the happiest 5k on the planet.

This morning, Jarrad and I crossed off the first of my New Year's resolutions and completed my first 5K run, The Color Run, "the happiest 5K on the planet". At the end of each kilometre you run through a little tunnel of people who through coloured corn flour at you. Blue, then pink, then orange, then yellow. At the end of the race, they give everyone a little packet of colour and you can go nuts. It was such a fun way to spend a Sunday morning! Best of all, I ran the whole way, which is something I never really dreamed I could do, as an adamant non-runner.

Afterwards, we met up with the Lush ladies and their boyfs for chips and cider. Color Run, I love you.

on this busy season.

The last two weeks have been pretty busy times here at our house. With work and a multitude of projects and extra commitments going on between the two of us, we've felt a bit under the pump and stressed out around here. But finally today we've got a little bit of time this weekend to have a break clean the house blog.

Things are hectic, you guys! But fortunately, they are moving forward quite smoothly and on queue. I just finished week two of c25k, I'm 10 days into my second round of the whole30, and I just got invited this week to a great work event in Sydney in two weeks. Despite the crazy, as I said to Marsh the other day, I am trying to savour and enjoy all of these things as they happen, because I know that when they are over, I'll wish there was some fun stuff going down! And I really have had/got some great opportunities coming up.

In fact, by the end of 2012:

• I will have been to Melbourne (twice), Sydney, Canberra, Singapore, Vietnam, and Margaret River for various friendly gatherings, work events, and adventures;
• I will have completed my Graduate Diploma (or will I have turned it into a Masters? ugh, no thanks);
• We will have taken our show to the Melbourne Fringe (!!!);
• I will be able to run 5km (fingers crossed);
• We will have moved offices at work to a much closer and down right better place; and
• My bike will be put together (more on that later).

We've even started talking about our plans for 2013, which are very exciting, but mostly I think our goals are just to have fun (with friends, family, and each other), stay healthy, and save money. As much as I'm enjoying this busy season, I'm looking forward to things winding down in the summer time and spending time with the people I love.

It's hard for me to keep my head out of the future and out of the clouds, but I am working on it, and today is a day to be present, so I'll catch you later, dudes.

on running

 Want to know a secret?
 On Monday I started the C25K and I am terrified that I will fail, which is why it's a **secret**. Let's talk about running.

My line on running has previously been that I am not a runner, never have been, and never will be. I much prefer team sports, aerobics, dancing, fitness classes... Anything form of exercise I can do that distracts me from the fact that I am exercising and gets me around people. I love to exercise in a group. When I have made little forays into running in the past, I am quick to give up. I find running hard! Physically I find it tedious, mentally I find it even more difficult, when I start to hurt and there's no real reason to keep going besides "just because" - no ball to chase, no high kicks to do, no instructor watching that's going to pound me - I just stop. Ho hum, oh well, running's not for me.

Images from TheColorRun.com

Then I read about The Colour Run on a couple of the blogs I read. Basically, it's a 5K run where, along the way, punters pelt you with coloured corn starch, and knock me down with a feather if that wasn't one of the most funtastic things I've ever seen. Even better was, a few weeks ago I found out that The Colour Run was making its way to Australia and to Perth, next February. Getting my colour on in the raddest way ever? Um, yes please! The only downside is: it's a five kilometre run and, as we know, I am not a runner. Never have been and never will be.

I thought long and hard about this and I made a decision. A decision, I must note, that is a much more determined decision than I have ever made before when it comes to running. Sure, I've made half-hearted wishful goals to run certain races but I've never seen it through, which is why I'm so scared now. But why shouldn't this be the time? Why can't I face this goal like a grown up, with a bit of grit and determination? Why shouldn't I do this now? No good reasons, etcetera, etcetera.

 This is the plan and my promise to you, Internet: With my trusty C25K app and a hand-selected playlist of optimum tracks to run to, I have begun the process and in eight weeks (around the time we leave for Melbourne Fringe), I should be running 5K. You guys, that is five kilometres and that will be a miracle. Then next February 17, two days after I turn 26 (eek, eek! bite nails!) I should be running through giant powder puffs of colour like a Smurf on acid. After all, as J-Biebs says: