The other day I ran an impromptu kombucha-making fermentation workshop with some very inspiring people (I have been working with the Healthy Change Challenge recently, a fantastic initiative which you can read more about here: https://www.facebook.com/Healthy-Change-Challenge-268542223603234/ ). This was lots of fun, and I had almost forgotten how much I love to ramble about food and drink whilst given access to a chalkboard and chalk. It combines my love of teaching AND nutrition work in one. Boom. Anyway, during the day, one of the people there asked me to email him some extra information, which included a differing recipe and how-to instructions for making probiotic ginger beer, as well as its benefits etc. Imagine my delight when he got back in contact a couple of days later to let me know his ginger beer ferment was now underway and that he had gotten straight into making the ginger bug! I was thrilled. Awesome to know that little things we do in our day actually have an impact. Much like the feeling of getting a random message from one of my English students telling me thanks, or an email from a Lou's Weight client telling me that thanks to my program they have now lost 8kg and still going (some other recent causes of that warm, fuzzy feeling).

​My exciting news is that I am going back to work for NSW Health! I'm stoked. It is in a completely different department to previously (ie. not pathology or any kind of lab unfortunately) but I am excited all the same. I've been trying to get back into their system for a while now (the recruitment process is very long and thorough) so I'm thrilled to announce that as of 2nd July I will be a NSW Health employee again, if only for one day of the week.

​Running news? Hmm, I may have to change the name of this blog. I have been doing more cycling and Bodypump classes this week, than running. I did have one awesome, slow (and very wet) shuffle through Glenrock on Monday however, and a similarly slow, local shuffle on Friday evening, so maybe 15km for the whole week?! Hey ho....

​In other news, My Jump Into June Challengers are all doing fabulously! So awesome. They are halfway through Week 3, so they are almost at the tail end of the 30 day challenge. Blimey, how fast did that go?!

​Now, I better dash as I am off to Japan with my beautiful partner today: a second Babymoon slash early birthday celebration for him. I. Can't. Wait.

​Have a great week all!! xx

I haven't really posted much on here yet re: currently being with-child, and what that means for my running (and life in general). I spent the first few months just feeling constantly nauseous and mostly lying down on my sofa. Pregnancy nausea is a real thing and is extreme! I assumed it would magically disappear on that long awaited day that marked me entering the second trimester. But no, hmmm, it stuck around a bit longer. I think it finally was a thing of the past by week 16 of my pregnancy ( so pretty much from week 3 until then, yikes). So, whilst I could still run then (more easily anyway, as my bump hadn't really grown), I was unable to eat my usual favourites and I developed the weirdest food aversions (to broccoli, beans and other favourite veggie staples of mine! Shock horror). Luckily those now to seem to also be a thing of the past (although coffee is still pretty rank to me now. Oh how times have changed hey?!). My eating is back on track and, thank god, I can happily eat veggies again. Phew...

However, running is getting harder and harder, and I think it may soon turn into plain ole walking, or shuffling at most. I am still aiming to get out for between 2-3 runs a week, but they are very slow, and range between 7 and 12km (with 12 being a 'long run' rarity: my usual is now an 8km route nearby). Compare this to my previous usual of 10-12 being my standard, short/'everyday' run with a weekend long run of anywhere from 20 to 33 ish, depending on which event was coming up (or not). But not only that, but my pace is super slow now too. This is way ok by the way, I just find it very interesting the marked and very real effect even a small bump has on running. It just feels heavy and uncomfortable to run at any usual pace, hence the slower shuffle, which more often than not includes a couple of walk breaks too.

​That being said, it hasn't stopped me from revisiting magical Glenrock a couple of times last week. Ahhhh..... How about the serenity hey. My happy place. Whether I'm running, shuffling or walking. Whilst I am not running in any events for the rest of the year (for obvious reasons), I will try to visit Glenrock as often as weather, work commitments and other shizzle allows. But hey, you may see me walking those trails instead of running, as I think Bump is reaching his/her limit of what she/he will allow me to do (I'm almost 23 weeks btw). What a journey. One I'm thrilled to be on. Running can wait, and I know I will pick it back up after he/she is here.

It's been a strange week and a bit: two funerals, a couple of new jobs, a throat infection, and just not enough sleep. Really makes you think: how brief our time is here and how quickly everything flies past. Got to make the most of it while we can. However, family visits and catch ups with good friends (well overdue catch ups, I might add: eek, this year is going so fast!) have made all the difference. My Jump Into June 30 Day Challenge is under way too (hello to all you excellent members who have signed up! So great to have you there) so that's exciting too. I love running group challenges, and will aim to focus more on these going forward, and not so much on the one-on-one nutrition consults. Will see how it works out with being a full-time mum first though, of course.

​Running wise, I haven't been able  to get many runs in due to work and other commitments: a 12 ish km last Sunday, which included the awesome Garmin-man run (this was brilliant: organised by local legend Matt - thanks Matt! Great event), an 8km through the week, and a nice, long, S-L-O-W run yesterday (2 hours to run about 16km). Being pregnant definitely changes both your regular running distances and your pace! But I wouldn't change it for anything and it is so very worth it. Still doing bodypump classes when my schedule allows for it, and cycling as transport (again, time - and weather - permitting) so hopefully I will maintain my strength and fitness for when bub comes along in October.

​Here are a couple of shots from the MASSIVE group run I took part in last Sunday, featuring the inspirational Garmin Man  (almost as inspirational, but not quite, as the dude who organised this run. On ya Matt!):

Bonus points if you can spot me in the group picture above....

​Have a wonderful week everyone. Stay safe, stay healthy, stay happy, and if you're in Newy, Australia: stay WARM! :) xx