Friday 28 September 2012

Handstand Shenanigans!

Yesterday I read the Facebook Status of a friend of mine who it would seem has taken up CrossFit. - if you don't know what that is Google it, it looks like an intense workout and I'm going to try it one day, soon. Anyway the status read: 'Handstands are not my forte!'  I don't know about you all but the last time I attempted a handstand I was probably about 13 and I wasn't very good at them then. But the Idea was planted.
'A handstand hey? Mmmm, do I dare?' 
I didn't dare, not at first. The Idea grew and it got a voice. Just a tiny one like it came from a fairy sitting on my shoulder.
'A handstand could be fun.' And that was all. I went to bed and in my dream I wasn't just handstanding, oh no sirree Bob, I was cartwheeling. Then I woke up. Did I dare try? I went to RPM without dwelling on it but during track 6 - while I was happily shaking what my Momma gave me - the Idea made a guest appearance. The voice was louder more like a cheerleader (actually may have been the voice of my RPM instructor Commander Ally)
'You could definitely do a handstand! Just do it!'
I don't like to disobey Ally so her voice in my head was the push I needed. I left with the intention of trying it. Later. Later came and I stood in my bedroom - no way I was trying this outside. Handstand up against a wall - how hard can that be right? I couldn't do it. I tried a few times and it just wasn't happening. I gave up and went back to the gym instead.
Still the Idea persisted. In fact, the Idea formed the Handstand Idea Support Group. Ally's voice was joined by more voices all offering advice. It was a noisy affair in my head - I think they had wine.
'Probably just your technique, try again.'  Totally! My technique is non existent.
'See if you can find a You Tube video to remind you how it's done' Cheeky! I have a good memory.
'Lose your fear of falling, hurting yourself and give in to the motion.'  Interesting. I was afraid I'd fall.
On and on these thoughts came, the HISG were a persistent lot.

There is a happy ending. The Handstand Idea Support Group has been disbanded. Their mission was accomplished. Shortly before I began to write this blog I decided to give The Handstand another attempt. First attempt fail, second attempt fail, third attempt we gained some momentum and with that confidence. And I am very happy to announce that on my fourth attempt I, Super Jay, did my very first Handstand in about 23 years!
And now I can't stop doing them. Use it or lose it they say. Well I'm going to do Handstands till I can't no more.

Go on, I dare you!  It feels awesome!

Thursday 27 September 2012

Thankful Thursday #4

I can't remember the first book I read. I'm guessing it was probably the same book everyone else in my class at school read - Kathy and Mark doing something with their dog (was he called Skip?). I do remember being read to and, though I'm sure my Mom must have read to us, it is of my Dad reading to my brothers, sister and I that I recall in the greatest detail. Sometimes Bible Stories from a Children's Bible Story book. I remember that book clearly. Hard-cover  brown and yellow cover, big and heavy. David and Goliath. Jonah and the whale. Daniel in the Lion's Den. All gripping stuff. We loved it. 
Of course, there was also Hans Christian Anderson - we were introduced to 'Thumbelina', 'The Steadfast Tin Soldier' and 'The little Match Girl'. I think my Dad's favourite book though was Grimm's Fairy Tales. He read these grim tales from a dusty tome of a book. Sometimes he would read out the names of the stories and we would choose the one we wanted but mostly I think he always had a particularly story in mind when he chose this book . They were a little darker than Hans Christian Anderson stories. I loved them. Tales like 'One-Eye, Two-Eyes and Three-Eyes', 'The Griffin' and 'The shoes that were danced to pieces.' 
I have very fond memories of my Dad reading to us in the bottom lounge (I'll explain this name one day).We would all sit or lie on the shaggy white carpet and he would sit in a comfy brown chair. At the end of every story we would talk about it - our favourite characters; the ones that scared us or we didn't like; and always a lesson would be snuck in before he sent us off to brush our teeth and jump into bed. Then my parents would come around and tuck us in and kiss us goodnight. Happy Times. 

This is where my love for reading and imagining began. I'm thankful today that my parents read to us and I'm thankful for all the books I have read and still have to read. I hope that tonight children are being tucked up in bed with their heads filled with stories of enchantment, courage, bravery, happily ever afters and a little bit of magic so that their dreams can lead them to great adventures. 

Monday 24 September 2012

Once and for all

Hello Monday! Start of a promising new week. Much must be accomplish. One of my favourite quotes from Alice in Wonderland is when Alice says to the Hatter: 'This is impossible' and he responds with: 'Only if you believe it is.'

If I think back over the last few years I could probably list a few things that I never thought I would achieve, that I just thought would be impossible for me. Running especially. I used to say: 'I'll never run, just not built for it, hate it, can't do it.'  and now I'm training to run my first 21km race.

That's only a small example. Made it to the halfway mark for the 12 week Challenge on Saturday. It got me thinking back to the last time I got to the halfway mark on a Challenge. I had different goals then: Wedding Day goals mostly. It gave me a big thing to focus on. This time my big thing is getting to my final goal, once and for all. To getting to the end of this journey, once and for all. To be the fittest, strongest and leanest I've ever been, once and for all. This is my 'Once and for all' Challenge.

At times these last few kilos have seemed like the impossible dream but I refuse to believe it. I am going to get to my final goal in the next 6 weeks. I am just going to do it. To quote Alice again: 'It's no use going back to yesterday because I was a different person then.'

I wish you all a fabulous week of great things - whatever you want those things to be just let them and they will be.
I leave you with the quote below from one of the wisest of men:

Nelson Mandela
 Thanks Pinterest!

Thursday 20 September 2012

Thankful Thursday #3

Truthfully this thankful Thursday timed itself tremendously and terrifically well. Tired to the tips of my tiny toes and tickled turquoise that today turned up I must tout that this Thursday's thankful thoughts to Thursday be bestowed.

Try this task: tell the above twice or thrice through to testify to the T and be thankful that it is Thursday!

Toodooloo!

Wednesday 19 September 2012

Bye Bye Winter

I can officially declare Winter is over. Yes, I'm aware that I do not wield the kind of power to decide that it shall be cooler or warmer. Cape or no cape. Yet. Imagine if I did. Awesome, let's do that.

I could wake up in the morning and decide how I want the weather to be based on what my plans are for the day or perhaps on what I want to wear. The possibilities are endless. I could even take requests, for a small donation of course. Every girl wants perfect weather on her wedding day.  Every child in a hot country wishes just once the could have a white Christmas. Every holiday maker wishes they had to be stranded for a few more days because a mysterious weather condition is preventing planes from taking off - yet the weather on the ground is perfect. The list could be endless. The possibilities revolutionary.
That kind of power actually sounds like way too much responsibility. I guess with all great power comes great burden. I'd be hounded day and night. This would not end well. I'd have to lose the cape and find a wig, a moustache (every disguise needs a moustache) and a quirk - like a twitchy eye or a limp. The best disguise is sometimes when every notices you and therefore does not suspect you.

Anyway, the actual reason why I declare Winter to be over is because I went for a swim today. I do not swim in Winter so my powers of deduction deducted:

Swim + Super Jay ≠ Winter.

The End.




Tuesday 18 September 2012

Let's play!

I'm absolutely shattered! Just burned around 1200 calories with a bonus Kane Pain session followed up with an awesome Step Class. I'm actually quite impressed that I'm able to type considering what young Mister Kane put my upper body through tonight.

I let my Inner child come out and play at gym tonight. Every time they launch a new round of Les Mills programs at the gym we normally have some sort of theme class - wear pink, green, purple - you get the idea. This time red the colour but the theme was Super Heroes. One of the ladies in the class decided to get her Mom to make some of us black capes with our names on them. Put a bunch of adult women in capes and they turn into giggling adolescents or maybe even pre-adolescents in my case. Loved it!

I know everyone at some point wishes they could be a kid again. If I count the amount of times I've heard someone say 'I'd love to go back to school knowing what I know now' or even one friend who said she'd go back knowing what she knew then just for the social side and the relatively worry free existence we had back then. The first one I don't understand. The second one I get.

I liked the feeling of the cape. The feeling you can play pretend and not care a sausage. People looked and mostly they smiled. I reckon half of them were thinking, 'Aw a cape, I wish I had a cape!'
And me I wanted to say just one thing to them: 'Naaaa naa, nun naaa naa!'

So it's official. Super Jay has her very own cape. Look out Cleveland I may wear mine to go running.

Off you go now, go play.


Monday 17 September 2012

Just another Manic Monday!

Knowing well enough Monday is a day I battle to get motivated a few months ago I started giving myself a kick start with a 5:45am RPM class. I still fight with myself every Monday. New me versus Old me. Old me never wins anything lately. Thankfully New me is so awesome that Old me holds no grudges. In fact I think Old me has a girl crush on New me. Well I would if I were the Old me.

Anyway. The kick start works. It sets my whole week off on the right foot - which is a good foot for me to start on as it is so much stronger than my left. I should stop trying to make jokes on a Monday. It is my least funny day of the week. By Friday I'm hilarious!
This week I need to shake things up a little. Saturday marks the halfway point for the 12 week Challenge. I'm a little excited, a little nervous. I've been working hard but I'm thinking it is a good week to try something new, to add something into the mix, just add that little extra spice. I want to be sure when I'm standing on those awful scales I did everything possible up to that point to get good results.

I found one of my mantra's on Pinterest today. I've only just started using Pinterest and I'm worried it may become another addictive Procrastination tool. So much to look at and time goes. Poof! Gone forever and what have I gained? Well it does make me a little happier. I think that is because I'm yet to find anything negative on there. It's all light, bright, cheerful and amusing.

I leave you for today with the note below. Thanks Pinterest.  This is my aim for the week.

Pinned Image

Sunday 16 September 2012

Matrimonial Bliss - the old-fashioned way.

Before my wedding one of my friends gave me two little books. Published in 1913. Both written by the same author. One Blanche Ebbutt.  They're red and blue. The Red One is called 'DON'TS FOR WIVES'.  The Blue One, can you guess? That's right! 'DON'TS FOR HUSBANDS'. 

I expected these books to be cover to cover hilarity but as I've browsed through them I found myself nodding at few times, passing on some of the wisdom to my husband from whom I just get a 'Yes Dear'  and laughing out loud at advice that even if I tried to follow my husband might think I'd gone completely loopy.  Now I'll admit I'm a bit of an old fashioned girl in some things - I didn't think my thinking dated back to 1913 though.

The Red Book is divided into 12 chapters: Personalities; How to avoid Discord; Habits; Financial Matters; Evenings at home; Jealousy; Recreation; Food; Dress; Entertaining; Household Management; Children.
The Blue Book is divided into 11 chapters: General Habits; Personal Relations; Jealousy; Hints on Finance; Household matters; Recreation and Holidays; Health; Dress; Hobbies; Food; Children.

Some of my favourites from the Red Book:

  • 'Don't vegetate as you grow older if you happen to live in the country. Some women are like cows, but there is really no need to stagnate. Keep both brain and body on the move.'
  • 'Don't 'manage' your husband too visibly. Of course, he may require the most careful management, but you don't want your friends to think of him as a hen-pecked husband. Above all, never let him think you manage him.' 
  • 'Don't open the door for yourself when your husband is present. He would open it for a lady guest, let him open it for you. Besides, your boys will not learn the little courtesies that count nearly so well by precept as by example.'
  • 'Don't be satisfied to let your husband work overtime to earn money for frocks for you. Manage with fewer frocks.'
  • 'Don't omit the kiss of greeting. It cheers a man when he is tired to feel that his wife is glad to see him home.'
  • 'Don't be jealous of your husband's acquaintance with other women. you don't want him to think you are the nicest woman in the world because he never sees any others, but because he sees plenty and still feels that you are the only one in the world for him. Have nice girls about the house pretty frequently.'
  • 'Don't object to your husband getting a motor-bicycle; merely insist that he shall buy a side-car for you at the same time.'
  • 'Don't forget to 'feed the brute' well. Much depends on the state of his digestion.'
  • 'Don't talk to your husband about anything of a worrying nature until he has finished his evening meal.'
  • 'Don't let your husband wear a violet tie with grass-green socks. If he is unhappily devoid of the colour sense, he must be forcibly restrained, but don't be sarcastic about your husband's taste in dress. Be gently persuasive and train his sense of fitness.'
And from the Blue Book:

  • 'Don't drop cigarette ash all over the drawing-room carpet. Some people will tell you that it improves the colours, but your wife won't care to try that recipe.'
  • 'Don't flourish a grimy handkerchief about because you have forgotten to take a clean one out of your box or your drawer. If your wife provides you with a reasonable stock, you might at least take the trouble to remember to use them.'
  • 'Don't omit to bring home an occasional bunch of flowers or a few chocolates. Your wife will value even a penny bunch of violets for your thought of her.'
  • 'Don't object to your wife going out with another man if you can't take her yourself - so long as you know and approve of the man.'
  • 'Don't be afraid of lending a hand in the house during a temporary servant difficulty, or if you keep no servant. It will do you no harm at all to learn to light a fire or clean a pair of boots, and be sure your wife will have to do plenty of things she is unaccustomed to.'
  • 'Don't say it is no fun to go out cycling with your wife because she can't "scorch." It will do you no harm to ride more slowly than usual, and your company will give her a great deal of pleasure. Her "going slow" is one of the secrets of her chances of longer life. Take her with you, and you will avoid that overtaxing of the arteries which leads to premature old age.'
  • 'Don't insist on wearing your hair or your moustache in a style you know she hates. Just try it another way to please her.'
  • 'Don't get up too late to eat a decent breakfast before starting out for your day's work. It is bad for you go without, and will worry your wife.'
As much as we may chuckle at some of the advice there is something to be said for heeding it - perhaps adapting it into a more modern context. Bringing back some old fashioned courtesies could make this modern, fast paced world a kinder, happier place. 

Do something without expecting anything in return for someone else today. I guarantee that seeing someone else smile at the smallest gesture will make you smile too.


Thursday 13 September 2012

Thankful Thursday # 2

Thursday came around mighty quick. After many thoughts one thought keeps popping back in to override the others. I spend so much time focussing on all the big, bold things in my life that I've to be thankful for that I'm forgetting to simply appreciate all the little things.

Today I'm declaring that I am thankful for all the little things. Everyday is filled with so many little things and I hardly notice them today I've taken notice:
  • I am thankful for my good morning hug and kiss from my husband - I'm beautiful in the morning. 
  • Ever so grateful for my first perfect cup of coffee - yes, I need my coffee in the morning. 
  • For my car starting happily.
  • For the friendly smile from a stranger at the gym.
  • For the wave from a friend.
  • For the high five from Kane after trying to break me this morning.
  • For my second perfect cup of coffee with my hard earned breakfast. I've mentioned how much I do love breakfast.
  • My long, hot shower.
  • The clothes that hang a little looser on me. 
  • For the hot sun and the cool breeze.
  • 100% mark on a chapter test. 
  • The sweet message from a friend. 
  • The smell of clean washing when you open the machine. 
  • The sounds of sirens heading away from me. 
  • My favourite song playing when I turned on my radio.
  • This feeling I have right now. A peacefulness, a serenity - possibly the desire to have a long, undisturbed nap.  

These are my little things so far today and I'm only just passed halfway. Life is awesome! 
I leave you with the words of one Ferris Bueller: 'Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.' 

Wednesday 12 September 2012

Ride em Cowboy!

Tonight I'm going to talk to you about Saddlebags! No I'm not referring to the pair of pouches that hang over the back of a horse. I do wish the ones I am referring to were as easy to remove. Alas, they are not. I speak of the fat located around the hips, thighs and buttocks. 'Ahhh!' You declare. 'Those saddlebags!'
Yes, those very ones. 

Have you ever googled : Saddlebags? I did today. Avid Googler that I am and because a friend asked me what I meant when I said Saddlebags. Often I find my language is strange to the locals. They speak Australian after all and I still speak South African. English both may be but still we find ourselves lost in hours of translation. Even more fun when our friend who speaks Yorkshire English is around. I digress. I googled 'Saddlebags' . The descriptions are varied yet all equally horrific. I find words like 'unsightly', 'clumps' , 'excess' and the constant overuse of the word  'fat' horrific. I like to call it something far less horrifying  -  that bit on the tops of your legs that is always the last place you lose your extra weight. How did I do? 
If you don't know the word then I must presume that you like my friend today have never suffered from this 'bane to woman kind' (yes one site actually said that and I can't find the link now, just trust me!). 

Thankfully my friend is of the best kind. The kind that swears you do not possess these Saddlebags and I'm grateful that I have such friends in my life. Fear not for those of us, um, I mean those of you, who do possess that bit on the top of your legs you don't like there is hope. Google will help you locate many websites, YouTube videos and expert opinions telling you how to get rid of them. Me, well as I don't have them, I will just continue to submit to Kane Pain every week and continue RPM and Bodystep classes. I'm told RPMers and Steppers have the best legs.The person who tells me this has a scary glare so I choose to believe her. 

Have a happy Hump Day!

Tuesday 11 September 2012

Waking up from the Dream... do you always want to?

We watched the movie Inception last week for the second time. It's one of those movies I believe you need to watch a few times to fully understand all the intricacies in the plot. Or is that just me?
The watching, of course, leads to lengthy discussions with lots of 'what if' and 'can you imagine...' scenarios. Last night my husband began one such discussion. Can you imagine if you woke up right now and the last 3 years had just been a dream? What would you do?
My initial gut response: 'I think I would scream for about an hour and then probably run and jump off the balcony.'
Thinking about that response afterwards made me feel a little silly. Firstly there would be no balcony because we wouldn't be living in Australia yet and secondly, even if I did jump off the balcony of our house I'd probably only twist an ankle. We are only one flight up! Silly me.

Seriously though I do think I would go into shock and maybe even lose my mind. My life is so different now. I look so different now. 3 years ago, 3 long years ago. We would have been on holiday in Italy, staying with my little brother and about to get engaged. I would have been in paradise.



I would have been enjoying this.



I would be very happy and loving my holiday. When I got back to our flat in Edinburgh and saw the photos, I would have seen me looking like this.


Don't get me wrong, these were good times in my life. Very good times. My life is so very different from 3 years ago I wonder how different it will be in another 3 years. I guess time will tell.

So what would do if you woke up 3 years ago? Where would you be?


Sunday 9 September 2012

Coffee, Kryptonite and halfway marks

Sunday is the only day all week I don't wake up to an alarm. I much prefer to wake up to the smell of coffee - especially when it is wafting from a big mug next to my bed. Coffee has to be one of my favourite aromas. Just the smell of it perks me up. It is up there with the smell of freshly baked bread and biscuits but I don't want to be anywhere near either of those right now. It would be torture! I live most of the time in a relatively low carb existence but during a Challenge there is nothing relative about it, it is an extremely low carb existence and some things need to be avoided. Completely. I can say no without any feeling of being deprived to alcohol, soft drinks, chips, fried foods, junk food, potatoes, pumpkin, rice, pasta and even chocolate. Biscuits, freshly baked. So hard to resist. My nemeses. My Kryptonite. My Achilles' heel. Seriously. As long as I don't smell them though I'm OK.

We are into the 5th week of a 12 week Challenge now. 13 more sleeps till the halfway weigh-in. Yes, I've started counting the sleeps. I'm excited. I can feel the changes in my body, in my fitness and want to see them in black and white. I want the measurements to reflect my hard work. It is the point of doing it - to improve, to achieve your goals. Even better is watching other people transform too. Often people don't realise how much they have changed and at the end of 12 weeks, when they see their results looking back at them in a photo or through their measurements or the size of the new pair of jeans the bought, it is an unbeatable feeling when you achieve something you set out to achieve. Even better when it improves your life. So I'm excited that we are getting so close to halfway. 


Another week draws to a close for me. Looking forward to the new week. Great things await. I can feel it. 


Catch you Monday! 

   

Saturday 8 September 2012

Early morning views


This is the view I started my Saturday to. Beautiful. Really ignites the soul first thing in the morning when it feasts on such magnificence.
An hour later I'd completely forgotten about the view. Boot Camp does that. Still an awesome way to start a Saturday. Followed up with an hour ride on my Forty and home for breakfast. All by 9:30am.
You'll notice that I'm writing short sentences. This is because it is now 9pm. I'm very tired.
You enjoy the view. I'm off to bed.

Friday 7 September 2012

I'd like to introduce you to Forty!

I must confess I'm a little bit obsessed with Forty. Hell I'm a lot obsessed with Forty. I ride him 5 times a week and frankly it ruins my day if I get there late and find someone else got to Forty first. I've perfected a 'You're dead to me look' . Really feel quite sorry for the person on the receiving end of the look but  I'm possessive of my Forty. I can't blame Forty for allowing others to ride him. He doesn't have a choice. It's his job.

I'm a very loyal person. I like that about myself. Forty has my undying loyalty. I work him hard, he never complains. He performs consistently well and that is what I love about him the most. His consistency.

I'm thinking of getting a sign made to hang around his neck. 'Super Jay rides me! Beware the wrath of Super Jay' - think it would work? Not sure it would be allowed.  I've tried to make it clear in other subtle ways that he is mine but every so often an eager beaver wanders by and Forty takes their fancy. He is beautiful. Hard to resist. They get the look. The first time.

Without further ado I present to you MY FORTY :


Looking good for 5am on a Friday morning wouldn't you say?



Thursday 6 September 2012

Thankful Thursday

Last week I suggested a theme to my Thursday Blog - Thankful Thursdays. I think I'm going to make that suggestion an official decree. Henceforth every Thursday will be Thankful Thursday. Too easy! 

The hard part is deciding on just one thing to be thankful for. Seriously. Since I woke this morning I've been running through the list of things I've got in my life to be thankful for. It is a long list. I'm thankful for having so much to be thankful for. That is not specific enough though. In the end the decision made was based purely on that without this I wouldn't be here and be the person I am. I'm most thankful today for my Parents.

The hardest part of living in a different country from your family is exactly that: you're living in a different country from your family. My parents have 4 children and none of us live in the same country as them. They live in the home we grew up in, back in Benoni, South Africa. My two brothers both now live in London and my sister lives in Yorkshire. This is quite a common scenario for families in South Africa. I can relate when Johnny Clegg sings about the 'Scatterlings of Africa'. 
I miss these two people every day and I know they miss all of us. I know both would love it if we all lived down the road. Yet not once have either of them made us feel bad about leaving. It is part of what makes my parents so awesome. They encourage us to have adventures, to strive for greatness, to be happy in our daily lives and have instilled in all of us a strong sense that we are loved unconditionally. Quite simply they rock. Both are selfless, kind hearted, salt of the earth good people and I love, admire and respect them. 
You don't get to choose your family but I'm grateful on this Thankful Thursday, most especially, that I got these two smiling, happy people for mine.


So what are you thankful for today? 

Wednesday 5 September 2012

Some days

Some days you wake up and you know it's going to be an awesomely happy day. Other days you need to work harder at making it one. Today fell into the later for me. I reckon I succeeded. I'm here. I'm blogging. Feeling pretty happy.

I try to surround myself with positive and uplifting people. I do my best not to let the negative ones get into my head. Bad days happen to everyone but it is not dwelling on the bad moments and latching onto the good in your day that can make all the difference. I've got a few favourites. 

My husband. He is my best friend - starting and ending every day with him makes me happy. Love and laughter, 2 things we have in abundance. 

Breakfast. My favourite meal of the day. If I get my breakfast right then I'm set for a good day. Deprive me of breakfast for too long and you have *Grumpy Super Jay on your hands. You wouldn't like her. Trust me. My first workout of the day I like to do on an empty stomach. Just a preference I guess. As long as it is within an hour of me waking up *GSJ will not make an appearance. Lucky for those I train with in the morning. 

A hard, sweaty, heart racing workout. Can't beat that for getting the endorphins pumping and firing where you need them. Today, when the mid morning slump kicked in, I took myself off for a run. Only ran 4km but I got out into the sun. I got my heart rate up. I sweated. I felt great. It revitalised me and I could refocus on the other tasks I needed to do.

Music. I've mentioned before my love for music. Having a down day and I pump the tunes. Loud. The Violent Femmes, my first choice. Take me back to high school days, London days and other important bookmarks in my life. Mostly I just grab the ipod, plug it into the speakers and put it on shuffle. It works for me. 

Gym. I realise I mentioned working out already but this is another side of working out. This is the place. My gym rocks. It is filled with positive, smiling, inspirational people and always leave there happy. 

Friends. Those far away you know will always be there and are only an email or phone call away. Those close by who seem to know when to rock up with flowers or who you can call on to grab a coffee when you need a bit of a girlie chat. Makes all the difference some days. 

Life is fabulous. So much good stuff in every day if you just grab it. 


Tuesday 4 September 2012

Tired Tuesday

I woke up exhausted - one of those nights when I pretty much spent all of my dreams working out. Yup, I said working out. I moved from one gym class to the next all night long. I believe I did an RPM, a Bodystep, a Bodyattack and Bodypump class before training with Kane (though he didn't look like Kane he look like Arnie with blonde dreads - really random). Followed up with a session on the Xtrainer before running home though not without stopping to swim a few laps on the way. The whole time one goal kept my focus. I must get everything done before the Pink Panther theme song starts playing. Friends, family and total strangers cheered me along all the way too, which is always nice. Thanks to those of you who made an appearance. Been a while since I saw some of your faces.

I've been told I exercise in my sleep before. I dream I'm in RPM class all the time. I've woken myself up from pedalling in my bed too or my husband did because I kicked him doing it. Oops! Last night took it to another level. I've been shattered all day.

I like to dream. Tonight I'm hoping to find myself lying on a beach listening to the sea. Tomorrow I can wake up refreshed and with a golden brown tan. I'd be happy with that. 


Monday 3 September 2012

I'm talking about good vibrations!

Monday almost done and I haven't even told you all about my Sunday yet. Grand Success that it was! I didn't quite crack the 60 minute time I wanted but 61 minutes and 50 seconds isn't too far off. I'm taking it as a success! If only because I improved on my time from last year by around 14 minutes. I'm rounding up, I think, but only because that's too much maths for my brain at this time on a Monday night.  Personal best!

Enough about the numbers and the records - it's the experience that is so uplifting. Lining up with a few friends and 30 odd thousand strangers before Sunrise to run 10 kms is something I'd have called crazy just a couple of short years ago. I'm happy to call myself crazy. People come in all shapes to run. They come dressed as sandwiches - dangerous when running amongst hungry 12 week Challengers - Koalas, superheros,  mask wearers and, of course, we cannot forget the obligatory Storm Trooper. Every event needs a Storm Trooper. 
Must be thousands of different reasons why all these people find themselves freezing at the start line on a crisp Spring morning. Must be so many inspirational stories in that crowd every year. I think it is that energy, that underlying positive vibration that makes the Bridge to Brisbane such a totally awesome experience for me. It leaves me on a high for days afterwards. 30000 positive vibrations flying around how can you not be soaring? It makes me forget how far I'm running, distracts me and propels me to that finish line. In fact, this year like last year I felt I could keep running. That doesn't happen on my normal training runs. I wish I could bottle that energy. Spray it like a sweet perfume on me and everyone that surrounds me everyday. Needless to say I need my next fix and not sure I can wait till next year. 

Check out picture below. Yes, as usual, my eyes are closed in this photo but it was 5:30am on a Sunday - can you blame me?

Me with the Fit Stuff Crew - Bridge to Brisbane 2 Sept 2012 ( http://www.fitstuff.com.au/ )

Catch you tomorrow
x

Sunday 2 September 2012

Sunrise on a Sunday morning

I ran my race today but more about that tomorrow when I'm less tired. Today you get to look at the beautiful sunrise I saw this morning.
Look beyond the random stranger who is about to get his 15 seconds of fame and focus on the horizon. It made waking up at 3:30am almost worth it.


Saturday 1 September 2012

Ssssshhhh Spring is springing!

Music, can't live without it. Listening to a bit of BB King right now. Feeling groovy. Feeling happy. Got my feet tapping and revived my tired self. Thanks BB!

Spring is officially here - she arrived with a Cool Breeze in Cleveland this morning. I thought it rather unsporting of her considering how eagerly her arrival's been anticipated. Perhaps Winter isn't quite ready to leave and decided to linger with a Cool Breeze. Ever notice how we tend to personify the sunny, happy months of Spring and Summer as females and Winter and Autumn as males. Or do I just do that? 
Nevertheless I'm hoping Mr Cool Breeze feels he made his point and departs before tomorrow morning when I shall wake before dawn to run in the 10km Bridge to Brisbane race.

I'm so pumped and excited about this race! I ran it for the first time last year. The first time I ran that far. The first time I ran in any sort of race since primary school. The first time I felt amazing after a run. This year I'm different. I'm fitter, slightly faster and a regular runner these days. I've set myself a goal of running the 10km in 60 minutes or less. Last year I did it in 75 minutes. I'm not a fast runner. I've built up my endurance but speedy I am not. I've accepted that. Doesn't mean I don't want to improve - if you stop improving or stop striving to achieve great and better things then where is the challenge? If it isn't challenging is there any point to doing it? 
Lying in bed would not be challenging. I'd be warm and rested but I'd be fat and unfit. The choice is obvious to me. Watch this space, I will report on  my success tomorrow. 

Signing off now. Going off my head to Belle & Sebastian's 'You're just a baby'. Feeling eclectic tonight.