Saturday morning and a big weekend ahead, so I wanted to take this time to update the blog with the week that has just passed. As I said Sunday’s run was lack lustre to say the least. I probably could’ve pushed on to the 10kms I was hoping for, but mindful of not doing too much more than a 10% increase on the week before. Also, I was tired. I felt proud that I’d made the effort though; dare I say I felt dedicated?
Saturday had turned into an enormous day with the 36km only being a part of it. Laying down for a nap after lunch, I think I’d just fallen asleep when my phone rang. Frustration at being woken soon disappeared as the caller chatted on. Geoff Smith from Capitol 101.7FM called as he’d received my letter. He is the presenter of the Saturday morning sports program and was keen to have me on-air for an interview. He also suggested that the station would run details of my run in their “community noticeboard” announcements. Also, he personally offered to MC the quiz night for me!!! I was left feeling so excited when I’d originally wondered if sending out the letters would be worthwhile. So after Easter I will be sitting down with some friends to organise the quiz night...so watch this space.
Monday was a rest day, thankfully. It’s sad, in a way, that all the “extras” I had written into my program (weights, swimming, cycling, etc) are quickly falling by the wayside. I just don’t have the time in the day or week to fit them in. As I’m becoming increasingly tired it seems more important to be rested enough to accomplish my running goals, plus I always have to fit in my kids as well...so all the extras seem to be relegated. I did get up early and walked FD#1, who is also relegated lately, and she loved it!! Monday night was Frisbee and MGirl dropped CBoy for me as I had to go to a meeting for the Relay for Life, where I also got to meet most of the team. After the meeting they headed to the pub for dinner but me, the Queen of No Time, only stopped in briefly as I had to collect CBoy from Frisbee. Thinking I had 30 minutes to sit and chat...I got a phone call from MGirl to say she’d locked her keys in her car at netball! So 30minutes turned into 15 and I jumped in the car, zoomed past CBoy to pick him up early and headed off to netball to let MGirl into her car.
Tuesday...run day. With a cooler day on the cards I decided to have a sleep in and run after work. I convinced CBoy to come with me on the bike and keep me company. I gave him my headlamp to wear hoping it would make it more interesting for him. He trailed me on the bike and as it got darker he turned on the lamp. I had a fully lit path...awesome! I had to ask him to stop with the experiments though when he started moving his hand quickly across the path of the light to make the beam flash. It was making me dizzy! I gave him a couple of options to cut his ride short and head home without me, but he stayed with me all the way. Loved having the company and I suggested he come with me later in the coming months when I have programmed a couple of sessions of 8 hour walk/runs. He said he was busy on that day!
Wednesday morning was another FD#1 walk...lucky girl. Frisbee match on Wednesday night at 7.40pm meant another late dinner. Now all I need is someone special at home to have dinner ready for us when we get in, instead of eating after 9pm. Perhaps he could do the ironing, washing, housework and mow the lawn also. My house is in a constant state of bordering on untidiness...chasing the dust around from room to room. That’s when I wish I could afford to work part-time, to make more time in the day!
On Thursday morning I was lucky enough to have a run with a new friend in a different location. I’d contemplated backing out of the run as of the run as it meant a 4.30am start and I think I’m going to run far enough on the weekend; I’m glad I didn’t. I met Brett Saxon, the secretary or AURA (Australian Ultra Runners Association) at the South Perth foreshore for a run around the river. Brett was here on a family holiday and we’d been emailing back and forth about my AURA tshirt I was waiting for in the mail when he suggested he’d bring it with him. I then suggested a run! It was a gorgeous morning that started in the dark with the city lights spectacular before sunrise, very pretty. I had a vest on as it seemed a bit nippy to me but everyone else out that morning was in just a tshirt. I quickly discovered I’d over dressed and Brett tucked my vest into the back of my Camelbak pack. We completed our run, with a couple of photo opportunities for the visitor, in good time...I think a PB for me. I was very happy until I swung the pack off my back to get my vest, where I’d put the car key into a zippered pocket, to find the vest GONE! Panicked I realised it was the only key I had to the car and the only option was to each run in opposite directions and hope that the vest wasn’t too far away, and that someone hadn’t already picked it up as abandoned! I headed one way, Brett the other, hoping it didn’t involve another 10km circuit. I ran on, Ipod in, and after about 5 minutes I heard “Karen” quietly from behind me. It was “quiet” as I was listening to music and Brett was 200m back and huffing and puffing from his sprint to catch up with me; arm waving with vest in hand! Yeah...he’d only run 200m back the other way before he found it. After a quick run back to the car, we chatted for a while and parted company. A great way to start the day and I headed back to work for a shower and to get ready for the day.
Thursday night was shopping and stocking up for things for the Relay; eggs, potatoes, Coke...all the things I thought I might need to get me through 24 hours. Friday was a normal day, though an early start with washing, vacuuming and folding clothes; all before the kids got up. I had to quickly help MGirl finish a uni submission that she’d basically pulled an all-nighter for. I was gluing while she was getting dressed and cursing herself for falling asleep at 4am and not getting up again at 5am to finish. I’d woken her at 6am to ask whether she got it finished and she went into a flap. We got it done and she called later that morning to say she’d got it displayed in time and all was well, thankfully.
Friday night I pottered about sorting out my things for the Relay. I am really excited about the challenge ahead and spending time with new friends, all for a good cause. I have to admit though, a few little doubts are creeping in about my ability to keep going for 24 hours so I will have to ignore them and just keep going. Other than mum, I also have quite a few friends who have, or still are, battling cancer and their challenges last far longer than 24 hours so I will just have to bring them to mind when times get tough over the day ahead. Check back in next week to see how I went.
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