It's #blogjune time again!!

I've just come off a real buzz!  Two weeks ago I participated/completed the Warwick Pentath-Run.  This run came on my radar early last year when I was training for the Gold Coast Airport Marathon.  A work colleague mentioned that they were training for this event where you do 5 runs over 2 days to make up a marathon distance of 42.2km.

I was keen then but in the midst of my marathon training so could not afford to do both events - although it seems a lot of runners use the Pentath as a lead up event to the Gold Coast marathon.  So I put it on my bucket list - which keeps on growing!!

As soon as registrations where open, I registered.  I also did something different.  I hunted around for a coach.  I wanted someone who had done the event themselves and knew what I was in for so that I could be well prepared.

Scan back to 2013 when I first started running.  I was holidaying in Ipswich and decided to attend the Ipswich Hospital Foundation - Fit4Life subsidised running session held 5.30am at Limestone Park.  It was here I met coach, Chris Gale from Galeforce Running.  At that very first running session I did with Chris he said that if I ever needed a coach, to look him up.  So I did.  And he had not only completed the Pentath, he had also trained other runners for the event.  It was really a no-brainer.

However, Chris is located in Qld and I am in NSW.  Not to worry, with the use of email, social media and SMS services, Chris has been sending me programs and running sessions since February this year.

These sessions have pushed me out of my comfort zone.  I don't like speed sessions - read that as I don't like to push myself hard as I'm a real comfort zone lover - but I did them and they had the required effect.  The training I was put through, played out on the day and I got through all 5 events.

I've decided to keep working with Chris to my next event - Ipswich Park2Park - where I will revisit the hardest half marathon in Qld!! I first did this event back in 2014.  It's a hard run.  4 laps of hills.  I tanked a bit in the last lap when I did it back then, so I want to reattempt it and get a better time.  But more on that later... I was writing about being on a buzz!

So I completed the Pentath and running has given me such confidence.  This event in particular because of the challenges it presents.  You start on day one at 7am with a 21km half marathon.  The next event is a 4.6km cross country at 12pm.  Then the final race for day 1 is a 5km road race at 3pm.  I won't bore you with the details - only to say each had their challenges and it amazed me that I got through them all.

Day 2 starts with the 10km accent from Killarney up to Queen Mary Falls at 7.15am.  Followed by the final 1.5km "sprint" down the main street at 11.30am.

The elation of finishing did not really hit me until the following days.  I was just plain exhausted after the race.  But as I reflected on each race and each challenge they presented, I became more proud of myself for the effort I put in, the times I completed them in, and the pure fact that I did it!

Will I go back and do it again - yes I think I will but possibly not next year - we will see!!

Welcome to my #blogjune posts - I promise I won't bore you with too many running posts!!

Blog June Post 19, 20 and 21 - Triple Post or I'm Just Slack

Well only 9 days to go and I've already missed 2 days in a row.

Friday saw me come home from work tired after a busy week.  Yesterday I headed out to a friend's place for afternoon/evening drinks after a full on day of clothes and grocery shopping.  Today it is cold and I've done a half baked job of cleaning the house.

A bit of a rip off post from me today as I really haven't got anything much to write.  So instead I post this photo (note there are a few ladies missing from this photo) and say I love all of these women as they are such a diverse bunch who have brought so much to my life in different ways!!  Fitness, confidence, advice, fun and support!!  I love you girls!

Double Post Tuesday #blogjune #23 and #24

Aren't you lucky that tonight you get a double post?!?!

I was slack last night and didn't get a post out - actually I was working really hard at my second job, and then had to watch some of The Voice, so didn't get time.

Anyway, moving on.

Yesterday's mantra: Bite off more than you can chew, then chew it.  Plan more than you can do, then do it.  I don't necessarily agree with this mantra, especially if it comes down to quality.  However, if it is about pushing yourself - then go for it!!

Today's mantra: You are what you eat so avoid anything fast, easy, cheap or fake.  Personally, I believe there are times when you need fast, easy, cheap and fake food - just not all the time!!

Are you enjoying the mantra's or are you tired of them?  I like them because sometimes they give me a spring board off which to write something.  Tonight they are not providing much inspiration - perhaps it's because I am very tired.

I am wearing two hats at work this week - my own hat and my managers hat while they are on leave.  This is making for a very interesting time.  I get into comfort zones of thinking everything is under control and then something comes out of left field and will throw me off.  But I have my manager standing on my shoulder whispering in my ear - "Just breathe, Sharon!!"

Acting in my managers role is a bit daunting.  I'm not that confident because I don't have a "big picture" view of what we are doing as a department - I know what the libraries are doing but not what my colleagues are doing in the other areas of our department.  I think this is something I'd like to chat about with my manager when she returns - how can I keep up with what is happening in our department - more team meetings, perhaps??!!  Not knowing what's happening can make me feel a little bit silly if someone asks me a question about something I probably should know.  You can't have your finger on every pulse - but I will try!!

The sunrise this morning was beautiful - did anyone see it?  We were on our run and saw the red sky coming out from behind the clouds over the ocean.  Beautiful!!  That's when I really like being up early in the cold running.  It's those moments!!

Can't is not part of the vocab #blogjune #22

Today's mantra: Clear your mind of "can't."

Today I participated in the Urunga Fun Run facilitated by the Coffs Coast Little Athletics.  I did the 10k run (they had 2k, 5k and 10k).  While 10k is not really a long run for me anymore, in a "race" situation, it always is tough.  I run at a faster pace to what I would normally do and I get caught up in the "race" atmosphere.

However, there are plenty of times during the "race" where "can't" comes into my mind.  My legs might get sore and I'll say "I can't go on."  Or I will run out of breath or get thirsty etc.  The biggest thing of the race is battling your mind and pushing away the "can't."

But how does that apply to work?  There are plenty of situations that I have been in where I have had to do a task that I was not confident that I could do and "can't" was very hard to push away.  In some cases it has stopped me from completing them or putting my hand up to try.

If it was just a matter of putting one foot in front of the other - perhaps the "can't" would disappear easier.  If there was some way of training yourself in work, as you do in running, to take on more.  In running, it's a case of building on strengthening your body and increasing mileage gradually - how does this apply in work?

I'd like some suggestions on this - please feel welcome to share.

On a side note, I'm enjoying reading other's #blogjune posts - it gives me a little insight into these people (who I may or may not have met) lives and personalities and I miss their blogging when #blogjune finishes.  So keep blogging you #blogjune (ers).

On the twelfth day of Christmas...

I pondered how weird looking the word "twelfth" is - perhaps even more so because I had issues trying to spell it!

I know I promised two posts today but I'm thinking I might just throw my epiphany post in here for good measure and I'm running out of steam.

I will have you know that I had heaps of blog posts written in my head during my afternoon walks for the last 12 days but by the time I got home and did everything I had to before I could find the time to sit down and write them - they were gone!  I will never be a good writer!

Today I started the day with my own solo boot camp - and this was after an afternoon of bubbles the day before.  I decided that I had to watch the final of the Brisbane International Tennis and in order to enjoy it more, I would have a few glasses of bubbly.  So I was very impressed that I managed to run around the sports fields this morning, inflicting all sorts of punishment on my body without any feeling of being hung over.  I think being fit means your blood flows quicker and therefore the alcohol exits your body quicker - well that's my theory!!  Another reason to keep exercising and staying fit.

From there I had to take Miss A to swimming lessons and then she had a friend over.  I then took the girls down to the lagoon/river for a swim.  Once Miss A's friend had left, I ventured out for my afternoon walk a little later than normal and proceeded to run into friends and talk for 20 minutes and only walk 1.8km.  Not much to put toward my Run Down Under journey but still some form of exercise so it all helps!

Just before I was going to write this post, I stumbled on a twitter response concerning a few of my twitter friends and I commenting on our reluctance to go back to work.  A twitter friend responded by saying it sounded like we didn't like our jobs.  I have to say at the moment for me work is a love/hate relationship.  I love interacting with the community and providing such a great service, but I hate what is happening behind the scenes in a wider organisation sense and the stress that goes with the behind the scenes.

As I mentioned previously, I am in a rut and I'm not sure how I'm going to regain my motivation to get out of it.  I am happy (not sure if that is the right word for it) to sit tight for the time being, and also work on the things that are making me unhappy (again not really the right word for it - perhaps challenges are a better way of looking at it - or even better possible opportunities).

I just wish the motivation I am feeling for running and the feeling of accomplishment I get from it could be transferred to my work life.  I am hoping the confidence and achievement I am gaining from running will provide me with the confidence skills I need to achieve the things I want to achieve in my work life. 

That's not really an epiphany but it will do for now.

I look forward to sharing more thoughts, achievements and general reflections with you all throughout 2014 and will be looking for any blog challenges coming up to participate in.  Thank you for your readership and your comments!

Blog June Post 9 - Memories

This post does is not meant to be something to give me a "big head" or boost my ego. It is merely a process of looking back at what others have said about me a long time ago and where I am now. It was prompted by me looking for my birth certificate - it appears I have lost it for a second time during a move - and finding a box full of memories. So here goes.

This was from 1992 when I did work experience at a library when I was in year 10:

Sharon worked well is very keen to enter the library field. She is a little quiet but that is expected at her age.

This one is after I had worked at a library for 12 mths while I was completing my library technician course - I was 18 at the time :

I have worked with Sharon at the ..... for approximately the last 12 months. During this time I have worked along side Sharon in the capacity of a Library Assistant. Sharon is a very pleasant lady and displays well mannered working habits.

An important aspect of her job attitude is her willingness to be self motivated and a "team member." Sharon has great enthusiasm for Library work and is dedicated to her job.

I wish Sharon the very best in her future and can recommend her personally as a fellow worker as an asset to any future position.

I just love the work experience comment. The librarian there at the time had been there for a very long time and was nearing retirement. I actually think she had gone beyond retirement but everyone looks old when you are a teenager.

I love her comment about being quiet but it is to be expected at my age. I believe I was 15 at the time. I don't see too many 15 year olds these days expected to be quiet - but I suppose most of them have their iPods on or are on the phone texting or facebooking so perhaps we haven't changed.

Here's another one from when I was working and completing my library technician course:

Sharon Eileen Benstead undertook part of her field work for the Associate Diploma of Applied Science (Library Technician Studies) at the ...... from 28 February to 1 May 1996. Sharon's performance during this time was so impressive that she was offered a casual position at the ..... following her completion of her field work program.

Sharon's duties have mainly involved circulation desk activities using the ANZ URICA library system. Her tasks in this area include charging and discharging library items, taking reservations and video bookings, preparing overdue notices and answering reference queries.

Sharon also performs the role of Duty Library Officer on two mornings per week at the ....library. In this position Sharon is solely responsible for the operation of library services on this campus and as well as undertaking the circulation desk duties outlined above she is required to start up and shut down the library system.

While the majority of Sharon's work has been in the circulation area, she has also performed a variety of technical services tasks. These include bibliographic verification of items to be ordered and price checking using the.... library network online union catalogue, the .... local INMAGIC acquisitions database and Book-Find CDRom.

Throughout her field work and employment at ...., Sharon has displayed a high level of interest in al facets of library operation. She has a good understanding of library systems and procedures and is able to work efficiently and effectively with minimal supervision.

Sharon always demonstrates a responsible, friendly and helpful attitude towards library clients. She enjoys good working relationships with other staff and her cooperative approach in negotiating allocation of tasks and roster arrangements have made her a valued team member.

I have no hesitation in recommending Sharon as a competent, enthusiastic and committed Library Technician.

I look back at these references and I think about how I felt at the time. I was very shy and very nervous serving people at the desk. The bullying I had received during my schooling years really dented my confidence and it really wasn't until I took up a position in Emerald, Central Qld that I managed to come out of my shell. I can only put that down to moving away from everything I knew and everyone that knew me to a place where I could start afresh. No one there knew that I had been bullied or that I was the chubby girl from school. I was just Sharon the new Library Technician who came from Ipswich.

While I was still a bit unconfident in Emerald, it was having to take the first step of putting myself out there to make friends that really helped. I still have moments of lack of self confidence - probably more than I should - but I think we all have those moments.

The other day I was talking amongst colleagues about former employers providing bad references. I have always thought when asking my supervisor for a reference that I would only ask if I knew I would get a good one. But I suppose you just don't know what they are going to say.

Has anyone out there been shocked by being informed that they had received a bad reference?

What do you do when you are trying to get out of a toxic environment where you haven't got on well with your supervisor but you need to provide them as a reference?