and the love continues...

the love of running that is!

I woke on Sunday morning at 7am (ish), showered, ate two pieces of vegemite on toast, a small glass of OJ and a glass of water and walked out the door...

Sunday was Barwon Banks Fun Run day.. I had decided to run the 10km (even though I've hardly done a speck of running this year, and just had three weeks off exercise while on a working trip)...

It was a humid rainy morning, I picked up my race number and waited under shelter till we lined up at the start. With 800 participants, it was a fair effort considering the dismal morning. The track was a little gritty and muddy and crowded at the start, but once everyone found their pace it was on! ;)

At the 2.5km mark I had a drink and kept going, I was feeling pretty good and strong up until the 4km mark when I wanted to stretch my calves out - but I hunkered down and kept going. Up until now I was pacing myself around the 6min/km speed.

It was around the 'halfway' mark when - the Queens Park bridge I was feeling pretty good surprisingly.

It was until around the 7km/8km point when I was feeling a little tired, but just focused on my breathing, resting on the downhills and stretching my arms as I went.

As I reached the 8km mark I wished it was over, and as I neared the 9km mark I was running as hard and as fast as I could possible. As I neared closer to the finish I pushed even harder - and then relief I crossed the finish line at the official time of 56 minutes and 44 seconds!

The best thing about this race is I beat my PB by my Run Melbourne time of 58.59 by 2 minutes, 15 seconds! I also ran my best ever average minutes per km - 5.40!

The official stats:

Time: 56.44

(Average time amoung my category was 55.38)

Position (all females): 77/153

Category position (Female 19 -34): 41/71

Q. What goals have you completed recently?

scrapbooking health and fitness...

Over the weekend I got my craft on.

I created two scrapbook layouts. Both of them happen to be about fitness (or health). I love both of these layouts and had fun making them! I think it's important to scrapbook all the aspects of your life, whether it be another passion, your love of cooking, your family, and in my case - my new found love of health and fitness...

The first layout was about my first ever 10km fun run. The photos had been sitting there for a while, along with all the bits and pieces... I was happy I got this down on paper!

The next, another fitness themed layout - this time highlighting my 2011 goals!

 

xoxo

what i've been up to...

This past week I've been trying to get back into my routine. Back to work, back to the gym and back to reality.

This weekend I've had a great time scrapbooking, making baby cards for loved ones and creating fun canvases for the Bakers Dozen canvas swap.... They will all be revealed in full in a few short weeks once we give each other the canvases we've made for each other. :)

Here's one - a little experimenting with glimmer mist and glimmer screens!

The next is one using some fun flowers:

While I was staying with Amy I scrapbooked a couple of layouts also:

I also finished off a mini album that I'd made for work:

This weekend I made two more layouts and another bakers dozen layout. I'll post them up this week!

Hope you're all having a fabulous weekend!

a few highlights from LA....

I was in Los Angeles for a couple of weeks for work attending the CHA (Craft & Hobby Association) trade show with my work at the end of January. Once that was finished I fly over to Florida to visit my friend Amy!

Here's a few highlights from the trip!

Creme Brulee!

Finally finishing putting up our booth at CHA and meeting some fantastic people:

Enjoying lots of drinks; apple martinis, pomegranite martinis, pina colada's, red wine and more!

Shopping our hearts out at Premium Outlets!

Getting to visit Universal Studios and go on the Jurrasic Park ride:

Getting to see the LA Lakers play at the Staples center:

Being welcomed to Florida with open arms and a warm heart:

 Having a super fun craft party!

Going shopping at all my NEW favourite stores (athro, forever 21, urban outfitters and LF):

Going to my now favourite chinese restaurant - P.F Changs and getting an interesting fortune cookie...

Shopping in downtown Ft Lauderdale!

Enjoying a few cocktails with new friends!

I had so much fun in the US. I made some fantastic friends that I know will last a lifetime, ate some pretty amazing food, saw some pretty special things and had some pretty crappy flights (delayed, cancelled and turned around)! But despite the flight hiccups I had a great trip! 

x

roses are red....

We don't really 'celebrate' Valentines Day, over the past 5 odd years we've given each other flowers or chocolates, nothing really fancy. This year I cooked dinner and Brad bought home one single red rose and a sweet handmade card (not by him) that he knew I'd appreciate.

 It's around this time of year that I also start to think about our relationship each year (as the anniversary of when we met draws closer), and how far we've come, what we've learnt and what we have to look forward to.

I got back from overseas recently and really missed him and the time we spend together. And when I came back, I stumbled on the quote below...

You see my boyfriend works in a city 1 hour away, and because he works long hours and gets up super early he stays there three nights a week. this week in particular i've been missing him a lot. I think because I was away for so long (for work), and now just seeing him again makes me want to spend all my time with him. There were so many times while I was away that I thought, "Gee Brad would love this!", or "This is Brad's favourite movie", or "Right now Brad wouldn't let me eat this dessert if he was here!" HAHA!

Q How do you spend Valentines Day? Do you celebrate it or think it's a ripoff?

She & He: January

She + He January

She continued to run and go to the gym

She scrapbooked at her friends.

She + He built a new garden shed & a garden bed with his parents.

He went to Big Day out with a mate.

She & He enjoyed several trips to the beach at St Leonards.

She had her eyes checked (just in case).

She got her tragus pierced.

She + He had her mum, uncle and cousin stay over.

She saw her friend Beth who she hadn't seen for quite a while.

She + He caught up their mates for breaky.

She continued to play indoor soccer.

She flew to the USA for work.

She met her 'online' friend Amy and visited Florida for the first time.

She + He welcomed a new nephew into to world! :)