10kms

Saturday morning dawned cool & overcast with a slight breeze.  Perfect running conditions.  I'd had an inkling that I just might consider running the 10km a week early & after a 10 hour sleep, once I felt the conditions, I knew it was time to give it a crack.  


I ran the first 5kms keeping my heart rate under 130 beats per minute.  This was to keep me calm.  I wasn't aiming for a fast time, I was aiming to complete the distance.  It really is a mind game this running caper: I had little bouts of anxiety which made my heart rate increase & my chest tighten.  Why was I anxious you ask?  I was worried I wouldn't be able to do it!  Yes, I know I'm an idiot.  I've trained for it & was more than ready.  But that doesn't stop the doubt.  I had a couple of stern chats to myself like: "What's the worse that could happen?  Having to walk the last couple of kms?  You idiot!!  Big Deal!!!!  Think of those Biggest Loser Contestants running up that big sand hill; if they can do that, you can do this Whoop Whoop!!!!" 


Once I'd reached the 5km mark, I knew I could finish & picked up the pace a bit, keeping my heart rate under 140 bpm.  The furthest I ever run before was 8kms, so it was only 2kms more than that & I regularly run 6.5kms in the morning, so only 3.5kms more than a regular run.  See what I mean?  I knew I could do it, but my mind was holding me back.  With around 1.5kms to go, I changed my music from calm & soothing to rockin' & went for it, powering home.


I spotted Plumbing Boy turning out of our street as I was running towards it & held up both hands flashing all 10 fingers at him with a big grin on my face.  He wasn't really sure what I was on about but tooted & waved & went about his business.  I continued to pick up the pace & made it home in 1hr 14 minutes & 42 seconds.  Plenty of room for improvement there, but I did it.  10kms.  All by myself.  HA!!!!  Yes, I was pretty stoked.  


After catching my breath & skulling some water I called PB & asked him if he got my message.  He said what message?  Did you see how many fingers I was holding up when I was running towards you? Ahhhhhhhhh You just did your 10K????  Well done!!!!!  I wondered what that meant & what was taking you so long!!!!


I spent the rest of the day helping PB doing a bit of manual labour, basking in my accomplishment.  My legs were a little sore Sunday, but good sore.  I ran again Monday morning, but had this morning off as I had to get PB out the door with lunch & breakfast on the road by 5.45am.  


Next on the agenda is to run an official 10km fun run in April with an improved time; maybe by the time January rolls around I can do the surf to surf in Warrnambool in 60minutes!!!  While I don't enjoy ALL of EVERY run, the after buzz is worth every second of it!  Bring it On!!!!

Hi Ho Hi Ho its a camping we will go!  Plumbing Boy & I went off camping to celebrate Australia Day.  Nothing more Aussie than camping out in the bush :-) 

We tested out the new camp sink (courtesy of ebay).  PB even made up a pump action bottle so I had running water from the tap!  It was worth every cent with fold out benches on either side - one held the gas cooker the other for preparation & other stuff!

I left PB at the campsite Thursday & came back to Melbourne as I worked Friday.  He took himself motorbike riding after setting up a few more essentials......

Like the creativity?  Yes, that is a JD can!


 I returned Friday afternoon after work - luckily the camping location was only an hour away.  


We lit the fire.

Then made ourselves comfortable...

Sampled some beautiful NZ ciders while watching the sunset behind the gum trees.  

We cooked up a bit of a BBQ feast & sat around our campfire chatting & watching the stars til our peepers wouldn't stay open any more.


On Saturday PB went on a couple more short dirt bike rides while I went for a few walks.....

I think I walked around 6kms Saturday morning through the beautiful bush lands of the Wombat State Forrest.  Although I'm glad I didn't see this guy (below)

When I went on this walk!!!

I suspect his pretty spikes may not have been that friendly!

Sunday PB had a mate come & join him for a 1/2 day ride. I walked along a walking trail approximately 9kms to the gardens of St Erth which took me around 1hr 40 minutes. 

The middle section of the trail along the river hadn't been maintained for a while & I was attacked by several thorny bushes.  I was the first person through the entire trail that day & of course dislodged lots & lots of spider webs that were strung across!  While trying to swat the the webs off me & look at a kangaroo at the same time I almost fell of the trail at one point.  It must have been funny watching me swat at my face & arms & legs to remove the tickling remnants of the webs!  I didn't see any Koala's, or snakes, but I spotted two startled wallabies.  


St Erth was beautiful.  There were lots of blooms & produce, but as my phone was about to go flat, no photo's to show you.  I wandered around for an hour then hit the road this time (5kms) to return to camp & meet up with PB & his bike riding mate for lunch.  


The it was time to pack up camp & return to the big smoke.  PB almost killed me at one point.  We were just about to get into the Ute after tying down the load, when I  realized I had no idea what I'd done with the car keys!   EEEK!  Luckily they were in the 3rd place we looked in a bag on the top of the load instead of on the bottom.....


Back to reality.  I think it took a few days for my legs to recover - I really felt all the hills I hiked up & over as opposed to running on flat ground!


We realized we hadn't been camping for around 3 years - since our Ute was stolen.  We went this time in the old plumbing Ute - no aircon, no power steering, not much comfort, but for an hours drive, it wasn't too bad!  I think we'll be going back soon!!!!!