Category Archives: My Engineer

Two days, Two Oceans, two races, this is how I experienced it…

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So even though I decided not to run the Two Oceans Half Marathon, it was a spur of the moment decision to partake in the 5km race, held on the Friday before the big races. The weather in Cape Town had started to turn and so, instead of heading down to the beach, we went through to UCT.

At 14:30 in the afternoon, the race started and approximately 3 000 runners /  joggers / walkers / prams (and a Bokkie) ran out of the beautiful UCT grounds and down University Drive on what was aptly named the Two Oceans Fun Run.  The weather couldn’t have been more perfect! The vibe electrifying. The laughter contagious. What a fantastic afternoon and run! I had so much fun! My time: 39 minutes. I’m thrilled.

          

Turn the clocks a mere 19 hours forward and as majority of the field were approaching the half way mark of the 21.1km race, sheets of rain, mixed with nasty winds, started to pour down! 

I sat on the grandstand, waiting with clean, dry towels for KK and the rest of the running gang to come in. But as the rain came down harder, and the spectators scurried for shelter, I somehow missed KK’s finish and spent the next 45 minutes trying to find him. Drenched and freezing, when we did find one another, he proudly announced that he had managed to run a PB! 1:49 … Awesome babes! 

                      

I guess this year’s Two Oceans was one of those that runners will never forget. One that is so gruelling and tough for some (who really feel that they earned that medal) and yet refreshing and invigorating for others who sailed through and achieved fantastic results.

But between you and me, as we drove home in the rain, passing the unlucky few that had missed the 3 hour cut-off, in my heart I was somehow relieved that I did not run. My heart broke for those who did not make it as I’ve experienced that disappointment before. But I knew, with all that congestion in the E-batch, the rain and the lack of mental mojo, I would not have gotten over that finish line in time. 

I was thankful for the fact that I ran my 5kms, I enjoyed it. And I’m learning that with my runs, that’s what matters most.

But I will be back. I know I will…

Maybe a bike ride will do me good

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KK comes home the other day and announces that him and his bestie, DSM, are thinking about doing the 94.7 Momentum Cycle Challenge at the end of the year. He is surprised when I excitedly proclaim, “Awesome, me too!!”

You see, my history with cycling is not a good one…

Since I’ve met KK, he’s been an avid sportsman (I’m boasting now). Other than all the running races he’s done, he has completed x5 Two Ocean half marathons, x1 Argus race, x7 94.7 Cycle Challenges and a couple of mini triathlons thrown in as well. So naturally, on weekends, we’ll engage in some sort of sporty activity.

About 12 years ago, KK and I used to ride our bikes quite often. I lived in Bedfordview at the time, and it was always a really fun occasion to go for a long ride on a Sunday afternoon. We took the bikes to KK’s place one day. He lived in Northcliff (emphasis on the cliff). Riding bikes was tougher as Northcliff is all ups and downs!

We decided one day to ride down (!) to Emmerentia Dam and back home. It was divine. The wind in my hair, the rising sun on my back… we got to the dam in no time and watched the dogs playing in the water and people feeding the ducks. It was a great morning.

It then started to get hot and so we ventured home. However, this time, it was all uphill! And lots of them. My legs ached. My back broke. I was getting sunburnt. With so many hills, I landed up pushing my bike. KK, who was fitter than me, kept moaning that I need to get back on the bike and ride.

Eventually, I exploded! I was so tired, hot, bothered, I threw my bike on the floor, kicked it and walked home without it. I vowed never to ride my bike again. KK pushed his bike and mine all the way home. Since that day, if people ask me if I have a bike, I say no.

Looking back today, I know I acted really childishly but I had been pushed too far and had had enough!

Well, I’m ready to give it another go and so the idea of 94.7 really appeals to me. I’ve got some time to think about it but while my foot has me out of running action, this might be an alternative option?

Wait, wait, wait!

Like I said, I’m thinking about it. A part of me still gets put off at the thought of punctures and at just how long the route is – 100km!

But for now, I need to dig my bike out of the garage, dust it off and make friends with it…That’s a start.

Somebody slap me!

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Call me a girl cause that’s exactly how I’ve been feeling (and acting) lately!

I’m not the mushy or emotional type. I’m not one of those types who feels the need for constant affection. I don’t like people crowding my space. I don’t feel it necessary to say ‘I love you’s’ all day long. In fact as friendly and as warm as I come across, that’s all you’re going to get from me.

But in the last week or so, I’ve been feeling slightly out of sorts and a little out of control. I’ve been feeling really insecure and “girlie”. Yuck! I don’t know how to put it, but it’s as if I need constant reassurance, especially from KK.

Being the typical quiet, introvert engineer that he is, he hasn’t exactly picked up on my insecurities which has added to my niggliness and frustrated me even more!

It was only after confiding in some of my girlfriends that I made a list of some of the valuable advice they gave me:

  • KK cannot read my mind. I need to over-communicate my feelings and possibly tell him what it is I’d like him to do. He will never guess.
  • KK will never use the words I am expecting him to use. More often than not, if I am expecting him to act in a certain way over something, he won’t.
  • Fact: KK loves me. All other insecurities, unless based on fact, should be dismissed.
  • It’s okay for me to feel needy. I should not be afraid to sometimes admit that I’d like an extra cuddle after a stressful day.

The best piece of advice was from one of my girlfriends who said, “Stop beating yourself up about it. Trust me, it’s absolutely normal to feel like this every now and then. We’re all the same! We’re woman! ”

Yeah, I guess.

Go to bed!

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I don’t get enough sleep at night. There, I said it. It’s my own fault too! Even though we go to bed religiously by 21h30, KK falls asleep immediately while I sit behind my laptop reading blogs, surfing the net and tweeting, of course.

KK is constantly moaning at me because even though I switch the light off, the bright light from the laptop glares across the bedroom. The tick-tick-ticking of my fingers on the keyboard keeps him awake and I realise, it’s not fair on him.

I sometimes feel like a 2 year old, fighting it, not wanting to go sleep. And I have no idea why this is? It’s not as if I have I have nightmares or sleep badly.

Here’s the facts:  Not getting enough sleep can affect weight loss. No wonder I’m not losing weight! Sleep deprivation affects productivity at work. I’ll admit that I often wish I could grab that quick kitty nap on my desk when it gets to the afternoon shift.

The most important thing is that with my running training, it’s very important that my body gets to rest!

I know the facts, but come 23h30 at night, I’m still awake?

So…. I have made a promise to KK that I will try get to bed by at least 22h00 every night. It’s a start. No more late night blogging. No more tweets after this time. Just sleep.

To help, I’ve been taking melatonin at night. Boy! Those buggers knock me out, fully! The really are great! According to sleep experts, I need to get at least (!) 7 hours of sleep a night. This means that if I get to bed by 10, and wake up at 5:30, I’m good. Right?

Looking after my body is not only about taking my vitamins, going to the gym, eating healthily and drinking enough water. But with the amount of stress we live with, my body and my brain needs to sleep. Here’s to getting some good night’s rest!

I sure as hell need it!