(Image: @johnsmit123 tweet)
Because even champions know, winning always starts with a little jog…
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(Image: @johnsmit123 tweet)
Author Archives: Bo
Because all champions know, winning always starts with a little jog…
(Image from a tweet by @johnsmit123)
I may not be Gareth Pon but …
As a little girl, my sister and I would often tag along with my Dad to camera club. We’d watch how photographs taken with very big fancy cameras where presented and judged and how the smallest shadow or angle could make or break a near perfect shot.
30 years later, these memories all came flooding back with two different things but both involving photos. The first was that I was invited to join a camera club, and the other is that one of my photos was chosen for the iPhoneography exhibition in Johannesburg.
Like majority of people, I take all my pics on my phone, apply a filter and upload to Instagram or other social media platforms. What surprised me by both the camera club evening as well as iPhoneography is that it doesn’t matter if you’re not a professional photographer or that the pics are taken with your phone, it’s the fact that nowadays, anyone can be good at taking pics and enjoy capturing that one great moment. It’s about coming up with something different.
I was incredibly nervous at my first camera club evening. Everyone gives feedback on each other’s pic and as they ‘judge’ your pic, you get to see a different side of your own shot from their perspectives. The themes so far have been eggs & freckles. Here are my two submissions:
The photos at iPhoneography were absolutely incredible. KK and I walked around looking at the entries a few times and each time, we saw something new which made us gasp. I felt really honoured to see my photo up on the wall among so many exquisite others. It was a picture I took in the rain at the Palace Gardens in Tokyo earlier this year of the most beautiful cherry blossom trees.
But it’s more than that. I was proud of myself. I was proud that I had the guts to enter. Guts to put myself out there. But also immensely proud. Proud that one of my photos was chosen. And proud that it was my name on the wall under my photo.
Both camera club and iPhoneography have taught me the courage to put my work out on display. Camera club in particular is teaching me to deal with criticism feedback and learn from others. It’s made me aware of my work and how I feel about it. It’s the fact that I can be and do anything I want to. It’s about growing. And it’s all about having fun!
Dad, you’d be so proud of me!
(*ps: Gareth Pon is the most amazing photographer and Africa’s top Instagrammer. When I grow up … http://www.garethpon.com/about/)
Discussions with my hamstring
What started out as an irritating hamstring ‘niggle’ in August became sore and eventually stopped me from running just after the Andrew Greyling half marathon at the end of September. I did some foam rolling (with no idea if I was doing it properly), I watched a few YouTube videos on how to stretch my hamstring (random videos by mainly crossfit buffs) and then resorted to popping a few cataflams in the hope that the pain would go away. But it didn’t and I started to panic.
So I went back to basics & consulted the experts:
- Lyno therapy: It worked for my plantar fasciitis two years ago and after the bankie test with Sports Injury Clinic’s Jacqui Young, I could see just how weak I was. For those who know lyno, you must know what a desperate state I was in to opt for the therapy. I cried like a baby during that first session but post session, I finally bought my own bankie.
- Jacqui also gave me a few simple stretches to build up the strength in my glutes, quads and hammies. You can’t believe how 20 minutes of leg raises, bridges, squats and lunges can work up a sweat and make you feel the burn in areas you’re weakest in.
- I bought new shoes. The theory is that you only get between 500 and 800kms in a pair of running shoes. I border on the 500 – 600kms. My feet immediately felt the difference in new shoes! (And yes, I chose blue & not pink again as a sign that colours should not define a gender.)
- Rest and review. When I look back, I suspect that maybe it was too much too soon? I was disciplined enough to run shorter distances through winter but as soon as the races started up again in Jozi, I ran one half marathon after the other every weekend. I’m kidding myself thinking they are Sunday LSD’s because let’s face it, every runner pushes themselves during a race and I know I did.
The lessons I’ve taken out of this are that there are areas in my running that I am possibly neglecting, such as core fitness. I can’t just run. I need to ensure I have the strength in my legs and back too. I need to be clear about my goals. What is important? To run a 21km every weekend or work towards one that I will enjoy?
I’ve also realized that I can’t rush the healing process. Don’t laugh but it felt as if I needed to apologize to my body, and to my hamstring.
I’ve since had long conversations with my hamstring and the negotiation process has started. I have agreed to show my body a bit more respect and my gammie hammie has agreed to start healing.
Keeping up with the Walkers... 