Latest running thing in Australia is parkrun, a free timed 5km event every saturday.  Here in Canberra it is run at Lake Ginninderra and I’ve been about 8 times.  My current personal best time is 24.54.  Finding it challenging to beat that.  On Australia Day Holly and I volunteered, and we dressed up a little to salute the day.

Cracking 5km run this morning at Lake Ginninderra.  Paced it with a friend who is right on my speed and we went for it.  Totally smashed both our previous best times to cross the line at 24:54mins.  Loved it.

That’s me crossing the line. 

Beat my old time by 56 secs, and came 27th out of 68, 10th lady, and first in my age group. Great way to start the weekend.

Today was the fun run that I dread! 10 kms of slow incline and hills, combined with the windiest season in the ACT. I told myself that if it was raining when I woke up I wouldn’t have to run, but I awoke to a beautiful spring day, so justin and the kids dropped me off at the hospital starting point.

The time went fast and much of what I remember is patchy, but I do know I was excited to do my first two kms in under 5 mins each. At the start the hustle and bustle to get going and find a gap in the crowd caused me to trip a girl over. I helped her up and on she went, but with bleeding knees!

The 5 km mark was at 25:40 which is fast for me, so I had to maintain speed. The hills were long and tiring right up to 8kms. Crossing over kings avenue bridge was a slog, but I really wanted under 55 minutes so I pushed on. The last 500 metres was rough. The end in sight but legs like jelly. Up a steep grassy embankment to the home stretch. Finish line there, cross over and check watch. Ahhhh, good time. Happy.

Personal best time for 5kms. Am so excited to get under 26 mins, and the best bit is that 2 of those kilometres were under 5minutes each. Cheering quietly over here!

My confirmation email just came……
Congratulations on completing your 2nd parkrun and your 2nd at Ginninderra today. You finished in 18th place and were the 3rd lady out of a field of 36 parkrunners and you came 1st in your age category VW40-44.   Congratulations on setting a new Personal Best by 16 seconds at Ginninderra parkrun! 

A few months ago I optimistically signed up to do the half marathon in the Canberra Running Festival. Sunday is the date. I am so nervous! My training was going really well and then I had to take 2 weeks off after some day surgery. Then a few weeks ago I hurt my back and was out for another 2 weeks. I could see my dream of completing this 21km run slipping away. However, I am back on track and after a few good runs over the past 10 days, 13km and then a 10km plus my usual daily 5kms, I am ready for race day. I wanted to have actually done 21kms before this time to know that I could really do it, but time has gotten away from me. Anyhoo, I am going to give it my best shot on Sunday and give it all I have to get it done in 2 hours (or as close to as possible).

Today is important for 2 reasons. Firstly it is Mum’s last day of work. Ever. After 22 years as the face of the front Office at St Vincents Primary School, she is retiring. I went along yesterday to a beautiful liturgy by the children and teachers. They were speaking of their memories of Mum and talked of bandaids, ice-packs, cakes and Easter eggs and the newsletter. It was so touching that they all think so much of Mum. I mean, I know she is amazing, but it is grea to think that other people think that as well. She will be greatly missed down there, but I am looking forward to her being more available for coffee and movies and lunches etc. The best is yet to come!

The second reason for today being special is that 2 of my four school girls are getting special awards at school. I guess this award is the most prestigious, for want of a better word. It is the Quiet Achiever and is awarded for exemplary behavior, and recognises the contribution those children make to the peaceful and caring nature of the school. So Meg and Amy are getting it this term and I am the proudest mother around!

Easter was last weekend and a really special gathering for all of us. Kate and Rohan came up from Melbourne, James and Sascha came down from Sydney (as well as Kaye and Brian) and we had 30 over from Sunday lunch. Raucous and festive, it was great fun. Egg hunts (even the chickens laid some chocolate eggs) and the Easter bunny visited. Meg made her Alter Serving debut and with Holly’s guidance did a marvellous job.

School holidays for the next 2 weeks. Things can be a little more casual and laid back for a while. We will enjoy it while it lasts.

BAS time, gotta get into it.

xx