Date: Sunday 20 June 2010
Distance: 10km
Time: 1:21:27
Footwear: Vibram KSOs (I spotted one other guy wearing black KSOs, and got several “OMG look at her feet!” comments)
Weather: Clear 5-10 deg C

I signed up for the fun run a month or so ago and committed to doing the 10km distance over the 5km on a whim to push myself to add some distance to my training in preparation for the Canberra Times Fun Run in September.

I was nervous from a couple of days out from the run and started to try to talk myself up, but by the time I woke up on Sunday morning (having not slept a great deal) I was ready to quit, or at least just do the 5km run. But I sucked it up and decided that I had committed to the 10 and I was jolly well going to run the 10k even if it killed me!

I was also sure that I was going to finish dead last…and for good reason. For those of you who are unfamiliar with minimalist running, speed is not a factor when you are learning. Proper form is absolutely vital to prevent stress fractures and foot pain, and speed comes later, and since I’m in the early stages of this style of running, I’m still in the granny-running phase. (For you Aussies..if you ever saw Cliff Young run ultras, that’s my style LOL) Running by myself, this isn’t a problem…I can shuffle along at my own pace and not be worried, but this time I stressed that I would be slower than the time limit and I stressed that I would be a loooong way behind the pack.

I started out a bit quicker than I usually do, just because I was surround by a group of people who were zooming past, so by the 3 km mark I was feeling pretty whacked, by 4km I thought I was going to die and didn’t know how I was going to make it all the way back, and at the 5km mark I saw the first aid station and contemplated crawling into the back of the ambulance and wimpering. By the 6km mark I was thinking that I probably wasn’t going to die. At 7 and 8kms I was starting to feel hopeful, and I could still see other people, and my legs weren’t hurting as much. At the 9km mark something weird happened and I started to speed up (possibly because I could smell the pancakes). At 10kms I crossed the line, grabbed my jumper and headed started back down the track for the 1km walk to the car. I didn’t stay for the pancakes because I was too embarrassed to stand there eating alone like a loser.

I chose to listen to an audio book while I ran to give me something to focus on…but I picked a dud. Whilst it was a good book in and of itself, it wasn’t engaging enough to suck me in and distract me. Music may have been a better choice.

I’ve learned that this distance running thing is definitely a head game. The internal monologue definitely has a bearing on how the run goes, much more so than my physical limitations. At the end of the race my feet felt awesome, and my calves were tight but not painful (today is another matter LOL). Physically I was very pleased with my performance…but my head needs work. The thing that surprised me the most was not wanting to come last. I wasn’t running to win anything…it is a huge achievement to finish the race at all, but the thought that I was going to be horrendously embarrassed being that one that straggles in at the end was a killer. I wasn’t expecting that at all…thought I had my head sorted. Need to work on that.

Next stop Canberra Times Fun Run. After that…hmmm…maybe a half marathon? I kind of wish I had the time to train and compete in the 100km North Face ultra…maybe in a few years. Gotta have something to aim for!

Oh…and I didn’t come last…I was third last, and I could still see the people in front of me

 Do you have any tips to help me wrangle my inner voice into submission?

Congratulations Bells! You are the winner of the Redefining Beautiful book giveaway! Let me know your mailing address via the contact form (or Twitter DM) and I’ll get the book in the post on Monday I hope you enjoy your prize!

So…what DO you do with olive oil??

This time last year I was heading down to Jindabyne for a solo spiritual retreat to kick off the adventure that has been occupying me. If you are new to my blog, here’s an opportunity to catch up with the initial series of posts that started it all.

1. Metaphorical and literal winter!
2. The restoration phase
3. The realignment phase
4. Risk analysis
5. Journey versus Adventure
6. What tools do I need to shove in my gear sack?
7. The fasting bit….
8. Worship with your eyes open when walking!
9. God wraps his arms around you when you least expect it
10. Round and round and round we go // the labyrinth
11. There’s a track winding back to an old fashioned shack
12. What is the church? It might not be what you think it is…
13. Religious Rehab
14. Loving the dysfunctional bride – the adventure continues

It’s time for me to look back and analyse the year gone by.

To see how far I’ve come.

To see what questions have been answered.

To see what remains to be explored.

To consider whether or not I am healthier in mind, body, spirit and relationship.

To think about the next step.

It’s a somewhat tedious task, but a necessary step in the process of growing to be more like God.

When was the last time you took your eyes off the horizon for a moment to look back down the hill?

Yanno….It’s not difficult to start spiritual conversations with people. In fact looking back over the last couple of days I’ve encountered a couple of people who I suspect would have been more than happy to have a quick chat about spiritual things. But my mind was elsewhere…in one particular case I didn’t even twig until I was lying in bed that night thinking through my day. In the past I’ve actively dodged engaging strangers in those sorts of chats. This time I was just oblivious.

Here’s how it went…

Me : <puts yummy smelling candles on the counter>
Her: Oh I love these ones! So, you’re into spirituality huh?
Me : <looks at label on candle in surprise..it says Spirituality…the scent is musk and sandalwood> I picked those ones because I like the sandlewood. <brain engaged in thinking about what was next on the to do list>
Her: The Seville ones over there have sandalwood in them too, mixed with orange.
Me: <hands over money and leaves>

DOH!

There are so many was that conversation could have gone!
“Yeah, I like to have candles burning when I pray”
“Yeah, I am! How about you?”

Who knows where it might have ended up?

Thinking about it now, it makes me wonder how many other opportunities I’ve missed because my brain was busy thinking about the next thing. Self-absorbed.

If I’m going to see these opportunities in time to do something about them I’m going to need to slow down. Make an effort to be in the moment and not always looking to the future. (I’m not likely to forget anything, that’s what lists are for.) I need to stop thinking about me and what I need to get done, and make space for interactions with other people.

Living a life being intentional about these opportunities is hard! It takes conscious effort.

So easy to get stuck in autopilot and just power through life.

Missing opportunities.

Not influencing anyone.

How do you kick yourself out of autopilot mode?

Disclosure Statement: I received this book as part of the Booksneeze blogger book review program from Thomas Nelson Publishers.

Whilst I get these books for free as part of the Booksneeze program, I am under no obligation to provide a glowing report for them. To be honest I had a few reservations about this particular one from the outset. The whole prospect of a schmaltzy American “knight in shining armour” approach to the perfect teenage girl thing that I grew up with was almost enough to make this Aussie girl want to ditch the program and return the book…but as I read I discovered something quite different.

Jenna Lucado is the daughter of famous Christian writer Max Lucado…though not too many of the book’s target audience will know who he is, let alone appreciate the importance of his influence on the author…which is possibly a good thing given the good old Aussie cynicism of all things celebrity. Suffice it to say that Jenna explores her relationship with her very human father in parallel with her relationship with God as her heavenly Father as a basis for a young woman’s self-worth.

The book is an easy read and provides space for the reader to think, interact and explore beauty and self-worth at a pace that is both manageable and is great for sharing with a friend.

As women (young and old) we grow up and exist in an environment where self-worth is measured by achievements and outward appearance. This book is a breath of fresh air that explores the true basis of lasting beauty and self-confidence that transcends age, time and social status. Jenna explores a wide range of quirky beauty tips and ways to accessorise in a way that not only transcends time, but is absolutely timeless.

Whilst there are elements of American schmaltz throughout the narrative (and I may be speaking from an ever so slightly jaded almost-forty year old Aussie view point )  I believe the central message of this book is absolutely essential reading for any young woman who has grown up in the age of glamour magazines and Photoshopped fantasy.

I’d love to give my copy of Redefining Beautiful away because I believe the message of this little book is one that needs to be spread. To win all you need to do is leave a comment on this blog with your favourite beauty tip! Entries close Friday 18th June. (The winner will be selected randomly.)