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whoo hoo! I did it!

Yesterday I ticked off another goal on my list off things to do this year...I ran and completed the Sydney Morning Herald Half marathon.
All 21.1km of it.
Yes, I'm a little bit tired and weary today but the girls were very proud of mama and her finishers medallion.
And to be honest, so was mama!
I had hoped to complete the course in 2hrs flat but alas, I hadn't really done enough running in the few months before. Much too distracted making 30 smallpeople collages....

.

( photo from SMH web site...no credits sadly)

( I do not start anywhere near the front..only fast runners and crazy people do that ...I quite sensibly take my position in the middle to the back of the 5000 strong pack. I am not very big and I squash quite easily.)

When I lined up at the start, my main goal was just to finish ,hopefully in under 2hrs 15min.

My legs decided that their race  finished at the 16km point but I managed to convince them to keep moving until I crossed the finish line, 2hrs and 12minutes later.
Amazing what a few sour gummy bears can do!

( photo from SMH web site...no credits sadly)

I had a little taste of glory when I ran along side the race winner as he crossed the finish line in a little over 1 hr. The sound of applause and cheering was wonderful - and then he finished and I headed off on my second lap!
Oh well, I 'm sure he hopeless when it comes to the old cut and paste!

Note added 23/5/07
I have had a few questions regarding this post...No , the beautiful photos of runners are not mine...they are from the SMH website but unfortunately had no credits. And I was way to busy just plodding along to even think about taking a photo!
This was my fourth half marathon( 3 SMH and one in  Canberra) but the first since Charlotte arrived on the scene.It was also my slowest by 1 min...
Yes, I am considering trying a full marathon again ...I have completed two, the Olympic trial marathon back in 2000( 4hrs 20min) and the Melboune marathon that runs from Frankston to Albert Park( a gruelling 4hrs and 30 minsand four different seasons to boot).

At this point I'm just not sure if I want to spend quite the amount of time needed to train to run 42.2Km. I had enough trouble fitting in the training for the Half.

I guess I could just give up sleeping....

 

day one, 2007....(be warned this is a rather boring post)

(This post is really just for my benefit- this way I have all of my resolutions down on paper so to speak....)

When it comes to New Years Eve, I have to admit I'm a bit of a bore: I love a party as much as the next girl but New Years Eve has never seemed to live up to all of my expectations. The past few years I have been content to have a fairly quiet and uneventful one - some good food , possibly a catch up with a few friends and a glass or two of festive cheer fits the bill nicely.Maybe I'm just getting old......

However,I always love the first day of the New Year - fresh,full of possibility and unknown challenges.
No matter what else is planned for the day, I always ,always find the time to go for a run. I'm not superstitious but I feel as though if I miss a run on this day in particular, it doesn't look good for my running prospects for the rest of the year. So, despite the fact that it was really quite hot and humid, I hit the road for a good hour long run. Thankfully it started to rain about 15 minutes into the run which was just perfect.

(Fairy Bower pool ,along the Manly foreshore walk)

Great music, fresh air and a birds eye view out over the ocean. Perfect.

During this time I had a bit of a think about my resolutions for 2007....

• Spend more time dancing with my girls

• Spend more time dancing with my husband

• Spend more time dancing by myself (but with the blinds down so the neighbours don't talk about that weird woman next door)

• Go to bed early at least two nights a week......Repeat. Go To Bed Early At Least Two Nights A Week

• Run a marathon or half marathon at least which leads to.....

• Get up earlier two mornings a week( groan, I already know that this will be my biggest challenge!)

• Empty and sort through every closet, drawer, etc in my house and give away/get rid of anything that we don't need or use (this could take all year and will involve great willpower on my part when I drop things off to the op shop, as I generally tend to come home with more than I left the house with)

• Use less water and energy

• Plant a herb garden

• Be a little more focused when it comes to my artistic/creative pursuits - spend a little more time improving and building upon my skills in things I already know how to do, instead of madly trying out every new thing that I happen upon.

• Draw something everyday - even just a doodle

• Finish or get rid of UFO's

• Be more selective in the projects that I take on/sign up for

• Eat more chocolate ( but only the best quality stuff .....)

I think that about does it for this year....I have danced twice today ( with and without my girls) , clocked up about 10kms and just printed out the entry form for the Canberra marathon.....so I'm off to a good start.Missed the early bedtime due to writing this post but I'll work on that one tomorrow.

Wish you all a year filled with new challenges, loved ones and laughter.

Oh, and chocolate ( but only the best quality stuff of course!)