Number 78 - Whale Sharks (and then some!!)

Oyster Stacks

I don't even know where to start after the incredible weekend I have just had!

I have wanted to swim with a whale shark for about 5 years now having seen the photos of a work colleague that were mind boggling. Beginning this blog, I decided I would do at least a couple of the big things and this was certainly one of the biggest dreams.

Whale sharks are the worlds largest fish and can be up to 12 metres long (I'm struggling to get past 1.5!). In terms of size it rivals some of the largest dinosaurs in weight. In short, it's one massive fish.

Whale sharks are found in temperate waters around the world and one of the best places to see them is Ningaloo Reef, off the Exmouth Cape in Western Australia. Exmouth is 1200km north of Perth (the nearest capital city) and was established as a US Navy Base in World War II as a communications hub for submarines.

My first concern was the flying. Being a somewhat apprehensive flyer I was a little hesitant about the propeller planes that service regional Australia. However, excitement beats fear and so I found myself on my way to Perth. A couple of small meltdowns later (and some encouraging text messages!) and I was settled in my Dash-8 flying over the outback on my way to Exmouth.

Aerial outback views

 Once I had recovered from my Flying Freak-Out, I managed to properly appreciate the aerial view. Incredible patterns in the earth made me wonder how Aboriginal Art could so closely resemble these, when they had never seen this perspective. The colours, contrasts and accidental designs were breathtaking. It was the first of many "I can't believe I'm here" moments.

Aerial Outback Views

Number 24 - A Rubik's Cube, a little metaphor for life?

In the spring of 1974, Erno Rubik, the 29 year old Hungarian sculptor and professor of architecture invented the puzzle that was to become the aggravation of one eighth of the worlds population. 

Since it's release in 1980 it has become the worlds best selling toy (over 350 million) earning a place in New York's Museum of Modern Art, a spot in the Oxford Dictionary and a fairly impressive list of film credits.

As a true child of the 80s, it has been a minor but niggling addition to my list but I soon realised that this little niggle would give way to full blown obsession once I seriously began trying to solve it.

Number 82 - Smashed it! Half Marathon - Fully Finished.

We did it!!!

When Charlotte sent an email in February proposing we take on the half-marathon I was dubious to say the least. She suggested we train with Can Too to give ourselves the best possible chance and make it an experience for the greater good.

Our first training run started pretty easily in Centennial Park, a few laps around an oval and generally getting to know everyone. A few weeks later we did our first 5km time trial and things suddenly felt a whole lot tougher.

A few weeks after that I got knocked over by a chest infection that had me out of action for almost 6 weeks. With doctors throwing around words like whooping cough and pneumonia I was starting to worry about whether I was running out of time to train for the big day. As it turns out the doctors still don't 100% what I'd had and I was told to rest, use an inhaler and "be careful". So with that sage advice in mind, I decided to head back to training!

My first session back looked like this.

 

Despite my impatience to get back into training, running in torrential rain was probably not a genius plan. After a few kms in the wet, our coach Gordo gave me the "raised eyebrow" and I obediently gave up.

It turns out Charlotte and I had hit the rocky part of the training journey.

Charlotte had injured herself taking on the Tough Mudder, I was still on a Ventolin inhaler (having learned the hard way that I shouldn't go on even small runs without it!) and we were only a few weeks out from the race. To say we were a little nervous about our ability to race 21km was putting it mildly.

Despite this we tackled whatever training we could manage and kicked ass with fundraising for Can Too and Cure Cancer. Both of us reached our targets, were suitably embarrassed with bright orange feather boas and glitter hats during our "Star Ceremonies". Knowing we've done our bit to continue critical funding for cancer research has been one of the most rewarding parts of the last couple of months.

After 12 weeks of preparation we were ready (ish!) to face race day.

The night before to calm my nerves I got all my race gear laid out (no-one was going to miss me in that fluoro orange!) then like any normal person does before a big race, I got dressed in my Playboy Bunny costume and headed off to a Vegas party. Drinking tap water and sticking to my planned pre-race meal of fish and rice, I watched as others sculled champagne and scoffed hot dogs. At 9pm as Elvis was marrying Celine Dion to Lenny Kravitz, I decided it was time to head home to get as much sleep as possible before my 5am alarm.

 
Five am, 19th May and I was seriously nervous. A quick breakfast of champions, some water and I was very glad to see my brother who had so generously offered to support me around the race. 

Number 64 - My First for Life. Davos Bloody Donors

Donating blood has been on my Big List for a long time and I've given it many attempts but for various reasons (my rebellious belly piercing, my more rebellious tattoo, travelling to 'risky' countries and not just having enough of the stuff),  I've been a Blood Donor Reject. Unwanted. I was a bloody loser.


My brother's best friend is just like another brother to me and has been since I was five. His wife Edwina is like a sister. Following the diagnosis of Dwee's very dear dad  'Davo' 12 months ago, Davo’s Bloody Donors was founded and I knew that I had to step up and stop being a Bloody Loser. I was going to be a Bloody Winner.

Number 82 - Half-Marathon Fundraising Star! (THANKS TO YOU!!)

With 10 days to go, I've reached my fundraising goal (exceeded it actually!) for Cure Cancer Australia and I'm all set to run the daunting 21km. Thanks to my incredibly generous friends and family I am officially a Can Too Fundraising Star. Complete with orange glitter hat and certificate, I now get to wear my full day-glo running shirt and running hat!

http://cantoosmh2013.gofundraise.com.au/page/CJsHalfMarathon2013