Sunday affirmations

Right now, I feel tired and sore, and if I am completely truthful, a bit cranky. Mainly because last night it was a hit parade of offspring marching through our bedroom, and whilst most nights we make them welcome, a tiny voice kept muttering in my head "Oh just for this one night could your stay in your own frigging bed?"
But they didn't.
And I didn't get alot of sleep.
So I woke this morning feeling distinctly unrefreshed and out of sorts.
Two coffees and a couple of jellybeans later we were out the door. Did I mention the Offspring were still fast asleep?
We met my parents and headed into town for the funrun.
I love the atmosphere at a funrun. It's like the best party in town.
The run itself was surprisingly good.
About 9km in when I really started to hurt I fell in sync with a girl in a red tank top. She and I matched each other pace for pace the remaining 5km. I don't know her name but she is one of my favourite people today.
The run itself was brilliantly organised and the course was quite flat so kudos to the organisers.
I think my time was okay. Not awesome or newsworthy, but okay. I'll know for sure later this week.
Next up is training for a half marathon.
But just for today and probably the rest of this week I'm going to really enjoy the fact that I ran 14km and it didn't kill me.
I appreciated the support I got preparing for this very much, so thank you as well.
And because doing my affirmations worked so well last week, I am going to make it a weekly thing for me. I'd love it if you joined in if you can. I like reading other people's lists because it helps me add to my list or is a gentle reminder of things I could do too.
This week I will:
-be gentle on myself
- meet my article deadline
-catch up on my emails (apologies if one of them is from you)
- have a date with Husband
-get kitten 2 desexed
-bake a meal for a friend
Now what about you?

· affirmations, HBF run for a reason

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It arrived yesterday.
I hesitated to open the clearly labelled parcel but after a deep breath I ripped it open.
And my number and the requisite pins were all nestled nicely inside.
In preparation for my half marathon later this year I'm doing a fun run next weekend.
It won't actually be fun. Who are they kidding when they call it that? Stun run would be a much better name.
And looking closely at the map it is quite a long way.
14 km.
I feel sleepy just thinking about it.
And I have a confession to make.
I haven't been for a run in 10 days.
This makes me A. Very. Bad. Person.
More accurately it makes me a bit stupid because this close to the run I should be covering a fair bit of distance.
I justify it on the grounds I'm not worried about speed for this run also a lie, I think about it often
My excuses go as follows:
Husband got pneumonia and Mr Small wasn't well either recently. Then I went to Sydney and was busy being faux glamorous.
I had planned to go for a run straight after getting off the plane, but quite frankly there were a lot of little people to cuddle and a Husband I wanted to spend time with.
Fortunately tomorrow I am seeing HM and after kicking my lazy rear to the kerb, I think he'll get me back into gear.
God I hope so.
The Freeway is being shut especially for this occasion, so I guess I have the added incentive of running fast enough to beat cars if they reopen it before I finish it.
I think I'll go and look at my running shoes for a while.
Maybe that will help.
Or eat some chocolate.
For energy.

· HBF run for a reason

HBF Run for a reason- in my case, dad.

Today I have 49 days left to train for a 14km run.
Every time I click on this site it tells me how few days I have left to prepare for a 14km run. It’s great for motivation. Not. Did I mention this is a run that my parents are doing and have been diligently training for? Did I mention I’m seriously thinking of entering the race under a pseudonym, so that no one knows that my father who is recovering from a triple bypass last year will beat me to the finish line?
Interestingly the race is called HBF run for a reason. And what’s my reason? Well partly because it’s a family thing to support my dad who is a spokesperson for the event, but also to support the Heart Foundation.
I was warned last year before dad had his heart surgery that we would find it hard to watch him in ICU. It was. I also found the part where they told us they couldn’t control his bleeding and we were watching and waiting to see if he would survive pretty challenging too.
The strange thing is, I’d always had the perception that ICU’s were noisy places. They aren’t. Not really. There are lots of beeping machines and people moving around, but it’s white noise really. Your heart and soul are focused on willing the person you love, into continuing to breathe.
Every time a nurse or doctor approach, you gaze at them hopefully as if they can provide you with the answers to all the questions you have. Like: “How did we end up here?” In the end the questions became immaterial, meaningless. All I wanted was for my dad to be ok.
I cannot articulate how much it meant to be there with my mother and my brothers during the vigil. In equal part, returning home to my husband and children meant the world to me.
At the time I was training for a fun run and even though the days were jam packed it was the training that kept me sane.
My training for this upcoming event got a wee bit derailed by the Bronze Medallion and subsequent spraining of my ankle. But mother knows best. Before we left on our holiday she gave me that book I mentioned previously about the ultramarathoner.
A line that resonated from the book was that “pain was weakness leaving the body.” It was the exact same phrase the surgeon used with my dad when he queried his pain levels post-op. It was also the phrase dad used during his rugby coaching days.
And using the right, or is it left side of my brain? I decided holidays were the perfect time to get fit. I wasn’t having to cook or clean or any of the usual daily tasks I would normally do.
So each day Husband and I chanted to each other: “Hardcore!” and set off on a run. Every day. I also cut out alcohol (not a big chore for me anyway) and no carbs in the evening.
Running in the humidity was an interesting challenge as were the various cheers from fascinated onlookers as I staggered past them. Bringing a water bottle on a run was NOT an optional extra I discovered after the first run.
And the pain? Well lets just say there is a TRUCKLOAD of weakness leaving my body apparently J
But we’re in the swing of things now.
We’ve inspired Mr Large and he’ll be participating in the 4.5km run as well on the day.
And dad?
Come 23rd May, Team Jeffo will be running (jogging slowly) proudly. Husband at the front and in my case,
bringing up the rear.

· HBF run for a reason

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