07 Thursday Nov 2013
Posted in PhD, Ramblings of a Bear, Running
02 Saturday Feb 2013
Posted in PhD, Ramblings of a Bear, Running
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So remember my last post. I was relatively optimistic that the ex cyclone bearing down on us was no big deal. How naive.
Turns out we got smashed. Sideways rain for a day and a half. Winds up to 120km an hour, minor flooding in our living room, trees breaking in our backyard. The neighbourhood looks demented even now, even one week on. There is so much dead tree vegetation everywhere, trees fallen over, huge branches everywhere. It needs a massive cleanup.
To add insult to injury, our city and neighbouring city Ipswich flooded again. In 2011 there was a big flood that damaged thousands of homes and in comparison, this one was small. But a flood is a flood and lots of businesses on the river front in Brisbane city were badly damaged. There is nothing like that weird waiting to see how high it will go. Eery.
Our fellow Queenslanders north of us in Bundaberg, Rockhampton and all the small outback communities have really borne the brunt of this. Bundaberg north has only today allowed citizens in to inspect the damage, Rockhampton is bracing for a 8.7m flood. Its so heartbreaking to see all these people in evacuation centres and the frightening images of homes swept away by floodwaters. Literally floating away. So sad.
Its the same up and down the east coast of Australia, and many places have been damaged. This type of weather event is super weird and it really took everybody by surprise; in intensity, duration and reach. In my opinion, these weird events confirm that Climate Change is real, happening now and inescapable. My hope is that world governments can agree on mitigation strategies for communities that will suffer the most from rising sea levels and unpredictable extreme weather events.
In other news, I experienced a ‘rite of passage’ this week concerning my PhD. I got feedback on my first two chapters. Not bad, but not great. I completely lost my shit for a day. Bawling my eyes out. Major self doubt. Felt like giving up and running away from it all. My darling husband talked me down. I recognise now the classic symptoms of a meltdown but yesterday as it was happening it felt too real, too raw and too huge to enable me to calm the fuck down. My eyes puffed up and I looked and felt like shit by the time I crawled into bed last night.
My standard advice to anybody feeling bleh is to go for a run. So I took my own advice and hit the streets this morning, dodging tree debris and just running for the sake of it. It has been weeks since I last ran due to bad weather and flooding so it was not fast, nor lovely to watch but it was so cathartic. I needed to sweat it out, have some time for myself and to recognise that a PhD crises is a very unique first world problem and I need to get a grip. I feel much better now. Much better.
So in all, a mental week. I am happy it is over – for me at least.
I hope you all kicked some goals this week and had fun:) That is going to be my motto for next week….
Over and out: Runninbear
PS There is going to be a Color Run here! You know I am going to enter. Yes I am!!
17 Thursday Jan 2013
Posted in Healthy Living, PhD, Ramblings of a Bear, Running
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You know, I thought I had nailed it. Took the antibiotic bomb, got back to normal then boom. Back to sick and in a theatrical and spectacular way. Gastro is evil. EVIL.
Went to the doctors on Wednesday, got more antibiotics and he asked lots of q’s about how my body responds to different foods. He thought I might have coeliac disease, which I freaking hope not as I love love love my pasta, although it often makes me feel blah.
Waiting for the blood tests to come back. Not overly concerned unless it is true, THEN I WILL FREAK OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!! Till then, its thesis and hopefully a parkrun on Saturday. Its been tooooo looooonnnnnggggg…..
30 Sunday Dec 2012
Posted in Healthy Living, PhD, Ramblings of a Bear, Running, Weigh In
I have been off the radar, you might think I have been partying it up, but sadly it’s just because I am in thesis crunch time. I am so close I can smell the ink on those pages (this is an attempt at irony, as these days, to submit a thesis, you make a pdf and push the upload button – a bit of a letdown….)
Crimbo had it’s ups and downs this year. Great food, everything was going well until late in the afternoon, when we had our very first family Christmas argument. I am going to keep the details private but I can say this – WE ARE NOT HOSTING CHRISTMAS AGAIN!!!! Next year, we will visit Husbands family interstate, and the year after that, I want to go overseas and have it just between Husband and I. Maybe a white Christmas. There. I said it.
Moving on. Those who know me outside of my WP friends know that the end of the year is when I get super anxious for the new one to begin. Its like Christmas happens then there is this weird week that seems to go forever, and nothing really happens. I get all itchy and desperate for the year to be over. This year is no different so I am getting in early with my New Years Resolutions. I have to warn you all – most of my inspiration comes from my WP friends. You can blush if you want…..
1 Cory B from http://myroadtothetely10.wordpress.com has been my main inspiration for my first NYR. He is on a pledge to not eat fast food. Its such a simple elegant statement, but the repercussions of this is amazing. Cory B, I can see every time you post a picture of yourself how this is working for you. I have never posted a picture of me, but I promise to do so. MY FIRST NYR IS TO NOT EAT FAST FOOD. This is a total ban on junk. If it comes in a paper bag, wrapped in weird paper and dripping with fat, it can’t be good for you. Why I continue to eat this food is beyond me. ITS OVER!!!
2 Kat from http://runningkattales.wordpress.com, Evelin from http://evelinruns.wordpress.com and Meg from http://megvschub.wordpress.com, plus all the other dedicated runners out there inspire me to run better, run faster, run more often. I can’t even begin to think of all the times when my motivation has been low and reading the amazing stories out there from all of you gets me off my ass and hitting the pavement. MY SECOND NYR IS TO TRAIN FOR A HALF MARATHON. At the moment I have no idea how long it could take me to run that distance. But I am getting faster all the time. Watch this space.
3 Another amazing thing I have observed is how everybody fits so much into their days. My routine at the moment is very confined. Its a run in my local neighbourhood. Then back to the computer and thrashing out words. Once this thesis is handed in, I am going to instigate a much better life work balance. Before I can do that, I need to work like a crazy banshee but after that, it’s going to be rancho relaxo with lots of fun things OUTSIDE the house for Husband and I to do. MY THIRD NYR IS TO SEEK MORE FUN.
That wraps it up for NYR. I think three is manageable, and lets face it, the only one that will be hard is the running, but I have a sneaky suspicion that the other two will more than make up for it 🙂
On to running. I have been hitting the roads and I am getting faster. Today I did my fastest km – 7.07 minutes. If I can keep this up, I might even smash out a 30min 5k soon, which has been a goal for me for ages. I have been stretching a bit more often and it really is making a difference.
I am thinking I will think of a total kms goal for 2013. I have not crunched the numbers yet but maybe 1000km??? It’s do-able especially when I will be piling on the kms for the half training. This is on my to do list before the new year starts so I will let you all know of total number once I work it out.
Weight progress: I have been eating whatever I want, drinking beer and having a great time with food. My weight has gone up by only 300g which is nothing really. I guess running through the silly eating season has helped keep everything in check. I am still fiercely holding on to reaching my goal weight of 65 kg, I have a long road ahead, but I am going to switch my focus from eating to lose weight to eating to run better. It’s really going to be the same kinds of food, but I will listen a bit more to my body as in the past I was a bit hungry sometimes during runs and felt like I ran out of steam.
Other than that, it’s head down bum up for the next few months as I hit frantic mode in thesis land. You might not see me on here that often in the next few months but I promise, come March 3, it will be over. Then I will be free.
I sincerely hope all of you have an amazing New Years, however you will celebrate it. And I wish for everybody to have a kicking 2013. Filled with fun, love, laughter, good food, great wine, yummy beers and tons of running.
Hearts – Runninbear
02 Sunday Dec 2012
Posted in P90X, PhD, Ramblings of a Bear, Running, Yummy Things
Lots has happened and not much has happened. Let me explain…..
No running this week. Booo.
After hurting my back I have been taking it easy. Not out of the woods yet but I feel better enough to do planking again and some push ups today. Runningkattales and I are doing #plankaday and we have made up #pushupaday. Join in with us on Twitter if you want to…..
To add injury to injury, I managed to give myself a second degree burn on my elbow on Friday night. Long story short, there was hot soup and a hand held mixer which sent a jet of freaking hot soup onto my arm. You get the idea. I had my arm in water for about 45 mins and still ended up with some pretty ugly and painful blisters. Poooooooo. It hurt like a bitch and made me really sad.
In delicious news, we ate lots of yummy food !!!!YAY!!!!! Our favourite restaurant is just down the road from us, so we went there for Husband’s birthday a week and a half ago. Then my Mum said she really wanted to take us there so we went again with her and my sister on Wed. The punchline to this extravagance is that we were already booked in for dinner last night as it was our 3 year anniversary. So we ate there three times in a week and a half. I think they love us now…….
Last night was a degustation. I know it’s a lot of food in one sitting, but it is so decadent and we really enjoy it. The portion sizes are actually sensible given there were 7 courses. We left, filled with food and wine after spending four hours being spoilt! What an awesome way to celebrate three blissful years of marriage. AAAAAAAAAAW!!
After seriously indulging, we are taking a few weeks of clean eating in preparation for the madness of Christmas. Our shopping basket this week was full of yummy veggies and fruit. Salads are ON! It’s so freaking hot here at the moment that salads are so much nicer to eat than hot veggies. My stalwart, Pear and Walnut salad is a prominent feature of this week’s meal plan and I think it will be a headline act on Christmas Day too. Menu planning for Christmas is another post……..
Week ahead:
So now that both my back and my arm are on the mend, I am planning a run tomorrow.
Plankaday and Pushupaday. Plank 1 min. Add one push up to the number you did yesterday – do this every day.
I have my final PhD interview tomorrow. No prep required, just turn up and talk the talk. Writing is coming along well, the really really boring bits are almost done 🙂
Then a run Wed, Fri and hopefully if things hold together a ParkRun on Sat. Yoga on the non running days. Sounds like a plan to me…..
I might try to fit in some P90X but to be honest, my back is still tender so I think I might wait another week and see how the running goes….
What’s on your schedule for this week?
05 Monday Nov 2012
Posted in Healthy Living, PhD, Ramblings of a Bear, Running, Weigh In
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food, health, healthy-living, Running, Weigh In, weight-loss
Well, that cold I felt coming was yuck. I lost my voice for two days. One of those days was the day I was meant to do my presentation. Did not happen. Thankfully it was rescheduled for this week…. I feel almost back to normal, with a bit of a sore throat but generally better!
Husband came home to a sick wife. Not the homecoming he would have liked! Poor boy, I did tell him I missed him so much when he was away.
So of course as I was feeling uber crap most of the week, I did not exercise. I weighed in this morning, and I am down to 77.3kg. Thats a loss of 1.5kg and a total weight loss of 11.5kg 🙂 (thats 25.35 pounds to all my American friends…)
Very happy. Im getting closer and closer to my half way mark.
It’s weird that the week that I did no exercise, I lost weight. I must admit my appetite went off during the sickness, but I still ate well. Oh well, I can never figure out what the scales are going to say next.
In consultation with my bff, I have decided to officially weigh in fortnightly from now on. I usually see and feel an increase when I am approaching lady time. So instead of recording that and feeling a bit disheartened by it, I am going to avoid it all together.
This week, its game on as far as exercise goes. Run this afternoon, Boot Camp tomorrow, Run Wed, Yoga Thursday, run Friday, Yoga Saturday, Rest Sunday.
Can’t wait! Hope you are all well, happy and smashing your goals.
Big hugs to all the people affected by Sandy, it looks really bad out there….
28 Sunday Oct 2012
Posted in PhD, Ramblings of a Bear, Running
Im having a Super Sunday! My ebay auction finished today, goodbye fat clothes! I made a decent amount of cash too 🙂 Happy days!
Image via CrunchBase
The weather has been cold, windy and rainy on and off all day. All my attempts at heading out for a run this morning were thwarted, so I have given up. It’s almost lady time (sorry boys for oversharing) and I feel pretty bleurgh anyway. It is the kind of weather that if Husband was home, we would be curled up together watching a movie. Eating something warm and drinking hot chocolate….. Missing him……
Instead, I have spend all day applying for academic jobs. This is why it is SUPER SUNDAY!! There are a few in America and one in UK that I have applied for. These jobs are massively competitive so I am not anticipating packing my bags just yet, but you gotta be in it to win it! Who knows, I could be just the archaeologist some university department out there wants 🙂
Applying for all these jobs makes it really hit home that soon I will be done with my PhD. I desperately want it to be finished, I am sick to death of doing it, I want nothing more than to have spare time again, and not to be constantly thinking about it, worrying about it, talking about it, etc. But I am also a bit sad it’s finishing. Life will change after this, we might even move overseas. Our pretty laid back student life will come to an end and we will have to work!!! I know, everybody has to work, and don’t get me wrong, I work pretty much 7 days a week on this bad boy. It’s the 9-5 (or lets face it 7-7 that most academics work) that will be odd. I’m so used to working when I feel like it, early in the morning or late at night, taking breaks whenever I need one, popping out to the shops before the peak hour rush of kids getting out of school, etc. This is the part I will miss!
Oh well, time to grow up 🙂
The silver lining in getting the PhD done will be even more time to spend training. I stuck my excellent race calendar stuck to my wall, and I gotta tell ya, I am so shit scared that I will stuff it up, that getting a run in every other day will be mandatory! So yeah, lots of words and lots of running for me over the next few months as I wrap up my thesis.
Anyway, enough of me rambling, I have one more application to finish and then I might just pour myself a glass of Pinot Noir and settle in for the evening. Cheers and hope all your weekends came true!
09 Tuesday Oct 2012
Last night I made it back to running club. We did short intervals of 100m. Again I was well behind the pack, but it was tons of fun. I felt way less sore but a lot more tired after this one. Must be cos I did not eat very well during the day. I burned 407 calories, which is great 🙂
I am going to try INSANITY this week. I have heard from some of you that it is the best thing to transform your legs. I got a copy and am going to give it a go!
My weigh in yesterday showed I was up again, and regrettably over my 80kg barrier by 100g. It’s frustrating me that I keep yo-yo ing like this. I had beers on the weekend but overall did not eat too badly. This week, I am going to keep it clean and get to 10kg down no matter what! NO BEERS! I want to pass my 10kg mark by 300g and weigh 78.5kg by next Monday. I’ll keep you all in the loop!
As far as the writing challenge goes, it’s coming along. I have stats to do as well so it has been a bit slower over the last few days but it will ramp up again. Every time I add some more to the thesis I feel a bit calmer about finishing it. And it’s really starting to look like a thesis, pictures, graphs, tables etc. Something to be proud of.
Cheers
RunninBear
06 Saturday Oct 2012
Hey! Running update.
This morning I slept in. MASSIVE MISTAKE! It was as hot as hades out there when I started my run at 9:30. I did not have any sunscreen on and by the time I reached 1.5km, I had slurped down almost all of my water. I was freaking boiling hot and started to get a monster headache. So I bailed on it.
It’s time to set a VERY early alarm to run. I just can’t hack that heat! You would think I would be a lizard considering my job but I am really a delicate flower…..
I would like the heat if I was one of these 🙂 Source
In other news, after my two days away I have 2000 words to catch up on. So this will be short, I will post again after I smash out some words on the old thesis!
Happy Running
03 Wednesday Oct 2012
Posted in PhD, Ramblings of a Bear, Running, Uncategorized
Well I made it. Just finished now. My brain is hurting and my eyes are tired. I got a little bit more done that I needed to which bodes well for smashing my goal out of the ball park.
Word Count: 21 327
I will be away for the next two days, so I have to adjust my totals for next week to absorb what won’t get done whilst I am away. Easy.
I did not run this morning. Still in a bit of a blah mood about it. I have not been feeling particularly well these last few days and woke up feeling like I had a hangover. Must be a bit dehydrated. Drank tons of water today and will make sure I am properly hydrated whilst I am away. I hatched onto an idea of running in a new location (I know, controversial right??) So Sat am, I am gonna lace up and hit the road in a new place that I used to walk all the time. Change is as good as a holiday right?
Take care out there and keep running 🙂
A Running Reminder 