Sunday 11th October

Exercise: Melbourne Marathon 5km 4km Run (8’s Blue)

It was a beautifully clear morning when I got out of bed. A bit chilly, but the sun was already out and the sky was a clear blue, just the way I like it

Hubby drove me to the station so I could catch the train into town (trying to be smart as I knew that I’d have a couple of glasses of champers after the run). I didn’t understand though why Metlink decided that on one of the busiest Sunday mornings in Melbourne, they would decide that a 3 carriage train might be adequate To say it was squishy was an understatement!

I got to the MCG a little bit earlier than planned so I just sat in the sun, people watching until I met Cilla. It’s been a while since I’ve shown my lilly whites in public, and they certainly need a bit of toning and sunshine to bring them back into a shape that I’ll be happy with

We left our bags with Cilla’s Hubby (thankyou!) and headed down to the start line. We weren’t too far from the front of the pack, but far enough away that we still got caught in a couple of bottlenecks once we got moving

I was having a wonderful time, singing along and nattering to Cilla. All too soon the MCG came into sight. We caught up with Lee and RJ just as we ran up the bridge. Then it was into the MCG to run around the haloed turf

Confusion reigned. My Garmin said that we had only done 3.6km as we headed into the G, so I was thinking that maybe we had to do an extra lap once inside. Nope, we went under the finish line in 4.05km by my watch.

I got a little bit worried and said to Cilla that maybe we’d cut off a bit of the course without realising, but all we’d done is follow everyone else.

We found Cilla’s Hubby and headed down to the Transport Bar to meet up with the regulars. Along the way we found Shells, who did the 1/2 marathon, and was also on her way to the Pub

It was agreed that we definitely had only run 4km as Andrew’s Garmin had also registered just under 4km. I’m at a loss to understand why the organisers would advertise a 5km race and then cut off a whole km. Just doesn’t make sense. I don’t think I’ll be doing this distance run again if it is going to be the same course next year. I’m hoping to be back up to running 1/2 marathon distances

Huge congratulations to everyone who participated today, especially Berny, who completed her first Marathon

This was everyone waiting for Berny to run past the Pub. Only 2km to the finish from here!

And how can I forget to mention my bestest buddy. She decided that a marathon was just not far enough for her, so she entered the 100km GOW run instead and finished 2nd Female in 18 hours. Yes you read that right, 18 hours!!! I can’t go on enough about this amazing woman. She just keeps upping the ante!

Saturday 10th October

Exercise: 17km Walk – Boxhill to Home (Trigons)

I realised yesterday (once I’d read the email properly) that I’d have to go up to the MCG today to pick up my race bib. I had thought that I could pick it up on race day, but nowhere in the registration email did it mention this

So I ditched all my plans for today and after Alana’s netball game Hubby dropped me off at the railway station. It was a peaceful ride and I was able to read my book quietly for an hour before getting off at Richmond Station.

Was in and out of the MCG very quickly. Nothing much to see :0(

Jumped back on to the train and got off at Box Hill. Had a little bit of a wander around the shops (bought a couple of t-shirts ) and then made my way out to the highway.

From here I walked home.

Fantastic weather to walk. Unfortunately my ITB started giving me a little bit of jip and I limped the last few km home. A stretch and a warm shower seems to have eased it a bit though.

Am looking forward to running with Cilla tomorrow, followed by a meet up at the Transport Bar with all the regulars

See you all there.

Tuesday 6th October

Exercise: 10km Walk – Local Streets (8’s Blue)

Before you ask, No, the run home last night didn’t happen

Wasn’t sure if it was going to rain tonight, but when I got home it was clear so I met TW Michelle for a walk. It started to drizzle a little bit as we got going, but nothing too heavy, and it stopped soon after.

Suddenly the heavens opened up. Normally I’d be hating the fact that it was raining, but I had on my waterproof jacket, and I was walking, and I wasn’t feeling cold

Not sure what the difference is, but when I’m running I just hate the feeling of it raining on me. Didn’t get that feeling though, so I’m a bit baffled.

And of course, as soon as I reached the front door, it stopped raining

Sunday 4th October

Exercise: 11.6km Walk – Jells Park to Churchill National Park (Sequences)

This morning was the first TW training session.

Michelle and I drove over to Churchill National Park in separate cars so that I could leave my car there and then I jumped in her car and we drove over to Jells Park to meet up with Cilla and Shells.

So much for the accurate weather forecast. On the way over to Churchill National Park it rained, but to make up for the yukky rain, there was a pretty rainbow out. It was also cold when we got to Jells Park, and as neither Cilla or Shells had arrived yet, Michelle and I both ordered a Latte from the Cafe (and it was a good one too!).

So once Shells and Cilla arrived we set off on our first trek along the trail. The weather had cleared up a bit by this stage and it didn’t take long to warm up and for the jackets to come off.

There were plenty of cyclists along the trail, including one very rude man who screamed at us to keep left, even though we had no idea he was coming up behind us as he didn’t call out or use a bell

I did manage to refrain from saying something obscene to him, but was sorely tempted to when we saw him coming back past us a bit later on. Of course being the lady that I am ( ) I refrained

We walked through some of the bushfire ravaged area and alot of the trees have not started regenerating any new greenery regrowth. It was hauntingly quiet as we walked along the trail through the trees.

We got to my car in good time, jumped in and headed back to Jells park, where we indulged in a spot of lunch at the Cafe before everyone headed off to do Sunday afternoon things

For some reason the camera decided to have a little camera shake while on self timer!!

I did a bit of ironing this afternoon, then hit the garden for some weeding and potted a few new tubes that I bought yesterday at Bunnings. I also made some Double Choc Chip Muffins for lunch this week

My plan tomorrow is to run home from work

Saturday 3rd October

Exercise: 11.9km Walk – Local Streets (8’s Blue)

Just got back from a walk with TW Michelle. It’s a beautiful morning out there.

Michelle showed me some hills this morning that I haven’t seen before. It’s a local road in Wonga Park. One of those roads where the sign says “Dry Weather Road Only” For previous TW girls, think Hacketts Road

I actually wanted to walk further than 12km but my tummy told me otherwise. Had to cut it short as I’m just not feeling great (don’t want to go into too much detail, but you get the drift!). I’m not sure what’s going on there as it’s been bloated pretty much all week, with this morning’s activity just topping it off

The new TW team are meeting up tomorrow for our first training walk. Should be fun. Distance wise, not too far, but we are “on the trail”.

Thursday 1st October

Exercise: 9.9km Run/Walk – Local Streets (Trigons)

It was lucky that I didn’t see the missed call from TW Michelle when I got home tonight otherwise I might not have gotten changed to go out for our walk.

Luckily I did get changed before I rang her back, only to find that she wasn’t able to make our walk. So instead, I headed out on my own, looking to do our normal 10km hilly circuit. I found after I’d walked up the big hill just near home I had the urge to run, and so run I did. Ran all the down bits and the flat bits and just walked up the hills.

I absolutely loved the run. It was one of those ones where the body didn’t whinge or moan at all, and I felt strong and full of energy (and that doesn’t happen too often!!).

Made me realise that I still love running

On a sour note, it seems that Oxfam have taken it upon themselves to change the way teams now register for Trailwalker. If you wanted to sign up today, it was on the provisio that the team raised $5,000. For teams expecting to raise $3,000 entry opens on the 15th October, and for teams who can raise $1,000 we have to wait until the 29th October to register. I think that there’s going to be a mad dash to register on the 29th October!!

Tuesday 29th September

Exercise: 11km Walk – Local Streets (Trigons)

I was determined to leave work on time tonight so that I could meet TW Michelle for a long walk. As it happened, Alana’s Vacation Care program rang at about 4.30 to say that she’d fallen over and bumped her head pretty hard and could I come and pick her up, so I got away even earlier than planned

I did a bit of a sneaky tonight and didn’t tell Michelle about the hill I was going to take her up. It was only as we were walking down the first hill did she notice the incline of the hill that we were about to walk up

She did good though and we only stopped once for about 30 seconds so that she could get her breath back.

Registrations open on Thursday for Oxfam Trailwalker so I’ll be ready and waiting

The new TW girls met up on Saturday for some lunch at a nice Cafe in Warrandyte (www.warrenglen.com.au) where we had nice girly chats and got to know each other a bit better. Food was pretty good too!!

Wednesday 23rd September

Exercise: 9.9km Walk – Local Streets (Sequences)

It was a case of picking Alana up from Vacation Care after work, racing home, getting changed and running straight back out again tonight so that I could meet TW Michelle on time.

Michelle commented that I could have rung and cancelled if I didn’t have enough time, but I explained if I’d done that I would have done absolutely nothing instead. I know in myself what a slackar*e I am, so there will definitely be no cancelling any pre organised walks if I can help it.

We went to the show on Sunday. The morning was great, as it wasn’t too crowded, but by 1pm it was absolutely heaving and not so much fun. I wanted to go on some of the rides but Hubby and Alana weren’t keen, and I didn’t want to look like Billy no mates and go on my own, so rides were off the agenda

I also refrained from overdosing on Showbags. I just got one, the Cadburys Chocolate Indulgene. Good value for money if I do say so myself Alana being Alana, she got the COPS Showbag, so we now have to put up with the sound of a noisy machine gun toy

Also loved catching up with all the TW girls from last year. And a big thankyou to TB and his wife Christine who gave me a lift to Camberwell (they came along to dinner as well), and then for coming back to pick Corrie and I up when Corrie noticed she had a flat tyre just as we were leaving the Restaurant.

Work has been unbelievably busy. It’s been good in the fact that I haven’t even thought about food, but bad as I haven’t had time to take much of a lunch break, and have been meaning to go to the supermarket for about 3 days now, which means that the cupboards and fridge are a little bit empty

Being so busy at work has also cut down on my internet time, so I haven’t been able to read blogs much or waste time on Facebook. I’m just hoping that once I get my head around the workload I can start managing my time better so that I might even be able to do some lunch time running, especially as the Dandy Creek Trail runs right pas the back of the building I work in.

I’ve got some photos from the Show and also from Saturday night that I’ll put up, hopefully tonight.

Saturday 19th September

Exercise: 18.3km Walk – Local Streets (Trigons)

Met TW Michelle at 6.30am. What a beautiful morning to be up early. The sun came out, it was calm and it warmed up really quickly. Prefect

I was planning on doing a 20km route that Michelle (running) and I have done previously as it incorporated a few moderate hills along with some flat sections. It was only when we got back near TW Michelle’s house that we took a slight deviation which cut off about 2km.

The weather had changed by the time we got back home and both the wind and the clouds had arrived.

Am off out tonight to meet up with my old TW team mates, Jo, Emma and of course Michelle

Tomorrow I am going to hit the Show with Hubby and Alana

Sunday 13th September

Exercise: 4km Spring into Shape Fun Run (Trigons)

I signed up for the full series of this year’s Spring into Shape as a motivation to carry on running, so I thought I’d better go to the first one, even though it was raining when I got out of bed, and you all know how much I hate running in the rain.

This is the first fun run I’ve been to in a long time where I didn’t have my bestest buddy with me and it certainly wasn’t as much fun as it usually is when she’s by my side

I was happy to see that once I hit the Eastlink, there was no rain

Parked up near the Tan and wandered along with the crowd up to the start (with a diversion to the ladies loos first!). I missed out on doing the aerobics workout as I was still standing in line to get my race number, and by the time I’d got to the front of the queue, put both my number and foot timing chip on, it was time to wander over to the start line.

The first kilometer was all about dodging in and out of the walkers and slower runners, before finding a bit of room to actually get into a rythmn. And then all too soon it was over and the finish line was in sight. Tried to make a last dash for the finish line, which felt fast to me, but was probably all in my head

Lined up for the showbag and then lined up for the t-shirt. I might just use the t-shirt as a training one as it’s bright orange and I don’t have anything to co-ordinate with it

Have looked up the results this afternoon (great effort by SIS to get them up so soon) and I came 23rd in my age group and 250th overall. I’m more than happy with that

I’m now looking to work on bettering my time for the next run.

Have been baking again. Need to get back into cooking as Trailwalker is looming fast and fundraising will be necessary
These are some banana and choc chip muffins that will be a nice addition to my lunch box this week!