It was not always so!

When I was at school I did a lot of sport but none of it conventional school sports. That might have had something to do with the fact that I have ZERO eye hand co-ordination and cannot hit, catch or throw a ball.  As we had to do at least one winter and one summer school sport I did swimming and cross country but I was not very good.  I did not like to practice and as most of my other sports did not involve endurance I could not run very far without stopping.  Swimming was bit better (natural talent) but running…. Oh I hated it!  The races were 4 km every second Wednesday afternoon at a different course.  I would show up, run/walk/wheeze then go home muttering and moaning that I was not a runner.

After school I did nothing for many years.  I loved walking and rollerblading and did that a lot while overseas. When I returned to SA I figured I really needed to do something again.  I took up paddling (canoe and surf ski) I was unfit and always last but it was fun.  The people there were all very fit though and spoke of running and races and things.  It was infectious and I decided I was going to enter the Spar Ladies 10km race.  My first run was not good.  I managed less than 1 km before I turned around and walked back home.  Thankfully the race was over 9 months away.  I remember a conversation with 2 girls at the canoe club, both multiple time Comrades finishers.  I was seriously impressed and mentioned that I had just started running, that I was hoping to run the Spar ladies, but it seemed sooooo far and I doubted I could do it. They just laughed (thankfully not unkindly) and told me that that was how it started.  First a 10km, then a 15 and so on.  My words were “I will NEVER EVER go further than 10km”.  At that stage I seriously doubted I would even make that.  Their parting words were “we will see”.

Well, they were right.  I did a 10km, and signed up for the Knysna half marathon in 2005.  In the end I did not do it that year due to injuries, but I did Two Oceans Half 2006.  Then in 2007 I completed my first Ironman.  Yes, I had only done 1 half marathon, and a lot of people did not think I would manage. In fact a couple of them have come to me since and said they would have bet their house that I would not have finished.  Well, finish I did.  I managed to squeeze in a few minutes before the midnight cut-off.

Me – Sunshine Coast Triathlon 2009

Since then I have run quite a bit more.  I have done Ironman again, taking over 3 hours off my previous time.  I have competed in a quite a few triathlons and open water swims and have recently gotten into trail running. I love it!

Ironman South Africa 2009

I am always enthusiastic and positive when somebody wants to try something new like running or triathlon. I am a firm believe that if I could finish an Ironman then just about anybody could.  I was not athletic, I was not a runner, I was not a triathlete. I did not even own a bike.  I  would probably be last, but I knew that I would finish it and that is what counts.

Me – keeping it fun at the Urban Run 2011

For people that are just starting out with running, my main bit of advice. Take it slowly.  Walk when you need to.  Look around.  Keep it fun.  Do races or something for the social aspect and so what if you come last – somebody needs to.  More often that not it has been me.  Mr OL likes to joke that I get full value out of my race entry fee.

But most importantly just get out there and do it!

And for the girls – get a good sports bra. When I started the one I used was too tight, and I could not breath. Except I did not know it was the bra, I thought it was just because I was that unfit.  Tight is not always better –support is what counts.

Sunshine Coast Triathlon 2009 – 3rd lady out the water and 6th lady at the finish.

Runner’s High

Last week I went to a talk by Tim Noakes.  It was pretty interesting but I don’t think he covered the topic that he was supposed to.  He was supposed to talk about the importance of instilling good habits with regards to nutrition and exercise in children.

He spoke more the high protein, high fat diet he is advocating at present and briefly touched on sports and its benefits.  I have just recently read his book “Challenging Beliefs” and most of what he said was covered in it.  There were quite a few things of interest though and the Q&A session at the end provided a lot of clarity into what he was advocating.  If you just listened to the speech you would have walked away with the wrong impression.

However, one thing he said in his speech was that some people like pain.  Not the “Owww I am injured” pain.  But more then let me go for a run pain.  Some people just like a bit of adversity, whether it be distance or hills or whatever.  I am one of those people.  I realised this again this weekend.

There was another trail run through Baaken’s Valley in Sunday. It was supposed to be 18km but because of the rain in the previous week they had to cut it short for safety reasons.  We were warned that it would be wet and muddy, that the river would be up to our knees and that they would have Coastal Rescue Services on standby to assist at some of the river crossings.  When they said muddy though, I was not quite prepared…. At one stage I lost my leg right up to my knee in squelching mud and when I tried to get my foot out I could feel my shoe coming off.  At this stage I started to laugh.  That kind of mildly hysterical laughter where you can just picture running the next 7km in only one shoe.  Thankfully I managed to get my foot and shoe out, and then had a repeat performance with the other foot.  As I ran along wishing the next river crossing would come soon so I could wash the mud boots of my feet and I continued laughing, no longer the hysterical type, now just the “I am happy” type.

And its true – I feel happy when I run.  If it is a longer run I feel happier… Yes, I know – odd.  By the time I have finished 20km I am smiling quite broadly. (Although it might be because I think I then deserve an extra large chocolate….)

So – with that in mind there is a half marathon this weekend called Heartbreak Hill.  How is that for a name with adversity.  I will let you know whether by the end I am smiling happily or crying with a broken heart.

Heartbreak Hill Route Map 21.1km

Click to door

Hi, my name is Pamela and I have an online shopping addiction….

In general I hate shopping.  I don’t’ get it at all.  But online it all makes so much sense.  I can compare, I can investigate, I can work out the best deals, I can look for voucher or discount codes and I can hit buy!  And then I can track my purchase.  Even more exciting is that I can get stuff I might not necessarily be able to get in PE (or South Africa) or at a cheaper price than I would be able to in a store.

This month I have bought stuff from both Amazon.com  (3 days door to door) and Trekkinn.com (5 days door to door – slightly longer due to customs clearances).  Very impressed.

Although I would have to say that this finding stuff online is not exactly new to me.  5 and a half years ago I met Mr OL on an internet dating website…

A wriggly issue

Today was one of those mornings!  I was totally late for work and Little OL was late for crèche.  And with a bit of better planning most of it could have all been avoided, but I am not sure it was meant to be.  It totally believe things happen for a reason

My petrol light on my car has been flashing for a while now, and last night the alarm started to bleep at me.  Yes, I know I should have filled up last night (or last week) but I didn’t.  I figured I’d do it on the way to work.  Then little OL ran out of nappies last night.  Yes, even the spare ones in her nappy bag, school bag and in my car storage container.  She is down to two a day and as I had two last night I figured one for night time, one for school nap today and I could buy more tonight.  Bad plan!  She went through both last night (first time since she was about 10 weeks old) which meant I needed to buy some on the way to school.

And then of course we all overslept this morning, after having been up the whole night. Also first time in goodness knows how long.

After rushing around, getting Little OL in the car we were off.  First things first – petrol.  I went to a petrol station that I don’t’ normally go to.  It is closest to my house but is in the opposite direction of where I was headed.  After that I drove back past my house and along our road, also not the quickest way but hey it’s a nicer street and I get to see our house.  I also got to see our nanny who was further along the road.  I stopped to say hello, and then realised she was crying.  I won’t go into specifics as it is a bit gross and involves worms….. but just to say if I had not been late, had not gone to that petrol station and had not gone down that road I would not have seen our nanny or the state she was in.

I bundled her into the car and went to the pharmacy and bought deworming stuff for her whole family and mine.

Dropped her off at home and headed to work and school – stopping to buy nappies.  After all of that I was only 30 mins late…

Not on the list

After the movie Bucket List came out I thought quite a bit about starting one, but didn’t.  It is just not for me.  My reason?  Well, there is nothing that I have a burning desire to do before I die.  I mean there are things I would quite like to do (or think I should feel like should want to do) but there is nothing that I really, really want to do – hope that makes sense?  The things I REALLY wanted to do I have already done.

The things I really want to do now are more on-going and the only reason I am not doing them is time.  For example:

I would really like to have a thriving veggie garden.  I have a veggie garden, and it thrives on occasion, and then it doesn’t.  It gets neglected, overgrown and everything dies.  Then I start again…

I would also like to be one of those people that sends out hand-made cards and gifts.  I do, on occasion, and then I don’t…  I rush to the shop at the last minute and buy one.

I would like to wrap those handmade gifts beautifully.  I do, on occasion, and then I don’t.  I put it in a gift bag – recycled from one I received or bought at the last minute because I only bought the gift on the way to the party.

I would like to bake cakes for my family on each of their birthdays.  I do, on occasion(ready Little OL’s birthday only) and then I don’t.  They get store bought cakes if they are lucky.

I would like to keep a diary or do Project Life as Shayne is doing, but I know if I start I will only do a week or so and then it will fade out.

I would like to cook decent meals.  I do, on occasion, and then I don’t.  I either make something quick, get Mr OL to cook or go hungry.

I would like to buy old furniture and restore it.  I have… once!  But I had the chair for nearly 9 years before it got recovered.  I have various projects in the garage, none of which are very close to being started.

I would like to get a toned body.  I have had, on occasion but not for a good couple of years.  And even when I did my tummy needed work.  I would like to get a fitness program and stick to it, but it needs to include cardio, core, strength and stretch.  At the moment I am lucky if it is cardio alone.

The list goes on and on.  Maybe this is why I don’t have a bucket list – I can’t see past what I would like to get done, before I start thinking about major event or maybe it is just that something else is much more important to me at the moment that is not on any list and that is spending time with Little OL.

Yesterday we built a fort out of sheets and chairs in the lounge.  Inside we put a torch, a teddy, some blankets, pillows and we coloured in.  It was fun.

 

Latest painting

Here is a photo of my latest painting.  I have been really slack about painting lately and think I have only completed this one this year.  It is oil on stretch canvas.

I think when you paint a picture of your own child you are super critical as there are a few things I would like to change. For one the area around her nose is too dark.  However, I have signed it so it is finished.  I am always worried that if I go back to “fix” something I will muck it up even more.  Generally though I am quite proud of it.

 

Little OL – Oil on canvas

This is MY city!

PE gets a bad rap.  It was once written in the Lonely Planet that the only good thing about the city was seeing it in your rear view mirror as you drove out of town and generally in the past people, myself included, have not been that complimentary.  That was until I moved away.  It took me a while, but after having lived in 6 more cities, in 5 different countries I came to really appreciate what had been on my door step all the time.

Now, I LOVE this city. I love the beaches, the parks, the people.  I love that I can do the sports I love in relative safety and I love that nothing is far away.  Yes, it maybe that I am now “older” (as some idiot youngster on the plane last month decided to point out) and it maybe that my priorities have changed from in my teens and twenties but I love living here and defend my decision to move back passionately.  This is where I want to be, this is my city.

I also love that there are others like me that LOVE this city and that they are putting a huge effort in to make it an exciting place to live.

This weekend was the first of the Signature Trail Run Series, an 11km race through the Baakens Valley, right in the heart of the city.  It was awesome on so many levels.  It was well organised and well-marked (although I did hear that some people took a bit of a detour).  The route was challenging and fun but mostly it was awesome because about 280 people took part.  It was so exciting to see everyone embrace this event and get excited about something in the heart of the city.  The next one is on the 17 June  and I for one can’t wait!

I would really like to thank everyone that puts an effort into to make stuff like this happen.  Not just for Saturday’s race but all the events that have been held in and around PE over the last few years.  It is greatly appreciated.

Read HERE for a more sedate event that was held in the same park on Sunday.  And HERE and HERE for blogs from an awesome ambassador of our home town Port Elizabeth