#blogjune Post 6 - Socially awkward - I think not

Miss A has got an Instagram account.  I'm not sure how she got one but she told me to follow her.  I then got her to go into her account settings and change it to private.  I then gave her a talk about how she needs to only let the people she knows follow her.  She's ok with that.  Thank goodness she tells me what social media programs she is on.

She is also on Google plus.  She chats to her "friend" Rachel in the USA.  I've seen Rachel via video when Miss A has been chatting to her, so I know that Rachel is Miss A's age.  I hear what they are talking about as Miss A has to leave her door open on her bedroom when she goes in there to chat to Rachel.  And she also uses Google Plus to chat to her school friends.

Miss A claims she's socially awkward.  Perhaps in "real life" she is, but online is a different matter.  Is the online world making it easier for Miss A to be social?  Not sure.  Is it helping her "real life" socially awkwardness?  Probably not!

There are many times in our household that I look around and we are all on devices.  We do talk to each other about what we are doing on the devices, update each other on the news or show pictures of things that others have shared with us.  I once said we are a device driven family!  Not sure how I feel about that but certainly on weekends like the one we just had where it was very wet, it kept us all occupied and a bit more connected to the outside world - or are we??

#blogjune Post 5 - Where do you get your news from?

It was a bit of a sleepless night for me last night as the East Coast Low formed and made for some very heavy, torrential rain and cyclonic winds.  It's always worse at night because you can't see what's happening around you.

I was pretty much stuck to Facebook all of yesterday, getting updates from the emergency services sites as well as people living in the area.  Not once did I go to a news website.

In recent times, I have been relying more and more on social media to get me news.  Yes at times there can be fake news reports - usually about a famous person's apparent death.  But the majority of the time, especially when it comes to local news, I find out about it first on Facebook.  Then usually follow up (depending on how big the story is) on a news site.

This makes me ponder how the role of the journalist may change or is changing.  They have to be there when it happens - but how??

I also noted when I took the ABC Vote Compass when it asked where I get my news from (I think that was one of the questions - I was so upset at how targeted the questions were to one party or the other that I might have forgotten what was asked), social media was not one of the responses to choose from.  Please correct me if I'm wrong for those that may have done it.  By the way, I was not happy with the response it gave me because it was one of three of the well known parties.  I was interested to see if my thoughts pushed me to a different political party.  I won't go into politics this morning as it can divide people so easily.

Anyway, as the flood waters start to go down - although there appears to be a bit more rain coming our way - I will relish another wet weather day of lazing around the house.

Where do you get your news from?

#blogjune Post 4 - Do you ever question your sanity?

This was the question my husband asked me this morning after I'd come in from running in cyclonic conditions.  My answer: I've run in worse!

I'm often asked how do I stay committed to running?  How do I go out there and run while everyone else is snuggled up in bed?  My answer: I like food!!  No, I do also like running but I do like food a lot and one has to find a balance.

I've only been running for around 4 years.  I've been participating in the Run Down Under virtual run around Australia since 2014.  In that time, I have traveled around 9,000km.  Based on my current average km's per week, I should finish in October 2017.  This has been a good motivator for me and as I do have a slight competitive streak - it does keep me honest!

This morning I have to admit that I originally planned to meet a running friend in another town for a run at 5.30am.  When I got up at 4.15am, it was absolutely pouring and a look at the rain radar confirmed it was unlikely to stop.  I sent her a quick message to say I didn't want to drive in this type of weather and would go running a little bit later when it was light and see if the weather had improved.

Out the door at 6.15am and it was not pouring - very windy but just showers of rain.  Out on the boardwalk the rain stung a bit as a bit of the salt water from the ocean sprayed up (probably some sand too).  The ocean was angry.  But I was the only one to see it and that to me is special.

I was struggling a bit with the run.  It would be nice to be snuggled up in bed but hey, I'm the only one out here seeing all this.  Some might say the only crazy one!  I ran out to Hungry Head beach and looked out over the ocean from the headland - angry rough seas.  Then to head back the same way I came.

By the time I got back to the exposed parts of the run, the wind was a lot worse.  I was running into it and being pelted by the drops - I swear some skin might have come off!  16km done and home in the warm shower!  Yep, I'm glad I got up and got that done!

Do I question my sanity?  The rest of the world is crazy, I'm the sane one!

#blogjune Day 3 - Reflection

I have mentioned in previous posts how much I am enjoying having a running coach and actually achieving results.  To me it's an awesome process.  Coach this is my goal, help me work to it!  Coach - follow this program, provide feedback and work together.  Ultimately, I am the one doing the work.  But the coach is doing the assessment of how I am going and how to tweek the program based on the feedback I'm providing.

All of this reflection about my running coach led me to think, would I get the same result with a career coach?  What things would I need to reflect on?  How would they help me?  What would they need to know about me in order to establish a good, effective relationship?

I'd love any readers to jump in with comments, thoughts etc regarding careers coaches as I really don't know much about them and how it all works!

Other than the running coach reflection bringing about these thoughts, I have recently been reflecting on where I want to be with my career - which brought me to the career coach thing.

The move to where I am now was where I needed to be at that time in my life.  After 8 years, I'm not sure if this is still where I want to be.  As my daughter gets older the focus changes.  For a while it was all about family and it really still is, but it slowly starts creeping back towards what makes me happy.  Well really it is still about making the family happy but the focus is shifting slightly.

I'm hitting the big 40 next year, is this the organisation I want to be working for?  Is this the position I want to be working in?  Is this the place I want to be living?  Do I have gaps in my skills/knowledge that I want to fill, but can only be filled if I move to a different position in a different organisation?  And always, the pull of family and friends in Qld is constant.

Sounds all very self absorbent, doesn't it?  But I'm sure others have had these thoughts or are having them.  I think it is good to reflect on where you are and where you want to be.  I've been ignoring it for a while but I think now is as good as time as any to put myself out there and see what happens!

#blogjune Post 2

Yep, I'm all for creative titles for each post - not!!  I promise to work on this.

This morning I was reading my friend, Rachel Wray's blog post about social media.  I tend to follow the same trends Rachel does.

I used to be a big user of Twitter but now only venture on there when attending conferences.  I tend to use is as a note taking/sharing device.  Or when I'm doing a challenge like this - #blogjune  Oh I also sometimes go to it when watching The Voice to check out what other viewers are saying about the contestants.  But generally Twitter is not something I check all that often.

Since moving away from family and friends, Facebook is my go to for social media.  It has also become a place I connect with other runners from all over Australia.  I go for it for the latest news reports, weather, and generally what is happening around the place.  I provide updates/snippets of what I've been doing so my family and friends can stay in touch.  I share pictures of places, people, and family.  This would be the social media tool that I use the most.

I've recently started using Instagram a bit.  Mainly because I can do running selfies and upload the image, tag and share very quickly.  It also posts to my Facebook page - 2 birds with 1 stone!

I have tried using Pinterest but find it's probably of more interest to those doing crafty things - I'm not very crafty.  That said, apparently it's good for getting some memes (sorry if I've used the wrong word) for Facebook posts for my library service's page - but I find that I have little time at work to be looking for or thinking about possible posts for our Facebook page.  I actually think that it is worthwhile having one staff member looking after a library's social media to ensure a targeted, consistent approach - not having random posts for the sake of posting.

These social media tools are about the extent that I have explored in the hundreds of tools available.  I must admit that I do use a little bit of the social aspect of Strava but find that it is more of a running recording tool for me than a social tool.

Thanks, Rachel for prompting some thought and reflection regarding my use of social media.  It was interesting to read about your uses.

How do you use social media?

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!!

The Marathon

I've been sitting on this post for a while - unsure how to start, what to tell and how to express it.  I've read many recaps by Facebook friends that have really captured a lot of what I have felt and experienced during my marathon so it has helped but the thoughts and words aren't forming in any kind of pattern so this could become a ramble.

The marathon day started for me at 3am due to wanting to accompany friends who were doing the half marathon to the race precinct and a little bit (well mostly) about not knowing or wanting to find my way there alone.

I followed my usual breakfast routine that I had used for long runs (the few that I did during training) and had honey on toast and a hot milo.  I thought I would bring a banana along to have before the race but ended up forgetting it.

Off to the tram at 4.20am and jumped on the 4.40am tram.  As we were the first stop, it was empty but got very full by the time we reached the race precinct.  I was feeling a bit ill by then because of being squashed in but while on the tram I managed to catch up with a fellow Coffs Harbour runner and wish her luck for the half marathon.  It's amazing how fate plays games with you on days like this.  Of all the carriages for her to hop on, it was the one I was on!!  By the way, she did a super time in her race!

It was still dark when we arrived at the precinct and first thing was to locate the toilets.  We found an out of the way block so the line up was minimal.  It seemed like it didn't take much time after that for my friends to have to head to the start line for the half marathon.  I was left standing in the dark and cold trying to watch the start from a slight hill.  I forgot I could've gone into the middle of the precinct and watched it on the big screen.

I was surprised to see people still jostling into the starting line long after the start gun had gone off - but apparently that is normal.

As it was still cool, I headed back to the toilets and sat in a cubicle for a while just to keep warm.  Not sure what to do then, I wandered around, dropped my bag off and really just stood there watching the other runners start to arrive for the marathon.

A lady from the Facebook group of which I belong, Running Mums Australia, popped up beside me and asked if I would like to come with her to find the RMA tent as there was going to be a photo taken of the marathoners at 6.45am.  It was 6.30am by then and the race was due to start at 7.20am.  Off we went to find the tent and we did and had our photo taken.  I had explained to the lady that I had forgotten my banana and she was kind enough to share hers.  We did a final trip to the toilet and headed to the start line.

I was actually wanting to run with this lady - she was aiming for a 4.30 finish time so had chosen starting group D and I was in C as I had been advised to estimate a faster pace so not to get stuck behind slower runners.  I kept trying to sneak into D but the volunteers were on my case each time so I ended up lining up at the start in C on my own.

After a motivational speech by Robert De Castella and recognition of the passing of the great Ron Clarke, the gun went off and we started moving slowly towards the start line.

I was having trouble with my Garmin watch picking up a GPS signal so was saying silent prayers it would work.  But also taking in the atmosphere and as I went up a small crest and looked down over the start line and all the fellow runners doing this run, I got a bit teary.  I told myself I could not cry because I wouldn't be able to breathe.  So put a stop to that.  I could not believe I was crossing the start line after all those months of training and I was alone but surrounded by thousands of other runners.  It was such a big event to be part of.

I have to note that not even a kilometer into the run and there were some poor runners already pulled off to the side with possible pulled muscles so their run was over - I felt for them.

I found a nice pace to run, but had a bit of pain in my ankle which just felt like I needed to do some ankle rotations but it did come good not long after.

I won't do a k by k breakdown of the race but I will say that the run out to the turnaround at Burleigh Heads was fun.  The crowd is great!  I high fived as many kids as I could along the course.  I wasn't quite sure where the turn around was so it threw me a bit because I thought it was earlier than it was.  But I had already started running into people I knew from Facebook running pages I follow and from Ipswich parkrun.

The best surprise (well there were many best surprises on the day) was hearing my name called at Surfers Paradise and seeing a lady from work there with her family.  I ran across to high five her - and would you believe, she was still there on the way back which deserved a hug so she got a big sweaty hug.  She has since sent me an email saying how proud she is of me and how inspirational I am!  It was a lovely surprise and spurred me on.

I ran into one of the running coaches from a group I run with in Ipswich when I'm up there on holidays a few times.  I would run past then walk through the drink stations and he would catch up again and then I'd run past and it would go on like that for a while.

Catching up with Green from Super Running Girls and Graham from Taking the Long Option could not have come at a better time.  From about 10km my toes felt like they had blisters on the bottom of them but it was an annoyance more than pain so I could keep going.  Green and Graham kept my mind occupied for a while.  Green had to head to a toilet so Graham and I kept running together.  Graham had a camera on a stick so was taking photos along the way.  Graham was doing a great thing for the team Run for Hummingbird House.  He was running back and forth throughout the marathon to get all the team across the line.  He ended up running around 62km instead of 42km.

After Graham left, I caught up with Adele from She Runs a Lot and Sam from Darren and Sam's Running Adventures - this was the first time I had met them although I did seem them both at the before the start and probably shocked them a bit my saying hello and "I follow you on Facebook!"

Then I ran into Shylet from the Running Doctor and also embarrassed myself saying I follow you on facebook.  I swear I felt like some kind of stalker at this stage.  I must not forget that I had also run into Running Optimistic  who was running with a friend - Jess and Tess!!

It was fairly uneventful until I came up to the bridge at 30km.  I remember people saying that this was the incline - the hill that was still flat but still a hill.  I thought, well this is the furtherest I had run in my training so anything beyond here is the unknown.  It was also at this point I saw my friends on the sidelines and ran backwards to give them a big hug.  Another spur to get me up the incline and as I crested and looked out beyond the finish line (yes I had to run past that - what torture) and saw the thousands of runners ahead and no turn around in site - my head started winning.  I will admit at this stage the legs were pretty sore - in fact in my race video you can see when I run down the hill on the other side of the bridge I'm looking pretty stiff.

The walking begins here.  I had just had the biggest boost from the supporters and my friends and now I was in no man's land.  There are still supporters, but not as many.  There are people collapsed in the middle of the road and there are lots of runners starting to walk.  I could see a turn ahead and thought that once past there I might see the turnaround and be spurred on again - instead I saw more runners ahead.  This just kept happening.  Around every turn, more runners and no turnaround.

I had been up with the 4.00 pace balloon but that had gone, the 4.15 pace balloon also went and then the 4.30 pace balloon drifted off.  My thoughts of a possible sub 4.30 marathon deflated and I just said, it's ok, I just need to finish.  Even if I have to walk it.  So lots of walking and shuffling I did.

I had seen another runner from Coffs earlier in the race who was behind me, she passed me as I hit my first walking session of the post 30km mark.  I wished her well as I continued walking.  Alas, suddenly there she was walking in front of me.  I said No what happened and she said it hurts and I said I know and we walked together.  This went on for a little while and then she said, there is only 4km to go, let's run.  So off we shuffled.  I really didn't want to run 4km - I really didn't think I could and after 2km and my stupid water/fuel belt kept slipping, I said for her to continue as I wanted to walk and fix up my stupid belt.  So off she went.

So I walked and shuffled and lo and behold just ahead the 4.30 pace balloon - woo hoo!!  Maybe my sub 4.30 was in sight again.  I kept up with the balloon and then we rounded a corner and I heard the pacer say, there's only just over 1km to go you can do this.  So I did.  I overtook the 4.30 pacer and shuffled along quicker.

I knew the RMA tent was near the finish shoot so I thought, I just have to get to there and I know I'm pretty much home!  The team tents were cheering and I was smiling again.  I was on the way out of hell!  High fives for all the RMA's hanging over the fence.  And then my friends - the girls!!  High fives for them and there was the start of the finishing shute!!!  Let's put the effort in!!!

So effort I did - although looking at the video it really wasn't that fast!  And I rounded a corner and thought where is this f**&^ finishing shute!!  And there it was and my name was called out and I threw my hands in the air and fist pumped and got excited!!  I had done it!!  I had finished and I had done it, according to my Garmin in 4.26.  Officially 4.27 and gun time of 4.31.

I stopped running and instantly my legs stiffened - it was hard to walk.  I ran into my Coffs running friend in the food and water area and we both started crying and promising to call each other should we decide to do another marathon again - so we could talk the other out of it!  I called my husband and daughter and they were so excited!!  I made my way out of the recovery area and got my medal and shirt and went and picked up my bag.  I then had to locate my friends - the girls!!

There are lots of people to thank for this journey and achievement - a lot mentioned in this post and a lot not mentioned but they know who they are!  Will I do another one?  I might, but not the Gold Coast again - not with that awful last 10k - that will never leave me!  Although they say it's like childbirth and you soon forget.  So who knows!