About Bo

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

I’m getting old. #fact

Posted on May 6, 2012 by Bo

I turned 37 years old in April. *OMW* This means I have officially moved closer to my forties. My age never used to bother me, but suddenly, it does. It’s as if I woke up one morning and realised that I was no longer in my 20’s or early 30’s.

So why now? Why am I feeling like this all of a sudden? What’s different? I sat down and wrote a couple of things down…

My parents are moving in to a Retirement Home.
I’ve had to book my regular hair appointment from every 6 weeks to 5 weeks as my greys are showing through quicker.
In December, I will be going to my 20 year High School Reunion.
If I go watch a movie on a Friday evening, I fall asleep. In fact, Friday evenings I’m in bed before 9pm.
I recently chose to go home and snuggle in front of TV with hubby instead of heading off to a night club with my friends.
The beautiful model Tanya Fourie, who I adored as a teenager and who is featured in the May edition of Fair Lady, has wrinkles.
My age category when I enter running races is listed as Sub-veteren. *ouch*

I guess I can’t stop the clock… I’m getting older, I just need to start accepting it. But it has made me stop and ask myself, am I growing old the way I want to? Are there things I still want to do?

But while I do this, can everyone and everything around me please slow down a bit?

My left foot

Posted on May 3, 2012 by Bo

I’ve recently been part of a team interviewing potential candidates for a position in the department. Scanning through CV’s and watching how different people use different skills to ‘sell’ themselves has been quite interesting to observe.

Some people pride themselves on their qualifications. Others attempt to impress with future plans of obtaining MBAs. But then there are those that have caught my attention just because they are so down to earth and ‘real’ that its easy to see how they have gotten to where they have, simply by having the right attitude.

I know everyone has heard the lessons about having the right attitude. But it’s when I came across some old photographs of my High School netball courts that some valuable lessons were remembered.

I’ll admit that I wasn’t exactly the strongest or best player in the team. I think for the majority of my high school years, I was the reserve for the B-side! But hey, I never gave up. I landed up playing quite a few games and that’s all that mattered.

We once played an away game at another school and I went with as reserve and landed up being asked to play. When we were changing in the locker rooms, I realised that although I had packed in my takkies, I had accidentally packed in two left shoes (yes, I had two pairs of takkies that looked similar).

My heart sank!

There was no going back and I had to play. The only person I told was my best friend and she giggled herself silly throughout the game as I ran around trying not to look like a total spaz with my two left feet. Nobody noticed (or if they did, no one said anything) and we went on to win the match.

In my humble opinion, sometimes the degrees and certificates you have are great. But often, it’s your attitude that determines how you approach life and see the world. It’s your attitude that makes you a winner.

Keeping up with wonderful women

Posted on April 30, 2012 by Bo

I am incredibly blessed to have a group of amazing women in my life. Women who make me sit back and marvel at their lives, things that they do and how they make it look so easy, so simple and so wonderful.

I’m talking about those that are single mothers. How you find the energy to work a full, stressful day in the office and still go home to work a further 12 hour shift and raise the most beautiful, curious and active children is beyond me.

I’m also talking about the beautiful women who make time to ensure their nails are always manicured, their feet are soft and smooth and their legs are shaven. If you pop up at their homes unexpectedly, they look glamorous, even in house clothes.

The women in my life who are the most talented bakers and chefs… women who know flapjack recipes out of their heads. The ones who make a lasagne from scratch when they get home from a busy day at the office, those that bake blue smurf cupcakes for nephews and even some who know the importance of brown onion soup for roast potatoes.

Many of these amazing women are so positive, even through adversity. There are ‘angels’ doing some inspiring work with their families and friends within their church and charities. It’s a real honour to know them and that they expect nothing in return.

When I think of the women in my life, I am also referring to the gym bunnies. The runners. The ones who eat healthily and who are always looking after their bodies. They are always up for a challenge and who are fearless.

I love the women in my life who make me laugh. The catch up suppers where we can share a vegetarian platter of meze but order meatballs and calamari on the side. The women who will sit and listen to hours of me analysing my running victories and failures and never grow tired of me moaning.

I smile as I think about the ones that I’ve known for more than half my life. The ones who’ve stood by me through high school, my 20’s and now into my 30’s. But also those I’ve met only recently and who know me so well.

There are those I go to for advise, some who fill my laughter tank, others who have wonderful adventures to share. Some are good for hugs. Others who never hold back when I need a stern lecture and to set me back on course when I need it most.

But most of all, all of these amazing women in my life are precious and remind me constantly to be grateful to have them there, everyday. Thank-you!

*Dedicated to my mom, sister and all the girlfriends in my life who I love & adore!

Observations from my morning run

Posted on April 29, 2012 by Bo

A while back I decided to stop obsessing over my pace when I ran but instead appreciate my surroundings and listen to my body. On my run this morning, I did just that…

I ran the Robin – Logan – Curzon route. 10kms. Difficulty rating = 3. Time: 1:32mins. Fastest km: 7:12mins/km. Confession: I walked a lot.

5 OBSERVATIONS:

1. When I stopped mumbling to myself, I was overwhelmed by the beautiful sounds of birds all along the way. I really must make an effort to visit the Norscot Koppies and Kingfisher Nature Reserve in Douglasdale sometime.

2. I witnessed a naughty little Jack Russel chasing a family of kieviets. His days are numbered.

3. I passed a total of 17 runners! Apparently this is the last LSD weekend before Comrades runners start tapering down.

4. The rottweiler in Moray street wants me for Sunday lunch. I will not attempt to make friends with him again.

5. Heading out for my run after 8am is way too late! I was roasting by the time I got home. I struggle to run when I’m hot. I can’t lie in on a Sunday morning and go run. I need to decide which one I’d rather do.

The best part was showering and jumping back in to bed with a cup of tea… Total bliss!