Wednesday, June 29, 2016

#blogjune - Final Post

So I have once again made it through #blogjune.

I thank those who prompted me to take part yet again and to those that read my ramblings throughout June.

Who knows what there will be to share next June.  More running?  A new job?  A new home?  Or finding enjoyment where I am now?

I have enjoyed reading other's #blogjune posts and look forward to reading them all again next year!

Tuesday, June 28, 2016

#blogjune Post 29 - Getting in early

I'm getting in early with this post because tomorrow is going to be a rushed morning.

Today (tonight) rather than write a post, I'm sharing a post from another blog - the Running Mums Australia blog.

This post sums up a lot of why I run and what I get out of running.  Anna says it in a much better way than I could ever express it myself.

And this photo that was taken on the weekend, just shows the connections you make with people from such different backgrounds to yourself - the common love is running!

Monday, June 27, 2016

#blogjune Post 28 - It's cold

I don't like the cold!  I think I may have mentioned this before in past blogs.  But I really don't like the cold.

You may ask then, why did I move South instead of North?  Well I ask myself the same question every Winter.  In fact, I think I should head North in Winter and work in Qld for all of Winter, then return down here near the beach for Spring/Summer.

Last year we were lucky enough to have snow up on the Northern Tablelands on a weekend.  So we all hopped in the car and drove up to Armidale.  I had never seen snow.  Neither had Miss A.

We got to the big round about in Armidale where if you turn left you head to Tamworth, and right takes you to Glen Innes.  We had just turned right and a sleet storm started.  We pulled over and jumped out of the car.  Miss A and I were going crazy with excitement.  I was rugged up so I could hardly move.  Hubby was in shorts!!!

We continued North (yes North to the snow not South) to Ben Lomond - which is half way between Armidale and Glen Innes. Black Mountain is there and there was lots of snow on the ground.  We jumped out and started throwing it at each other - well Miss A and I did.  It is quite dry to touch and cold.  But not wet like I thought it would be.  We had lots of fun!

Last night and this morning it is snowing in Guyra which is about an hour and half away from us.  Up past Dorrigo.  Unfortunately, you can't get to Guyra at the moment because the road is closed due to black ice.  If it wasn't closed, I'd probably consider having a "snow day" off work and heading up the mountain!!

Surprisingly, even though it was snowing up on the mountains, it was not that cold here this morning when I headed out at 5.30am for my run.  It was around 9'C.  We warmed up quickly and got straight into our speed session - 2km warm up, 3km rep then 500m recovery, 2km rep 500m recovery, 1km rep 500m recovery, 2km warm down.  Speed sessions never get easier but at least they warm you up!!

#blogjune - The no idea where I am up to post

I'm exhausted!  After a whirlwind trip to Qld over the weekend and a beautiful wedding but a few sleepless nights and lots and lots of driving - I'm stuffed!

Highlights - catching up with family!  Catching up with the Ipswich parkrun crew!  Running with Sarah and Mark!  Doing the hills of the park2park course and thinking that I am so much stronger than I was when I did them 2 years ago! Catching up with family we haven't seen since our wedding 14 years ago!  The beautiful morning views from our hotel room in Mount Tamborine!

To top off my exhaustive state, today I had to drive to Grafton and back for work - another 4 hours in the car driving!!

So a short post today!  Good night!


Thursday, June 23, 2016

#blogjune Post 24 - Road Trip

Quick post to say we (ie the family) are going on a road trip today.  It's a fleeting visit to Queensland for a wedding and will be returning home on Sunday.

Sometimes being in a car together creates some good and interesting conversations as we are forced away from our devices - ok Miss A is still on her's for most of the trip - and talk about things that are happening/decisions to be made/interesting sights you see as you drive.

Road trips as a child don't bring back fond memories.  I was always in the middle between my brother and sister, with the dog hanging his head over the back seat, drooling all over me.  When a fight was on between my sister and brother, there'd be hitting and yelling going on across me.  And then if I wanted to have a sleep, I had nothing to lean on because my brother and sister could lean against the door with their pillows but more often than not, would not let me lean on them.  Oh and don't get me started with punch buggy!!

So yes a road trip for us today!  There could be a break in blogging over the next two days as I'm not sure how internet access will be and how much time I will have.

PS what is it about appetites and road trips - my family seems to be 10 times more hungry in a car then out of one!!

Wednesday, June 22, 2016

#blogjune Post 23 - Step by Step



I'm having difficulties getting my Garmin to connect to my PC via USB this morning and I'm wondering if this is an indication of how my day is going to be.

I started the day off tired and knew that the 12km hilly run was going to be a struggle.  I even changed the route around a bit to shock the legs a bit as they are getting used to our usual 12km hilly run.  Then my running buddy and I spent a fair bit of brain power working out our new turn around.  I suppose it distracted us a bit.  We were both tired so the run started bad and I can't say it got better.  Struggle street all the way but we got it done!

I'm beginning to question my 20km run planned around the Park2Park course (as we are doing a fleeting visit to Ipswich this weekend).  If the hills killed me today - they will most likely not be pretty on Saturday!

Garmin has finally connected - the day is good once more!

One of my friends from my time in Emerald has tagged me on Facebook to post my favourite songs from the 90's over the next 7 days.  I was then debating if it should be the songs I liked then or the 90's songs I like now.  I've decided to mix it up a bit.

Today's song is: Step by Step by New Kids on the Block.  They were my favourite group for most of the 90's.

However, looking back now there are a lot of songs from the 90's I didn't like but like now.  They might just show up in my Facebook posts.

Happy Thursday everyone!

Tuesday, June 21, 2016

#blogjune Post 22 - A new way to see a place

Since taking up running I have now discovered new ways of seeing places I'm visiting (i.e. on holiday, overnight stay, or conference attendance).  Previously, touring and discovering a place I was staying in was left to later in the day and was most often done by car and short walks.

Now when I go on holiday or to a new place, discovery happens at daylight.  Or sometimes just before dawn.  In big cities I'm often surprised by how many people are making their way to work.  In country towns I lap up the piece and quiet.

My planning for visits has taken on a new meaning as I scope out possible running routes and get excited about things I might discover.

Yes I do get worried about dogs on the loose (but I worry about that at home too), and if there are odd people around - but hey, I can most likely out run them!!  But mainly I look forward to seeing a town/city slowly wake up and discover the paths that are often not taken when you are in a car.  The people you wouldn't see out and about if you waited for a "normal" time to be up discovering.

I have even gone so far as to plan holidays around running events - eep!!

I'm going to be heading to Adelaide at the end of August.  I have never been to Adelaide and I'm already scoping out places to run and if there are any exercise equipment located in parks.  Anyone who has been to Adelaide, please send me some suggestions!

Monday, June 20, 2016

#blogjune Post 21 - Another missed post

So I missed another post.  Well, yesterday I had to be super quick getting ready to work so had no time to post in the morning, then in the evening I had no motivation left to post - so slack me, slap my wrist!!

On Sunday, my friend and fellow librarian wrote a post about brand identification.  She wrote about how the marketing of electronic resources in libraries is often left to the library staff.  Where she felt the vendors that sell libraries these products had great responsibility to market their products or brands.

I had a staff meeting yesterday and raised this with my staff.  I said it was interesting how lots of library visitors ask us about Ancestry.com because they saw the advertisement on television.  We don't have access to the commercial Ancestry.com but we do have access to the library version.  But it was the point that the television advertising got them asking.  Ancestry.com has done this well.  And with shows like "Who do you think you are?" being popular, it has also brought to light online resources like Trove.

I remember a few years back, our neighbour Coffs Harbour Library doing a series of television advertisements on home library service.  The result was a number of people coming to our libraries asking if we did home library service because the advertisement said libraries do.  So even though the advertisement was from a different library service, the viewer only noted library and the service, and assumed all libraries are the same so they must all do it.

So then you would think vendors would have it easy.  Create a generic advertising campaign.  Mention their resource, mention library and da da - people will seek out their library to use the product.

But then you must ask, what is in it for them?  The vendor doesn't really gain more money from this, or do they??  If more users are using the resource then the library service is more likely to continue providing access and purchasing the subscription.

Like my friend said in her post, posters, in house advertising etc only targets the users who already are on board and seeking this out.  Let's target those that don't know about all the electronic resources that libraries offer.

I recently ran an advertising campaign on our local radio stations promoting our online resources to those that can't get to the library because of time restraints or opening hours not meeting their needs.  It highlighted the ebooks, eAudio books, eMagazines and eMusic collections that our library service provides.  It mentioned you only have to come in to join and then you never have to set foot in the library again!  Just out of this advertising campaign I had 4 people that mentioned they had heard the advertising on radio join the library because they didn't know we had those resources.  I imagine more joined because of this but didn't mention the advertising they heard.

So yes, vendors should spend time advertising - a generic program is really all they need to cover all library services.  And libraries should do some advertising that goes beyond the walls to those that don't come through the doors.

Saturday, June 18, 2016

#blogjune Post 19 - Words

This post I'm going to do something different and as there are no rules for #blogjune, I'm guessing it's ok.

Today I'm sharing local author, Jenn J McLeod's post: A sad and angry sea - and we grieve

I hope you all take time to read Jenn's post and also read her books!

As a runner, it is common, being out on the streets/parks early, that you might be the first to discover something - even a dead body.  It is one of my fears that this may happen to me one day.  And as Jenn and her partner experienced with walking the beach - there have been times walking our local beach during a time when someone has gone missing at sea that you worry it might be you that discovers the body.

Sorry to be a bit depressive this morning - it's raining, it's Sunday and it's work tomorrow - the mood suits!  Actually, I have a Body Shop party to go to in a few hours so the mood is set to pick up.  And not to be too humorous but I did not the link with bodies and Body Shop!

I promise a much lighter post tomorrow!

Friday, June 17, 2016

#blogjune Post 18 - 8 years

Today (well almost today) marks 8 years since I was offered the current job I'm in.  I had a telephone interview and then a few weeks later was invited to have another "interview" face to face in Grafton.  We booked overnight accommodation in Bellingen because we thought, why not see the place anyway regardless of if I'm offered the job or not.

Consequently, I was offered the job that day (although I didn't accept straight away) and we drove on into Bellingen.  It was Crazy Market Day - basically Bellingen has their monthly markets and the shops offer discounts and it only happens in June - and it was funny seeing the diverse people walking the streets.  We were in a kind of daze thinking that we could be moving to this eccentric place.

We stayed overnight at the Bellingen Valley Motel and was in awe of the beauty of the place.  I accepted the job and the rest is history - so they say!

8 years on and I'm now going through an assessment of where I want to go/be career wise.  I'm not sure if it will be here for much longer.  Still pondering and waiting.  Perhaps a new chapter is on the horizon.

Thursday, June 16, 2016

#blogjune Post 17 - Fashion or lack of

Once again I turn to Rachel's post about fashion that I read this morning.  Rachel, you are doing wonders for giving me ideas for posts.

In her blog, Rachel writes about how she likes fashion but doesn't necessarily buy or wear the latest fashion - it's more about comfort.  For me, I don't follow fashion, nor do I put too much thought into what I wear.... unless it's for a running event!

Now I have a drawer full of running clothes.  The drawer is full but you can never have too many running clothes.  And each night before a run or bootcamp, there is quite a bit of thought that goes into the coordination of the tights, singlet, jacket etc before bed.  You see, I have everything ready to put straight on in the morning.

Being winter, sometimes the choice does come down to warmth.  But there still has to be some colour coordination.  Lorna Jane is a favourite brand of mine for the inspirational singlets.  I have 8 of them, and I do put thought into choosing which one I wear and when.  Then I have the singlets I got at events.  Again, depending on the mood and colour required, I will make a decision regarding which one of those I wear.

When it comes to tights, I'm a bit fussy on brands.  At the moment I'm really trying to build up my compression wear.  I have 2 long compression tights (make that 3 as I just bought another pair second hand for a bargain price!), 2 Skins and 1 2xu.  My 3/4 tights are a mix of New Balance and Lorna Jane (I actually only have one LJ 3/4 tights and would like to get another one the same but are waiting for a good sale as they are expensive).

Which then leads into the price.  Running is supposed to be an inexpensive sport.  Yeah, no!!  I'm quite happy to spend $25 on a singlet or $40 on a race singlet, $150 on long tights, and don't even go near what I spend on shoes.  But spend that on casual or work wear, nope!  Can't do!

I wish I could wear active wear all the time!!

Wednesday, June 15, 2016

#blogjune Post 16 - Commuting or Cow Spotting

This morning I was reading Rachel's post about her morning commute, so I thought I would describe mine.  It will not take long!

I'm lucky enough to live about 15 minutes drive from MPOW.  I usually drop Miss A at school along the way as it's really only 5 minutes down the road.  Once I have dropped her off (which usually means walking her to her classroom and making sure her friends are there - yes she is back to being a bit clingy - tweens, sigh!), back in the car and out onto the Pacific Hwy.  Although in a few months it won't be the Pacific Hwy anymore - yay!  The highway is actually moving 5km's West of our town and we will then only have a local road to drive on.

Not much to see on the Hwy and I'm only on it for about 2km.  I cross the Kalang River which is nice and then take the Short Cut Rd (yep that's what it is called) past a few houses with half acre to acre blocks, over the new hwy (quick peak at the progress) and past the industrial estate.  Then out onto Waterfall Way.

The 10km or so drive on Waterfall Way is through dairy farm land.  So lots of cows and you are driving West so the Dorrigo mountains loom in front which makes for a scenic drive.  Usually I get stuck behind someone driving slow, or have to stop for road works (seems to be endless) but in reality there is not much traffic, no traffic lights or hold ups.  Not long and then I'm in Bellingen and parked and walking to work.

Sometimes if we have lots of rain, then I can't get to MPOW (due to flooding) and have to work from the branch that is located in my town.

I don't really miss commuting in the city.  And anytime I have to visit Sydney for professional development, be it a course or conference, I tire quickly of the hustle and bustle.  That said, maybe it won't be long and I will be back in the hustle bustle and might even enjoy the people watching for a while.  Nice change from cows!

Tuesday, June 14, 2016

#blogjune Post 15 - A post so I have posted

Bit late off the mark this morning.  I've had to rush around and consequently have had little time to get my head around a post today, so I am merely filling a blank screen with words to say I have posted!!

Monday, June 13, 2016

#blogjune Post 14 - Back to work

Alas, the long weekend is over and it's back to the grind.  Thank goodness it's only a 4 day week and next week will only be a 4 day week too because we are heading to a wedding in Qld.  I could get used to these 4 day weeks.

This morning it was up at 4.30am to meet my running buddy for a 12km easy run at 5.30am.  Hmm, since my running buddy is naturally speedy, it was not going to be an easy run.  We decided to head out along Yellow Rock Rd, which runs along beside the river and has paddocks on the other side.  A nice run when you can actually see the scenery - this morning it wasn't till we headed back that we could see anything.

The Garmin played up around 4km and started dropping in and out.  This stuffed us up a bit because we were sure the turn around was at a particular point but we had not hit 6km yet.  So we decided to turn at 5km and add a bit of a detour on our way back.  By the end it felt like we had done more than 12km but if it's not recorded on the Garmin/Strava then it never happened so we had to make sure we had done the 12km according to the watch!

Funnily enough, when I uploaded the run to Strava, it did say 12.3km (still think we did more) and apparently we went swimming across the river to North Beach.  I think Garmin was confused - perhaps it doesn't want to get back to work either!

This sort of leads in to how much I rely on technology to track my runs.  And how disappointed I get when for whatever reason it doesn't work out right.  Mind you, I do not live by the watch when I run.  In that way, I mean I don't hang off every km split it give.  Due to completing the Run Down Under virtual run around Australia, I'm more concerned that I track my km's.  And it does help having something track how far you've gone rather than trying to measure it out yourself by driving the track first.  I wonder how they did it all before km tracking watches?!?

Sunday, June 12, 2016

#blogjune Post 13 - Oops Missed a Post



Ok so I missed a post.  But I had good reason to.  Yesterday I was up at 3.45am to head down to South West Rocks Running Festival to complete the 10km run and to support my running friend in doing her first full.

My running friend picked me up in the morning and I spent the drive trying to ease her nerves.  It is a daunting thing running 42.2km.  I did it last year and you can read all about it here.  For most people the real struggle of the marathon doesn't start until the last 10kms - and that's what happened for me.  Would that be the case with my friend?

Anyway, I saw my friend start her race at 7am and then waited 45mins for my start.  It was cold.  So I tried to keep warm best I could.  Cutting a long story short, we were off at 7.45am.  My feet were freezing so my feet were sore to start.  As were other parts like my hands etc.  I felt like it was taking a long time to get into a rhythm.

First km down and I'm thinking well that was fast but we had just come down a hill.  2nd km and I'm thinking well I'm travelling a little faster than I would normally for a 10km but I'm feeling ok.

The trouble with a 10km is it is further than a 5km so it really is all about pacing yourself so that you still have enough in the tank to get that other 5km done.  I find it a bit tricky.  This time I thought well I'm just going to hold onto this pace for as long as I can.

The course is relatively flat.  I have done the half marathon here twice but never the 10km.  I was looking forward to an earlier turn around and not having to deal with some of the sneaky hills that are in the half.

At the turn around I felt that I was going a bit slower and that continued up until 1km left in the race.  At this point I realised I was on 47min and I could possibly come in under 50mins.  This has been a goal of mine for a long time, with my best 10km time being 52mins.  So I put the peddle to the metal and put an effort in to come strong over the finish line and get that sub 50min 10km.  And yes, I did it!!  My garmin watch said 49.36.  Official time 49.45min with the net time 49.32min.  I was stoked, but no time to celebrate, I had to go out to meet my friend and get her to the finish line.

So I started walking the course out.  It was quite funny as some competitors thought I must be doing a race but going really slow - even though I had removed my race number.  Others that must have been from Brisbane, saw my GaleForce running singlet and said hello and good to see another Brisbane runner.

In my head I was trying to calculate where my friend might be on the course.  And my legs were pretty tired, so I was also not wanting to go too far out.  I caught up with her 7km from the finish.  So we ran/walked that last 7km together.  I tried my best to give the right encouragement and dismiss her negative thoughts - it is so tough that last 10kms.  You are so close but so far.  I let her lead with what she wanted to do, run when she wanted and walk when she wanted.  But not let her give in.

She made it!!  In a great time too!!  I am so proud and happy for her to achieve this.  42.2km is such a long way!  I was happy to be able to be there for her in that last 7kms and see her cross the line!

All in all it was a great day!  But I was very tired after a strong 10km and then 14km on top of that.  My legs were spent.  So that's why I missed a post yesterday!

Friday, June 10, 2016

#blogjune Post 11 - Feeling back the front

I'm feeling a bit odd today.  Why?  Well, today I did not wake up at 5am to go running at 6am.  Today I woke up at 7.15am (due to Miss A wanting to get up as her friend had slept over last night and they did not want to waste a minute together - remember those days!!).  A sleep in, but not as much as I would've liked.

So why am I not running today?  Because tomorrow I'm heading down to South West Rocks to do the 10km run at the South West Rocks Running Festival (formerly the Macleay River Marathon).  The past 2 years I have participated in their half marathon.  But this year, due to only having done the Warwick Pentath-Run 3 weeks ago, my coach thought the 10km would be the better distance.  And it will be nice to try something new.

One of my training buddies from when I was training for Warwick will be doing her first full marathon.  So after I finish my 10km and fuel up with something, I will be walking back out on course until I find her and then run back with her to the finish line.  Having done my first full marathon last year, I know how hard those last 10km's can be so I hope to be the motivation she needs.

Even though I am running tomorrow, I still feel very odd not running today.  Sunday is traditionally my rest day.  Although when training for Warwick I was doing double up runs.  Long run Saturday and then a shorter long run on Sunday to replicate the event.  Monday then became my rest day.  But back to only 3 runs per week leading into the Park2Park, Sunday is back to being a rest day.

So while I am sitting here catching up on facebook posts of friends running.  I will bite down that feeling of missing out and guilt, and think about how good it will be to run tomorrow and make the most of the rest time today!  Oh yeah, the washing is ready to be hung out and the house needs a bit of a clean and I have two 10 year olds to occupy - rest, blah!

Thursday, June 9, 2016

#blogjune Post 10 - Escape

On workdays at lunch time I like to go for a walk around town.  I mainly stick to the streets, even though Bellingen is surrounded by bush - I don't like to go off on bush trails on my own.

One of my colleagues has just started back walking with me at lunch time.  Funnily enough she is also one of the colleagues that swims with me at lunch time when the pool season is on.

Yesterday we decided to head bush - up, up and up!  If you read my post from yesterday you will note that I had done a hilly run in the morning, so the up, up and up was not really that exciting for me.  But hearing the bell birds in the bush made up for it.

We kept going along the trail and even though we had done this walk before, a very long time ago, we were both thinking it was taking a long time to get to the road that takes us back into town.  We were only slightly worried we might be lost.

Eventually, after many more ups - there really wasn't many downs - we came to the old Bellingen look out.  I really should've taken my phone and done a lunch time walk selfie to show you just how far away town looked from the look out.

We then had a slight panic thinking we would not make it back within our lunch time.  So work colleague suggested we run back down the hill on the road.

Now the last time we did this - which must be over 3 years ago - I was not a runner and I weighed a lot more than I do now.  My backside ached for days - the wobble from the down hill caused me all sorts of pain.  Fast forward 3 years and I'm flying down the hill, with a lot less wobble and no sore backside!

We made it back in time and we got to enjoy a bit of bush escapism in our lunch hour - wins all round!!

Wednesday, June 8, 2016

#blogjune Post 9 - Dark

I spent some time sitting in the dark this morning.  Inside my car waiting for my running buddy to show up.  As it was we suffered some confusion and I was waiting for her in her town (suburb/place - unsure what to call them here because they are not really towns more places) and she was waiting for me in my town - both sitting in the dark wondering where the other was.

We sorted it and thank goodness the towns aren't that far apart (less than 20km) so once she worked out that she had forgotten that we were meeting in her town today (we usually meet in mine) she drove to meet me.  We met in her town because there are more hills and on today's training plan, a 10km hilly run was on the cards.

So back to the dark.  It was 5.30am and dark.  I was sitting in the car, trying to stay warm, listening to the radio, not thinking about what could be lurking in the bush that was to one side of me (well trying - it crossed my mind a few times).  And I was thinking about how my life is now all about getting up in the dark - well in the winter months anyway.  And that sleeping in for me is getting up at 7am, because I'm normally up at 4 or 5am.  And now I can't think when it began but it just is.

We started running and we were going a good pace because my running buddy is a natural runner and just has a fast pace - which has been good for me.  She had some exciting news so we were going faster because when you start talking and you get excited you go faster - yep we all do!

As we neared the headland, we noted the lovely red haze of the sun starting to rise.  The surf rolling in and just how lucky we are to be up and seeing this.  It's times like these I don't mind getting up in the dark - because seeing the first rays of light is always special - no matter how many times you see them!


PS thanks Shelle for the photo - note this was from another morning, not this morning.  And yes that is me and my running buddies down on the beach with the sun rising!

Tuesday, June 7, 2016

#blogjune Post 8 - Time

Time is slipping away, never to be had again.  Well according to Miss A who slept in until 8 o'clock this morning and is now in the grumps with me for not getting her up earlier - I only have half an hour to play, Mum!  Well don't waste it crying!

Time takes on a new meaning when you run.  Yesterday I mentioned I did speed work and we had to do 6 x 1km reps with 3 minutes walking rest in between.  At first the 3 minutes seem to be a long time.  By the 4th rep it was starting to be too short!

With running you are usually running to better a time.  Go faster.  But sometimes when you are in the moment, you want time to stand still and let you be in that moment for longer.  Blink and it's gone and you are back to reality where time keeps moving.

For me, time appears to be moving faster and other times, it could not possibly go any slower.  Maybe it goes slower because I am always looking ahead - I think I need to spend more time just in the moment!

Monday, June 6, 2016

#blogjune Post 7 - I hate speedwork


Image result for when i run i look like


Ok, I dislike speedwork.  Hate is too strong a word.  And I do feel good after a speed work session so I can't say I hate it.  Perhaps I hate it when I'm doing it but I don't hate it so much I won't do it.

This morning I was out at 5.30am in the dark with my friend I call Speedy Emily.  She has been one of my running companions for about a year.  Emily has been kind enough to do most of my training sessions with me even when she is not training for anything.  She joined me on my long long runs I did leading up to the Warwick Pentath-Run and she even did most of the speed work sessions with me.

Previously, I have done speed work when training for other races, but usually interspersed with a regular run.  I had never done a whole session of speed work on a track or distance repeats at effort.  This was until I got my coach through GaleForce Running.  Now pretty much every week I will have a speed session.

I'm not a fast runner.  I detest going out of my comfort zone.  But since incorporating speed sessions into my training, I have seen the results and I'm not "happy" to do them.

Today's session involved a 2km warm up, then 6 x 1km repeats (at effort - I like how Chris my coach never really specifies a pace, but I know he wants me to push it a bit) with a 3 minute walk break at the end of each rep, then a 2km warm down.

With only a headlamp to guide us, Emily and I set off.  The first rep you always (well I do) go out too fast.  You learn to respect just how far 1km is when you are going at an effort pace.  Not a sprint but an effort you should be able to maintain for a km.  This is the trick of these sessions.  To try to maintain the same pace over a particular distance each rep.  By the end of the session I felt myself slowing down, but surprisingly when I looked at my Garmin watch, we'd kept a pretty consistent pace throughout.

Without Emily, I'd probably give up and walk.  It helps to have someone else suffer with you!

Speed session done and it was light by then.  Home to have a shower and warm oats.  Yep I feel good for getting that done - Thursday it is a 10km hilly run!  Training for the Ipswich Park2Park is in full swing!

Sunday, June 5, 2016

#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??

Image result for social media family

Saturday, June 4, 2016

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


Image result for news and social media

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?

Friday, June 3, 2016

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


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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!

Thursday, June 2, 2016

#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!

Wednesday, June 1, 2016

#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!!