retro friday: where it all began

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Do you ever feel sometimes that you're right back where you started....even though you aren't? :)

We've been back in the UK for about 48 hours, I am sipping a hot lemon and ginger as we speak to fight off a cold/jet lag, and eagerly awaiting the arrival of my first organic veggie box since forever (!), and I'm wondering when would be the best time to go for a run, even though it's been an effort to put my dressing gown on this morning, let alone anything else!!

While we were in Oz, I got word that I'd won a place in the upcoming Rock and Roll Half Marathon, thanks to Women's Running - I'd entered the comp sometime before Christmas and completely forgotten about it, as you do!  It was a lovely surprise and has certainly given me the impetus to get back out there, pounding the pavements where I belong.  Six weeks of travelling has left my routine thrown somewhat out of whack, to say the least!

But I'm not too worried about my lack of activity for the past few weeks, because I know from experience what a good memory my body has: a few weeks of all-out effort will have me in good shape again.  I just found running while in Oz a bit of a strain, and I'm not sure why.  Perhaps it was the heat, perhaps it was the fact I wasn't fuelling myself very well, but I found doing even just 5k a bit taxing.  I recall gritting my teeth as I ran along the bike track with Tom, my sister and brother-in-law, thinking "how the hell did you ever run a marathon?!" But I told myself then, as I often tell others, that not every run will be a good one.  Some of them will be a struggle from the first step, some will be crap-tacular.  But if you can see it through to the end and not give up, then you're still miles ahead of where you'd be if you'd just stayed on the couch :)  I'm always kind of relieved when I have a bad run, because I know the next one will be better.

Being back in Melbourne over the last week reminded me of my humble origins in my sport of choice.  Melbourne is not only where I became a triathlete, but also where I did my first ever run, by the creek near the house I was living in at the time in the western suburbs.  It was October 2005 and I had reached a frustrating plateau where the scales had not budged for a month, and no amount of yoga or power walking seemed to be helping.  I knew deep down I needed to start upping my game a bit, and that running was probably the answer.  I had always yearned to be a runner.  But the truth?  I was scared.

Prior to the move to Melbourne, I had been a champion of The Easy Life.  Hence, Blind Freddy could see why my life had moved in the directions it had, and why my dreams had stalled or died slow deaths.  It had never sunk in for me that change requires getting uncomfortable, and that successful change means being ok with it.  I wasn't ok with being uncomfortable and did everything to avoid it.  I avoided difficult conversations, swallowed long-held resentments and guilt, and preferred the sofa to the bike track any day of the week.  Finally, the fog lifted and I could see why things were the way they were - and that I could change them.  In fact, only I could change them.

And so I was sitting with similar thoughts on the morning of Monday, October 24th 2005 - knowing that running would be hard at first, but I had no choice if I wanted to get to where I wanted to be.

I knew where I wanted to be.......but I had no idea where I would actually go :)  2005 Phil wrote "right now, the possibility of me running for 20 minutes continuously is about zero!"  Oh, she had no idea what was coming, did she?!!  Can you imagine if I'd thrown in the towel there and then, just because it was hard?  Where would I be?  Who would I be?  That's something I need to remind myself of now too.  Don't walk away just because it's hard.

Getting started is often the hardest part, of anything, but once you get started, there is no telling where you might end up and that's part of the fun!

So, do read today's retro post about my first ever run!

If you're a runner, do you remember your first run? 

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I've got about 10 posts in draft stage about the trip to Oz, things learned, things bought (including a very wonderful dress!), things cooked and eaten.....there is a lot to tell you, and a lot brewing in the Skinny Latte machine.  I hope what comes out of it will be very delicious coffee indeed :)

More very soon! So stay tuned my friends, and have yourselves a fantastic weekend xx