MOUNTAIN RUN AND WALK

SUNDAY FUN

This morning at 8 30am my Brother Steven and I did a Mountain Walking Race.  It is called The Three Peaks and is bascially 11kms of straight up a mountain on an off road track.

The day was great, no wind, no rain, sunny, but not too hot. The views are beautiful over Dunedin City.

Steven is a runner and has just joined my Harriers Club. I talked him in to walking this event with me this year.  It is my third time doing it and Steven’s first time.  It is a tough event.   Steven was quicker than me on the hills, I was dragging the chain a bit, but I was faster on the flat and downhill.  I think his years of being in the Army and doing their training for hours running and walking with full  uniforms on, boots and heavy back packs helped him on the hills. He was stronger than me.

We complemented each other well, I normally do most races by myself, so it was nice to have company, to yap and have a laugh along the way..

We started off at the front and stayed there.  We are not sure of our times yet as they haven’t been posted, but I was the 1st Female to finish, same as last year.  Steven was 2nd Male, there was only one Walker in front of us.   We couldn’t see any other Walkers for miles when looking back, so we are both chuffed with our results.  

We also ran part the way down to the start line, so possibly did around 16 kms today.

It was great to see the impressive runners and other competitors.

Steven and I have another big event coming up in two weeks time, an off-road Running event,  lately I have been doing a little bit of jogging, I’m slow but always determined not to let things beat me and all I want is to cross the finish line.  I am a little scared though, as there are more hills and it is 18.5kms long…eeek what have I done. 😛

At least today was good practice for this upcoming event.  I also did a 10 km walk with my Club yesterday.  

I think Steven now appreciates what the Walkers do and that it is still tough for us and not just a ‘walk in the park’ and we are out there longer than the Runners doing it hard.

Along the way Steven said Mum (up there in heaven) would be proud of us….and I think she would.  So would our Sissy in Aussie.. Love you Brenda xx

Steven and I took a selfie after the event when we had a coffee in a cafe, it was funny, we looked terrible and I spilt my coffee all over his leg and mine when laughing.   I will still post it below though. 

I hope we aren’t going to be too sore tomorrow.  🙂

I’m finishing this post off with a nice photo of a Staffy I found on Mr Google, it is very cute.

Have a good week coming everyone.  Not long until Easter….  = chocolate. 🙂

HARRIERS END OF THE SEASON PRIZEGIVING

CUP & CERTIFICATE

Yesterday was the last club walk and run for my Harriers Club for the season.  I wish it wasn’t officially finished, although we still meet fortnightly for summer walks.

I was shocked to not only win a certificate with lots of achievements for the year at the prizegiving, but I also won the main Walkers cup.  🙂  My points added up to the same as a new club member, a younger lovely girl.   We were 1st equal.  

We were both surprised,  I wanted to take it home with my certificate but I know I did the right thing – I let her take it home for the first 6 months 🙂

She took a photo of it and emailed it to me.  I did win it three years ago , that time was 1st equal too, I was in hospital  at the time getting my large bowel taken out, so I got it for the 2nd half of the year also.   I can’t remember it being so big.

I did put in my best effort at the club this season, but am still surprised and very happy = Lucky me.

Early this morning Colin and I put the rings on our lambs tails, and also did the boys balls, ha ha…I did them this time :P, they were so soft to touch, I was giggling when we were doing them.   We also clipped their nails, drenched them and crotched them..  A good job done.  This afternoon I mowed the lawns.  Time to sit on my weary bum now 🙂

Our cup 🙂

 

 

BUSY BEAVER

CROSS COUNTRY  

We are almost at the end of another weekend. 😦   It goes so so fast.

I’ve had a busy old weekend.   

I was suppose to go out last night to an invitation but found out after my shower and after getting into reasonable gear that I mucked up the Saturdays…it is next Saturday.. It must be the old age  creeping up on me.  I seem to get a lot of things muddled up lately.  Especially when I have a lot on.  

Oh well, just as well, as yesterday afternoon after I competed in a Otago Athletics Cross Country event, I didn’t feel the best.  I am still trying to find my last years results, as I figure I may have been a little faster in the 5km walking race yesterday than last year. Times don’t mean too much to me, but  I will find out at some stage.  

It was boggy underground, the Event is for runners too around the Wingatui Horse Racing course.  Not as slippery as last year but the grass was long, so it was very hard going.  

There wasn’t many competing this year in the walk, and only my Harriers Club did the walking event,here was plenty of runners from the Otago region though.   I just saw the results now.  My time for the 5kms was 36mins, 36secs.  We had to hurdle over jumps, up steeplechases, down ditches etc like horses. 😉  I was a full 2 mins ahead of the competitor behind me.

Afterwards we were all feeling it and the heat.   I went dizzy and had to miss seeing the runners competing :(.    I think because I hadn’t eaten much all week due to a sore tummy, my blood pressure may have gone low and I probably overdid it.  I had to do a runner and go straight home, nevermind I will see my club in he run next year.

I struggled to drive home, thinking I was going to be sick. I had to pull over a few times in the car.  Colin helped me inside , I lay down for an hour, then came right.  So I was pleased after my shower that I could in fact stay home for the night.  🙂

This morning I met two friends at a local cafe for a couple of hours, it was nice chatting with them, the coffee wasn’t great and their hot chocolates were luke warm.  At least it was close by to where we all live and the company was the most important thing.

Prior to that I picked up a few vegetables at the local shop, taking a photo in my car of the mixture of multi -coloured passenger seat.   I was still early, so I walked behind the cafe and watched the ducks swimming by in the stream behind just near where my car was parked.

At we left after all the yapping and laughing, the weather started turning.  Rain and cold were on it’s way.  Saturday was a nice calm day at our race.

This afternoon I sat on my bed to do a bit of knitting and to make a top as promised for our Daughter’s new Korean doll she brought on the net.  I didn’t get far,the cat – Colina jumped on top of me, I dozed off with the cosy vintage woollen blankie over the top of me…still wearing my slouch hat.  

And guess who went and snuck the camera out for a shot :).  Not pretty, but funny, no wonder I have a stiff neck.  I think yesterday took its toll on my old body 😛

I made myself get up, Colin and I then went to the Otago Museum, then had a nice coffee and cake at their cafe.  Two coffees in one day, the second one was nicer. Then  it was home to light the fire. 

I don’t think I will be up late tonight. 

Happy week to you all.

D

Below is Turbo our Nephew’s cat, sitting on the Daughter’s knee last night. She spoils him rotten.

Turbo

My multi coloured car seat, silverbeet = full of goodness and iron = I need that

 

Otago Museum

 

THURSDAY = HOUSEWORK DAY

HOUSEWORK 😦

Another busy day at work, then home from work, then a big clean up.  I normally do most of my housework on a Thursday.   I have always done it on a Thursday for years..  I think because I like to get stuck in knowing that I only have one more day of work left, then I can come home on a Friday and relax a bit.

Also it frees me up for the weekend, as I always have heaps on with Harriers on a Saturday then family time on Sundays or farm stuff around here.   It is nice to come home from work on a Friday, knowing all the toilets are cleaned, (we have 3 of them!), vacuuming done, rubbish out for collection and washing up to date.

It normally takes a couple of hours, now it is time to check the emails and have a strong brew of coffee.   🙂 Coffee is one of my favourite things, probably second behind chocolate.

I hear that the Cadburys Factory has a new Cafe they have just opened.  They have the Factory tour and shop, but now have opened a Cafe for the Dunedin people and tourists.  I am going  to go on Saturday morning after the Farmers Market.  Can’t wait.

Oh I wish !!!

Apparently they specialize in Hot Chocolate, one of them being ‘Pinky Bar’ Hot Chocolate.  A young chap that sits opposite me at work said they give you a syringe of the Pinky Bar flavour, which you squirt into your chocolate drink…it sounds interesting.  I am not sure if these drinks will be Gluten Free, but he told me they do have coffee too.

http://www.dunedintv.co.nz/content/first-chocolate-themed-cafe-chocolate-factory-opens

Normally on a Thursday we get instructions of our Harriers Club Walks via email  for the following Saturdays walk, where we are to meet and instructions and any newsy items.  I just found a photo of me on a  race I competed in a few weeks ago.  It was on a grass track 😦 and a short distance = it was bloody fast.  I am not that great on fast, short distance races as I can’t take off fast, if I try I get shin splints.   I much prefer the longer races, 10kms, or half marathons, or even a 5 km race, as it takes me a couple of kms to warm up and get my rhythm, so to speak ha ha.

Anyway I was a bit shocked to come across some photos that have been added, and one of me, being stupid as usual.  I believe that you have to try and enjoy any races , still compete and do your best, but not be too serious or hard on yourself. I like to chat along the way, but some are so competitive that their faces look so strained that they do not look like they are even wanting to be there.  I admit, they are bloody hard, and before a race it is horrible waiting, but you have to pat yourself on your back, and encourage the others you are walking with, whether you are passing them, or they are passing you.  That is just what i do anyway!    

Hi to my wee Sister, Buggalugs and Gina my niece  …love to you both xxx

Here is the silly picture:

Me being stupid, waving my hanky

Man with those long shorts on my legs look short 😛   The ground was wet and boggy and it was a cold day.  The photo was taken on the home run.  

 

 

MOTHER’S DAY

SUNNY DAY TODAY

Wow, I have been all over the show today, volunteering, then the cemetery to see Mummy Dearest, then back into town with Colin to buy the young lass a present for her upcoming 20th Birthday, then up the road to the  brand new Cafe for coffee in Roslyn.   It is called Culture Coffee,  in the former Roslyn Fire Station.   We thought we would be safe going later in the afternoon, after lunch, but no, the sun was out and so was all of Dunedin, the place was packed, very busy. 

The building is superb, some of the Station is in Apartments, it has been for some years, but the Cafe has just been renovated behind the huge red doors that the engines use to zoom out of.   The place was alive and humming with chit chatter, there were lots of Mums there with their Mums or children.  Some tables you could see 3 and 4 generation of families sitting there enjoying a drink and scrummie looking food.   I didn’t have my camera with me, so I will take a picture of the outside  when I go there next time.  It is a great venue and spot to have the cafe.

Before the renovation

I was pleased to see they did have three Gluten Free opitions for cakes in there glass display, would you believe I didn’t have a piece, I settled just for the coffee.  I know it’s hard to believe with my sweet tooth and greedy guts. 🙂    The place is very trendy, industrial with a few vintage items around the place, neat forged iron stools, even some chairs and tables were spilling with Dunedinites out onto the footpath.   The view down the city is brilliant with the harbour in the background.  I am going to take my Tuesday night walking friends there sometime soon and combine it with a walk.  I am sure the staff won’t mind us walking in in our shorts, all sweaty. 

A photo of the view I stole off google, they even had the pretty bottles in the window seat today. Next time I bags a ‘window seat’

 Colin and I enjoyed sitting in our spot at one of the  high benches, we sat beside an older lady, she obviously had no Mum or children, grandchildren with her:( so we chatted to her for a bit instead.  🙂  Maybe she is going to meet them all later for supper… I hope so.

Our young lass is doing a split shift today, a bit of care giving work, so I have only seen her so far for an hour.  She gave me a delightful card with a lovely hand written message on it, it almost made me cry.  I also got a nice bottle of my favourite perfume, she also made me some chocolate peanut butter cups when we were out as soon as she got home from work after lunch time.   She is off again soon, drat, so we can’t spend time together or go out for tea….I will have to try to keep her a few of the sweet chocolate treats, and not eat them all. 😛

Don’t you just love the picture  below I came across on google, it is a story on the Frankie magazine that I have read all about arm knitting, I love it.   I also love the blue nail polish against the green wool. 

Oh I nearly forgot to say, I did my walking race yesterday around the Horse Racing Track, it was so hard, but fun too.  I remembered it from last year being 3 times around, I was horrified when they said it was 5 times = 5kms, 5000 metres.   It was sunny but a cool breeze, I wore my shorts, tee shirt and my gloves on my paws.   I always get cold hands. I must have looked a sight for sore eyes.    There was a great turn out, over 50 walkers and runners sprinkled through the field.  

Race Day, it is a huge track

I received an 8 minute handicap which is huge 😦    I hate waiting, it was cold standing there with bare arms shivering, then we were off, I was warm within no time.  I am not sure of the official times yet but I got 4th place and wasn’t far from the others ahead.  At one stage I was 3rd until the last 100 metres.  I am very happy with my effort, I did my best for me on the day and better than I thought. I love cheering each other on and shaking weary and sweaty hands afterwards with my fellow members.   Good fun.  

Have a good Mothers Day night to all you Mothers or those with no babies yet, spoil your Mums.  And remember the Mums that are in heaven.   I love you  up there Jean Patricia Williams.   xxxx 

 

Arm knitting

Lucky me