For a few years now it’s been a goal of mine to run a full 5km. I have competed in many many fun runs and have started the Couch to 5km program many a time. At each event I think it will THE one where everything will come together and I WILL be running over that 5km finish line. This dream hasn’t ever come true. What usually happens is within the first few hundred metres I get excruciating pain in my lower calf muscles and have to stop. This pain continues even when walking and if I was lucky would finally disappear with 2 kms to go. I have tried stretching, magnesium, foam rolling, physio’s, warming up with a walk before hand and still, the same pain happens. When I tried the foam roller the night before an event it turned out to be the worst pain I’ve been in and I couldn’t actually finish the event. Still, I persisted on and when an event came up for a 3km run I jumped on it, as it seemed like maybe this time I could do it, being a shorter distance.
But no, same pain. Had to stop. Felt disappointed in myself once again. The lovely CocoGirl was doing this event with me and she asked me if I liked running. My immediate answer was “No, I just want to one day say I’ve run a 5km, but I really don’t like running”. I had been thinking that I needed my “thing”. Friends of mine are “runners” or “triathletes” or “bush-walkers”. I felt like I needed a “thing” to. Another friend, Ruth, asked me the other day why I needed a thing?
My first thought was, well, everyone has a thing? Surely I need a THING!?
At the 3km event, Coco asked me what I enjoyed doing. My answers were tennis, swimming and obstacle courses, and that I would like to improve on all of these events.
Once I got home that afternoon, and after a much needed nap (I also climbed a mountain that morning!) I looked up tennis and swimming coaching and found Adult Tennis Coaching that prepares you for social fixtures, and an Adult Swim Squad. Awesome! I called for information on both on Monday and signed up! My first Tennis lesson is next Tuesday, with swimming on either a Monday or Wednesday. Perfect! And I am so excited!
Running that 5km is still a dream – I’m just not yet in the body that can fulfil that dream so it’s being put on the backburner for now. And that is okay <deep breath>.
Now, about that mountain climbing! Amazing – and I encourage anyone to climb a mountain – doesn’t matter how big or small – just find one and climb it!
The mountain I climbed up was Mt NgunNgun on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. A beautiful location surrounded by farm land and with views to the ocean.
I am so lucky to have the group of girls as friends that I have and it was with this group that we took on the mountain! The pace was nice and steady and it wasn’t long before we were making the final descent up a few boulders, and then, wow! The view was amazing!
Maybe Mountain Climbing can be my thing too.
