The past month (or so)

Has been pretty interesting.

I have achieved one of my major goals for 2009 - get a new job and move back to Melbourne. Yep, it's done. I drove down today and am camping with the parental until Wednesday when my furniture arrives and I can move into my new place.

It's been a hectic few weeks - I've driven the Hume more times than I care to attend interviews and house hunt. But it was worth it with two job offers in a matter of weeks, one of which is a job I've been wanting for many years (and not surprisingly is the job I took) and a nice big flat in a good area (fingers crossed). I've been keeping this under my hat because I developed a huge case of the superstitions once things looked like they might be coming together. I'm still having reservations about posting this now.

So, I'm waiting for the excitement to kick in because it is really exciting. I'm pretty sure it will happen once the moving is finished and I've started work and everyting is settled. Yay!

Excellent week

After a week of just putting my head down and trudging along the path I've come back out into the light.


I have, for the first time in a REALLY long time, managed to get through seven consecutive days where I've stayed on track with my food and it wasn't even a struggle. This gave me a massive boost of confidence. I then had two days of not quite so great tracking but as I went up to Brisbane on a flying visit for the majority of those two days, I'm actually quite OK with that.


My flying visit to Brisbane was at the request of my sister, who bought two tickets to Pink many, many months ago (as she is a massive fan). Unfortunately, her friends in Brisbane also had bought their own tickets, so she was left with a spare and really wanted to go with someone who would appreciate the show. She asked me, despite the fact that I am not a big Pink follower. But I do love music in general, especially live music, and the opportunity to spend a 'sister' day was too good to pass up. So off I flew to a lovely 26 degree Brisbane day on Thursday. It was fabulous! Sis and I hung out, shopped and had a great time; I had lunch with my grandma; and I must concede that the Pink show was good. I enjoyed myself, sang along with whatever bits of songs I knew, made up the words for the bits I didn't and most importantly, my sister absolutely loved the show and really enjoyed her experience. As an added bonus for me, seeing Pink strutting around on stage wearing next to nothing was fairly good motivation to stay on the path of good choices.


Flying back to Canberra on Friday morning to be greeted by my car fully encased in a block of ice at the airport was less enjoyable. And rude shock after the balmy Brisbane weather.


But overall, I had an excellent week and I'm looking forward to the next seven days being even better.

Fake it

'til you make it.

Taking it one step at a time

I'm breaking my six week challenge into smaller chunks.

It's about time I realised (or maybe just owned up to) that I have the attention span of a goldfish and am driven by immediate gratification. I will always choose the short term 'pay off' over a longer term gain. Six weeks is waaaay too long for me.

While this concept is not new to me, it was during this morning's run that I thought to myself I needed to change things. A 5km run for me is essentially 25 200m runs. Sure, I think about the 5km but to get me around the course I am having this sort of dialogue:

"OK, start running. Let's just get to the end of this row of trees."

"Good, now remember to keep your shoulders relaxed and let's make it to the bottom of the hill there."

"OK, hill, it's alright, you only have to make it to the top."

"Hill is done. Can't stop now so let's just get to the end of the bridge."

"It's all downhill now, easy! Focus on your breathing."

"And to the bottom of the next hill. I wonder how much longer it will take for them to finish fixing the path so I don't have to do this hill anymore?"

"Right, up this hill. It's an easy one and then there's only one more until the end."

"That wasn't that bad. Onto the flower beds."

And so on. I'm sure you have no interest in hearing the rest of my run because, trust me, it doesn't get any more interesting.

So, six weeks is now three lots of two weeks. And the first two weeks (which is nearly half way over already!!) I'm now taking one hour at a time. I'm hoping if I manage two really good weeks then the next two can be eased back a bit.

This is the two weeks:

Today has not quite gone to plan - I didn't do the 40 minutes on Tuesday (only did 34) so had wanted to do a 6km run this morning (which would take me to 40mins) but I got out of bed a little bit too late for that. If I get to work just 5 minutes too late, getting a shower is hell. But I pushed myself on the 5km and took off another minute (there were some happy dances once I'd got my breath back) and I'm happy with something over nothing. Breakfast was a success - oats - I love 'em! And now I'm on my daily coffee. Oh, and I've done one bottle of water - three more to go today.

I apologise in advance if this gets tedious for anyone who bothers to read - but as I've said before, it's all about me and getting what I want.

Now, I know I tend to bang on about it a fair bit, but I really do love winter in Canberra!



It is true that leaving the warm cocoon of my bed was an epic struggle. And it is also true that the cold air does terrible things to my asthma. And the cold and dry leaves my skin looking horrible and red and flakey.



But I don't care. I love scarves. I love coats. I love gloves. I love rosy cheeks. I love that everything looks clearer. I love trees changing colour. I love the contrast of bare branches against a clear sky at dawn. And I love that on my lovely cold frosty run this morning and I took another minute off my 5km-ish lake lap time.

Now I remember

Twelve boxes packed and it still looks like I've done nothing!

*cries*

I hate packing.

Running haiku

Ran with my running buddy K today. It always seems to go faster when you're chatting away to someone (even if you are gasping for air). Part of our usual path is closed at the moment so we had an added hill on the run. Yuck!!

I was inspired to write a haiku about this morning's run (don't worry, I won't give up my day job).

Two degrees this morn

Perfect running autumn day

Oh, I love it so!!

Random running ruminations

My past three weeks of relative inactivity showed themselves this morning. I was in struggletown for most of my run. But I finished the distance, albeit slowly.
It was cool this morning, but not really too bad. The Bureau of Meteorology are forecasting some zero degree days though for the rest of the week, so might have to find the old running gloves to complement my new headband – no cold ears for me today!
As you can see, I have decided to track my running – it’s really satisfying to see the time and distance add up (not that April is going to be that flash). I’m an instant gratification type girl. I don’t like waiting for my results. So by tracking my runs I’ve got something to hang onto until I get to my races. Not to mention it stops me from obsessing quite so much about my weight. Which has really been bugging me – I’ve been thinking about it so much but not getting anywhere (my own fault), which has led me into the negative thought cycle, which leads to destructive behaviour, and so on. But running makes me feel good, motivates me to eat better (so I run better) and I like doing it (even when I’m hating it). For some reason I forget that every now and then.
And before I sign off for today, one thing I saw this morning was three little bunnies nibbling away on the grass as I shuffled past them. I’m pretty sure rabbits are a feral pest that we don’t like (or is that just in farming areas?) but they were pretty cute.

Aw, shucks

I'm not sure if this fits in the definition of compliments, but I'm putting it there anyway.
A friend of mine told me this morning that the thing that gets her out of bed in the morning to jump on her treadmill is the knowledge that, at that particular moment, I will be out exercising too, and that my exercise may include running around a body of water in the dark (and soon to be cold).
While it's a little weird to think that I'm the first person she thinks of in the morning, it's a nice feeling to know that my early morning 'craziness' is an inspiration to others.
It made me all smiley all day.

Saturday morning running high

Did the Saturday morning run around Lake Ginninderra today and knocked over two minutes off the last run time! I am so happy! It's great to make such a big improvement and also to know that the pain I was feeling was justified.
It was an interesting run today also because we had a bit of fog today so for most of the run where we were alongside the lake it was if there was just nothing else but the bit of path we were on. You could see nothing but the 10 meters ahead of you and where the lake should have been was just white.

Chris gets her running groove back

I had a fantastic run this morning. For the first time in a long time I felt good during the whole run. OK, maybe when I first started it wasn't so good because my legs are still killing, but once everything warmed up it was fantastic.
My breathing was regular, I was relaxed and I felt like I could have just kept on running. Did the 7km run in 49 minutes this morning. Sure, it was a slow pace, but it was totally worth it. Because I know I'm getting my groove back.
Look out Melbourne Marathon.
I am so totally stoked.

Panic stations!

I had a running date this morning, and I had to pick up my running friend at 6.00am.

I woke up at 5.50am.

All I can say is thank goodness I got myself completely organised last night: My running clothes were all laid out on the lounge ready to be put on; my food for the day was packed; my work clothes and shower stuff was all packed in the work bag; and my gym clothes for this afternoon were all pack in their bag.

You have never seen anyone move as fast as I did this morning!

The good news is I got to my friend's house at 6.02am. Not bad.

It's all in my head

I had a mini psychological breakthrough this morning.

I have been running for quite some time now, and completed the Melbourne Half Marathon last year. So deep down inside I know that I have the ability to run (shuffle) at least 21.1kms. But after said half marathon I hurt myself and then didn't run for a few months. When I resumed running I started small - partly because I was still recovering from my injury and partly because I thought that was all I could do.
Here in Canberra we have a lake called Lake Burleigh Griffin that's in the middle of Canberra near Parliament House and all of that. It's a popular running spot and there's a loop you can do that includes the two bridges that span the lake. Once upon a time I used to run that loop regularly, but post-injury I've just thought that I couldn't. Well, guess what? I can! I did it this morning and it wasn't hard at all. I've just had it in my head that I couldn't do it.
My next task now is Lake Ginninderra - another lovely lake in Canberra which is a bit bigger than 'the loop'. It's down for Valentine's Day - my gift to myself!

My rainbow is what?!

So, I broke my rule of always updating my blog first and had a read of what was going on with everyone else. Why this rule? Because I'm an unconscious copier. I'll hear or see something and take it for my own. An absolutely appalling habit when spending time with people from overseas with non-Aussie accents because I start copying! I don't mean to and I really have to fight myself to stop it. It's embarrassing. Plus I've been accused of paying out on people and that is not my intention. Anyway, I'm worried I'll do the same thing here and all of a sudden start talking about thoughts, feelings and problems that I've just picked up from somewhere else.

And the point you were making?

I noticed on three blogs I read today this 'what colour is your rainbow' thing, and of course I gave it a go. And my rainbow is brown. BROWN!!!! Who on earth wants a freaking brown rainbow? Sure, there was some kind explanatory drivel after this declaration - but who cares about that when your rainbow is BROWN. I don't want a brown rainbow. Maybe if I take it again I can change it...

Crap. I'm still brown.

Cranky pants

Had physio this afternoon and I was hoping for an all clear on my knee, but I didn't get it. The short story is I stuffed my knee whilst undertaking the 'not to be underestimated' climb and descent of Mt Kinabalu in Borneo in November. It's an amazing experience but not to be taken lightly - and perhaps I did. But anyway, there's no point in crying over spilt milk (or something like that). I did it and am now suffering the consequences - I just wish the consequences would hurry up and get over their gloating so I can do the stuff that I want to do. The positive is I'm now down for a visit in 2-3 weeks which is an improvement on every week - take what you can get missy!

Did some nice intervals on the bike at the gym this morning - really must remember to bring my iPod next time. My music tastes and the gym's music tastes don't necessarily align.

Other than that, it's all boring, boring, boring. A Tuesday like any other.