City2Surf Archives - With Some Grace

Wordless Wednesday – The Crazy That Be City2Surf

August 14, 2013 By: mamagrace719 Comments

It’s my 4th year joining in Sydney’s biggest running event of the year.

This year though, there was no running (damn you, patella tendonitis) but instead, lots of walking.

Throughout the entire 14 kilometres and among the 85,000 participants, there was a LOT of entertainment and community spirit to keep me occupied.

A bit of monkey mayhem…

The mandatory Smurfs (Now I know where these blue creatures keep their mobiles handy…)

And even a smiley in the sky.

Linking up for Wordless Wednesday with the awesome Trish of My Little Drummer Boys who RAN the entire race…Go, girlfriend!

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The Perks of Patella Tendonitis

August 13, 2013 By: mamagrace7117 Comments

There is certainly lasting glory after completing a half marathon. You find yourself with a huge self-esteem lift and carry your shoulders a little bit higher.

What I didn’t take into account were the injuries.

A couple of weeks after running the grueling 21 kms race, I felt a painful twitch at the top of my left knee. Thinking it was a bruise, I was curious to find there was no ugly, blue prominent mark.

Finally, I called on my worse fears and went to the physio. Yup. Post halfie injury.

It was text book stuff apparently and it has a name, patella tendonitis.

What? Paella? Isn’t that a yummy Spanish dish?

For the past 2 months, I’ve been nursing an inflamed tendon, sticking to the routine stretches strictly instructed by Jeff.

And of course that also means absolutely no running.

Right smack bang in the middle of pavement pounding season.

How to kill me slowly.

Firstly, I had to sadly decline a fine invitation from Matt at Dad Down Under to join him in a 10km run in the Sydney CBD. I was so ready to fly like the wind and have a cold beer with him at the end of it.

But last Sunday was the beloved City2Surf run. And missing out on my favourite running event hurt my feelings.

Simply for the fact that it’s a race that first got me believing in myself; helping me prove that just because I was now a mother, I could still have goals and challenges; I could still learn and enjoy how to be a runner.

Life teaches lessons through all different paths and avenues. My knee injury, for all of its pain and dissapoint, was a very unlikely one.

Luckily this year, I had a childhood friend come up from Melbourne to hang out for the weekend but also decided to sign up and walk the City2Surf.

Pre-injury, the plan was for us to meet at the finish line.

When I told her I was injured, I realised that a 14 kms walk was a perfect opportunity for us to enjoy the sights, have a chat and catch up.

As I waited for her at the starting line, watching all the keen competitors doing their serious stretches, fixing their caps and sunglasses, rubbing in last minute Deep Heat, I decided to soak in the atmosphere.

It was like being the only sober person at the party. I started seeing things from a very different perspective.

Basking in the unusually warm winter sun, I took better notice of the community spirit that was happily bouncing around me.

Maybe I was getting a little high from the smell of the Deep Heat but taking it down a couple of gears from “Challenging” to “Chillaxin’” helped me see that graciously sitting out this year’s City2Surf wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.

I had the past 3 events under my running belt, with now a half marathon to add.

I was fine. I just had to stop think that I was chasing my next big personal best with every single bloody run I signed up for.

Taking time to appreciate past achievements is as good as planning for the next. And there will always be another. Just not right now. And that’s okay. For now, let’s just do some basking.

Basking in some IBOT with Essentially Jess

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FYBF – The bright and orange edition…

August 10, 2012 By: mamagrace7139 Comments

What’s bright and orange, runs like the wind….and is extremely cute???

Last week’s FYBF was all about the roller skates.

This week my friends, my legs are pumped and set to take off for the City2Surf challenge.

I’m even more excited over the fact that I’ll be running for Team World Vision.

A big thanks to Rose, Jess and the guys for getting us all together for our 10kms practise run and cooking up an awesome BBQ breakfast.

4 years ago, when I first watched the race, secretly jealous of all the runners and their amazing strength and endurance, I remember Mr Surfer trying to assure me that I’d be out there one day.

“Nah. There’s no way I’ll ever be able to run 14 kms…” I laughed off his preposterous suggestion.

The following year, leaving behind an ample supply of expressed breastmilk in the fridge for Mr Surfer to feed our 6 month old twinlets, I headed out bright and early into the city to start my very first race.

I was almost 39.

It wasn’t long ago my mind was cluttered and hindered with negative thoughts of “No way…” “I can’t…” “As if…”

And yet, here I am today…telling you all about my upcoming third race.

Life offers so much for our taking. Whatever goals or dreams we have, what’s stopping us from achieving them?

In the words of our 400 metre Olympic hopeful, Steve Salomon:

“How bad do you want it???”

I want it baaaaad, baby!!!

P.S Tune in for next week’s C2S vlog!

P.P.S Please visit my fundraising page if you’d like make a donation to Team World Vision.

P.P.P.S A HUGE thanks and hug to all you gorgeous bloggy buddies who already have.

Now, Flog It!

1. Follow With Some Grace.

2. Sign up to the awesome Digital Parents community ( if you haven’t already done so). DP was created by Brenda Gaddi who happens to be the creator of FYBF. She’s also created 4 gorgeous kidlets. In case you’d like to know. Or maybe not. But we’ll share that info just the same.

3. Add your post URL to the linky.

4. Grab the funky FYBF button and post it on your sidebar. Help spread the blogfloggin love.

5. Visit the blogs of your fellow FYBF’ers and share the comment love.

6. Share some more comment love. It’s proven to make your wrinkles disappear…overnight. #truth

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Running the City To Surf for World Vision: To do more, to give more

July 10, 2012 By: mamagrace7157 Comments

“We cannot waste our precious children.

Not another one, not another day.” – Nelson Mandela

***************

The beauty about this blogosphere of ours is that we are constantly inspired by strong, passionate, intelligent women.

All with experiences to share, often instilling a profound message.

While wanting to do it for some time now, admittedly it was Eden and Trish’s stories that motivated me to finally become a World Vision sponsor.

While dealing with the unexpected emotions, “meeting” my sponsored child in Indonesia taught me some important life lessons.

The main one being I know I can do more.

Give more.

In less than 5 weeks, I’m running the City2Surf for the third consecutive year (Yeah, I’m nuts like that).

Having done half a dozen fun runs now, there’s an amazing feeling with this particular one. The community spirit soars right through the 14 kilometre trail.

Even during the gruelling moments, it’s like being a tiny leaf, swept along the currents of a fast flowing river. The feeling of being part of something very special is palpable.

This might sound even crazier, but running with a purpose helps ignore the blisters and the aching limbs.

You think about how the race can be important for others; your achievements are no longer celebrated solely by you; you realise efforts are far more worthwhile when others can benefit.

The first year, I ran for the twinlets who were 6 months old at the time. And while I was so overwhelmed with the physical challenges, (Yup, I was still breastfeeding at the time…) there was something intangible, yet incredible that kept me running right through to the finish line.

It’s true when they say love can conquer all.

This year, I’m putting into action the notion that I can do more.

Leading up to the race in mid-August, I’ve opened up a City2Surf fundraising page for WorldVision Australia.

Feel free to donate.

The goal is to raise $1,000 over the next month or so. Even if I only raise half, that’s enough to sponsor 10 families for a month.

Nothing left to say except…I’m pumped!

There’s so much passion and love for this race. With such a worthy cause to steer me through, I know I’m going to blitz it.

Last year, I smashed my PBT by 5 minutes.

Another 5 this year, perhaps?

Bring. It. On !!!

Joining the lovely Jess for IBOT

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Training for the City2Surf: Going Beyond The Call Of Duty – Week 1

June 1, 2011 By: mamagrace7116 Comments

There’s a mothers exercise training group that I joined almost three months ago. I’ve spoken about them in previous posts – here and here.

Most of them are hard core. Super fit. They are the perfect group of people to get me motivated in losing all these wobbly bits brought on by twinlet birth and an undying love for salt and vinegar chips.

We meet every Tuesday and Thursday mornings – rain, hail or shine.

In all its heavy rain and strong winds, yesterday morning was no exception.

As we arrived for training, standing under the only tree in the park for protection, our trainer started to brief us on the raining trail she had planned for us.

We all looked at each other, looked at the rain and all groaned.

Yet, off we trotted.

As the downpour became heavier, one of the other mums jokingly yelled out to our trainer, “You know, this is totally going beyond the call of duty !!!”

And she was right. Going beyond what we usually would’ve done and completely step out of our comfort zone.

But then, there is the outcome.

I seriously took up running three months after the boys were born. It has been a struggle. I am not a natural runner. In fact, initially I hated it.

But as it’s typical of my character to live up to a challenge, I’ve tried to stick with it.

To try and conquer the fear.

A little over a year later, there I was: Jogging in the rain with a bunch of superfit mums.

Despite looking like a drowned rat who had been floating in an open sewerage canal, I was loving every minute of it. Soaking up the liberating feeling of being outdoors . Appreciating the rain for all of its natural beauty rather than its usual inconveniences.

So here’s the deal: I’ve signed up for the famously gruelling 14km City2Surf.

In its lead up (which is Sunday, 14th of August…10 and a half weeks away), every week, I’m going to write a post about my running and fitness.

Where I’m at in getting rid of these post pregnancy love handles.

I’m going to step out of my comfort zone and make sure I see myself at the end of that of that finishing line at Bondi Beach.

In each post, there will be a list of the highlights and achievements from the week.

What better time to start than now ?

Highlights:

I’ve lost five kilos in two and a half months
Went down a jean size in three weeks
My mother-in-law came to visit last week and while I was out of the room, she pulled my husband aside and asked him if there was anything wrong with me as I was “fading away”.

Achievements:

Running a 7km trail in the rain with a bunch of awesome women who are my inspiration.

I’m pumped. City2Surf 2011. Bring it on.

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The Highs and Lows of 2010

December 27, 2010 By: mamagrace713 Comments

With a belly full of Christmas lunch (and dinner), ample time ~~wasted~~ spent watching the cricket (Australia, what an embarrassment !) and much ~~lazing about~~ pondering on the couch…it was time to head back to the computer and recap the year gone past.

To sum it up in five words: What.A.Year.It’s.Been.

So, here it is – 2010: the good, the bad and the not-so-pretty.

Lousy Loopy Lows:

Having Little N and K in the NICU for 16 days
Having nipple thrush for almost 2 months (Oh.My.God…I have never felt such toe-curling pain like it !!! Another story, another post…)
“Someone” (ahem) forgot my birthday. Not just any ordinary birthday, mind you, but the first birthday as his wife and mother to his twin sons (Oops, did I give it away ???). Such (almost) unforgivable forgetfulness left me completely livid (to say the least) for three days. (Yet another story, another post…)
Having done the sums, it would appear that we would have changed a total of 5, 392 stinky poo nappies
Do I need to say it ? Yes, I do: The sleeeeeep deprivaaaaatioooooooon !!!!!!!
Me ? Tired ? What makes you think that ???

Hip Hip Hooray Highs:

The much-anticipated arrival of our beloved boys – Little N & K
Meeting and making life-long friendships with mothers of other premature babies who were in the NICU
Friends Forever - Me and mums of other premmie pumpkins
Being possessed by a motivation (or some would have said “insane”) streak, caused me to participate in the 14 km City2Surf Fun Run, then a month later, the 8km Bridge Run. The crazed running phase continued as 2 months after that, I entered the 10 km Sydney Olympic Park Fun Run (A friend on Facebook made a very good point: “Why are they called ‘Fun Runs’ ? Where’s the FUN ???”)
My devoted Cheering Squad at one of the Fun Runs
Aunty Sari visiting us from over yonder Honkers
The amazing abundance of love shared and demonstrated by N and K’s grandparents – both Indonesian and Australian.
Officially becoming a publishable (amateur) writer…with an alias pen name, no less (Okay, so it was only one 40o word newspaper contribution but I’m going to soak it up… for all it’s worth…).
Starting up this blog

So, for the first time, in a long time, my year of highlights do not include exotic overseas trips or any grand, extravagant purchases. I’m cool with that. On the flip side, it was duly noted that, none of the listed lows entailed the usual worries and woes of the past – career, finances and yearning of material possessions.

Bigger house and car ? I’ll be honest. It would be nice. I wouldn’t say no if someone was offering. With our expanding family, God knows we need both. But these past 12 months hasn’t been about anything tangible, shiny or lavish. Instead, 2010 has seen a turning point of a different kind. For me, the meaning and understanding of the year that was, can be found in – of all places – a Sheryl Crow song:

“It’s not having what you want, it’s wanting what you’ve got”

Sheryl baby, you nailed it.

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