I had to be for my race !!!!

The race started and off I set - not very comfortable because I knew I hadn't done enough training and not only that, I am carrying 15kgs more than I was the last time I ran a 10km race.  There were plenty of water tables which was great.  I stopped and drank at each table - mainly to get my breath back but also because I am totally clumsy and cannot, if my life depended on it, drink out of silly little plastic cups while I am running !

Apparently I missed A the first time he saw me and was shouting to get my attention (I have tried to explain to him that when I am running there is very little that will distract me but clearly he thinks he has a greater pull for me than just 'any' distraction !!!!!!)  I did see him as I rounded the corner to go onto the bridge - mainly because there wasn't anyone close to me and he was standing on the railing, waving his arms and shouting my name !!!  That gave me a little oomph to get over the bridge.  At that point it had started to spit a little - but it was all good.

Fast forward another 2kms to just after the 4km mark - and the rain starts to come down.  By 5.5km, the wind is blowing so much I am having trouble just trying to walk into the wind, never mind trying to run into the wind.  The rain is hitting us horizontally and stinging like hell.  I spend a couple of steps trying to decide whether I can see better with my glasses on, with the rain on them or without them.  I finally decide that maybe without them is better so take them off and shove them in my bra.  They last about 6 steps in there and then I lose them - into the river that is now running along the road where we are trying very  hard to run, ankle deep in water, in the dark.  Some very kind lady behind me stops and helps me feel around for them and she eventually finds them - uncrushed thank goodness - so now I have to run the last 4kms carrying my glasses.  Not a major issue - just a pain in the jack.

At about 7km my legs felt so good, I even managed to speed up a little - well as much as you can when you are running in a river !!!  7km-9km were great !  My phone rang at 8.3km - it was A to say that the race had been called off (he forgot to mention that it was the 21km race that had been called off not the 10km as we still had to get to the end anyway) - anyway, I carried on and nearly missed him waiting at another spot along the way, cheering me on and bringing tears to my eyes (not that anyone could see thank goodness because of the rain still p*ssing down.)  At one point I wondered if the race was ever going to end - the 10km turned into 10.2km - still no end in sight (mainly because it is so bloody dark and still raining !!!) - turned into 10.4km - finally I could see the end.  Onto the athletics track and through the finish post (10.57km).  A must have sprinted from where he saw me last to the finish line as he was there as I came out the other side.

We walked up to the car and he opened the boot of the car and stood with the brolly over me to allow me to get out of my soaking wet clothes to put on the painting clothes that I had thrown into the car at the last minute before we left.  He suggested taking clothes to change into after the race, I was all "Na, can't be bothered - will just put a towel on the seat and change when I get home" - but I have been caught out a few times before when he has suggested something and I haven't done it when I should have.  So again, thank you Love for suggesting I take spare clothes to change into once the race was finished.

We left - I have no idea how long it took us to get out of the uni or to get home, when we got home I did see that A had stopped to buy some KFC, but I slept most of the way. Sleeping seems to be my most favoured past time over the past few weeks

Honestly, that man deserves a sainthood (I don't know if non-Catholics can get it but he certainly deserves it) - he has put up with the biggest amount of cr*p from me recently - the tears and the tantrums, the mood swings and the irritability, the tiredness and the weight gain, the pimples and the night sweats - he truly must love me because I have thought recently that, if I was him, I would have kicked me out already.

This is my last run until I lose this weight.  I will walk and I will cycle (only because we have entered a bloody event and I have to train for that !!) but I won't be running for a while.  The chaffing on the top of both of my arms is agonising today. 

While this wasn't the best run I have ever had, I did finish, and I wasn't last - so I was happy about that.  20 mins slower than my previous 10km run but I figured that carrying an extra 15kgs will probably do that to my time - add in the cr*ppy weather, the rivers we had to run through and the dark and I should probably be really happy that I finished at all !!!!!!

To my very dear, long suffering husband - you will never know just how important you are in my life.  I honestly don't know what I would do without you.  Your love, patience, understanding, support and strength are just amazing.  I know we promised to love each other for better or worse, in sickness and in health but I truly never imagined that I would give you the hard time that I have been giving you because of what my body is going through.  You are my rock and I love you more than words can say.

Because it is Tuesday it is time to link in with Essentially Jess for IBOT !

TFTD : I've learned that regardless of how hot and steamy a relationship is at first, the passion fades and there had better be something else to take its place.

(PS - during the night I was lying in bed and realised that A would have to die in order to be made a saint so I think that maybe, for now, he shouldn't be made a saint, he should stay exactly as he is !!!)

Friday 22 March 2013

Where Does The Time Go To ?????

I know that I have been MIA for a while - thank you to everyone who has been in touch with me to check that things are OK - I can't tell you how much I appreciate it !!!!

Because it is Friday, it means linking up with Miss Cinders from Saturday Morning Ogre Mum for Things I Know because, as we all know, we all know sh*t !!!!

- I know that I seem to be having more down days than up days and I need to be OK with this.  It is a process and I need to work through it.  A HUGE thanks to A for being so patient with me - to be honest, if I was married to me I think I would have asked me to leave a little while ago - he has the patience of a saint !!

- I know that taking time off work only provides temporary relief.  I wonder how much I could cut our expenses to allow me to stop working for 12 months ? I'm thinking that won't really be a solution because struggling financially would probably land up being more stressful for me.

- I know that LydiaCLee from Where The Wild Things Were posted about online friends who go quiet - and then I got stuck in the middle.  I won't often post if I don't have something positive / up beat to say - I don't like to post Negative Nelly stuff - not because I don't want to share what is happening and have people think that my life is all bright, fluffy and cheerful - but more because I don't want to chase my readers away with NN posts.  I didn't look at it from the perspective of posting about the cr*p and getting the support of  my online friends.  I know that if I read a post and it sounds like the person is battling I try to say something up lifting or get in touch with them to see if there is anything I can do to help - why I would think that people don't want to read about the downs in my life, I don't know ?

- I don't know what has happened with my blog.  I haven't posted for 2 weeks (Last post was Friday 8th March 2013) and there have been 893 page views since then - which is an average of 64 posts per day.  Who on earth is clicking on here when I haven't even posted anything ?  This, I don't know.

- I know that I have a 10km event to run on Sunday at 5pm at UQ in Brisbane.  I know that I have not done nearly enough training for it.  I know that this worries me.  I know that I will be happy so long as I finish the 10km and don't come last.  I know that next time I think it is a great idea to book an event so far in advance, I will check with someone sensible before registering for said event.

- I know that today is Friday and I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO happy I could do the happy dance - which would be totally OK as I am the only one in the office right now so it isn't as though anyone would laugh at me.  I don't think I could have got through another day to get to the weekend (even if above mentioned 10km run is taking place on this particular weekend !!!)

- I know that A has invited people over for dinner tomorrow night and, once they get there, we will enjoy ourselves, but man I wish I didn't have to cook a meal that is required to be edible by visitors !!  It's so much easier when it is just the two of us and I say "I don't feel like eating anything - can you get something for yourself ?"

- I don't know how to choose who to sponsor through Kiva - do I pick by country, by sex, by trade/requirement, by age, by how close they are to getting their full loan ?  There are so many deserving candidates but I have limited funds to sponsor here.  Any ideas ?

Now that I have remembered that I have to prepare dinner for tomorrow night, I had better get looking through allrecipes.com.au for some inspiration.

Thanks again Miss Cinders for hosting the TIK linky - always good to join in.

Have the best Friday and a fantastic weekend !!!!

TFTD : Don't change so people will like you.  Be yourself and the right people will love the real you.

Friday 8 March 2013

YAY It's Friday ......

which means it is link-up time with Miss Cinders from Saturday Morning Ogre Mum for Things I Know.

So, here goes (it will probably be a little extensive this week due to me being on leave from social media this week !)

- I know that today is the best I have felt all week - wonder if the sun has anything to do with it ?

- I know that I had been on the verge of a complete meltdown which happened on Monday night.  Thank goodness A was there to pick up the pieces otherwise they may all still be scattered around the shower.

- I know that I have missed my on-line friends this week as I have not been on twitter / FB / Instagram / blogs but I also know that I don't want to be known as a Negative Nelly so if I don't have something nice / positive / good to say, I am best off being quiet and just being with A at home.

- I know that K passed her police entrance exam and now moves onto the next stage - of which one thing is to go for a medical on Monday morning.

- I know that having K cook two nights a week is a great idea - it means that I can go for a run without feeling like I am letting the family down because dinner won't be ready until late (having said that, when she cooks we don't seem to eat much before 7.30 or 8pm. Why, oh why, do you only go shopping for dinner at 5pm when you have been home all day / afternoon as you didn't have to go in for jury duty ?)  Maybe I shouldn't complain and instead make it 3 nights a week that she cooks !!!

- I know that I haven't run nearly enough kms in training for the 10km event on 24th March, but, that is OK, at the end of the day, the world will not come to an end if I have to walk some of the way or if I don't do it in a 'good enough' time !!! (Because what is a good enough time really ?  It's not like I am ever going to run a 3min km or even a 6min km but that is OK - whatever exercise I do manage to do is more than if I sat at home watching TV.)

- I know that my eyes are good for another 12 months - given that I have aritificial lenses in both eyes I would be surprised if they weren't good for the rest of my life !!  I will need some laser work done in the next couple of years as there is some clouding of the back pocket in both eyes but it is not something I need to worry about just yet.

- I know that my folks are leaving to go on holiday for a month and I am going to miss them dreadfully !!!!  Travel safe old people, and make sure you come back home happy and in one piece !!!!  We will miss you while you are gone - thank goodness for e-mail !

- I know that I am more grateful than I can say for my on-line friends.  You truly are an amazingly supportive bunch of people who do so much to help me.  I really do appreciate each and every contact with you.

- I know that I am looking forward to catching up with Gillian from Tessiegirl and Trudie from My Vintage Childhood tomorrow.

- I know that I am sorry that I missed out on joining in the lovely linkies this week - but things happen and sometimes it is easier to go with the flow than try to fight it.  A keeps reminding me that everything is OK and that, this too, will pass.  (If only I wasn't so impatient !!!!)

- I know that this week has been a bit of a nightmare and that today is Friday which means that it is nearly time for the weekend. 

- I know that I have a big run planned tonight and so I ask the weather gods to please look down favourably on me and let the weather be good enough to run in.

Have a fantastic Friday and the best weekend ever !

TFTD : It's hard to beat a person who never gives up - Babe Ruth

Friday 1 March 2013

Conversations with ........

The lovely Josefa at always Josefa is hosting her monthly linky - "Conversations with ....." - this month it is conversations with my hairdresser.

Due to the fact that my hair has always been extremely straight, when I find a good hairdresser who knows how to cut straight hair, I tend to stick with them rather than try someone new.  For all that I am not really fussed about clothes or shoes, I cannot stand my hair being badly cut !

Anyway, the hairdresser that I went to when we first arrived in Australia was a lovely lady BUT it got to the point where she was too vain to wear glasses and I would get home and have to give myself a tidy up trim because there were bits and pieces all over the place that she had missed.

Then, through a fellow therapist, I found another hairdresser.  Someone who worked from her salon at home.  Someone who worked a couple of evenings a week.  Someone who could cut straight hair.  And I went to her.  What I didn't know was that she could talk the hind leg off a donkey !!!  She doesn't keep quiet from the minute you walk in there to when you leave which can be a little annoying when sometimes, after a day at work, I just want peace and quiet.  Never mind, she can cut straight hair and so I put up with it.

I have probably been going to her for about 8 or 9 years now and in all that time I have only ever really had my hair trimmed - until 2011.  In the past I have had hair styles from pixie to bobs to half way down my back, to Princess Di side sweeps, peanut perms, highlights, lowlights, semis - I have never been blonde and I have never dyed my hair but other than that I have pretty much given most things a try - except with her.  With her I had only ever had my hair trimmed and a semi put through it.

In January 2011, I applied for and was appointed to the job that I am currently in.  My hair was half way down my back.  Thick, dark and in really good condition.  A week before I was due to start in this role, I decided a change was as good as a holiday, new job, new hairstyle - so made an appointment and went to see her.

After telling her what I wanted, she spent the next 20 mins checking to make sure that was what I really wanted.  I don't know if she was trying to convince me or herself but I told her I wanted to go ahead with it.  Eventually she obliged and I went from having hair half way down my back to a pixie cut.  Luckily my weight was down at the time and so it really suited me.  The first day at my new job they didn't recognise me when I walked in the door as my hair had been long at both the interviews that I had been to !!!

I have never seen anyone so nervous to cut my hair as she was that day.  My theory is that it will always grow back so, be daring and see what happens.

Thanks Josefa for hosting - always good to have a lovely linky to prompt me !!!!

Have the best weekend - to those on the Gold Coast, I believe we are in for another wet weekend which sucks big time.  I want some sun to come out !!!

TFTD : Don't change so people will like you.  Be yourself and the right people will love the real you.

Things I Know

YAY - finally, Friday has arrived which means that it is time to link in with Grace from With Some Grace for FYBF and Miss Cinders from Saturday Morning Ogre Mum for Things I Know because, as she rightly puts it, we all know sh*t !!

- I know that, this week after my comment to MC in her post during the week, karma came to bite me on the butt - I found two grey hairs in the front of my hair !!  I can't tell you how much I laughed when I found the first one - the second one had me going on the loo rather than pee my pants !!!!!  Maybe I am going to have to get that dye out sooner rather than later !

- I know that this weather is sucky and that I have thoroughly enjoyed the sun for the few hours it was out on Saturday and yesterday - but oh, if only it stayed for a little longer when it did make an appearance.  It reminds me of some super star - just gives you a hint of their time and then they bugger off with their entourage through closed doors to do whatever they do behind closed doors !

- I know that today is the start of autumn - I am hoping that cooler weather is on it's way.  Please note - only cooler weather required - not more rain, ok ?

- I know that I have been for two runs this week and they both felt relatively good.  I know that the rain will not melt me if I go running in it - I just have to remember not to wear my glasses as I can't stand rain on my glasses !!

- I know that I am going to go for at least another two runs this week which, together with two PT sessions, 1 x 90 minute massage and 2 x 60 min massages means I have done my best to give my body a good workout this week. 

- I know that my eating has not been as good as it could have been.  K has cooked twice this week so we have had two dinners without protein (for some reason she seems to pick rice/pasta/vegetarian dishes to cook BUT hey, I don't have to cook so I am not complaining !!!!).  I know that going to training 45 mins later than normal, then coming home and getting ready for a client, then chatting to said client until nearly 9.30pm before having two slices of toast with nutella for dinner is probably not the best way to treat my body !

- I know that I am looking forward to catching up with a friend tomorrow morning for a reflexology treatment and then a 'catch up chat' - my abs will be getting a great workout.  So, if you are around the Gold Coast tomorrow at about lunch time and hear some raucous laughter from two 'ladies' - it may very well be us !

- I know that I thoroughly enjoyed my lazy Sunday last weekend - and if the weather continues the way it has been, I may very well be having another lazy Sunday this weekend !

- I know that I love linkies 'cos they give me something to write about when all else fails and I hit a blank !

Have the most fantastic Friday !

TFTD : Courage is the discovery that you may not win, and trying when you know you can lose - Tom Krause

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