Wednesday, June 29, 2016

#blogjune - Final Post

So I have once again made it through #blogjune.

I thank those who prompted me to take part yet again and to those that read my ramblings throughout June.

Who knows what there will be to share next June.  More running?  A new job?  A new home?  Or finding enjoyment where I am now?

I have enjoyed reading other's #blogjune posts and look forward to reading them all again next year!

Tuesday, June 28, 2016

#blogjune Post 29 - Getting in early

I'm getting in early with this post because tomorrow is going to be a rushed morning.

Today (tonight) rather than write a post, I'm sharing a post from another blog - the Running Mums Australia blog.

This post sums up a lot of why I run and what I get out of running.  Anna says it in a much better way than I could ever express it myself.

And this photo that was taken on the weekend, just shows the connections you make with people from such different backgrounds to yourself - the common love is running!

Monday, June 27, 2016

#blogjune Post 28 - It's cold

I don't like the cold!  I think I may have mentioned this before in past blogs.  But I really don't like the cold.

You may ask then, why did I move South instead of North?  Well I ask myself the same question every Winter.  In fact, I think I should head North in Winter and work in Qld for all of Winter, then return down here near the beach for Spring/Summer.

Last year we were lucky enough to have snow up on the Northern Tablelands on a weekend.  So we all hopped in the car and drove up to Armidale.  I had never seen snow.  Neither had Miss A.

We got to the big round about in Armidale where if you turn left you head to Tamworth, and right takes you to Glen Innes.  We had just turned right and a sleet storm started.  We pulled over and jumped out of the car.  Miss A and I were going crazy with excitement.  I was rugged up so I could hardly move.  Hubby was in shorts!!!

We continued North (yes North to the snow not South) to Ben Lomond - which is half way between Armidale and Glen Innes. Black Mountain is there and there was lots of snow on the ground.  We jumped out and started throwing it at each other - well Miss A and I did.  It is quite dry to touch and cold.  But not wet like I thought it would be.  We had lots of fun!

Last night and this morning it is snowing in Guyra which is about an hour and half away from us.  Up past Dorrigo.  Unfortunately, you can't get to Guyra at the moment because the road is closed due to black ice.  If it wasn't closed, I'd probably consider having a "snow day" off work and heading up the mountain!!

Surprisingly, even though it was snowing up on the mountains, it was not that cold here this morning when I headed out at 5.30am for my run.  It was around 9'C.  We warmed up quickly and got straight into our speed session - 2km warm up, 3km rep then 500m recovery, 2km rep 500m recovery, 1km rep 500m recovery, 2km warm down.  Speed sessions never get easier but at least they warm you up!!

#blogjune - The no idea where I am up to post

I'm exhausted!  After a whirlwind trip to Qld over the weekend and a beautiful wedding but a few sleepless nights and lots and lots of driving - I'm stuffed!

Highlights - catching up with family!  Catching up with the Ipswich parkrun crew!  Running with Sarah and Mark!  Doing the hills of the park2park course and thinking that I am so much stronger than I was when I did them 2 years ago! Catching up with family we haven't seen since our wedding 14 years ago!  The beautiful morning views from our hotel room in Mount Tamborine!

To top off my exhaustive state, today I had to drive to Grafton and back for work - another 4 hours in the car driving!!

So a short post today!  Good night!


Thursday, June 23, 2016

#blogjune Post 24 - Road Trip

Quick post to say we (ie the family) are going on a road trip today.  It's a fleeting visit to Queensland for a wedding and will be returning home on Sunday.

Sometimes being in a car together creates some good and interesting conversations as we are forced away from our devices - ok Miss A is still on her's for most of the trip - and talk about things that are happening/decisions to be made/interesting sights you see as you drive.

Road trips as a child don't bring back fond memories.  I was always in the middle between my brother and sister, with the dog hanging his head over the back seat, drooling all over me.  When a fight was on between my sister and brother, there'd be hitting and yelling going on across me.  And then if I wanted to have a sleep, I had nothing to lean on because my brother and sister could lean against the door with their pillows but more often than not, would not let me lean on them.  Oh and don't get me started with punch buggy!!

So yes a road trip for us today!  There could be a break in blogging over the next two days as I'm not sure how internet access will be and how much time I will have.

PS what is it about appetites and road trips - my family seems to be 10 times more hungry in a car then out of one!!

Wednesday, June 22, 2016

#blogjune Post 23 - Step by Step



I'm having difficulties getting my Garmin to connect to my PC via USB this morning and I'm wondering if this is an indication of how my day is going to be.

I started the day off tired and knew that the 12km hilly run was going to be a struggle.  I even changed the route around a bit to shock the legs a bit as they are getting used to our usual 12km hilly run.  Then my running buddy and I spent a fair bit of brain power working out our new turn around.  I suppose it distracted us a bit.  We were both tired so the run started bad and I can't say it got better.  Struggle street all the way but we got it done!

I'm beginning to question my 20km run planned around the Park2Park course (as we are doing a fleeting visit to Ipswich this weekend).  If the hills killed me today - they will most likely not be pretty on Saturday!

Garmin has finally connected - the day is good once more!

One of my friends from my time in Emerald has tagged me on Facebook to post my favourite songs from the 90's over the next 7 days.  I was then debating if it should be the songs I liked then or the 90's songs I like now.  I've decided to mix it up a bit.

Today's song is: Step by Step by New Kids on the Block.  They were my favourite group for most of the 90's.

However, looking back now there are a lot of songs from the 90's I didn't like but like now.  They might just show up in my Facebook posts.

Happy Thursday everyone!

Tuesday, June 21, 2016

#blogjune Post 22 - A new way to see a place

Since taking up running I have now discovered new ways of seeing places I'm visiting (i.e. on holiday, overnight stay, or conference attendance).  Previously, touring and discovering a place I was staying in was left to later in the day and was most often done by car and short walks.

Now when I go on holiday or to a new place, discovery happens at daylight.  Or sometimes just before dawn.  In big cities I'm often surprised by how many people are making their way to work.  In country towns I lap up the piece and quiet.

My planning for visits has taken on a new meaning as I scope out possible running routes and get excited about things I might discover.

Yes I do get worried about dogs on the loose (but I worry about that at home too), and if there are odd people around - but hey, I can most likely out run them!!  But mainly I look forward to seeing a town/city slowly wake up and discover the paths that are often not taken when you are in a car.  The people you wouldn't see out and about if you waited for a "normal" time to be up discovering.

I have even gone so far as to plan holidays around running events - eep!!

I'm going to be heading to Adelaide at the end of August.  I have never been to Adelaide and I'm already scoping out places to run and if there are any exercise equipment located in parks.  Anyone who has been to Adelaide, please send me some suggestions!