City to Surf

-The Starting line-

I've actually wanted to do a city to surf run for quite a while now. Its just that I never had the chance since it was always near mid-semester exams. This year I was going to give it a miss too.. since I only found out when it was on one week before the start date. But that is just where the story begins.

On Thursday night I had dinner with Ali, Lisa and Ed at Hawkers Cuisine. Surprisingly the food was not bad.. I must admit I had some negative preconceptions about Hawkers.. given our history and all. Anyways. This is when the sale begins. Edshi had just entered the city to surf and the race was on... to convince me to do it with him. LOL. At first I was thinking.. yeah I wanna do it.. but I'm not ready.. I don't have time.. I shouldn't. But the more Edshi asked and briefed the more I felt bad. I knew I was just making excuses... excuses to not do it despite knowing its on my list of things to accomplish. So finally I agreed and got Jie to register me since I didn't have time to make the register myself.

It took her an hour to get me registered (and yes I know that because she wouldn't stop whinging about it). But I was officially entered into the run. What this meant was that now that I had started something I HAVE TO FINISH IT.

Me before the run.. Nervous!

Edshi Before the run ...Confidence!

So on Sunday morning I met Edshi and his friends at Esplanade Park bright and early and ready to run. I was scared... petrified really since dad told me it was 15km from home to the city .. and we were planning to run for 12km!!! THATS CRAZY. But we had to do it.. and deep down I knew we could (tho mind you none of my family members had any faith in me.. they were all betting against me!).

~The run~

After 20mins the reality of what we had just done to ourselves have really set in.. along with the shortness of the breath. I was really scared of the road ahead. But at the same time we were still quite optimistic. Pushing each other to continue!! It wasn't even 2km and I had already wanted to turn back.. it seemed like forever already and I was beginning to doubt whether or not we could last. And then we hit the first drink station. *breathe* The first 2km seems like forever.. it was really difficult. And it was then when Edshi told me that there would be a drink stop every 2kms. And here I was thinking we were half way already when we had only done 2 or the 12km T.T I was certain we wouldn't make it but at the same time we still had the willpower to push on!

-The Road Ahead-

Ok so we ran a lot of the way but we did have our little mini breaks every now and then for example from a traffic light to a tree.. haha it was these small walking breaks I think that go me over the line :) That and pushing each other to do it! After the 6th km I was looking forward to each following drink station.. and it became the immediate goal... to just make the next drink station.

-Enthusiastic Edshi Can do it!!-

Edshi: "Noelle is this really the time to be camwhoring"

Noelle: "YyyeEEeeSSS!"

At 10kms was when the pain truly fell off the breaking point. I was in soooooo much pain I really wanted to cry.. but I didn't want to slow Edshi down .. tho I know I made him take more breaks after the 10km mark than before. It was just so killing me and my legs were seriously threatening to abandon body. The last 500meters was supposed to be the easiest run .. you know when the finish line was in sight. But not for me. It was more painful than anything. Edshi said that we had to run it to the finish line.. we just had to.... But I just didn't have it in me anymore. I really wanted to collapse there and then. But I was so close... really so close!!! So with one last effort I made it across the line. Actually Edshi should have finished before me.. but he was so nice he let me cross the line before him. We really should have crossed together. I complained soooooooo much. Sorry Edshi I really am (I take back all the times I said I hate you =D). And thank you Edshi for the encouragement and letting me cross first.

-My Reward.. A Yummy Apple-

We made it and I'm really proud that we did. We made it in 88 minutes apparently. *proud*

SooooOoo...

next year...?

Starting Fresh

I bought a strawberry plant on the weekend :) It sits outside my window sill. And strangely enough everytime I look at it a feel a sense of hope. Im still not sure where the hope is directed towards but it is hope none the less, and I can't help but smile at it. Lets hope I keep it green. But I am so tempted to spray at it every 5 seconds hahaha I have to spray at it from the inside of my room because I have a screen door. Oh wells still good, plus the spray bottle only cost me $2.50 and it is an awesome blue :) (I got the last blue one hehhee)

The days seem to pass a lot slower recently. Maybe its because I'm awake twice the hours that I used to be awake hahah I know slack!! I think its a good change even though I'm really tired by the time the clock hits 12... not that I'd be awake till 12 anyways on a week night cos that would mean panda eyes forevermore. Such a weird feeling.. but I think I've forgotten what it was like to be at uni already. Like stepping foot onto the uni makes me feel like an intruder. hahah I better not think like this cos I am going back for Honours next year. Speaking of which I still haven't heard any information on it yet. I hope I'll get some notice before applications need to be done.


Oh last Thursday, Tammy, Ruth, Alan and I took a trip down to Ikea for dinner. Infamous meatballs all round. Funnily enough I just realised that I have never been to Ikea. Well I've been thinking about it and I seriously have no recollection of going there at all. Anyways with my poor sense of direction and all I got lost on the way there. I turned left at Morley drive (THANKS GOOGLE!!! >.<) so it took me 1 hour to get there!!! BAH! I was driving in the rain too it was pelting down at that time :( and they all had to wait for me. Sorry guys :( So once I got there I was set on hating Ikea. But with the meatballs and the cool furniture and everything being so reasonably priced (I thought it would all be hell expensive) how can you not love Ikea. Plus as Tammy said.. don't blame Ikea for Google's mistake! haha I saw this corner sofa that I really want for my room. But its a little too pricey and I it wouldn't fit in my room. I decided I want a long rectangular sofa without a back to go in my room :) ... but must save on top of Taiwan savings before I will even fully do the measurements. Yups Ikea makes me wanna redecorate my room! ... and I'm kinda craving the meatballs now .. its the gravy that makes it soooo good.. and the jamm .. MmmMm..


Speaking of food.. I think it's time for me to go make some lunch.
Laters!

p.s. remember to smile today XD

Normality

During my uni days mum used to complain that I wasn't a normal person. LOL not in the way that I'm crazy .. although I'm pretty sure a lot of you guys will disagree (*sighs*) but more in terms of my sleeping patterns. I would wake at around 11am - noon if I had no classes and sleep at like 4am. That was normal for me and I was pretty sure that's what is normal for most students nearing exam times right? Anyway.. so mum had the desire for me to become a normal person.. wake early and sleep early. Bah soo boring. But I just got a new part-timer recently at the post office.

It involves a few shifts because I've been given what is essentially two different jobs in one. In the mornings (Mon-Fri) from 6am to 9am I sort the mail. This is generally just an easy job that requires a bit of memory. Its not too bad except for the 5am wake up. This was the initial job that I applied to do. But recently that have also asked me to serve the counters on Saturdays for two hours and then afternoons (Mon-Fri). This job is a lot more difficult than I would have ever imagined. I really didn't know it was so complicated ... its not just letters and scanning items.. its money transfers, bank deposits... and the list goes on! But I'm going to give it my best and hope that I don't screw up too badly XD

So because of the new job I've been a bit out of it all lately.. tired and adjusting to the new timetable. Weirdest thing is I still don't think this is normality. Mum's normality wanted me to go to bed early .. so yah it happens occasionally I sleep at like 10-11pm these days. BUT 5AM IS NOT NORMAL!!! How can that be defined as normal?? hahah but to tell you the truth. I'm kinda getting used to it. Its no longer that cold and I can actually stay awake after the morning shift without going back to bed. Its gotta be good. I think in general this new job has done me some good... I hope I can survive there, it helps when the boss' are so nice :)

Ah well. So hopefully that explains why I've been a bit MIA lately.
Don't worry, I am going to keep this blog alive!

Laters guys!