When I finished my doctorate in 2008 I needed a new goal. Done with flexing my brain, I needed a physical challenge and so, I decided I would train for my first marathon.
A miracle arrived in the form of my running coach Al. Al, a gentle man in his 60's, had a passion for running rivalled by none. Every Saturday morning Al arrived bright and early with his infectious smile and ran with me. We started slowly and walked for a large part of session. He told me I didn't run like a girl and I became his biggest fan.
Al wrote me a program that I followed through the week on my own and looked forward to showing off my progress every Saturday. Before I knew it, I entered my first 10km fun run and sprinted up hills without much huffing and puffing at all. I felt so alive.
Six months in, I fractured my foot and took a break from running. Unfortunately, not long after breast cancer got in the way and I have only relatively recently been able to put my running shoes back on.
Instead of running 10km, I'm only running 3 or 4, but that doesn't matter. I am running! I love to run. I love that it hurts as I challenge my body. I know what it can take. It can take a lot.
On the weekend I purchased a new set of headphones and I ran with music for the first time in a long time and guess what..... I doubled my exercise time!
I sang out loud and ran faster than usual, motivated so much by the music playing only for me. It's only been a week and I've run four times. Once again, I'm starting to think about it when I'm doing anything else, planning my day around when I can run.
This is living.
Al changed my life and sadly I don't live near him anymore, but I think of him every time I lace up my Asics running shoes - one of the best people I have ever known.
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About Me
- Jodie
- I started this blog as I entered my 40th year, and now firmly in my 40s, I continue to learn so much about life. I'm learning that life rarely goes according to plan and that there's something new to learn every single day, be it a subtle nudge or a smack in the face.... This is my blog about muddling through my 40s-working hard, writing a book, being an ammateur photographer, trying to exercise and eat well, endeavouring to be the world's best aunt, as well as having fun and laughing out loud every single day.
Showing posts with label Music. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Music. Show all posts
Sunday, May 26, 2013
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
B is for the BOSS - Bruce Springsteen
Like EVERYONE in my generation, I grew up listening to the Boss. Born in the USA had me wishing I was born, well, in the USA!
Pulling Courtney Cox up on stage for Dancing in the Dark first introduced us to our new neurotic Friend, but also had us worshipping Bruce once more.
The hits were endless and you don't need me to list them all here, but let me just mention one more - Streets of Philadephia - what a song! What a movie...... I digress.
Despite knowing all of the lyrics to his biggest hits, in my 40 years on this planet, I have never purchased a single Bruce Springsteen record/cd/itune.
I admit when tickets went on sale for his 2013 Wrecking Ball tour in Australia, I briefly considered buying a ticket, as seeing Bruce Springsteen perform live now meets criteria for the Bucket List. However, finances, other travel, other concerts, lack of time made my decision for me and no tickets were purchased.
When my friend Rik purchased two brilliant tickets late in the game, handing one to me, I was still fairly nonplussed about going. We arrived and had dinner before moseying on in.
At 7.50pm the E Street Band came on stage and there he was. Bruce Springsteen. I was literally moved to tears by his presence and can honestly say I have never been so present, so alive and so entertained by anyone in my entire life. Thanks Bruce. You seem as happy as the Dalai Lama. Three hours straight of GREATNESS.
As a quick aside - my friend Michelle got to hold his hand while he sang one song. She's his biggest fan, so imagine how she felt!
Pulling Courtney Cox up on stage for Dancing in the Dark first introduced us to our new neurotic Friend, but also had us worshipping Bruce once more.
The hits were endless and you don't need me to list them all here, but let me just mention one more - Streets of Philadephia - what a song! What a movie...... I digress.
Despite knowing all of the lyrics to his biggest hits, in my 40 years on this planet, I have never purchased a single Bruce Springsteen record/cd/itune.
I admit when tickets went on sale for his 2013 Wrecking Ball tour in Australia, I briefly considered buying a ticket, as seeing Bruce Springsteen perform live now meets criteria for the Bucket List. However, finances, other travel, other concerts, lack of time made my decision for me and no tickets were purchased.
When my friend Rik purchased two brilliant tickets late in the game, handing one to me, I was still fairly nonplussed about going. We arrived and had dinner before moseying on in.
At 7.50pm the E Street Band came on stage and there he was. Bruce Springsteen. I was literally moved to tears by his presence and can honestly say I have never been so present, so alive and so entertained by anyone in my entire life. Thanks Bruce. You seem as happy as the Dalai Lama. Three hours straight of GREATNESS.
As a quick aside - my friend Michelle got to hold his hand while he sang one song. She's his biggest fan, so imagine how she felt!
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