Pride Goeth Before a Fall

The running is becoming contagious. Paulster ventured out with me on Saturday evening. We have a 3.5 mile Corporate Challenge coming up in July, so we needed to get moving.

"Coach Cynthia" had just said to him, "you don't have to pick your feet up that high...it wastes energy", when...well, let's just say I should have picked MY feet up a little higher. I caught my toe on the pavement [sidewalk] and splatted big style. Sunglasses and water bottle went flying, palms down and then suddenly (actually, it was very slo-mo), I was head first into the concrete.

A concerned neighbour even stopped his car when seeing me face-planted into the pavement to make sure I was OK. This is by far the most interested in my welfare that any other human in the UK has been in my 4 and a half years here. How kind. After assuring him I was OK, I attempted to assess my injuries and Paulster tried to keep himself from laughing, I got up and dabbed away a smidge of blood and carried on with our little training run.

Here's what I look like a week later.


With my eyes open, it really just looks like a bad makeup job--too much purple eyeshadow. That is, until you notice the protruding eyebrow bone and green-ish bruise spreading up from my eye. Like Lucy Ricardo, I've has a little 'splaining to do this week as I've met with clients and colleagues and even the dentist.

Touch [knock on] wood that I'll manage to stay on my feet in the future.

Ready to Run!

Well, today it was my turn. Not exactly a marathon...but for me, a major milestone in fitness. I finished the London BUPA 10,000, a 10K [6.38 miles] race in the centre of London. For some blog readers, you'll know this was coming...for others, a complete shock that out-of-shape-Cynthia could run 1 block, let alone 10 kilometers.

I had 3 goals for the race:
1) Don't be the LAST person across the finish line. Thankfully, as we were approaching the finish, we heard a progress report on the person who WAS the last person on the course--they had completed 6k at that point.
2) Finish somewhere in the 1 hour and 30 minute range. See results below on {unofficial) race time. I still had a little bit of gas left in the tank to kick it into a higher pace for the finish.
3) Don't stop jogging to walk. I used the walk/run technique to get ready for the race and don't judge anyone who uses this in the race, but for some reason, proving to myself that I can run the entire distance without stopping was important. In today's case, there was a ~8 minute bio-break that meant I wasn't technically running...but when on the course, no walking! :) I think I'm afraid that if I stop, I won't carry on!

The Budman, HachieGal and I (along with 12,497 others) started the race at 10am. We finished in 1 hour and 30 minutes [unoffical time] (even if you add in the bio-break along the course). As you've read from the previous post, HachieGal is a seasoned runner, so this was a bit of a walk-in-the-park for her. Sacrificing what could have been a personal best for her, instead of leaving me in the dust, she and the Budman stuck with me and encouraged along the course.

Here is the Texas Trio after the race.


I've been gradually building up my running/jogging regularly since September of last year, with the help of HachieGal and Bob Glover's Runner's Handbook as a guide. Paulster got me a GPS/heart rate monitor for Christmas, so I knew my training pace and wanted to make sure I didn't start too fast. In the running world, I'd be known as a "Penguin"--slowly but surely waddling along...But you know, today, it took all kinds. There were elite runners who finished in less than 28 minutes and then those of us who took a bit longer--all shapes and sizes. There were people dressed as trees and bananas and superheroes. And like the London Marathon, there were cheering folks along the route--not to the same extent--but every bit of encouragement helps. I think I had a smile on my face most of the way around.

Given my general lack of fitness and activity over the last, oh...18 years--just to know that I am in better shape this year than last is enough at this point. It took many years for me to get this unfit, and it'll take time and persistence to change that.

One of the best parts of my day was having my fan club on the sideline, cheering me on. The Sheffield Contingent was up for the weekend, and Drama and Blondie were there, too with Paulster. That definitely put a renewed spring in my step to see their smiling faces and hear them shouting for me. There were some great bands along the course drumming out some tunes to run by.
Here is a shot of me (in the purple shirt and yellow hat) recognising the Cheering Squad by the side of the road. That's Budman to the right of the pic in the grey.


And here's a rear-view of me (in the purple), HachieGal in the green, and Budman in the grey pulling away from our supporters after a quick hello!


This little story sums it all up...
Paulster's 4 year-old niece, SuzieQ came up to me at the end of the race and gave me a big 'ol hug. When she saw my medal hanging from around my neck, she touched it and said, "You won!"
Yes, I did, SuzieQ. Yes, I did!

I Sit in Amazement!

I sit...because I'm tired after a grueling day. I spent the day with several of my friends out on the streets of London--in the glorious sunshine. After getting up early, riding the tube all the way across London and walking around, cheering--we're beat. But the tiredness we feel can in no way compare to that of our friend and colleague, Hachie Gal. Today, the 26th of April, Hachie Gal completed the London Marathon.

She's been training religiously for months and despite a cramp and unseasonably warm weather--she mustered bucketloads of determination and will to get across that finish line. She's simply amazing to have completed one marathon--but this one makes the perfect dozen for Hachie Gal. In the process, she raised enough money for the Guide Dogs to get one dog through puppy training and support it during it's life in service to a blind person.

With military precision, Budman led Hachie Gal's motley support crew to all the agreed stops to provide her gel packs and sports drinks and the ever important bananas...
Here's a picture of the crew (I'm photographer) as we started the day.

From the left: Stef, Paulster, Budman, and Chris.

Here are a few shots from the day.
This is Mile 7, the first place we met up with Hachie Gal--good spot, Stef!


Here's Hachie Gal at a stop with Chris and Budman.


We followed Budman from stop to stop and wedged ourselves into the crowd to ensure that we could spot our runner and pass along the supplies and/or encouragement. Along the way, we got to see lots of crazy costumed runners and people running their hearts out for their favourite charities.

The London Marathon is famous for runners dressing up in Fancy Dress [Costumes]. Today was no exception. We saw: The Devil, a Dalek, Several Superheroes, a tomato, a bear, a fox, The Hof and Pamela Anderson in their Baywatch Days, a couple of Fred Flintstones, Cops and Robbers, a Yellow Submarine, several Rhinos--quite an array of characters.

Here's the devil, getting away from me...


Oh...well, there was this one time that it took all 3 boys to figure out which way to go.


After finding Hachie Gal after the finish, we went to a great burger joint near Budman and Hachie Gal's house for dinner and a rest.
Wow, did we ever deserve that! Here's a picture of all of us, taken by a fellow supporter.


Congratulations Hachie Gal! Well Done. We are inspired by you and very proud of your accomplishments.

Happy Anniversary!

Yesterday marked the one year anniversary of the purchase of our house!
So, the subject of much of the blog is now 1 year old when marking by our historical clock.

Spring has Sprung

This is our first spring in the house, so the mysteries of the garden [yard] are starting to reveal themselves...
The former homeowner had tons of daffodils [jonquils] in the front flower bed and those have come up nicely. I picked the first one and took it to the office to enjoy it!

I planted some bulbs one dreary weekend this winter and those are starting to come up. To be honest, I know NOTHING about gardening, so had to call my mom and ask her which way to plant the bulb (pointy end down?)...so imagine my delight when they actually started coming up!

Here's my first hyacinth making its way up.

It's now spent, but was a lovely fragrant, hot pink flower in the back flower bed near the door. There were several in a line...very nice.

Several weeks ago, we had some sunny days, and I snapped a few shots of Kenny out in the garden. Here he is with the daffodils in the background.


Lyd sent me some bluebonnet seeds from Texas and I planted them in accordance with the instructions...but have yet to see any sprouts.
I may not get my very own bluebonnets this year.

BUT...I have noticed that the UK does have bluebonnets. My neighbours yards and several in the neighbourhood have bluebonnets...so they can survive and thrive in the UK. Maybe next year.

A Day in Zurich

In keeping with our quest to experience all things Swiss, after our trip to the mountains and sledding (see post from January) we spent the Sunday before we flew home that evening in the city of Zurich.
It does seem like a distant memory at this point, but what a fun day. We've since had the repatriation to Australia of the Falcon and Buffy...and how sad we are for that.

No day exploring a city can start without a hearty meal. And Zurich was no exception.
Nothing like some giant sausages to make us happy...

Thanks for Stef the photographer--capturing Me and Paulster, Falcon, Buffy and Martini with our plates piled high.

And here's Paulster with his monster sausage...clearly, he's delighted.


And Falcon, pleased with his choice...a lamb shank, I think.


So, after our meal, we needed to walk it off a bit and see some sights.
Here are some snaps of the city.






Somehow, the day took on a Boy Band Theme...
Here's one shot that could make the album cover.


Buffy infiltrated the Boy Band...


The tour wouldn't be complete without having seen the largest church clockface.
St. Peter, Zürich 28 feet 5 inches (8.7 m), built in 1534, the biggest church clock face according to Wikipedia.


...Or a random billboard near one of the city's important historic sites the Fraumünster (Minster of Our Lady). It houses magnificent stained glass windows by Marc Chagall. The main attraction of the Fraumünster is the set of five stained-glass windows designed by Marc Chagall in 1970. Best seen in bright morning light, the windows are 10 meters high and each has its own color theme. Chagall may have used the colors symbolically, with blue and green representing the earth and red and yellow representing the heavens. Sorry, no photos allowed in the church...and it was a bit dreary that day...

The Falcon was particularly interested in a photo of the Pink Dog billboard.


All the excitement of the weekend meant that at least the Falcon needed a little nap.


Which was a good thing, because we literally ended up speeding and sprinting to make out flight back to London. Oops...was I reading the arrival time as the departure time?! Ah...a fitting end to an exciting weekend.

But that can't be the end of the Zurich/mountain fun...In the January post, I was reserved and didn't post the video of Budman bobbing for swiss cheese in a fondue pot. So I have to do it now... (It should be noted that I do not have the Budman's explicit agreement for the posting of this video, but I did receive the approval of everyone else at the table to witness it, including Hachie Gal--so I'm claiming creative license).
You'll have to crane your neck a bit...but well worth the watch.



...and that's the official end of the Winter postings...

Breaking the Blog Silence

There are several reasons for the blog silence in recent months...but mostly just excuses. So, I'm going to start by going back to a weekend in January and finishing the blog post on our trip to Zurich.
It's time for some spring posts, but can't do that until I finish chronicling the winter adventures...