I'll start with pictures of my dogs. The skinny one is Daisy-Belle, a 3-legged amputee that we adopted last month. Her leg was amputated because she had been so badly beaten that her leg was paralyzed and dragging on the ground causing open wounds. They had to amputate it. She also had cuts and sores from the abuse, and she came in to the shelter with a litter of puppies who were so ill they all died. She is really the sweetest dog and so happy to be with us. The fat one is Higgins, or Piggins, because he eats and grunts like an eternally hungry piglet. Also an awesome and very lovable mutt, an SPCA rescue. He's a Labradoodle.
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| Daisy-Belle |
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| Higgins |
The most exciting thing happening in my life at the moment is the Two Oceans half marathon two days from now. So guess what, you're about to read more about running, except my right hand hurts while I'm typing so this won't be too long. I hope it's not the early onset of gout or some other old-age related ailment where the bones fuse up and don't work properly. And yes, I am getting old, I'm almost 40!
Old-man hands aside, I'm really excited about this years Two Oceans, it's the first one I'm running where I'm going for a respectable finish time, not just to finish within the allocated time. My aim is for a 2 hour 10 minute finish. I had originally planned to go for a sub 2 hour finish but my training has not been sufficient and with all the foot traffic in the way that's unlikely. I'm seeded in group C so there won't be that many people behind me, unlike last year where we just made it to the back of group E as the cannon fired (we were late due to traffic), with 16,000 people in front of us (Colin, Marius and I) to work our way through. It took about 12 minutes just to cross the start line after the gun went off, that's 2km worth of time on the road. My mates are all back in group D this year, they start 10 minutes after me, and they have lots of people to get through. I think it's Colin's greatest ambition to ensure he catches me on the road. It's my mission to ensure he doesn't. He usually finishes the 10km races about 5 minutes ahead of me, which will equate to about 10 minutes over 21km, so he may be close, but he won't catch me this time. As for Marius, we'll all be waiting for him at the finish, though I'm well proud of the guy, firstly that he's actually doing this again despite his pain last year, and secondly he's been doing very well with his running lately. His wife Adriana is doing her first Oceans. She only started running a few months ago, she pulled off a 2h 15m for her first ever race, last years Gun Run 21.1km. That chick has a fast pair of legs on her but she's light and slender so she should be fast. I rate she'll do a similar time to mine, though 10 minutes behind because my group starts 10 minutes earlier than them. At least I manage to secure parking near the finish this year so we have a long walk to the start, but that's at least better than a long walk after the race, like the previous races! That's just kak!
Ja I'm really looking forward to this run, it will be nice to be competitive for the first time. It's always emotional for me finishing Oceans, though this will be my last half for a while, from next year I'm taking on the 56km Ultra. I can't wait to be fit enough to be able to run distances like that in respectable finish times.
From next week I'll find myself a running coach and start on a proper marathon training program to work up to the Cape Town Marathon in September, that will be my first full marathon.
I put too much Dynamite on my lunch, my face it burning.
I've actually messed up on my training this week, I had planned on at least one treadmill hill run at the gym yesterday but instead I've stayed home and drank too much for the last 3 days in a row so I've done no running, instead I've weakened myself a little. This is my biggest problem, and weakness, and the time is coming soon to find a way of dealing with this and stop the drinking. I don't yet know what or how, and I'll take any advice, but I need to can the bottle now. I've had enough of this shit, this self destruction that ruins everything else in my life including my running progress. I know if it weren't for the drinking I'd be much faster and fitter by now, that sub 2 hour wouldn't just be a possibility, it would be happening consistently at the 21km races by now. I'd be as fast or faster than Colin. This knowledge depresses me, and what do I do when I'm feeling down - I drink some more. I am deeply ashamed of this addiction to booze, but maybe being open about it, in a way shaming myself, will contribute towards making the psychological changes that will get me off of that poison! I need to! I want to! I just don't know how to stop!
I'm seriously gatvol of feeling hungover all the time!
So anyway, this last weekend was indeed a good one on the road. On Saturday I did the Ravensmeade 15km in a time of 1h 35m, did that one with Adriana (1h 30m). The pic below is with a fellow club member, Duncan. We're part of West Coast Athletic Club. And a pic of the medal.
Then on Monday's public holiday I did the Top Form 10km with Adriana, Marius & Colin. First time in ages the whole gang has run together, even though we all finish apart. At least I beat Adriana this time! LOL.
In other news, my Tammy is away this week spending some time with her grandparent. Since Sunday with my dad in Witsand, this morning she went to my mom in Somerset West. I'll fetch her on Saturday after the race, and I can't wait because I'm missing that kid like crazy!
Back to work for the last 3 hours of the day, and week, then we're off for a much needed 4 day weekend! As weekends should be!
Have a great Easter y'all!
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