Kicking breast cancer's butt...4km at a time.

If you had asked me at the start of the year which goal was going to be the hardest to achieve, it wouldn't have taken much thought for me to reply - "Goal five."

Goal five - Run the Mother's Day Classic.

As a woman who has played sports for a major portion of my life, I love being active (almost as much as I love being lazy in my pyjamas on the couch).  With forays into basketball, netball, tennis and squash, flirtations with futsal (Teacher's Games, 2010) as well as stellar careers during my high school years in girl's footy, cricket, soccer etc., I had been yet to tackle one of the most ancient of "sports"... RUNNING.

As I continue to say, I don't like running.  I find it dull no matter how many people say, "Oh, it's so relaxing.  You can just turn your brain off."  No you can't.  Give me a racket, ball, bat etc. and I can play with enthusiasm 'til the cows come home.  But running I find bat shit boring as all you have to focus on is scenery, breathing and often the case given long-term ankle injuries, how much my legs are hurting!!!

But by setting goal five, I was determined. 

Unfortunately, my lack of love for running meant I did not train.  I will admit to that.  So I wasn't looking forward to it.  This was to get even better when my right hip decided it didn't like running even more than my brain so tried its hardest to prevent it happening since returning from Cambodia/Laos.

Luckily, I am very fortunate to have a full support team around me and with some "mate's rates" sessions with physio J. Coleman, exercise and diet advice from EP/personal trainer K. Williams and motivational slogans and positive talk provided by S. Haughey, I felt much more ready to at least control the damage.  Team that with running buddies S. Haughey and K. Williams in the 4km with further support from the 8km ladies - V. Dennis, S. Peaple, A. Wickerson, J. Rankine and E. Oakley.

So starting off, I had Jordan's voice going over in my head "Don't run the start, don't stuff your hip early you idiot." as I run over the start line with Kate and Shelley.  Was never very good at taking advice...

 The 4km crew pre-race.  Thanks to Lorna Jane for their "sponsorship" of team Camberwell and Co.!!!

Kept pace with the others for almost 1km before backing off due to soreness and the GIANT MASSIVE FUCK OFF HILL on the 'Tan.  That's right, make us run UP the bastard.  So now with only Lady Gaga to keep me company, I slow to a brisk walk getting angry at myself for severe lack of training.  Seeing the 2km sign at the top of the hill, I kick my arse into gear and by the end of the 4km, I have run almost 3km of the track.

So while my goal was to "Run the Mother's Day Classic" and I didn't manage to run the entire thing as I had hoped, I am happy with my start into the world of running.  I still don't love it, I still find it boring, but one day I hope to become much better at it so I don't look like I am having a coronary, aneurism or asthma attack when I run...

Homer and I share much more in common than our sexy headbands... 


Overall, I had a great time and feel very proud of myself for even registering.  I would not have done this a year ago and feel a lot of it comes from seeing so many others around me loving to be fit and healthy and loving to get out and support a good cause.  A big thanks to Suzanne, Robert and Ayda who acted as our support crew and bag carriers too!!!

Kateo and her two #1 clients post-run.  (She looks like a proud Mum really!)

There are definitely plans to enter more runs this year.  Certainly not going to go the half marathon but 2 more runs in the 4-6km range would be an amazing achievement for this non-runner.  Maybe this time I'll even consider training properly... :)