Believing in myself will be my greatest challenge in 2012

Posted on January 2, 2012 by Bo

Compared to most December holidays, I had quite a lot of spare time to catch up on my reading and DVD watching these past few weeks. An inspirational book by Tim Noakes and watching one of my all-time favourite DVDs documenting the Apollo 13 rescue left me with lots of food for thought as I enter into a new year, filled with many unknowns and challenges.

I’m not one for making New Year’s resolutions. However, a very clear message kept coming through when I read Noake’s book and which was confirmed when watching ‘The Race to the Moon: Failure is not an option’ DVD. The message of believing in myself. The message of accomplishing what my mind tells me is impossible.

Self-belief will be my 2012 New Year’s resolution.

In Noake’s book, called “Challenging Beliefs”, he says, “…it is our minds, and especially our perception of what can be, rather than our physical capabilities which ultimately determine the extend to which we succeed.”

It’s four years since I started running but I aim to make 2012 the year that counts. No more doubting that running is too difficult. No more worrying that everyone else is faster than me. No more putting myself down. This will be the year that I have complete confidence in myself when I line up at the start of the Two Oceans half marathon. This will be the year that I am not overwhelmed with fears of not making the 3 hour cut-off gun. This is the year that I dash pass all those ‘walkers’ and come home with a medal I am proud of.

The Gene Kranz documentary “Failure is not an option” revolves around the team of very young engineers who ran the Mission Control centre in the 60’s and recounts their story of America’s space flight and man’s landing on the moon. But it’s the captivating story of the unexpected disaster that left the Apollo 13 crew lost in space which leaves me breathless. Faced with the unknown and a problem which at first seemed impossible to fix, the team at mission control managed to use their unique expertise and with the knowledge that “failure was not an option” pulled off an amazing rescue.

With the same spirit of those young NASA engineers, 2012 will be the year I rock at my job. I aim to make it known exactly just how skilled I am in my field instead of hiding in the shadows due to lack of confidence. I believe that I am capable of so much more. No more excuses! This is my year to take on new challenges and to shine!

Bring it!

An engineer tells it like it is, even in running

Posted on January 1, 2012 by Bo

Running with KK is quite a stressful run. Not only do we not run at the same pace, but I am constantly feeling anxious, which is not how I should feel when I run.

Today I figured out why.

We had set out to run a nice, slow, relaxing Sunday run. KK planned to do 12kms while I settled for the 9km route. As we got to the split where he would run off to do the extended stretch, we stopped to catch our breath and for KK to give me a heads up on the route I was taking as I was not that familiar with it.

He said, “Right, you go up this road and you will encounter two hills. The first one is very steep, then the road dips, then you go up again for the next hill. I’m going straight so that I can get some water at the Caltex garage. I’ll catch up with you. K, go! And remember, two hills. First one up, then a dip, then another hill.” And off he ran.

I must admit… all I heard was hill, then another one. And repeat, one hill, followed by another one. By the time I started to run again, mentally it felt like there was a mountain ahead of me and I dreaded it.

The thing with KK is that as an engineer, it’s all about fact. No beating around the bush. In his mind, he was giving me an exact, detailed description of what lay ahead. He won’t sugar-coat it either. You know exactly what’s ahead of you.

When we did finally meet up again, I told him that perhaps next time he needs to kindly put more emphasis on the down hills ahead and help motivate me more in climbing those hills.

But as I was saying it, I could see the confused look on his face. Nope. He’s an engineer. It’s either black or white and in his mind, it’s the same with running. I guess that’s just how he conquers those up hills too – knowing exactly what’s ahead and planning for it.

I think next time we go for a run, I’m not going to ask what’s ahead. I know he’ll tell me!

Escaping to Bushman’s Hide

Posted on January 1, 2012 by Bo

I guess I’m like most people who signed up for the Groupon and Wicount daily deals email. I get that rush when I see deals that promise such massive discounts, but I’ve only ever bought meal vouchers.

That was until in August when I spontaneously bought a mini holiday break at a tented camp in the Waterberg called Bushman’s Hide. The deal was 80% off (too good to be true, right?) and promised a 2 night, 3 day stay including all meals in a secluded environment in the Waterberg.

KK and I were lucky enough that when we booked, the days between Christmas and New Year were open and so we grabbed the opportunity to rest after the busy Christmas weekend.

What a surprise Bushman’s Hide turned out to be…

From the minute we arrived there, we were treated to 5-star treatment. Our luggage was carried to our luxury tent while we were ushered to the welcome area for a drink whilst our guide took us through the logistics and plans for the next two days. The difference is that, other than breakfast and supper times, we were free to do whatever we chose, we just had to inform the lodge of when and what it was.

So we acted like real honeymooners and chose to eat all meals at our room, booked a quad bike the following morning to view the game and decided to have a picnic, in the bush, followed by a massage (also in the middle of the bush).

The service at Bushman’s Hide is fantastic and even though they only have 4 tents (which means a maximum of 8 people can stay there at the same time) we totally felt as if we were the only ones there! The staff were at our beck and call the entire time.

Our bed got turned down at night with a little chocolate on our pillows and soft candles lit in the tent.

The best was the picnic in the bush, surrounded by nothing else but that zinging of insects and deafening silence, we read magazines and nibbled on cheese and biscuits until our masseuse arrived to give us both massages. In the bush!