I Spy

We're two days in and already I'm tired. The problem is that I have absolutely no self-control when it comes to knowing when to switch the box off. I tell myself to get to bed and something interesting will draw me back.

The best invention that will help me through the next fortnight is my digital recorder. I recorded the opening ceremony so I could get out for my long slow run on Saturday. After all I can't slacken off in my training when the most inspiring event in the world is on. It was great to watch the ceremony when it suited me and to zap though the ads (and some of the bits that I found a little boring - so much for being a champion Olympics spectator) and to press pause when I needed to get a cup of tea or go to the loo.

And I've set up the recorder to record every morning from 4:30am. Stupid Northern hemisphere time. It's damned inconvenient for the ones who live Down Under. But it's pretty great waking up in the morning knowing that I've got a few hours of watching ahead and I can zap through the endless replays of successes or disappointments.

And I'll admit to being choked up every day so far. But crying can be cathartic can't it?!

Unfortunately, though, real life must continue despite my desire to just be a couch potato for the duration. I have to work and I have to run. Running is getting easier again, as I knew it would. I ran 45k last week and managed a nice 16k run with the group on Saturday. It's always great to run with the group but my runs have only been 12k for most of the year and that often means running the last half by myself. Sixteen kilometres means company for the whole run. It means that I get to be a social butterfly and chat with lots of different people. And on Saturday it meant keeping one of the runners from driving us all insane.

"Are we there yet?"
"I'm hungry! Are we there yet?"

Who hasn't taken there kids on long-distance road trips and been driven to distraction by those words? I'd never heard them on a long run before and I can say that they're just as annoying when you've still got at least 5k to go. So I did what any mother would do. I started a game of I Spy.

And it got us through a few of those kilometres without having to throw Brett into the river. And no, Brett, FW does not refer to the 'f'n w'er' cyclists - it's the ferris wheel. Remember, I'm a lady and I'd never use terms like that except in extreme circumstances. And it's quite surprising how many 'extreme circumstances' I come up against every single day.

I also managed to back up with a run on Sunday - 10k after watching the morning highlights. My legs were tired but not too bad. And on the strength of two successful runs I took the dive, stopped procrastinating and entered this ...

Just the half, mind you. And with no expectations except to finish and have a little holiday. Woohoo!