There's a lot of breathless anticipation in our household at the moment. We're awaiting a few things at the moment - some good and some not so. On the not-so-good side we have exams in the offing. Josh has his second-last exam session ever!!! It's great to be so close to the end but there's soooo much to get through. Plus Josh is a bit of a stress-head. He likes to do well (He got a Dean's Scholar Award last semester) but in the process screws himself up in knots.

Luke is also looking down the barrel of exams. He's a bit more relaxed about it at the moment but that's because he's a procrastinator. The urgency will catch up to him soon and it'll hit hard.

On the good side, I have my first race coming up in a week and a half. I'm a little nervous about it - wondering how hard I can push myself and if I'll have any unwanted after-effects. If only my crystal ball was working.

The most important thing that we're looking forward to is the arrival of our first egg. Our chickens, the Roxettes, are now about 6 months old and theoretically SHOULD have started laying. They've been practicing their 'I've laid and egg' cackle so I keep racing out to check but so far nothing!I'm starting to get a little pissed off because I think they're having a little private joke with me. I've started to threaten them with delicious chicken recipes but my threats are falling on deaf ears.

Speed session went well yesterday. Coach Chris had us running 600m reps with a 200 recovery. I ran 9 reps at 4:30 pace (that's 2:43 per rep). It got tough for the last few but I was pushed along by a group member so I didn't get a chance to slacken off. Rest day today then back at hills tomorrow.

Meet The Incredibles

My family is very special. We, and I do mean all five of us plus Nelson the dog, have very mild super-powers. It's a big call to make but would I lead you astray?!

Iven, the patriarch, has the ability to make things invisible. He mostly does this to smallish objects such as his sunglasses, car keys, credit card or wallet but he's been known to make larger objects, like the car and a small child, disappear into thin air.

My eldest son, Sam, has the power of wind (anyone remember the cartoon Captain Planet) Sam's wind is not environmentally friendly, in fact he should have to pay a carbon-offset tax, but it is effective in clearing a room.

Josh's very mild super-power is the ability to withstand very high levels off decibels which may one day come in handy. (re sonic boom) We can hear him before we see him as he drives down the street.

Luke can control time - or at least that's the skill he's trying to develop. He has taken procrastination to a new level and always thinks there'll be time to get that homework done later.

Our dog Nelson has psychic powers. He can make food drop from the bench just by standing under you when you're doing the food prep. I think this is a really draining super-power to use because once he's eaten he always has to go off and have a sleep.

And my very mild super-power is the power to control electric lights - and I don't mean just by switching them off and on at the power point. When I'm running or walking or even when I'm driving, streetlights sometimes turn off when I go under them. This happens at least 3 times a week and even my walking friend Natalie comments on it now. I haven't learnt how to use this ability to its best advantage (no I can't see myself graffiti-ing walls or committing B&E's) but when I come up with something I'll let you know.

Today's run was a nice relaxed 12k done in almost total darkness, especially after I made yet another streetlight turn off. I left around 5am (thank you dogs for waking me up so early) and did the run through the University along the river. The problem with running in darkness is that you can't see the swarms of insects at mouth-height. I managed to swallow something but at least it was small and went down without too much of a fight.

Hope you all enjoy your runs today.

I've been tagged by AJH at Age Group Rocks which makes this blog an easy one topic-wise. Seven things about me - hmmm!

1. I can't sleep without reading, even if it's just a page or two. (and it often is when I'm deep into heavy training)

2. When I was working my first locum as a Vet I met a girl who'd graduated as a Vet but worked as a sewing machinist in a factory. I couldn't believe that anyone would give up being a Vet for such a lowly position. I now spend most of my days sewing and I believe that life can be totally ironic.

3. Three days after my Grandmother, who I was really close to, died I dreamt that she phoned me. She had been quite deaf before she died but could hear clearly if you called her. She rang me to tell me that she was fine and she was with Grandpa, who'd died a few years before. Remembering this still gives me goosebumps.

4. I had a miscarriage at 10 weeks between my second and third babies and so did one of my sisters.

5. I was state discus champion in my final year of high school but only because the girl who'd won the previous year had left school to do nursing..

6. One time while working as a Vet I had to euthanase a budgie. I decided to do it like we did chickens - by breaking their necks. I managed to pull the budgie's head right off.

7. One day I want to run a major overseas event - any suggestions?

If you haven't been tagged previously please consider yourself tagged, write 7 things about yourself and pass it on to 15 other people.

And on to the most important topic - today's 22k run. I can't quite say exactly how far I ran or how long it took me because I'd forgotten to delete the files off my very full Garmin. It got me to 10k and had a hissy-fit. I ran a loop that I know is just over 21k and added an extra loop through the Botanical Gardens so I think I would have done at least 22k. And I got back to our starting point just under 2 hours even though I stopped and chatted to an old friend for a while. The highlights of the run were chatting to two new group members and wondering why there was a mattress right across our running path. The lowlight was finding out from my old friend that she hadn't become a grandma because the baby had died of spina bifida. So sad!

Good Accidents

My husband Iven came off his bike yesterday. He has been riding to and from work for a fair few years now so it was probably his time for something to happen. Apparently he was turning right at a roundabout. He stuck his hand out to indicate his intentions and moved into the right lane (after checking to make sure he was safe). The motorcyclist behind decided that he could probably squeeze through but he didn't quite make it. Iven heard the squeal of brakes and the next thing he knew he was skidding along the road.

I must say he was really lucky and it could have been much worse. He has a nice road rash on his forearm but nothing on his legs because of his work pants which are made of a very heavy duty cotton. He managed to keep his head off the ground and his bike got only minor damage. The motorcyclist ended up with a torn-up jacket and a bit of damage to the bike but no injuries. It was a good accident - as far as accidents go.

I piked on my hill session today. I haven't been sleeping that well this week and had a headache developing so I turned my alarm off and slept till the dogs scratched at the door, about 6:30. Damn I hate missing training but one of the things that I've learnt on the last year is that the occasional missed session REALLY doesn't matter. And it certainly doesn't mean that I'm weak and pathetic. (That's just what the evil me tells the good me) I'm looking forward to a good 22k on Saturday.

Think Before Speaking

My post today is on how you should engage your mouth only after thinking.

Poor Josh continues to be a little sad about his breakup. He's trying to distract himself as much as possible so he decided to go stag to a friend's 21st on the weekend. He spent the evening fielding questions about Teresa (where is she? when did you guys breakup? what happened?) which made him feel pretty ordinary. But the one comment that made him feel the worst came from the birthday boy - Why don't you just get back together? As if it's up to him.

My second example of stupid comments comes from a pharmacy assistant. I had to get some medication for a female problem last week (okay it was thrush - yuk!) I asked the assistant what was effective and she asked me if I'd used anything before. I told her I wanted to try the tablet and she agreed that it was a good choice. Then (and this is the stupid question) she asked if I had symptoms. Of course I had symptoms. How else would I know I had thrush?! It wasn't like I'd had a premonition or read it in my daily horoscope. It was hard not to give her a scathing, are-you-serious? look.

So my thought for today is a quote that my Aunt wrote in my autograph book when I was young - "It's better to be silent and let people think you're a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt."

Timing Is Everything

Saturday's long run was great. It was a flat 16.5 k along the river - out and back. The first k was up along the road because the bike path is off-limits to runners while some construction work is being done. (Meanwhile the cyclists are still allowed to use it. Go figure.)The section of footpath along the road was littered with obstacles - light poles, drunks, a road worker's car ... it made for a frustrating start.

We finally got back onto the bike path and I realised I was feeling really good so I ramped up the pace a little. Then the naughty voice in my head said that seeing as it wasn't a terribly long run today it might be interesting to see how I'd go at a faster pace. I have my first race of the year exactly 3 weeks away and I've been worried/wondering about what pace I should be trying for and what I can sustain so I thought pushing up the pace may give me a bit of confidence.

So my pace dropped from 5:56 to 5:38 and then hovered around 5:10ish for a few k. I hit my turn-around, had a gel and some water then started back. I was managing to sustain a good pace and even dropped into the sub-5 min zone for 4 of the k's on the return trip, the fastest being 4:45. Yes, I was tired at the end but not ridiculously tired. And yes I was happy.

So at this point I'm hoping for a sub 25 min run at Doomben and if things are going well I'd love to try for 4:45 min k's. I know it won't be a PB but honestly, I don't care.

Who has the Best Winters? We Do!

We had our first serious taste of Winter the last two mornings. Now you in the northern hemisphere may scoff at what we call Winter but can you please hold your derision down to a dull roar? Thursday morning was 11 degrees and this morning we dipped into single figures (Yes, it is only celsius but honestly that's often as low as it gets.)

I have had to make a few changes with the onset of the cold. I have retired my shorts and singlets and replaced them with capris and long-sleeves. I have pulled out my trusty jumper/cardigan that I've worn to training for the last 4 years. I am wearing jeans again - my Winter uniform. (I always try them on with trepidation - will they still fit? They do!) Scarves have become my accessory of choice. Nelson, our dalmatian is wearing his coat to bed (and sometimes for the rest of the day of I forget to take it off) All the windows in our house have now been closed and will probably remain that way until August-ish.

I do think that Brisbane has one of the best Winters in the world. The nights are crisp and fresh but the days are usually sunny and if you can find a spot in the sun it can thaw you out. We have plants that flower all through Winter - orange trumpeter vine and bougainvillea look magnificent against a blue sky. Very few of our trees actually shed their leaves. Really the worst thing about Winter is that it's too short.

Running is best at this time of year too. I get up before the sun and get to see the sunrise. There's often fog over the Brisbane river to provide a bit of atmosphere and it feels so much easier to run when it's cool.

Tomorrow's run is going to be a 15 or 16 k run along the river. Coach Chris has cut back the distance this week to help with recovery. The plan is to have 3 weeks where I push it and the fourth is a recovery week. Hopefully this will stop OTS recurring.