My bags are packed, I'm ready to go ...

Not quite yet, but I'm heading down to Geelong tomorrow so I can just take the airport bus to the airport on Saturday morning at the crack of arse!  Who on earth thought to get an early flight to the US?? ha.

Well the case has been packed, unpacked, checked, rechecked, repacked, clothes deleted, clothes added, clothes deleted again when presents were added, and I tell you I am that sick of looking at it, that it's now locked up tight.  

So glad that once the gifties I have for people in my case have gone, that there'll be more breathing space, particularly as I placed an order at Roadrunner Sports (an AMAZING sports store in the US) for a new pair of New Balance runners, same as the ones I have, but ... wait for it ... $120 cheaper than here.  I couldn't not, now could I?  Decided to become a member (which I'll cancel after I return home) and I got another 10% off and free postage (they are currently on their way to my friend's place in Houston where I'll be visiting last).  They are a cool shade of blue.

There may have been a packet of Jelly Belly jelly beans full of carbs and electrolytes to assist with long running also find their way into my order.  Funny how that happens.  Interesting concept.  As I've been doing longer and longer runs, I have found I need something, but I haven't gone down the path of gels yet.  I'm going to try these out.

It's comforting to know I have a number of peeps I know going it alone next round.  Great job.  We'll keep each other on the straight and narrow.

And okay, this blog is soon going to become a travel blog for the next three weeks, so I hope you'll stick with me.  I am about to go on a Thelma and Louise type trip with a girlfriend, meeting up with a stack of other girlfriends.  Promise there will be no canyon at the end!  ;-)

And whilst I will do my utmost to be good, I still want to immerse myself in everything.  I've been to the USA a couple of times before, but not to the parts I'm going to - San Diego, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and finishing up in Houston.  I have packed my running gear, don't you fear and I hope to steel away a couple of times for some runs.  But I also want to taste the tastes.  I want to try those s'mores I keep hearing about.  I want to enjoy the fine dining restaurant that we've booked.  I want to go to the supermarket and try every darn Chobani yoghurt flavour that we don't get !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ha.

So catch you all on the flip side.   Exciting weeks ahead.

I've made a big decision

Whew!  It had to come at some stage I guess, but I decided early on this week that after seven rounds straight, I will not be doing the next round of 12wbt!  Gasp!  Yep, you read right.  A few factors have brought me to this conclusion.

• I had promised myself one more round after this one, but I really don't think the next round is the round, and I want to test the waters, so to speak.
• Inspired by my blogger friend Myriddian Shrinks, I tried to cut out the whole weighing thing to attempt to get into the 70's.  Except I did drop the bundle and went the other way and gained 2kg!!!
• Having said that, my running continues to go on in leaps and bounds and I have made the decision to do the Geelong half marathon on 27th April, yikes!!
• I have our very supportive Warrnambool & Surrounds 12wbt crew to keep checking in with, as to be honest I have not overly used the forums in the last few rounds at all.
• So I have the recipes, I have the exercises, I know the drill.  I'm dipping my feet in the waters of cutting the apron strings entirely.
• I will then be back in the first round of 2014 to do the half marathon program, which I think will finish after the Geelong half, but we'll see how I go.

Adding all the above combined, and plus the fact that next Saturday I am going overseas for three weeks, means I would be behind the eight ball in the next round anyway.   And don't get me wrong, I will be making good choices on my holiday, let's face it, I know exactly what running gear I will be taking, but haven't worked out my normal day/travelling clothes!!  But I do want to immerse myself in sights, sounds and of course food comes into it too, what are fried green tomatoes anyway???  

So decision made, let's see how I go. 

Right, with that out of the way, I want to thank you gorgeous friends, and yes I do class you all as friends, not merely other bloggers, for the lovely comments on my last post.  I was so pumped last week, it was great.  So THANK YOU ALL.

Today's exercise session took a different turn, we went to the Camperdown Cruise Rockabilly Festival today.  We went last year and knew it was loads of fun, so even though the weather was drizzly we didn't want to miss it again.  There's something quite intoxicating looking at all those beautiful cars, so lovingly restored, they really are a thing of beauty (and I'm not a rev head, the most I know about cars is you put the key in the ignition and they're supposed to work!!).

Oh you may have noticed something in this shot, someone has lost a bit of weigh too - namely a lot of fuzz around the chin!  The whiskers have gone.  Gave me the shock of my life when I came home the other day and I saw him clean shaven, only the second time in 12 years!

I was standing admiring the bright yellow car and the gentleman came up to me and asked if I'd like to have a sit in it.  My goodness (although the pics turned out very dark).  Mike talked to him for a little bit asking about parts, and how he fixed it up.  Chat chat chat.  I got out, he closed the car door.  We thanked him and as we left I looked around and he was walking away too.  It dawned on me ... what if he didn't own the car!!!  Woops.  Surely not.

Never one to miss an opportunity!  Mike found his hand got awfully tired and needed to rest! ha.  

So after a wander around we went over to the Rockabilly Dance Lessons in the hall.  One hour of hip flipping, twirling, swivelling and generally sweating up a storm to a lot of laughter.  I soon realised I needed a square radius of about 10 metres when I danced, particularly when I decided to do my own hand movements, just adding a bit of flair of course, except I nearly took a lady's nose off dancing next to us at  one stage with one of my more flamboyant moves.  

I'd have to say though, if I grabbed Mike right now and tried to do the routine, we would look at each other and not remember a thing.  Lots of fun at the time though.  I should have worn my heart rate monitor just to see how many cals burnt.

Mosaic to Mountain Fun Run

Yay I did it.  My first timed 10km fun run.  I've run up to 12km in training runs so I knew I had it in my legs, so I just set out to enjoy it.  

Got to Dunkeld early and picked up my race bib attempted to pin it on and pinned my stomach instead!!  BLEEDING!!  Oh heck, I can't even get further than the registration tent and I'm in pain.

Usually Mike or one of our Warrnie crew are with me at races but today no one as Mike  couldn't make it.  So proud I drove an hour and did the whole thing on my own, even though running over the finish line to no one is a bit empty.

Oh and before the race what a sense of self satisfaction walking around with my red numbered race bib, like a neon sign ... HEY LOOK AT ME I'M RUNNING THE BIG ONE!!!

I sent Mike a text message telling him all was good and I was a bundle of nerves and he texted me back "You'll be right. JFDI".  Got to love that man talking the lingo.

Back to the race... The day was warm and they said there was around 200 there.  I had planned to run my own pace and not get carried away and knew I was at the back of the pack the whole way, but for me it was about taking part, not setting the world on fire.

Having said that I was rapt to see all my average splits were 6 mins something except one at 7:05.  That has never happened!

Such a well organised race by the Dunkeld Kinder.  Love that on many direction points that there would be a parent with their kinder child.  Then having the child clap as you run past calling out "come on you can do it" just terrific.

Running out of town closer and closer to the imposing Mt Sturgeon really was wonderful, completely fantastic views.  It was hot and I learnt a lesson I should be running with a cap or sun visor.

So glad to run through the finish line although Runkeeper reliably informs me that the 10km fun run measured 11.2km.  Who knows.  The orange I had at the end was the sweetest most fabulous tasting orange ever!!

I was quietly fingers crossed hoping to do the run in 1 hour 15 mins.  Final time was 1:14:04 !!!!  Yay I have a PB!  Plus I came 74th out of 80 runners in the 10k.  Still rapt.  Six people came in after me.

It was lovely also to meet Matilda and husband of Run Mum blog.  I have been reading along that blog the last couple if weeks and saw a lady wearing a tshirt with Run Mum on it and had to say hello to find out if it was her.  Such nice people, we chatted for a short while trading stories.

Here's a pic of Mt Sturgeon I took from a look out on the way home so you can see the types of view we had, albeit much much closer.

Sooo tired now.  Had a look around the market, did some shopping at the market as the run was part of the towns Spring Festival, and lazed at home the rest of the afternoon.  Then on with the glad rags and slipped on the heels OUCH!! we had a function to go to tonight.

And now it's time for bed and a big sleep in tomorrow.

Last training run

I did my last training run tonight, just a nice easy 4.5km before the big race on Saturday.  Checked the forecast for Saturday at Dunkeld and it said ... 26C and Windy.  Oh joy!    Lets hope it's not too windy.

I like my new hat that I got for my birthday from my American friend, thank you Bob!!  :-)  Makes me feel happy thinking I can definitely be seen bobbing around with a bright orange head.  Go Boise State!  I forget what they were, basketball, football, baseball?  Something with a ball anyway.  I don't look too winded here having just run 4.5km.  Go me.

Notice how Lucky is in the background ignoring me.  He gets really shitty when he seems me in my running gear about to leave the house.  When I take him with me on his long lead, he can only run about 1km before he gives up and then wants to walk and sniff every tree and post.  I promised him a walk tomorrow.

The plan now is a walk and light weights tomorrow (Thursday).

Rest up (Friday)

Up to Dunkeld nice and early (Saturday) for the race starting at 9am.

I will go on record here and say I'll just be ecstatic to finish it.  But I would be absolutely over the moon if I can do it in 1 hour 15 mins.  Yeah yeah, people keep aiming for sub 60mins for their 10km runs.  I am being realistic.  I am still a plodder, but a happy plodder.

Fun fun weekend

I've had such a great weekend, so far, and still Sunday to go, it can only get better right?

I loooooove having Friday's off on the odd occasions I wangle an RDO on a Friday.  Love the three day weekend.  As mentioned I was heading down to Geelong to take mum out for a belated birthday dinner and she chose Mexican ... cue the dreaded doom music!!

I ended up choosing Fajitas, chicken, and I was able to just pop lettuce, avocado, chicken and onion and peppers and salsa in and they were delish.  I felt great.  Until the dessert menu came around.  Ouch!  That's where my willpower failed me.  Hmmm, celebrations are meant to be celebrated right?  I had a banana split and enjoyed every single morsel that passed my lips.  I figure I ticked the fruit box for the day!  I may have ticked it a bit too well.

Main thing was that mum enjoyed herself, we were like big kids enjoying our icecream.

And I knew I was going to make up for it this morning, I had planned my long Saturday morning run around the foreshore, and that I did.  I ended up running to Rippleside and back and then all the way over to Limeburners Point and back.  Around the big pool on the way back, then fluffed about going back to the carousel to build my k's up as I wanted to get into double figures.  End result 10.48 km.

And to put it into perspective for those who don't know Geelong, here I am on the tip of Limeburners Point looking back.  Not a bad self-portrait of me running!  Wind in my hair, looking slightly on the thin side!

Can someone say ... birds nest!!

But oh how arty farty with the sun rays coming through the tree like that.  Total fluke.

And the best part about the whole weight loss thing is clothes shopping for sure.

I have been looking for a black jacket for ages and here it is.  Come to mama!  

Excuse the sideways photo, that was not intentional, I've just not mastered the art of one handed selfies yet.

So having run 10km+ a few times now I feel quite good about next Saturday's fun run, where I'm doing the Mosaic to Mountain at Dunkeld.  My first ever 10km fun run.  The race is apparently from the mosaic area in the park just behind the main street to the base of the grampians and back.  I think.  It's being run by the local kindergarten, so is pretty low key.   And I'm really looking forward to it.  So this was my last long run before next weekend, I'll spend the upcoming week with a few short runs and hopefully that will stand me in good stead.  I just want to finish you know, I have no grand plans.  I'd love to be able to do it 1 hour 15 mins, but we will see.

Have a great Sunday!

Another Friday rolls around

I'm off to see my mum today and take her out for a belated by a week birthday dinner.  Her choice.  Arrrrrgggggghhhh she chose Mexican!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  WTF can I pick to eat from a Mexican menu by chance?  Fajitas perhaps, at least then I can put only what I want on them?   Help me out people!

And before I forget, I'm going to post the Friday Question here, that I give to our Warrnambool & Surrounds 12wbt crew, so for today ...

FUNTASTIC FRIDAY QUESTION:
Early to bed, early to rise. Fill us in on your morning/evening rituals. What time do you get up - are you a morning exerciser or an evening one - do you spring out of bed with a bounce or grudgingly JFDI. You get home and have your dinner, then what? do you work out, have you already worked out - early to bed, or a night time routine? Please share.

• So for me I am a shocker, I know.  I loooooove running and/or exercising in the morning on weekends, but on weekdays I just can't seem to get my act into gear.   Plus I am a bit of a night owl too, which doesn't help.  11 - 11.30pm is bedtime for me.  I know I know I should get to bed earlier.  And so during weekdays I tend to be out after work exercising or running.  Hail day light savings!   I have come a cropper a number of times though with inclement weather at the end of the day, so it's into the gym for me on those days.  I need to nip this bad habit in the bud and get that monkey off my back in the morning.  

Love this, so true ...

Amen!

Fifty before 50 : No. 01

What better way to start my 'Fifty before 50' album than to start with a running page!   One thing I have come to really look forward to is my long Saturday morning run.  It sets the scene for a terrific weekend ahead.  So I made No. 01 in my album about that, my special time of the week and something that really puts a smile on my face.

Click on the page to see the detail if needed:

Credits for the goodies used : Designer Digitals

And if you would be interested in reading the journalling here tis:

01 - THE LONG SATURDAY MORNING RUN

Gosh I love it. Get up, get dressed, feed the menagerie, Mike is still snoring in bed, grab my phone and I’m out the door.

Stretches, activate my Runkeeper, big breathe and I’m off. Pounding the pavement. Up the dirt tracks. Running the perimeter of town under the watchful gaze of the cows, or the sheep that run from the fence. Dogs barking. Birds squawking their approval from the trees as if it is a fanfare of cheers from the stadium crowds.

Oh yes, my mind runs away with me. I don’t run with music, I have never really mastered that. I just run. I hear the rhythm of my feet striking the ground, the musical cadence of my breathing. It’s me time. My mind is blank, I am recharging my batteries and as free as the wind.

I run around the lake and the ducks take off across the water. I hear my Runkeeper counting the kilometres. And I’m not satisfied now until I hear myself get to double figures. I come home spent and famished. The subsequent hot shower is usually lauded as being one of the top ten best showers in my life. 

Yes I do so love my long Saturday morning runs. It makes me feel great, puts a smile on my face, a sense of satisfaction and starts my weekends off beautifully.

Okay well bed for me.  It's been a long day.  I headed to Geelong to the funeral of the mother of a dear friend and old workmate of mine.  Such an incredibly beautiful day today too, I wonder if she had anything to do with that ;-)  and I'm so glad I went down for it.  But down and back in a day, 4 hours of driving, makes for a very tired girl !!  There was no running on the radar today, either this morning or when I got home.

But having said that, it's going to be a gorgeous day tomorrow, so an even nicer afternoon for a wonderful run along the foreshore after work, that will definitely recharge these batteries.

Big big weekend

Saturday was a great day.  I was up with the birds and out the door at 6.45 to do my long Saturday morning run, which I really look forward to now.  I just ran and ran and ran, there was no stopping me.  And for my efforts Runkeeper sent me ...

That my friends is not a typo.  12.7 freaking kilometres!! (with a quick stop at the loos in the park)  Slowly slowly I'm inching my way up.  My best distance before that was 11.8, so way to go me!  

Best part was I got home and Mike was still in bed, and our house guest (his sister who was down to stay with us to go to the Warrnambool Art Show on the Friday night) was also still sleeping.  Red wine induced heads, that's all I'm saying.  ha!  

So my sister-in-law gets up and sees me in my running gear having breakfast and I felt oh so smug when I casually dropped into the 'good morning' that I'd just been out and about and ran 12.7 km.  To see her have to pick her mouth up off the floor was priceless.  

Go me!

So although my legs have been a bit achy and the tops of my feet particularly, I followed it up today with a short fun run!  The Camperdown School put on the Lake2Lake Fun Run, only 4.5 kilometres, and despite the rain, it cleared in time for the actual run, then started raining once we were finished.  Runners luck perhaps?

I had actually toyed with the idea of entering the walk because of yesterday's great effort, but I entered the run, and had to walk twice in it, up two freaking killer hills that I wasn't expecting.  I was okay with that.  I loved that you ran downhill to the finish, I felt like I was sprinting, well I was actually, I couldn't stop myself!

It was lovely to share the afternoon with ladies who I now call my 'health & fitness sisters' from the Warrnambool & Surrounds 12wbt crew.  Here we are after the run.

I also love that we each have different goals coming up.  A couple of them are doing the Melbourne Marathon 10km run, getting excited for running in a big race of people in streets you wouldn't normally run on.  One of the ladies, the lovely Debbie in the middle, is training for the Eureka Stair Climb.  Ouch!  She can have that one.  And I have the upcoming 10km Mosaic to Mountain fun run in Dunkeld.  

That's what I love about our group, sometimes we hook up and do something fun like this together, sometimes we're off doing our own thing with others from the group.  But the underlying thing is that we're out there doing it and we have each other's backs.  I love that.

Before I go, thanks for all the responses to the last Funtastic Friday Question.  Here's the latest one if you are so inclined to participate:

FUNTASTIC FRIDAY QUESTION:
What are you doing now that has surprised you (or even shocked you) since your time on 12wbt (for as short or as long as you've been on the program.

• For me I have three things ... The fact I couldn't run around the backyard when I first started 12wbt and now I can run 10+ km without stopping.  The fact that I can now eat yoghurt and really really like it without making the whole yoghurt face (hated the stuff pre-12wbt).  And the last thing that has surprised and shocked me is getting the courage to change my hair completely not only that but go RED for heaven's sakes.  Way to step it up a notch!

Here's to a great week ahead.