On your marks…

Posted on January 12, 2014 by Bo

As the New Year kicks onto high gear, there are typically three things which signal the start of the running calendar for me:

New shoes

I’m rather spoilt. KK does almost triple the distance on his running shoes and each January buys new ones. Mine can still go a few more kilometres but I always get a new pair. This year, majority of the women’s asics shoes were pink (which is so not me) so I opted for the men’s blue in my size (thanks for your help, Craig @ Dunkeld Sweatshop). I adore them!

Buying of the Tom Cottrell Nedbank Runner’s Guide

Even though we download the app, one of our favourite dog-eared books must be the green running guide. Ironically, it’s the same info every year and after years of running you kinda ‘know’ the races. But we love paging through it and analysing upcoming races to enter.

Dischem

The first big race of the year, Dischem offers a 21.1km as well as a 5km run. I had to give my half marathon entry away this year as I was not yet fit enough, but was satisfied to manage the 5km distance. It’s riddled with all types of people and I just love how the kids make the water stops a fun part of the race and splash one another while being consumed with giggling fits. It really makes it a ‘fun run’.

Okay, so (I think) I’m ready. Here’s to a fabulous 12 months of fitness and running!

Running alone

Posted on October 6, 2013 by Bo

When I usually run on my own I feel quite safe because I stick to the busy roads and pass quite a few complexes with security guards who I wave at. I always try and keep visible and before I leave home, KK knows exactly what route I’m running and what time he can expect me home.

But for some or other reason, when I woke up to go for my run this morning I was a bit apprehensive. I think it’s because I had chosen to try out a new route. I headed out the door but kept looking around (just in case) and felt like a bag of nerves at one point.

Suddenly everybody looked suspicious. It was only after I stopped what I was thinking and took hold of the fear that I saw something different.

… A taxi stopping just in front of me – offloading people smartly dressed for church.

… the dodgy cars parked outside on the pavement so early in the morning – bird watchers excitedly entering the Cumberland Bird Sanctuary.

.. My heart stopped! The man who was hiding behind the tree with a box – collecting leaves off a mulberry tree presumably for his kids’ silk worms.

Today was such a beautiful morning and loads of other runners (including women on their own), cyclist and dog walkers decided to step out and enjoy the fresh morning air.

I’m well aware that I live in one of the most dangerous cities in the world. I am also aware that each and every time I walk out the door, be it for a run or on my way to work or to go shopping, that anything could happen. I can only try and do as much as I can and be safe but I’m not about to let my fear take hold of me.

Getting home and taking my running shoes off and dipping my feet in the pool felt amazing! I could feel my feet thanking me.

(Image: Google)

12 year run

Posted on September 15, 2013 by Bo

When I met KK, I was not a runner. In fact I could think of nothing worse than to put myself through “that kind of torture”. I never even belonged to a gym. Yet when we met, we just clicked. I would often go with him to the road races, but always take a pillow with and snooze on the back seat of the car. It was bliss. It never seemed to bug either one of us that our weekends were so unmatched.

Just out of the blue, I decided that maybe I should give running a try. I hated it. Those first few kilometres were absolute hell and there were days when I questioned why I was actually trying it. But I hung in there. Starting with 4km runs around my neighbourhood, then a 10km and finally managing to do half marathons.

This weekend, KK and I celebrated our 12 year wedding anniversary. Time has flown by so quickly and I’m amazed at just how much we’ve both changed and also grown closer. I truly believe that the fact that I started running has meant we are able to share our time together more often.

I’m sometimes asked if the fact that we both run makes our relationship stronger. Yes and no. A part of me always thinks back to those early days and remembers that even though I never ran, I still supported KK and knew how much it meant to him. I was still there. And even though we might not run at the same pace today, the fact that I now also wake up at ungodly hours on a weekend to go run a race means a lot. To the both of us.

It shouldn’t really matter what each other decides to do in life, as long as we do it together.

Focusing on the negative. (Expert level)

Posted on August 25, 2013 by Bo

The first kilometer of the running route from my house starts on a ~~very~~ semi-steep uphill. Because of this, I usually use the first kilometer to ‘warm up’ and walk. But my running has been getting stronger and one afternoon, I found myself managing to run the entire kilometer without stopping. I was thrilled! When I reached the top at the swimming school, my heart felt like it would jump out of my chest, more from happiness than exertion. I could not stop smiling. My inner voice was saying, “Well done Bron!” Best . Feeling. Ever!

Two minutes later, another runner caught up to me and we started making conversation. We exchanged pleasant neighborhood chatter and discussed some of our road races. A few minutes had passed and I was enjoying running with her when out of the blue, she said, “Well, nice to have met you. Enjoy the rest of your run, I need to get going and run a little faster. I need to get home before the sun sets.” And off she ran…

That’s when all the negative thoughts flooded my head:

Before the sun sets? What the…? Yes, because I’m so slow, right? No one wants to run with you Bron. No one! You’re too slow!

When she was out of sight, I slowed down (even more) and was still grumbling to myself when I suddenly thought back to how my run had started. I had managed to run up to the swimming school without walking. That was a great moment and it was brilliant! So then how the hell did I manage to allow my run to dip into such a negative mood. Why did it become all about my speed? How did I go so quickly from celebrating reaching a goal to focus on one of my biggest running insecurities?

Lesson learnt: It’s an area I need to work on. Breaking myself down happens so quickly and so easily. It’s destructive. I need to focus on my achievements and stop obsessing on the negative. I’m proud of myself. I ran the first kilometer from home all the way up the hill, to the swimming school, for the first time, without walking. Yeah! That’s what I want to take out of that run. Because that’s what counts!

(Image from Google)