Started my serious training yesterday but timing how long it's possibly going to take to walk this race. I have to finish in 3 hrs ( or 3 and half). Did a 3 k lap of the lake and took 22mins. Then walked 40paces and ran 10 and did it in 20mins. So should make it in the time!! When I registered I couldn't quite bring myself to register in the red zone as a 'walker' . I ticked the yellow zone of 'casual jogger' on the premise that I can walk fairly quickly. Anyway after yesterdays approx 7k my foot is feeling it a bit but not majorly so that is a positive sign. At least I now feel as though I have a goal to strive for!!

Well.......the die is cast!! My fate- at least on March 30th- is sealed!! Yep- I've registered for the 14.7km Run for Kids event. How ambitious is that???? Here I am.....only walking about 6km a week and I intend to walk (hmmm.... maybe run a little) 14.7km. I guess I can always pull out if needs be- but I REALLY WANT TO DO THIS!. My foot is heaps better although not completely. I registered my daughter too as she assured me she wanted to do it too. I messaged her on the ph only to be given a reply of......my back, hip and knee have been sore so I'm not sure! We're sounding like a pair of old crocs!
Wish me luck as you wave me goodbye........................................!!!!! ( trala trala trala....)

I had been doing really well in the exercise department until this week. Working out hard 2-3 times a week and hitting the bike as often as I could. This week I've fallen apart!! Felt sick and nauseous on weekend and haven't really done anything worthwhile since then. The only benefit I guess is that I haven't been gorging on everything in sight as the very thought of doing that just makes me feel sick. Had first day at the new job today. I sometimes wonder why I put myself through this. Any change seems to bring out the nerves! However, after the first 5 minutes, I really relaxed into it and it's a job I'm sure I'm going to love. The students were lovely, the support worker a HUGE support and all the other staff really helpful and nice and best of all I felt as though I had fallen back into my niche! I think I've got the best of both worlds here- I love the gym work and getting back to the nice parts of teaching rounds off the whole package.

Life is about to get that little bit busier in our household. I've just got another job - as a sessional teacher at the TAFE College!! I'll be teaching literacy to adults with special needs for two mornings a week plus some extra time for coordination. I'm really delighted as this was the part of teaching that I really loved and have missed. Haven't taught adults before but it is a natural progression from the school leavers I was teaching. I start on Wednesday and as long as I have day 1 organised then I think I'll be okay. It fits in really well with the gym -doesn't conflict with any of my shifts and has only meant a couple of changes with the personal training clients. Phew- back to all that preparation and organisation- I love it!!!

A sad sad day- I have to retire my beloved hat! The peak is starting to break down and it's being held together by dirt and sweat !!! ( no- not really - I do wash it occasionally). I've had this hat for about 10 years and it is the very best! Fits really well, never blows off and is light and dries quickly. Oh.......I'm so sad:(((((






On the other hand these shoes apparently have YEARS of life left in them! Perhaps I can attack them at night - rip 'em off his feet and inter them in the wheelie bin!!! Shhhhh.... don't breathe a word of this!!

Phew! The weekend is here at last!! Friday is my bestest and favourist day of the week!. Lately it seems as though each day is a series of hurdles to get through. I enjoy them when they are happening- but first thing in the morning I look lovingly at the crumpled bed and figure out what has to be done before I can get back there!!

I think that finally my sore foot ( from maybe having something in it) is at last showing signs of improvement! Went dancing Saturday night which was the first time for about 2 months that I've worn heels! yah!!. My plantar foot though has been correspndingly bad!! It's a bit like kids- when one is horrid the other is an angel! I have been cycling which I figure can't really hurt either foot and I'm avoiding the leg press ( boohoo- I love the leg press and I was up to 100kg again!!) I'm going to have to get really serious and do regular stretching, icing etc,
Our granddaughter ( 5year old) started school on Thurs. She has also lost her two bottom front teeth. Having these two granddaughters has really made me wish I had our own two kids back again at this age ( at least for a day!).
Not much else going on here except work and some sleep and then more work again.

I'm sitting here eating chocolate so how do I ever think I'm going to achieve New Year's Goal Number 2??????????????????????????????

On Sunday we got together with my sisters (2) and their respective partners and some offspring to evaluate our past New Year Resolutions and set this years. I didn't really do too well with last years. I was supposed to read 'Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway". I thought about it on Saturday afternoon and did contemplate a 'speed read' but decided it really wasn't worth it. I did do SOME gardening and I was supposed to keep this weird sounding plant alive- ahem not sure what happened to it- but in all, I think I failed gardening too!
This years are
1. Make a list of house improvements and do 2 this year
2. Lose 5 cm from my belly.
3. Participate in one fun run/walk
The rest of the family make a group one for each person too- what they did for me was
To read a book every two months.
That one shouldn't be too hard to accomplish. I love reading but tend to read bits and pieces of fitness books, magazines and usually library books of various types. ( I think they think I just read magazines all year!!)

I definitely earned this!!! And deb- I've been hugely improved with the muffins and smarties, they are no longer daily events!!!

Can you see the blue roll to the side of the pic? That's our fairly new rug which now has to be rolled up to stop the bloody cat from clawing it!!!

Last week I wrote a 'plan'. A plan of the exercise I would do each day and I'm glad to say I accomplished all that I had written down. Now why is it that I have absolutely no problem in following an exercise plan but when it comes to food all good intentions seem to fly out the window!
Anyway- tomorrow is swimming day! My friend , with whom I usually swim, gave me a 'halo' for Christmas. Its a fluffy purple glitzy little number- and tomorrow I will earn the right to wear it! I promise a picture of it if I've done the right thing! lol

Look what I just got! husband thought .......actually I'm not sure WHAT he thought!!

I love my podiatrist! I love my podiatrist! I love my podiatrist!!
I didn't realise I actually HAD one until today. I was forced ( yes forced!!!- well encouraged/ coerced or whatever) to find one today and HE FOUND IT!!!!! a tiny weeny itsy bitsy piece of glass that has been causing me such grief over Christmas!! He came at me with his scalpul- so I very firmly put my best 'princess' crown on my head and looked pathetically frightened of it. He assured me it wouldn't hurt and you know- it actually didn't/ So- you see- I'm smitten. Not only that- he also seems to be quite knowledgeable about this plantar fasciiwhatsis that I've been plagued with for nearly a year. He seemed to have some different ideas about it so I'm g oing to see him again next week. Well- anyway I'll give him a go for a while! Life is looking considerably brighter today.

I took my brave pills and let the dr dig around some more- couldn't find anything!!!! I'm still hobbling but not as badly. Maybe it's just bruised- I jolly well hope so.
I'm feeling like a fat little piglet after yesterday. I'm sure I didn't really need to eat everything I laid my eyes on- but I did. We've been having lots of fun today with my new pressie- a tomtom!. One of those global positioning systems. I'm hopeless ( or rather- very good) at getting lost. Today sexy richard told us where to go and when to turn. Irish sean was a dead loss and gave up on us but down to earth aussie ken/kevin ( not sure exactly) was patient and just kept giving us other options when we ignored his advice. lol- we are such children here!!

I'm starting to get quite enthused about the idea of studying again. Having lots of thoughts about possible research- hopefully this will come to fruition and not just keep getting pushed back into something I might do one of these days.
My left foot is still battling plantar fasciitis and now my right foot is battling with maybe having something in it!! I trod on something in the kitchen on Wednesday and although it doesn't look as though anything is in it and the doctor doesn't think there is either- it's still mega sore!!! I'm a mess of hobbling feet! The doctor said the only way to be really sure is to inject anaesthic and have a jolly good look- eeekkkkk- I'm such a baby when it comes to pain (he says it's character building!!) Meanwhile I'll just try to ignore my lower limbs.

This is the first year that I haven't had school holidays!!! I know, I know - "welcome to the real world"!! If anyone says that to me again I might just clock them! I'm sure lots of people think that teachers have it easy with all those holidays but nothing makes up for the hours and hours of work at night / weekends/ and holidays. I'm not making this up- the work load is relentless.
I don't miss that part but I do miss being busy throughout my day. I find that gym work is spasmodic with lots of cancellations from clients especially at this time of year. Next year I think I might do some study of some sort. I've been looking into fitness courses or I could seriously think about a doctorate! Perhaps combining disability and fitness. I considered this some years ago but could never come up with a suitable 'question' to research!! Anybody got any suggestions????

After Saturday and the cycling experience I've done nothing but EAT!!! I have been so hungry and now can't seem to stop.

Really enjoyed yesterday and all that spinning. I reckon we were in the saddle for at at least 4 and half hours- not flat out but working pretty hard! Owowowwow- my bum!!! and owowowow my knee!!!. However - the instructor was fantastic and taught us heaps- especially all the safety stuff and technique. After a bath at home I was ready to dance the night away- and did!!!

Whoowooo- tomorrow I learn to be a Cycle Instructor. Hope my behind can recover!!

Was perusing the paper yesterday and noticed the entry form for 'run for the kids' in April. Made my decision- I'll do it!! I went in the first one they had - 2006- and it was just the best run- all through the city, over bridges and through tunnels, bumper to bumper people which made the time pass really quickly. I was looking forward to doing it again this year but my foot got in the way. However - MY FOOT is really improving and at least I will be able to walk this event with maybe the occasional minute ( or more) of running. It makes me feel good and positive at least to think about doing it.