I did it!

This is a picture of me finishing my half marathon in 2003 when I walked the whole thing. The next year I did 2hr35min. In 2005, Bryce and I got our car towed after registering, and since my shoes were still in the car, we had to abandon the race. Then last year I finally got under 2& 1/2 hours with 2hr22min. Well, today I dropped 11 minutes and ran 21km in 2hr11 minutes. So I think the next challenge is to get under 2hours. I think I could do it. I felt good today and only had some knee pain in parts of the run. I passed the halfway mark under 1 hour, so it "could be done". Problem today was partially due to the 7o km/hr winds at my face the whole way back.

We had a great weekend. Carl and Denise came for a visit. We headed down to Wellington to pre-register for the race (Denise did the 10Km). Then had a nice walk through the Botanic Gardens and took the Cable car down into the city. Caught up with Donal and bought a new wool winter jacket.
It's so weird buying a winter jacket when Bryce is away in the "summer" of Denver on his mountain bike holiday, seriously sweating it up. Looks like he had a great time in Canada though. Including being the recipient of the International Distributor award for his company at his conference. He was very humble but its a huge achievement! I spoke to him over the webcam with the family in the background, including the babies. Hard to watch all my favourite people be together and not try to jump through the screen! Especially when they held up the "party pack size" of Clamato. Unfair....

My knees are very sore tonight as I sit and vedge in front of the fire and eat chocolate. I have some wicked blisters from the run, so I am hobbling around the house a bit. All good. The accomplishment feels well worth the pain. Question is: What to train for next?

Enough is enough....

Okay, this is New Zealand. An island in the Pacific. So what's the deal with frost on the grass this morning? This was not in the contract I signed when I decided to move to an "island nation". It was supposed to be flip flops and tank tops all year round!!

Truthfully, its nice to sit in front of the fire each night, but with Bryce away, it IS a bit chilly around the house. 20 nights left and he'll be back. And truly fit. He's away on business for a week, then a BBQ with Robyn and some of my ladies in Toronto, then with my parents and Rob and Kathy for a night, and then he flies to Denver to play MTBikes with a group who will be riding trails throughout Colorado and Utah for 14 days. How great for him!

I bought heaps of seafood which is something B does not enjoy so much so although the house is a bit stinky now, I'm eating like a star!

Half marathon is on Sunday, and although the week started off with some serious shin splints, I think I am on track for Sunday. Carl and Denise are coming for the weekend too. Then one more week of school.
Plans for the holidays are: Volleyball Coaching Course, Volleyball Workshop that I am running for 10-15 year olds, Computers course (not so excited about this one, but figured I should go), a visit with Pam and Sam, a night out at a play in the "cultural megacentre" of Levin with Mark and Rachel, and maybe a spa day in there somewhere. There were some plans for a trip to Fiji, but they didn't eventuate. All good. I am going home to Canada for Christmas, so thrilled about that! Only 6 months to go!!

check this out

http://bebo.com/watch/4179383135

It doesn't seem to link right away, so just cut and paste to see this. The Flight of the Conchordes are a musical comedy duo who are from New Zealand. Always good value. Would love to see them live.

Abby

Cute pic for her birthday invite. I can't believe she is almost a year old. I was with her in BC last year when she was born. How cool. Crazy thing is Bryce will be with the family next week as part of his business trip/mountain bike holiday. He is going to have a great time. Fun with the fam and then 12 days of mountain biking in Utah/Colorado.
I have the half-marathon in two weeks. A bit nervous; more about weather than anything else.
Yesterday, Bryce and I drove up to the mountains/volcanoes to see Kirsten and Ant. Kirsten is Bryce's best friend from childhood and we haven't seen her in about 4 years so it was great to catch up and meet Ant, her boyfriend. We went on a 7 hour tramp along the Tongariro Crossing, which is a NZ classic walk. I will get the pics on here soon for sure. It was an awesome day! A bit of a sore bum today though....