About Bo

Dog lover. Runner. Although very slowly. Keeping up with the stresses of running and life...

Lessons from 9/11 about married life

Posted on September 11, 2012 by Bo

11 years ago today, I was four days away from getting married when the world was changed forever by the fateful events of 9/11. It was a Tuesday. I was 26 years old and about to marry the man of my dreams. I had no idea what awaited me. It’s only now, 11 years later, that I look back at that week with fresh eyes.

Perhaps I’m a little older and wiser, but I realise that there are some valuable lessons for my marriage I have learnt from 9/11.

Expect the unexpected. Just like those two planes, sometimes, with no warning at all, problems, issues, even events will hit your marriage with all its might and come out of nowhere. It is usually unexpected. You cannot know what and when something will come which will test your marriage. But it happens.
Ensure your marriage is strong enough to withstand the hits. If not, one or even both of you will come crashing down.
Through the years, there will be pain, hurt, anger and blame. But it’s important to deal with those feelings and move on. Every relationship goes through the dips. Always re-build something new.
Prepare relentlessly. It was New York’s mayor at the time, Rudi Giuliani, who said, “when faced with new and stressful situations, prepare relentlessly”. Giuliani adds, “Don’t assume a damn thing.” Do not slip into a comfort zone but keep on your toes and keep the relationship alive. Be prepared.
Change. Adapt. Or die. The world was forced to change after 9/11. I am a very different woman compared to the girl I was when I got married so many years ago. KK has also changed, but we’ve managed to grow together. Anticipate that each other will change. It’s only normal. It’s a good thing, embrace it.

Time has flown. I cannot believe how quickly 11 years has gone by and how much has happened in that time. We built a house, we bought new cars, we changed jobs, we got two dogs, and we travelled to some wonderful destinations.

I even started running!!

But we also lost Pa as well as Marla. I got diagnosed with a disease and we lost quite a few friends along the way. But through the highs and the lows, I’ve walked every step of the way with you KK. I still love you with all my heart.

Happy Anniversary week my babes. X

Thoughts while running through a zoo

Posted on September 9, 2012 by Bo

This morning KK and I ran the Gerald Fox 10km and 21.1km race at the Jo’burg zoo. We’ve run this race twice before and every time we’ve run it, the weather has been miserable. It was no different when we arrived at the zoo with the temperature hovering on a nippy 9 degrees.Okay, so let me cut to the chase. How’d it go?

The good:

I felt strong. This must be due to the weekly spinning sessions as well as the Tuesday and Thursday afternoon runs.
I kept to my run/walk strategy. Ironically, it takes my mind off watching the kilometres.

The bad:

KK and I forgot our running chips at home so our race times were not recorded. Pity for KK who did a PB! 1:41 minutes for 21.1kms.
My Garmin died on me at the 8km mark. Dead. I need to get it fixed. It seems my satellite doesn’t switch off which drains my battery.

The ugly:

The race was tougher mentally than physically. I did not want to get out of bed this morning. I did not feel like running in the cold. I struggled running whilst being surrounded by walkers who kept passing me. In fact, the last 1km was hectic. I’m racing against people who are walking. WTH!
At around the 6km mark, I thought about running a half marathon again. Just the thought of it scared me and I was filled with self-doubt. I need to work on this. *what’s new*

So to end off on a postive note, my training for the 2013 running season has started early. Last year, I only started in November with the Irene race but already I’ve completed Old Eds, Wanderers and Gerald Fox.

This is good. Now just to keep going…

MTB’ing is just as hard as the riders

Posted on September 6, 2012 by Bo

Riding a bike is not the same as running. In fact, off-road mountain biking is not for sissies as I recently discovered.

Last weekend, we decided to join some friends out at Groenkloof Nature Reserve to do some riding. All of us have mountain bikes so it was a perfect spot. However, what I initially thought was going to be basic dirt roads turned out to be a mix of gravel, stones, dusty sand paths and just as many down hills as up hills.

It was a chance for me to try out my new bike and I was so thankful that I had invested in a strong, proper bike which at last fitted my height. My bike handled the turns and tight spots well and I was impressed with how fast she rides on the straights. I’m still happy I chose a 29’er (bike talk).

After what must have been an hour and a half of really technical riding, I was sure I had bruised my cocksix!

My experience of cycling so far? Well..

Cyclists do not greet one another. They are the oddest, most unfriendliest bunch.
Cyclists are selfish and competitive. There is no such thing as “Let’s all ride together.” If you cannot keep up, you’re on your own buster.
More gears make a difference. Do not believe those who try convince you otherwise. It’s the same with good running shoes. If the shoe fits, the run feels good.
There is such a thing as being ‘bum fit’.

So it looks like we’ll be trying out Groenkloof in November which should be great fun again. At least I know what to expect and not be too surprised when I get home covered in dust and have a sore bum! But I do believe a few more spinning classes at gym is required to up my fitness levels!

And if I happen to cycle passed you and greet you, don’t be alarmed. I’m a runner by heart.

Lessons from Roald Dahl: Ugly thoughts

Posted on September 4, 2012 by Bo

When I was growing up, no author ‘spoke’ to me more than what Roald Dahl did. In my little world, it seemed as if only he knew what it was like to be me. So when I found the Roald Dahl collection of books a while back, I was thrilled. Every now and then I pick one up and read a paragraph or two. The one I seem to go back to the most is The Twits.

Dahl’s account of The Twits has been etched in my memory ever since I was a little girl. The way they lived and how they treated one another and everyone else, including animals horrified me. As a child, I hoped to never come across people that ugly. How ironic that as an adult, I do. To this day, when I see a man with a big beard, I always imagine food stuck in it just like Mr Twit. *yuck*

The story always leaves me smiling. Not only is it filled with clever humour, but also such great lessons about life. Here’s one of my favourite examples: