This past week has been filled with some awesome group runs, a solo run, a couple of bodypump sessions, parties and dinners and drinks with good friends, and a couple of impromptu sick days (= forced rest days, boooo). Newcastle has been turning on its famous charm no end and I’m awe-struck with the beauty of this city and its residents most days. So much so that’s making me seriously question my recent decision to up and leave for a new adventure. I LOVE Newy: the people, the places, the atmosphere, the running sessions and mix of running clubs, the dolphins playing around in the harbour, the occasional Ironman contest visiting Newcastle Beach etc – why oh why would I want to leave all this? It just feels too soon. Or maybe I am too indecisive. Or, because I know that I have a deadline for when I have decided to go that everything seems to sparkle anew again and I’m reminded of how lucky I am to be here. But there seem to have been more than a few signs from the universe lately re: staying put here in Newy, where I have been blissfully happy. I had mistakenly thought that my recent ecstasy (for no apparent reason) came from my sobriety stint (was completely tee-total for a good 4 months! And loved it) however now that I’ve incorporated a couple of social drinks back into my lifestyle, the happiness has remained! Maybe it is the people, and life in Newy, rather than any kind of extreme, tee-total lifestyle (I’ve decided that I can still be healthy and achieve my running goals with the occasional sip with friends). There is still one thing that I’m waiting on (all will soon be revealed) before I make my ‘final-for-now’ decision, but hopefully I should have a clearer idea of where I will be living next year in the next couple of weeks.
So, Monday night saw me join my first ever Wooterval session (intervals with the Wooters – a running group with puns!! My kind of club). This was great. We warmed up along the path to Nobby’s lighthouse and then crossed over to the field just behind the beach where we ran our 6x 4 minute intervals with a 2 minute (I think) rest in between. We even did some awkward core work on the grass at the end. Then I ran the 5ish km home to Carro, a huge grin on my face. It felt good to try and run a bit faster again. This bodes well (I hope!) for my forthcoming debut into those Parkruns that I’ve heard so much about. Yep, I’ll be jumping on the bandwagon on Christmas day for a different take on my usual early morning Christmas run (I run every Christmas morning, in memory of my father, who together with his good chum Bob Smith, ran a Christmas run each year) and will finally pop around the corner to the Newy parkrun (which turns out is the Carrington one! Who knew…).
Friday night was the Friday Fruit Loops beach and trail run, which was just over 10km of relatively fast-paced trails through the Glenrock Reserve (and sand for the first and last bit – the start and end point was Merewether Ocean Baths). My FAVOURITE terrain to run on is those skinny, winding paths through the forest – so much fun speeding through surrounded by trees and jumping off occasional rocks and tree roots. After the run I took a friend’s wise advice to jump straight into the ocean baths for a swim/cool-down. Pure bliss. I was pretty wrecked by this point, what with being ill with a virus a couple of days prior (have been downing the turmeric drinks like they’re going out of fashion hey – seems to have worked well so far) so the cool salt water felt A-MA-ZING. Afterwards we headed to the surfclub for some much needed post-running fuel (= pizza and a beer).
The final group run of this last week was this morning’s ‘Newcastle Runners’ Christmas Gift’ where a large group of various running groups around this area met up at the Merewether Surf House and ran up along Memorial Drive and Anzac Walk to King Edward park where a cleverly themed running-themed Christmas carol was sung (by most, I spectated – my voice is not really with me at the moment, it hasn’t read the memo that I’m not ill anymore and is the last thing to get back to normal I guess) and photos were taken. Then we carried on down to Newcastle beach and along to Nobby’s and along the breakwall and back. A great morning! Here’s me practising my ‘woot-face’ with the Wooters. I snuck into their photo despite my shirt belonging to another group there - the Five30runners (I’ve joined both it seems – and more on the way! I like the look of the Naked Runners’ shirts, watch this space):
So, Monday night saw me join my first ever Wooterval session (intervals with the Wooters – a running group with puns!! My kind of club). This was great. We warmed up along the path to Nobby’s lighthouse and then crossed over to the field just behind the beach where we ran our 6x 4 minute intervals with a 2 minute (I think) rest in between. We even did some awkward core work on the grass at the end. Then I ran the 5ish km home to Carro, a huge grin on my face. It felt good to try and run a bit faster again. This bodes well (I hope!) for my forthcoming debut into those Parkruns that I’ve heard so much about. Yep, I’ll be jumping on the bandwagon on Christmas day for a different take on my usual early morning Christmas run (I run every Christmas morning, in memory of my father, who together with his good chum Bob Smith, ran a Christmas run each year) and will finally pop around the corner to the Newy parkrun (which turns out is the Carrington one! Who knew…).
Friday night was the Friday Fruit Loops beach and trail run, which was just over 10km of relatively fast-paced trails through the Glenrock Reserve (and sand for the first and last bit – the start and end point was Merewether Ocean Baths). My FAVOURITE terrain to run on is those skinny, winding paths through the forest – so much fun speeding through surrounded by trees and jumping off occasional rocks and tree roots. After the run I took a friend’s wise advice to jump straight into the ocean baths for a swim/cool-down. Pure bliss. I was pretty wrecked by this point, what with being ill with a virus a couple of days prior (have been downing the turmeric drinks like they’re going out of fashion hey – seems to have worked well so far) so the cool salt water felt A-MA-ZING. Afterwards we headed to the surfclub for some much needed post-running fuel (= pizza and a beer).
The final group run of this last week was this morning’s ‘Newcastle Runners’ Christmas Gift’ where a large group of various running groups around this area met up at the Merewether Surf House and ran up along Memorial Drive and Anzac Walk to King Edward park where a cleverly themed running-themed Christmas carol was sung (by most, I spectated – my voice is not really with me at the moment, it hasn’t read the memo that I’m not ill anymore and is the last thing to get back to normal I guess) and photos were taken. Then we carried on down to Newcastle beach and along to Nobby’s and along the breakwall and back. A great morning! Here’s me practising my ‘woot-face’ with the Wooters. I snuck into their photo despite my shirt belonging to another group there - the Five30runners (I’ve joined both it seems – and more on the way! I like the look of the Naked Runners’ shirts, watch this space):
Here’s a larger group shot of the whole multi-group running gang and an action shot along the way:
And here’s who I came home to after this wonderful run – the cat next door (we call him Me Meow but apparently his name is Frank or Neville) has decided to make himself at home. Nothing quite like a purring, friendly cat rubbing around your legs and paddling their paws. Again – feeling the love and will be sad to say goodbye!
There you have it: a busy week and also busy trying to pack up my things and finalise a few bits and pieces before I fly away on my travels. My own work has intentionally slowed down (having informed my clients that I will soon be MIA for a while) but I will be back with a bang in late February so all good. Arrghhh, well it is the silly season after all. Shit’s getting real. Wouldn’t have it any other way.
This is my last post pre-Christmas Day, so a very very merry Christmas to you all!!! I hope you all have a happy, healthy (of course! Everything in balance and moderation), safe, fun, beautiful, and loving time wherever you are and whatever you’re doing. All my love, Lou xx
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