Sunday with Mizuno, Morgan, Lucy and Scarlett

Last Sunday we found ourselves in a shopping centre with no real purpose except to find coffee. This was after browsing in a bike shop down the road for Mr Moneymaker (he's been riding, spariodically, a bent $20 model from the local garage sale for awhile now).  So what do we do when we want to fill in an afternoon? We go to the movies!

The only movie that mum, dad and son could agree on was Lucy but it wasn't on for an hour so I took the opportunity to get myself a new pair of runners.  I know, I don't run.  But that morning I took part in the annual Bay Run and actually ran for some of the 7 kms.  It almost killed me and I'm still walking two days later like I've had a double hip operation, but I ran further than I ever had before.  Therefore I thought I had better get some good support. I had tried a pair of fancy ones on at the finish line (they had sports retailers hawking there of course) which were 'on special' for $180!!!

Yes they are this ugly

I'm a bit frugal when it comes to spending money on clothes and shoes for me, so I couldn't really justify that much when I'm likely to only put them on twice a week at most.  But I noted the Japanese brand (Mizuno) which had great support and there they were on sale in Footlocker for only $80! Winner!  The only downside is they are butt ugly. A sort of pinky purply colour.  And not a nice pinky purply either.  But it doesn't matter, they feel good and hopefully next time I wear them I'll be able to run and not end up walking like a wooden doll.

The movie Lucy was full on.  If you don't know of the movie (in fact the title just reminds me of a troublesome Rottweiler I once owned), it stars Scarlett Johansson who inadvertently takes a new super drug into her body which, frankly, gives her super powers and then kills her within days.  After growing her brain capacity to 100% of course.  Sounds a bit science fictiony but I found it thought provoking.  And pretty cool. Plus Morgan Freeman is in it.

There was a bit of shocking violence in it which in hindsight, was probably not appropriate for my 11 year old son to watch, but he enjoyed the action scenes and the concept that dolphins use more of their brain than we do.

So all three of us got something out of it as Mr Moneymaker now has a new star crush as he's sacked Cameron Diaz because she's getting to close to his own age.  So thanks Scarlett, for making it that much harder for me to put the lights on ever again.

Damn her 80% brain capacity

*Joining 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*