Walk Thoughts

As I was doing my weekly bay walk with my furry friend (Sydney the Schnoodle, not Mr Moneymaker), I was having the usual hundred or so random thoughts zooming through my head which I was hoping would form into a blog post.  Though no creative explosion happened, I thought I might have created a phrase for what happens in my head that I can create a list from. It is

"Walk Thoughts"

So here are some of the Walk Thoughts that zoomed through my brain on Sunday:

• I've never seen a smiling runner.
• I wonder if dogs are actually embarrassed when they use a tree as a toilet?
• Why does my dog reverse his back legs UP the tree to have a poo?
• Why do my sunglasses fall off everytime I bend over to pick up poo? Is my head too small? 
• What is that throbbing pain in my ankle?
• I wonder if there is any wine left in my fridge?
• Why would anyone take their dogs for a walk in a carriage attached to your bike? Don't dogs love to walk?
• Why do cyclists still ride on a very narrow road when there's a perfectly good bike track right next to them? Do they realise how angry those drivers stuck behind them are?
• Why is my knee punishing me?
• Come to think of it, all the wine is gone. It will have to be a vodka and tonic.
• I wish I could run, I might be able to get rid of this spare tyre then.
• Damn, the hole in my shoe is getting bigger (mental note, remember to cut toenails).
• Why does Mothers' Day never live up to expectations? Even when you have the most minimal of expectations (like wishing that everybody would just get along for one day!)
• How does my phone know exactly what kind of songs I need at certain moments - can anyone notice that I'm walking in time to R.E.S.P.E.C.T.?
• Why hasn't anybody emailed me back about all those job applications I sent out?
• What is that dinghy which looks like an indoor shower (or toilet?) doing in the middle of all those boats? 
• Why does my dog hate black labradors? And more importantly, why does every cattle dog and pitbull type dog want to eat Sydney?
• How come my knee and ankle pain moved to my opposite hip?
• I hope I can still walk really fast for 7 kms when I'm in my 60's and 70's.
• There's that woman that seems about five years older than me that sometimes runs around the bay in a funny stiff shuffle and sometimes walks (like now) with her dog (that is a blond version of mine) really fast, just like me. We smile at each other every time.
• I think I might mix my vodka and tonic with that really nice lemon and lime cordial and sit on the balcony.

My mind keeps going but my body stops and goes upstairs to my drink on the balcony. Life's too heavy to think too much.

Boat Toilet or Shower?

*Linking with Essentially Jess for #IBOT*

I can run!

Last Sunday I took part in the Bay Run.  Now I walk the Bay Run at least once a week with Sydney the Schnoodle so it wasn't a groundbreaking event.  But being part of a 'fun run' is.  For me.  Firstly, what's so fun about running? Every time I pass someone running they never look happy or even close to having fun, in fact they look miserable and in pain.  Secondly, I can walk forever (and I walk really fast) but every time I try to run, either my knee gives out or my ankles protest.

But because I wanted to be part of the event that passes by my front door every year, I registered myself and Sydney as 'Walker and Dog' (he even had a new hoodie to wear).

(Yes that says adidog on his back)

Nugget also wanted to register in the 2km Primary Student race as he is the most competitive kid I know.  He did really well, coming 18th amongst 433 other kids running.  And it was all in a good cause, raising money for CanTeen, to help young people living with cancer.

At the starting line I kept to the back of the pack, and I mean pack, there was a whole lot of dogs there, mostly friendly but its always best not to get in the middle of a bunch of very excited dogs, particularly the big ones.

Even though it was a chilly morning, it turned into a glorious day and as in every one of the walks I do around the bay, I was very thankful I lived in a really pretty area.

(A lovely lady runner asked if I'd like my picture taken as I was taking the previous picture)

I did my best time that day, its amazing what a little competition does!  Not that I made a mark but as I was coming up to the finish and the official told us it was only 200m to go, there was definitely a bit left in me.  A lady with a big brown dog in front of me started running so I thought, bugger this, I should at least try running through the finish line.  If nothing else it will give my husband a shock. He even got it on film! And no, I will not post that.  So here's me and Sydney at the start.

Next year Nugget wants to take Sydney in the running race and even though that dog is the fastest little ball of fluff I've every seen (and I had a whippet that wasn't as fast), I don't think Nugget's legs will be able to beat the fit guy and kelpie that won this year.

If you'd like to donate to my fundraising page for CanTeen, go here - and thankyou!

*Joining up with Essentially Jess for IBOT*

Walk In Her Shoes

Walk In Her Shoes Challenge

Anybody that knows me knows that I love a good walk.  I can't run for shit but give me some comfy shoes and I'll walk anywhere.

And I walk fast.  Really fast.  In fact having a stroll with my family usually involves me and Sydney the  Schnoodle (that's a dog by the way) metres ahead of everyone else, yelling behind me for them to all hurry up.

Therefore I usually walk by myself.  Unless I find a fast friend.

On the 19th March I'll be walking my usual Bay Run route but with a group of friends from Digital Parents (and there's no way to back out as they not only have to walk past my house, we are going to be using it as our meeting point!).  Brenda has set a up our team to help raise money for Care Australia's Walk In Her Shoes Challenge.  Here's a bit about what its all about from their website:

In developing countries, women and girls walk for hours every day to collect water, food and firewood for their family. Often, it prevents girls from going to school and women from earning an income – keeping them trapped in a devastating cycle of poverty.
Imagine if this was you.Now imagine you can do something about it.

 About CARE Australia 

CARE Australia is an Australian charity and  international humanitarian aid organisation fighting global poverty, with a special focus on empowering women and girls to bring lasting change to their communities. CARE is a part of an international confederation,  working together to provide sustainable solutions to poverty in more than 84 countries. 

In 2011, CARE assisted 122 million people across 84 countries through 1015 poverty-fighting projects. CARE Australia manages programs in over 20 countries in South-East Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

So during March I will be walking 10,000 steps a day (measured by a pedometer) and I'll be doing updates on Twitter and Facebook as I go.

Now if you'd like to help out (if you're not already participating in the Challenge), you can throw a little cash online at my fundraising page with Care Australia here.  And if you'd read my previous post, you know I have additional motivation in doing as much walking as possible!

Thanks and wish me luck, I'll be needing it!

*Joining up with Essentially Jess and IBOT.