My aquathon story...

Well, I am proud to say that I completed the Illawarra Aquathon on Australia Day so that's goal number one for 2011 ticked off. Although I wasn't completely happy with my performance on the day, particularly my swim, I am just glad that I did it.

My swim was terrible! Besides swallowing mouthfuls of harbour water (yuck!), my swim technique (not that mine is that great) went right out the window and I seemed to be struggling with my stroke and trying to look where I was going at the same time! This photo of me coming out of the water kind of says it all.... I was thinking "Thank god that's over!!!"

So now to my run... well, I felt a lot more comfortable running and ended up 9th best runner. I had a painful stitch in my side for most of it - no doubt from drinking all that lovely saltwater (lol). I was happy with my strong finish:

Overall time: 27:31mins. Looking forward to scrapbooking this day :)

Now onto my next challenge... well, there are 2...

1) Complete 5km in sub-23mins;

2) Run the Sydney Half Marathon in May in under 1 hour 50 mins.

Wish me luck :)

Oops... I almost forgot...

to share this double LO I did earlier this month of 2010 Melbourne Cup Day.... I had such a fun day with my girls; Sar, Leesh and Donna.

Just a short post from me today... Seeya next time :)

On a scrappin' roll!!

At Sar's on Tuesday for Savvy Crop, I was on a roll and managed to get 5 LO's done, including one double! Here they are:

"We love getting into the spirit of christmas" is of my boys setting up for Christmas 2009. My inspiration was taken from Pagemaps:

"Innocence" is a page for my gorgeous baby Mason when he was 9 months old. Those innocent eyes just melt my heart. This one is the January 1st Stuck?! Sketch:

"My wish for you" is again of my beautiful Mason @ 3 months old. I just loved this quote I found for this page:

"Mum at 16" is a LO I did for my 52 week album (which is actually my 52 "things about me" album). I haven't journalled yet.... This one is this months Savvy sketch challenge.

"Friends despite the miles" is of me with my running friend, Cath who moved to Dubai in 2006. We always find time to catch up for a run or a coffee... or both whenever she comes to visit... Love ya, Cath!!

Tonight I am going to start working on a small album to donate to the flood victims. I am thinking of just doing a general family album 8x8 size for a family to add some 4x6 photos to. What do you think?

Thanks for looking :)

Aquathon Training

I thought I would talk about some of the training I've been doing for the Australia Day Aquathon that is being held at Belmore Basin, Wollongong... as running and keeping fit is quite important to me :)

I've competed in the aquathon before but never as an individual. I have always competed as a team with my husband in the short course - he would swim and I would run. So, to do the swim AND run is my first fitness challenge for the year. This is why I have decided to do the short course - 400m swim followed by a 3km run. I have no doubt I can swim 400m but to do it in the harbour is what I am worried about. So part of my training is to do a few swims in the harbour before the big event.


It's hard to keep motivated to train and eat well over the Christmas and New Year period... it is also difficult for me to get out and train with our hectic lifestyle and my husbands work hours, but I have managed to train about 3-5 times per week. I am very lucky to have a supportive husband who is also competing in the event!

Here is the training program I have tried to stick to since November (although I do miss one or two training days each week):

MON - Rest or easy swim (usually about 10-14 laps)
TUE - Interval training. Example: 5 minute warm up jog then Run fast 75sec, jog 150sec, Run fast 60sec, jog 2mins & repeat this 3-4 times. 5 minute warm down jog.
WED - 500m Swim & 3-5km Run
THUR - 5-8km Run
FRI - Swim 20 laps
SAT - 40 mins Pilates
SUN - Short Run

This year, I my aim is to just compete in the event and have fun. I have no time goals.

And to end this post... here is a LO of me running the Blackmores Sydney Running Festival Half Marathon:




I hope this post inspires you to start a fitness program or continue training for your fitness goals. I love running :)

My baby boy is one!

Wow, I can't believe the year has gone so quickly. It feels like yesterday I was meeting my little man for the first time... now he is ONE already! He had fun opening his present in the morning:

Here is the card I made for him:

...then we had a little party at the park with family and a few friends. Sooooo glad the weather stayed nice! Here he is enjoying himself:

...and here is the cake made by Mummy & Daddy:

I put in a bit of effort and actually made his party invitations:

It was such a fun day for our precious, happy little boy. Thanks to all our friends and family for making it so special :)

A new year, a new goal...or 5!

Did you make a resolution or two for the new year? I like to make goals and I have a lot I want to achieve this year. I'd like to share them with you and hopefully at the end of the year I will be able to say I achieved them all.

1) Running

• Complete the Australia Day aquathon;
• Run a sub-23min 5km;
• Run the Sydney Half Marathon in May and attempt to run it in under 1 hour 50 mins;
• Run the Gold Coast Half Marathon in July in 1 hour 45 mins;
• Run city to surf in 70 mins;
• Run a full marathon in September.
  

2) Take time out to scrapbook at least once a week and maintain this blog!

3) Start reading again - I have two books lined up "The Time Travellers Wife" and "The Girl with the dragon tattoo".

4) Relax more... try not to do too much all the time and not make too many commitments. Take time to appreciate the little things in life and spend more quality time with my husband and kids

5) Finish unpacking and organising this new house and yard!

We were also asked over at the Savvy forum our word for 2011... Mine would have to be BALANCE. 2010 was just a crazy year and I would love for a little more balance in all aspects of my life... work, kids, keeping fit, homelife, socialising, scrapbooking, travel and making sure I have time to relax....

2010 ended on a high, at Sarah and Daniel's NYE party. Thanks guys for an awesome night! ...and I just have to share this last 2010 LO I did for Kerryn's CC challenge over at Savvy, "Watching you both grow in 2010":








Thanks for looking and happy new year :)