Strength

I've blogged previously about my 'Inspiration Board' of Inspiring Women, and the characters they possess(ed) that I inspire to.

It's no big secret, I've been bragging enough lately! that my journey's going great guns - the weights coming off, I'm running again and getting faster and stronger.

But in amongst all that success I've had some hard times - we have recently farewelled Ned Kelly's grandfather and had some not so nice personal family issues. Which leads me to contemplate a characteristic that all women have and need, Strength.

We draw on our reserves of physical & emotional strength to get us through the tough times and in the process often surprise ourselves with just how strong we are - just like my inspirational Strength role model Katrina Robertson.

Odds are on that you've never heard of her which is a pity, because like a lot of lesser known athletes, (i.e. non televised sports lol) especially women, she is a superstar who has represented Australia and has broken numerous records.

To diverge a little here.... know of the Southern Stars? Matildas? Elysse Perry - any idea which sport she plays? (I didn't until I went looking for awesome women sportstars!)

Try both representative Soccer & Cricket - freakin' superstar, and yet gets a lot less media attention that our not so inspiring men's representative sides....

But back to Katrina - as a young woman she broke both legs in a motorcycle and was told she would never walk again. Sports mad Katrina drew on her other strengths, successfuly studying psychology and opening her own private practice.

But fast forward a few years, and feeling something was missing, she went against medical advise and started training to complete in a Master's Games in discus, shot put, hammer throw and weight pentathlon.

After cleaing up in those event's Katrina took on the world of powerlifting, breaking the Australian deadlift record (202.5kg) in her first competition.

LEGEND!

Katrina has broken numerous records and has been dubbed 'the strongest woman in the world'. She's retired from the sport and these days is busy helping others find their strength in her professional psychology role.

I was lucky enough to hear her speak at an International Women's Day event a couple of years ago, and was immediately struck by her intelligence, resilience and strength. A truly inspirational woman.

Stay Strong!

Read more about Katrina here:  http://nprsr.qld.gov.au/get-active/pdf/women-girls/katrina-robertson.pdf 

Grief & In-Laws

Hoping that the title hasn't misled - this post is not about the In-Laws giving me grief!

I've been quiet this last week, and unfortunately not because I've been kidnapped by Brad Pitt to an exotic locale sans internet connection....

We had the sad news that Ned Kelly's (aka the husband's) Pop had passed away so spent the last week journeying to Sydney to celebrate & commemorate an important person in our family's life.

Pop had had a brilliant, long & healthy life, something I inspire too, but the years have taken a toll and just recently his body has slipped into the rapid decline of old age.

I'd like to take a moment to salute an amazing fella with strong family values, who served our country on the Kokoda trail and raised a beautiful family that I am proud to be a part of.

It's of family I'd like to talk about - not the family you are born into, but the family you choose - the family of the person you choose to commit your life to.

I wasn't lucky enough to be alive to meet and know my own grandparents - my maternal grandfather was the last to pass when I was 7. Lucky for me my first, and one of my fondest memories is that of being bounced on his knee as a 6 month old - one of the few times I met him. I guess our minds must recognise the important moments....

So I am lucky that I got to adopt a pop - Jack (senior, a great honour to go for double brownie points naming my son not only after him but after my father Jack as well).

In all the years I knew him I think I witnessed him down maybe 2 glasses of water and a handful of cuppas - the rest of his hydration came from VB! He lived in central Parramatta for many years and was a founding member of the leagues club there; when his wife passed several years ago he maintained the tradition of remembering not only the grandchildren's birthdays, but the great-grandkids as well, including my three. We love you Pop, and are proud to be your family.

I was fortunate for many years to escape the lesson of death, but when it came it was hard and sudden.

My husband's brother, who was the same age as I, was killed tragically and accidentally.

Since then I've buried my father, and most recently our Pop; but these were nothing compared hard hitting emotion of having to say farewell to a person that should still be here.

During that experience I learnt as well that it hurts, not as much, but nearly as much as it being your own family member - remember that this is not just a person you were born to be the family member. You chose to be involved.

I tried hard to be the rock and anchor to support my husband, my children, and my chosen family. It's the hardest thing I've ever done.

Brett just wasn't an in-law, but a brother too.

I still miss him, and still love him.

And so I knew how my sister and brother-in-laws felt when we buried Dad. Even more I appreciated their sacrifice and courage in sacrificing their grief to support their partners. The 'Aunties' descended like angels with cuddles and food, hours spent baking, peeling & pouring to facilitate the outpouring of grief.

At Pop's farewell I saw the same - the wives of the four sons holding their husband's hands; wiping their children's tears; putting their love into comforting embraces and warm dishes.

I hope they've made sure they got their moment alone to cry and mourn, because I know they miss their 'in-laws' as much as they would their own blood kin, just as keenly as I miss my brother (inlaw)  Brett.

IN MEMORY OF BRETT, JACK, & JACK.

Have a beer together in heaven for me.

Commemorating the weight that's been

In celebration of reaching the healthy weight range - BOO YEAH!! I am commemorating the kilos that have fallen, never to rise again.

Adieu fat arse, for we shall not meet again; Adios back flaps, as I won't be needing you anymore.

Let's count them down - from my heaviest at 82kilos at the start of 2012; to my current (healthy weight range - yeah I need to mention that again!) 70.5 - with a tribute song from the corresponding year.

82: (ahh the 80's): 'Down Under' from Men at Work - chosen for their rockin' flute solo.

81: 'Start Me Up' The Rolling Stones... 'cause I was just getting started!

80: Great year this one - number one in the Aussie charts the day I was born: 'Crazy Little Thing Called Love' Queen

79: 'I Will Survive' Gloria Gaynor (where are my flares & platforms - fetch me my drag queen outfit!)

78: 'Love is in the Air' John Paul Young - One of my favourites, and the second song we danced to at our wedding (the first was Hot Chocolate's You Sexy Thing). Love you Ned Kelly

77: 'I go to Rio' Peter Allen .... can't go past those maraccas...

Stuck around the 77 for nearly 12 months before launching into the Mishy Mishion, startin here again at 78... and down we go, into the lower 70's

76: 'Bohemian Rhapsody' Queen (again) ahh the memories... headbanging in the back of a Barina.

75: 'Ego is not a Dirty Word' Skyhooks - because damn straight I'm proud of myself!

74: 'Goodbye Yellow Brick Road' Elton John.

73: 'I Am Woman' Helen Reddy RRRRRRROOOAARRRR ... closely followed by 'Angie' The Rolling Stones... because my sister Angie is awesome

72: 'Most People I Know Think That I'm Crazy' The Aztecs. Enough said really

71: 'Eagle Rock' Daddy Cool - hey hey hey...

To Be Continued..... Looking forward to farewelling the 70's and getting my flower power on!

Now I'm off to create a playlist I think!

Da doo ra run run da do run run

 

We were asked during the preseason for the Mishy Mishion http://www.12wbt.com/ to make a committment - a commitment to ourselves & the program....

What drives me? What do Iwant out completing the program? What do I want out of life?

Simply put I want to be Healthy for Life - I can't say for sure what happens after we kick the old bucket, but I do know that whatever is in store I'm only going to get one chance at this life, so I better give it all I've got, and enjoy all that life has to give me.

My Commitment:

I commit to looking after the vessel I've been given to live in order to be able to be as active for as long as possible (80, 90, 100 + years!) and to have all the adventures.

I commit to listening to myself and doing what I want and need to do.

 


I commit to trusting myself to make the right decisions.

I commit to losing the excess weight that slows me down so I can run like I want to.

I commit to being as mindful in what I eat & drink as what I am in what I say & do.

 

This week I'm having a big win with commitment number 4. I discovered running about 7 or 8 years ago, and gleefully ran nearly every morning since. Not big distances, maybe 3k or so, but I've always loved the sensation of wind through my hair... ok might be getting a bit carried away there as I'm certainly not that fast either!

 

But after 18mths of a sedentry job, a shoulder injury & too much booze.... well the running has gone from something joyous and free to down right painful.

 

In somewhat of a bad cycle I'd run happily but 'stodgily' for a week, then bam... there goes the shin splints / knee joint / foot. Not hard to pinpoint why - carrying too much load on the old pins!

 

So I got real & got ready. I stopped running & started planning - work on losing some of the weight; work on strengthening & flexibility then add small, sustainable runs increasing over time to up the mileage.

 

And HUZZAH! After only 4 weeks my first proper run of 3kms felt even better then the runs of old; no pressure, no pain, just freedom. By the time I finished I was just about crying in joy!

 

Then yesterday the 4week fitness test - and 26 seconds off my 1km trial. BOO YEAH!!!

 

Those of you who haven't yet found running (hehe) probably think I'm a nutter.... runners generally are I believe :-)

 

So what's next? Don't worry, I've got that covered too.... I'll keep increasing the runs just as planned & listening to my body, and after a good 12 months I'ma gonna turn into an even bigger nutter. That's right.... marathon running here I come