The Color Run

When I first heard about the colour run, I was bitterly disappointed that it was America only and not in Australia, but then I saw on the Colour Run Facebook Page, that The Color Run was coming to Australia.  I was super excited.

I waited patiently for entries to open.  And when they did, I registered.  Not only me but the entire family.  Yes it would have been fantastic to run the event, but I also thought that the kids would thoroughly enjoy it. Yes 5km is a bit far for some kids to walk, so I was expecting to carry my youngest for most of it (he also doesn’t like huge crowds). So I booked us all in.

The Happy Run

Yes the colour run is the happiest fun run on the planet. I loved the colour, and the atmosphere was great.  The positive energy from everyone was fantastic.

However, and yes here is my however there were elements of the event that I was disappointed in. (Please note this applies for Melbourne Australia, which was the 1st city to have the color run event.)

The course was set at Flemington Racecourse.  When I first saw the event map, I instantly thought “that doesn’t look like 5km”.  And I was right, I wore my garmin gps watch, and it came up short at just over 4km. You can see my garmin results here.

The organisers should have thought about opening up Flemington race course station for people to be able to get to the event directly. Yes it’s only 1km from the entrance to the racecourse from the closest train station (being Newmarket), however it is a special event, they should have thought about running a special train (like they do for the Melbourne Show, or even Melbourne Cup) for the event.

Now Flemington race course isn’t exactly central, not like Federation Square, so parking, well wow, what a nightmare. It took us 30 minutes to drive 500m, no joke!  It would have been better for them to state in the pre-event pack that part of the car park would be used as the course, so if you do want parking, get there by 8am! I was not impressed with this.

We chose to drove because I had 2 kids under 6.

I also only saw traffic control when we left the even, not before the event.  I thought that wasn’t really planned out.

My other gripes where that there were no Portaloo’s at or near the start line.

Where were they? AT the after party.  Which was a decent 200m away, which is all well and good, but people don’t want to give up their spot in the race line.  Have some toilets at least at the start line, because people do get pre race nerves.
The amount of people that raced off to the loo’s while on the race was amazing.  So yes a better toilet location or signage for toilets, cause I saw none.

And bins for that matter.  How hard is it to place a few bins at the start line. The amount of rubbish was shameful.  And to the poor volunteers who had to pick all that up.  Yeah, bins, they save the day really.  For me and for you.

And lastly – The start waves.  There was no organisation regarding the waves.  In all the big events I have done, there has always been some type of organisation with start waves.  The faster runners go first, and then the slower runners go last.

That was not the case with The Color Run. Waves went every 6 minutes, regardless if you were a runner or a walker.  It was keep left if you were walking, or right if you were running.  Stupid really. Because there were so many  people, people were scattered the whole width of the course, so if you were a runner, you would be weaving in and out regardless.

So this is my suggestion for wave times.

1. Under 20 mins 
2. Under 25 mins
3. Under 30 mins
4. Under 35 mins
5. Under 40 mins
6. Under 50 mins (these would be the walkers)
7. Over 60 mins

I don’t know how many waves their were.  We were in at least the 6th wave, and we were about halfway in the line up queue. But either way, this could have been better organised, it may have even made the event more enjoyable.

Either way those are my gripes, don’t get me wrong I did enjoy myself, and I loved the colour. In fact I wish they I got hit with more colour, not just the 4 colours they had.

Will I do it again? Maybe, I don’t know.  Either way, I had a good time, as did the kids.

Source: youtube.com via The Color Run on Pinterest

V2 Half Marathon Playlist

I actually didn’t use this playlist for my last half marathon run.

However I did use this playlist as my training music for my half.

1. David Guetta – Sunshine (edit) 
   
2. Lady Gaga – ScheiBe  
   
3. Britney Spears – 3
4. Rihanna – Don’t stop the music 
   
5. Leona Lewis & Avicii – Collide
6. Guru Josh Project – Infinity 2008 (klass vocal edit)
7. Elise Estrada – Insatiable
8. Black Eyed Peas – I gotta feeling
9. Justice Crew – Sexy and you know it
10. Reece Mastin – Good Night
11. Vanessa Amorosi – This is who I am
12. Johnny Ruffo – On top
13. Stan Walker – Loud
14. Karmin – Broken hearted
15. Jessica Mauboy – Gotcha
16. Jennifer Lopez – I’m into you ft lil Wayne
17. Taylor Swift – We are never getting back together
18. Fun. – Some nights
19. We are the kings – Check Yes Juliet
20. Kevin Rudolf & Lil Wayne – Let it rock
21. Fall out Boy – Thnks Fr The Mmrs
22. Karmin – Hello!
23. The veronica’s – Lolita
24. Taio Cruz – Break your heart
25. Kylie Minogue – Timebomb
26. Havana Brown – You’ll be mine
27. Marina and the Diamonds – Primadonna
28. Jessica Mauboy – Inescapable
29. Cascada – Everytime I here your name
30. Gym Class Hereos – Ass back home
31. Benny Benassi ft Gary Go – Cinema
32. David Guetta – Luna
33. Kaskade – Lessons in Love ft Neon Trees
34. Calvin Harris ft Ne-Yo – Let’s go

Length 2.1hours

Allow Time

There is a saying that goes “if you want something done, give it to a busy person”.  Busy people are organised people (well they should be).  However at the same time, when you are involved in something that you enjoy doing, something that you love to do, the time just seems to fly by.

Sure there are always going to be some things that we may not enjoy, but we do them out of obligation.  Sometimes however you just need to keep at it, to really find the joy in it. I say this, because I believe it to be true.

You see, I never thought that I would enjoy running.  Running and I had a love hate relationship. But then I found the more that I did it, then more I enjoyed it.

Setting goals, and achieving those goals, also brings joy. Well I know that it has for me.  Seeing my goals get crossed off my list, and then adding new ones, and then having those ones get crossed off.  It’s a great feeling.

 

 

At the end of the day we all have 24 hours or 1440 minutes.  What you do with your time is up to you.  But remember this, it’s your life.  If you aren’t happy with it you have the power to change it.

For many of us we aren’t happy with the way we look.  It’s sad when you hear that 63% of Australian’s are overweight.  That’s a staggering number.  So it’s no wonder that the weight-loss industry is booming with different products for weight-loss.  Many claim to lose X amount of weight in X amount of time. We just want it now now now.

The thing is, it took time to put on that weight.  So wouldn’t it make sense that it’s going to take time to take it off. It took me from July 2011 to November 2012 to loose 16kg.  That doesn’t seem a lot.  But 16kg is the weight of my child.  I never thought I would get to the weight I am now.  I don’t even remember when I was this weight – 62kg (most likely back in high school).  My entire adult life I have always been plump, and I was ok with that.

I don’t know when my ‘ok’ became not ok.  But you will get to a point in your life when you realise that you can’t continue in this pattern/cycle. Everyone’s turning point will be different. And sure it’s going to be hard.  But if it were easy, wouldn’t everyone do it?  It’s hard, because hard is what makes it great.

So I will leave you in the thoughts of Nike.

So Just do it – even if you suck, you are doing it.

Just don’t put it off.  Start today, baby steps.  Little by little you will get there.

Down 16

Scales.

You love them or hate them.  Yes it is a number, and the number that comes up can be hurtful or joyful.

That being said, it is just a number.  That number doesn’t define who you are.  It won’t tell you how awesome you are, how smart you are, how funny you are or how beautiful you are.
It’s a number.

The number that I saw on the scale today tells me that I have put in a lot of hard work, sweat and tears to get there.

In July 2011 I weighed 78kg | 172lbs.
In November 2012 I weigh 62kg | 134lbs.

When I 1st set my weightloss goals, I never thought I would get to 68kg, let alone 62kg.  However I reassessed my goals as I went along, as should you.

Don’t compare yourself with anyone else.  The only person you should be comparing yourself with is you.

Also it’s not just the number on the scale.  Get the tape measure out and record you measurements.

Measurements 2011
1.8.11
weight – 78kg
waist – (1″ above belly button) 98cm
waist – (at belly button) 101
hips – 108cm
bust – 101cm
left arm – 35cm
right arm – 35cm
left thigh – 58cm
right thigh – 59cm

Measurements 2012
20.11.11
weight: 62
waist – 75cm
waist – (1″ above belly button) 81cm
waist – (at belly button) 87
hips – 94cm
bust – 93cm
left arm – 30cm
right arm – 30cm
left thigh – 49cm
right thigh – 48cm

Goodbye 16kg and goodbye 69cm of fat.

I hope to never see you ever again.

TurboFire

 

So I have mentioned TurboFire in my blog a few times.

It’s my soulmate workout (along with running).

Soulmate workout I hear you say? What do you mean?

A soulmate workout is a workout that you love to do, where you look forward to doing it.  For me that is Turbofire.

 

Only someone who has done TurboFire will understand when I say “boom I got your boyfriend, I got your man” or “who’s house? my house! I’m in your house”.
It’s fun, the music gets you pumping, it has low impact options and variety! I’ve done this workout for the full 20 weeks (yes 20 weeks), and then have also done it as a hybrid.  It’s my go to workout.

TurboFire was the 1st Beachbody workout I got and completed.

I found out about this workout from a forum that I use to visit.  I had never heard of it before, but after a quick google search to find the infomercial, I was hooked.

Turbofire help me loose 10kg | 22lbs. So if you are looking for something to do at home, that is mostly cardio with strength on the side, then Turbofire is for you.

Sunscreen

This particular song was initial released in 1997.  That was the year that I graduated high school.

The Message of the song, always stuck with me, and today I would like to share it.

Everybody’s Free (to wear sunscreen)

Mary Schmich Chicago Tribune

Ladies and Gentlemen of the class of ’97… wear sunscreen. If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be IT. The long term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now. Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth. Never mind. You will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they have faded. But trust me, in 20 years you’ll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can’t grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked. You are NOT as fat as you imagine. Don’t worry about the future; or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubblegum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind; the kind that blindside you at 4pm on some idle Tuesday. Do one thing every day that scares you. Sing. Don’t be reckless with other people’s hearts, don’t put up with people who are reckless with yours. Floss. Don’t waste your time on jealousy; sometimes you’re ahead, sometimes you’re behind. The race is long, and in the end, it’s only with yourself. Remember compliments you receive, forget the insults; if you succeed in doing this, tell me how. Keep your old love letters, throw away your old bank statements. Stretch. Don’t feel guilty if you don’t know what you want to do with your life. The most interesting people I know didn’t know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives, some of the most interesting 40 year olds I know still don’t. Get plenty of calcium. Be kind to your knees, you’ll miss them when they’re gone. Maybe you’ll marry, maybe you won’t, maybe you’ll have children, maybe you won’t, maybe you’ll divorce at 40, maybe you’ll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary. Whatever you do, don’t congratulate yourself too much or berate yourself, either. Your choices are half chance, so are everybody else’s. Enjoy your body, use it every way you can. Don’t be afraid of it, or what other people think of it, it’s the greatest instrument you’ll ever own. Dance. Even if you have nowhere to do it but in your own living room. Read the directions, even if you don’t follow them. Do NOT read beauty magazines, they will only make you feel ugly. Get to know your parents, you never know when they’ll be gone for good. Be nice to your siblings; they are your best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future. Understand that friends come and go, but for the precious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography in lifestyle because the older you get, the more you need the people you knew when you were young. Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard; live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft. Travel. Accept certain inalienable truths, prices will rise, politicians will philander, you too will get old, and when you do you’ll fantasize that when you were young prices were reasonable, politicians were noble and children respected their elders. Respect your elders. Don’t expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund, maybe you’ll have a wealthy spouse; but you never know when either one might run out. Don’t mess too much with your hair, or by the time you’re 40, it will look 85. Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it’s worth. But trust me on the sunscreen.

Song can be found on Baz Lurhmans Something For Everybody Soundtrack

Old – Excuses

I was going through my old blog (which was a combination of a personal blog and my business blog), where I came across a blog post on 7th Jan 2010.  So pretty much 3 years old.

I would post the link to the post, but it’s no longer public, and I thought I would just post it here instead.

I’m sick of people bitching and moaning about their life.
If you aren’t happy with it change it! It’s as simple as that!
People always make excuses for not making the change to their life that they are complaining about.

For example
“I’ll do it when I’m ready”, what they really are saying “I’m just too lazy to change my life”
“It’s just too hard”, what they are really saying “I just can’t be bothered”

It just shits me. And I’m determined not to be one of those people.

I can look back at this post and I can see how my life has changed.  But I can also see how for some people, that they are happy to complain about how their life is going.  

The difference between me and them, and even me back then is that, you have to be prepared to put in the hard work.

If you aren’t prepared to put in the hard yards, then you wont get the results that you want.

At the end of the day it comes down to how much you want it.

Chickpea Salad

Chickpea Salad
Serves 4 (you can half the ingredients to serve 2)

2 large tins chickpeas
3 tomatoes (you can use a punnet of cherry tomatoes as an alternative
1 red onion, thinly sliced
1 small red capsicum cut into strips (you can use green or yellow if you don’t have red).
4 spring onions, cut into thin strips
1 cup chopped parsley
2-3 tablespoons chopped mint leaves

Dressing
2 tbls tahini
2 tbls lemon juice
1 tbls olive oil
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

* Drain the chickpeas and rinse well.
* Cut the tomatoes in half and remove the seeds (if using cherry tomatoes just cut them in half)
* Dice the flesh of the tomatoes
* mix the red onion, tomato, capsicum and spring onion in a bowl
* Add the parsley chickpeas and mint

To make the dressing, put all the ingredients in a screw top jar with 2 tbls water, season well and shake vigorously to make a creamy liquid. Pour over the salad and toss.

A really refreshing summer (or any other time of the year) salad.

Starfish

I first heard this story many years ago, and for whatever reason it stuck with me, so I thought I would share.

One day I was walking barefoot on the beach. I was enjoying the view, and the waves splashing against my feet.
In the distance I could see a little girl throwing something into the ocean. As I got closer I noticed that she wasn’t throwing stones, or sticks. She was in fact throwing starfish. Hundreds of starfish had washed up on the shore from a storm the night before.
I asked the little girl ‘What are you doing? It’s not like you can save them all?’
She picked up another starfish and as she was throwing it back into the sea she said ‘I know, but it made a difference to that one.’

So the point of the story? Well sometimes we loose perspective. Sometimes well try to look at too much, rather than just focusing on the small things. Just remember that whatever you do, give it 100%. It is better to do small things with great love than big things with rushed love and attention.

Cauliflower Curry

I found this recipe while cleaning out my old blog.  I love this recipe.  So easy and very yummy, and clean and SANE!

 

Ingrediants
500g cauliflower (about 1/2 a large cauliflower), cut into large chunks
300g sweet potato (you can use pumpkin if you don’t have enough or don’t have any), cut up into 1cm cubs
2 large potatoes, sliced or cubed
1 onion, chopped
1 clove of garlic, crushed (you can use jar if you don’t have fresh)
1tsp fresh ginger (if you don’t like it leave it out)
1tbls curry powder (if you want different flavour try, the yellow/green/red curry paste)
2tsp ground cumin (if you don’t have it you can leave it out)
400g can of diced tomatoes
1 cup of vegetable stock
1/3 cup frozen peas
cooking spray.

1. Heat oil in a stock pot/pressure cooker, over medium heat. Add onion, garlic and ginger and cook for approx 2 mins. Stir in curry powder and cumin and cook for a further min. 
2. Add tomatoes and stock and bring to the boil.
3. Add prepared vegetables, reduce heat to simmer for 20-30 mins until tender.

If you are using a pressure cooker, add all ingredients at step 2. Once pressure is reached, reduce heat, and leave for 10 minutes, then turn off heat and let steam escape.

4. add peas and cook for a further 5 mins until peas cooked.

Serve with rice or couscous.

Make sure you have all your vegetables prepared beforehand.

NB: sorry it’s late, but this one is a winner in our house, I just love it.