Swandives

I can’t stand to watch the Rugby League grand final (Manly is losing as I type) so I switched to Idol for a bit. There was this wonderful moment captured by the cameras of Dicko and Mark Holden sharing ‘a look’. Classic. I wish I could post it here. It was hilarious. Nice bit of tele. Now, unless the Sea Eagles can pull off a miracle, I’m going to crawl into a hole. Sob!

What a week! First I go run my first half marathon, then I go for tests about the lump. Which, by the way, turned out well. I was pushed and pulled and poked in all manner of ways, but said lump is apparently a collection of fibrous cysts and I just have to keep an eye on them. In between all this was a rather hectic week during which I had trouble walking - payback from the bod for making it run 21.1 km without stopping. Oh my ankles have been sore! And, to cap it all off, the Manly Sea Eagles are playing in a grand final and I’m excited and a wee bit worried all at the same time! As they say in the classics, ‘It’s all happening’.

Anyway, here are my split times for the half. They’re not going set the world on fire, but they’re pretty speedy for little old me. I missed a couple of km markers along the way, so apologies for the gaps:

6.37
6.14 (12.51 -2km)
12.40 (25.31 -4km)
14.06 (39.37 -6km)
21.46 (61.23 -9km)
7.01 (68.24 -10km)
7.25 (75.49 -11km)
8.01 (83.50 -12km)
7.02 (90.52 -13km)
7.35 (98.27 -14km)
8.05 (106.32 -15km)
8.19 (114.41 -16km),
7.55 (122.36 -17km)
8.10 (130.46 -18km)
8.03 (138.49 -19km)
8.19 (147.06 -20km)
8.58 (156.04 -21.1km)

This morning I completed my first official half marathon, in a time of about 2hrs 36 mins! The beloved also competed: his time was around 1 hr 52 mins. So we both ran out of our skin! It was amazing. The first part of the race is across the Harbour Bridge and the last 3km is along the Sydney Harbour Foreshore (you finish at the opera house). I had three goals:

• Finish
• Run fast enough that I wasn’t turned around before I could complete the race
• Run the entire way.

If those three things happened, then I was going to finish under 3 hrs. I always knew I was going to be slow so I went out quite quickly (relatively speaking of course) and then tried to hold on once I got to the 9km mark (that’s where they turn around people who are too slow, because they can’t keep the road open indefinitely for obvious reasons). But I was still feeling great right up to about 14 km. I’ll post times here later. For the moment, I am very happy that the final run was such an amazing thing. I never ever thought I would run a half marathon so I’m pretty pleased with myself right now!

A few weeks ago we decided to eschew a Foxtel subscription to buy DVDs. We figured it would be cheaper and so far it’s definitely worked in our favour. Imagine my delight when we discovered the local video store was selling Northern Exposure discs! I have the most wonderful coffee mug branded with the show’s title and the tagline: may the moose be with you. If there was every anything on television that spoke to my sensibilities, that show was it. I’ve since turned to eBay to round out the collection.

Nearly 17 years later, it’s still good! Actually, probably better. I’m rediscovering the wonderful nuances of the characters and, more interestingly, seeing things in the context of life experience that I simply didn’t have when I was younger. For example, the Shelly-Holling story arc was never really on my radar. Now, married to a man 21 years older than myself, I see it with an entirely different perspective. And it was so daring; I suddenly realised that we live in much more conservative times for all the changes and ‘forward progress’. I doubt the show would be a hit today because I doubt audiences would get it. Actually, I’m surprised it was ever a hit, truth be told. Surprised, and very pleased.

Northern Exposure always seems to be described as ‘quirky’ but on second viewing, I’d call it ‘accepting’. I realise this concept was the underlying theme of the whole show, but juxtaposed with the undercurrent of fear and hatred of today’s world it stands out as extraordinary. As a friend once remarked to me after watching an episode: “I feel at peace with myself and the world.”

The show first aired in 1990 so these days it’s considered a retro classic - which is not really a word I’ve ever associated with Northern Exposure until I realised there little to no technology onscreen. No internet. No mobile phones. Chris opines into a microphone where today he would no doubt be tapping away at a keyboard or podding. It is all the more wonderful for the lack of gizmos and gadgets. I am reminded of the joys of an analgue world. Then I remember that without digital, my Northern Exposure DVDs wouldn’t exist, and everything falls back into place.

This run on Sunday starts at 6.20am! It’s posing somewhat of a challenge for littl’ old me because early starts are not my strong point. Actually, starts of any kind are not my strong point. Give me my comfy bed and dreams any day. It’s one of the reasons I would make a very bad parent - kids virtually demand early rises. Anyway, this morning I was snoozing away, happily dreaming of my favourite fishing spot in the mountains and of having a BBQ with some amazing musicians when the beloved woke me. I was mildly upset to say the least - it was such a cool dream. There was BBQ steak and everything!

The reason for the rude interuption of my subconcious ramblings is because this week I am supposed to be getting up progressively early so that when I have to arise at 4am - yes 4 in the morning to get to this run thing, I won’t feel as much like death warmed over as I might otherwise. It’s a good plan, but man, what I wouldn’t give to be in bed right now.

Aha - that got you in, didn’t it? Oh well, sorry to disappoint, but it’s not really that exciting, altho the subject line will no doubt attract all kinds of spam comments. No, the reason for my post is that I’m being sent off to the breast clinic coz I’m lumpen. Too much information? Well, you did keep reading.

It’s no biggie. Doc thinks it’s probably a blocked duct or something. But just in case, I’m off to the clinic.

In other news, the hip injury is not a hip injury. It’s probably some stomach muscles or something. Which is good, coz hip injuries are nasty. So it’s all systems go for running on Sunday, apart from the small issue of me not being able to train for 10 days beforehand. Oh well. I like to think of it as massive tapering..hehehe.

So remember when I was complaining about my knees being sore from running? And how I was really worried that I was doing more damage than good by continuing with the get fit thing? Well, the knees are fine, thanks for asking. It’s me hip that’s proven the real problem. I am hobbling around like somebody 40 years my senior at the moment and I’m not enjoying it one bit. I’ve never ever had any problems with my hip - I used to always scoff at the hip flexor stretches they make you do in gym classes. But no more; I am sore and tired and well and truly over it. Two weeks to go before I don’t have to do this running thing anymore, and I tells ya, I can’t wait! There’s a reason I’m such a slow runner - my body just isn’t built for it.

How cool is this? I’m sending this on my mobile phone. Yes, after weeks of battling tech support I finally got the internet on my mobile. yay!

I took this at Atherton, North Queensland in the Crystal Cave while we were on holiday earlier this year. It’s a beautiful, giant amethst, lit for best effect. I couldn’t help myself - I had to take out my mobile and snap it. I love the colour.