Now that I conquered Mount Kinabalu many of you may be wondering if I’m ready to hang up my running shoes and head back to the couch with a stack of books. That does sound tempting. Very tempting. However, I promised that I wouldn’t let all of my hard work slip away again. I would stay in shape this time. It’s easy to make this promise. Keeping it is the hard part. Since returning from Malaysia on May 12, I’ve only been on three short runs. That’s better than none. But not great for a two week period.
So what to do. This morning I signed up to run a 10k in July. I have found over the years the best way to keep me motivated is to have deadlines. And a decent amount of fear. It worked for Kinabalu. When I didn’t want to go for a run during this past winter, I remembered my deadline and if I didn’t get in shape I would die. Okay—that might be dramatic. But it worked. I kept to a decent training schedule.
And the run I signed up for is to raise money for cancer research. My wonderful grandmother died over ten years ago. She had a fabulous life filled with children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Unfortunately the last year of her life was horrible. Leukemia. What a dreadful disease. Since her death I have grown my hair out twice and chopped it off to donate for people who are undergoing cancer treatment and want wigs. Now I am taking this step in her honor. I have never run a 10k. When I first visited the Race for Life website I considered the 5k. The site said, “Why not double the distance and take on the 10k challenge.” My gut reaction was, “Yeah right!” Then I stopped and thought about it some. Why not. I climbed a mountain. Why not try the 10k. If I have to walk some of it, so what.
If I can climb this, surely I can run a 10k.
Time to put my running shoes back on. We have a three-day weekend in London. I hope all of you have a wonderful weekend and I’ll be back on Tuesday.
50 Year Project 
Of course you can do it :). I, too, have been trying to get more in shape, and I have now lost 15 pounds!! It’s slow going, but any progress is good in my eyes. However, you have a great deal more willpower than I do :). If I am too busy after work to get a workout in right away, it just doesn’t happen because if I wait too long it is evening and I am just too tired. However, I am doing a 30 day crunch challenge, and I am up to 140 crunches a day!! Keep training my friend :).
Congrats on the 15 pounds. That’s great. And 140 crunches–that make my stomach hurt. Good job!
Thanks 🙂
Cheers to your grandmother’s memory giving you that extra push!
thanks Frank. She was a special lady and I miss her all the time. I feel lucky to have had such a positive role model in my life.
Staying committed is the hardest part of anything. Daily life gets in the way. Your reason is more than enough to keep you going 🙂 Good Luck!
If it wasn’t for life I would be super productive … and tv. Thanks!
Lol, ah yes the TV. The time we would have without it…and smartphones… and tablets… oh my.
Currently I’m living without a cell phone and tablet. However I broke down and bought a kindle. So that makes it even harder to concentrate.
see you Tuesday.. in the mean time keep on running…
Thank you!
Good for you TBM – keeping fit and a very worthwhile cause .
Have a good weekend … I’ll see if I can spot you racing past as I trog around with my camera… up there Sun to Tues 😉
Oh have fun. I hope the weather improves for you. cold and rain today.
Oh that’s wonderful! I did the 5k a few years back and was so proud of myself….will you be posting a JustGiving link as I am sure some of us would love to sponsor you?
I’m rubbish at asking people for money–except the better half 🙂 Congrats on doing the 5k! How did you train for it? any tips?
Well I think you could just put a link up and then if people wanted to donate they could. Most people have been touched by cancer in some way or another. When I did the 5k I was a lot fitter and used to go to the gym so it was really like a brisk walk. We also found when we set off that somehow we got in with the elite runners which was rather funny. There were so very many people (we did it in Battersea Park) that it was quite hard to not run along at the beginning with the tide. I did it with 2 girlfriends and we did fast walking for 750m then ran the last 250m to the km marker and then carried on like this. It was a wonderful experience. Then we went for wine 🙂
How awesome that you ran with the elite runners. Even if that happened to me, it would be brief. I am the slowest runner. Every time we go, Miles and the Better Half have to wait for me. I may follow your example and have wine at the end.
We weren’t with them for long…but it was very exciting! Can thoroughly recommend the wine…you’ll need it 😉
Do you have a wine recommendation? I’m trying to learn more and when we can when we travel we like to visit vineyards. It’s always so much fun and you get to drink wine. A win win!
Well, I’m a white wine girl myself and enjoy the South African & New Zealand Sauvignons (if you can afford to splash out as a treat, the Villa Maria which is stocked in Sainsbury & Tesco is one of my favourites, the Oyster Bay is good too). I also enjoy French Viognier…but then some people adore Chardonnay and I can’t stand it 😦 Best to buy when it’s on offer and then if you don’t like it, you haven’t wasted too much money!
I have to make a trip to Tesco today so I’ll bring my shopping list. Thanks!!! We went wine tasting in Cape Town and loved it. Not only is the place stunning, but the wine was magnificent. And we had a hilarious guide. She had me laughing the entire time.
We are having a long weekend too. Enjoy yours. I’ll be climbing up and down hills too, but not like this! You rock!
Enjoy your weekend and climb. Remember, take your time and enjoy the beauty. And I hope you share photos.
What a touching gesture and a wonderful tribute to your grandmother. I am sure your grandmother is watching you from above and will help you run the race. All the best.
Thank you very much. I do hope she sees all of her family remembering her and missing her. She touched many lives.
A very worthy cause, TBM. I think your wonderful grandmother will be cheering you on all the way.
I think she would. And she’d call me crazy. But I think she liked that about me.
That s a great reason to put on your running shoes again 🙂
Thank you. It does make it easier knowing I running to help others.
You can do it. We’ll be cheering you on!
Thanks. And this time no altitude sickness 🙂
Congrats for getting to the top of Mount Kinabalu! I think you an easily complete 10km after that 😉 I rememer cancer research UK race for life (my family took part in it when I was a little kid), it’s a great idea. I wish Finland had similar events! Good luck for the training.
After we got back from Malaysia I was on a run and I thought, “A 10k will be easy now after Kinabalu.” I hope that’s the case–but no matter what it will be fun and it will be good to help.
I’ve always been amazed at how you can juggle between traveling and reading. You’re definitely an inspiration! 😀 It’s also good to know that your grandmother has been an inspiration and motivation to help countless others who are suffering from Leukemia. I’m sure that your gestures are greatly appreciated by them. 🙂
As for the fun run, I’ve only joined one as of now and I only signed up for 5K. I don’t think I can do the 10K just yet or maybe I could, but it will be waaay after the recommended time. 😀
Good luck with the 5K! Leukemia and all cancers are horrible and I hope some day researchers will kick the crap out of cancer. No one should have to suffer.
Why not indeed! Good luck TBM 🙂
Thanks Madhu!
I think it’s so cool that you’re doing this! 🙂
Thanks Jackie.
Good girl!
Thanks Isobel.
Hope you have a lovely weekend. Have you bought Nikes for Miles yet? 🙂
I would love to have sneakers on him, however, he won’t wear his running jacket so I’m assuming shoes are out. Miles prefers being naked.
LOL–a streaker!
I wish I looked so cute as a streaker. No one wants to see me running through London naked.
You just have to let your hair grow long. Lady Godiva…
that will take years. I might be in better shape by then, though
Good for you! I think, it’s great you are going for it. Motivation and a good cause all in one!
Thanks susi.
Best wishes with your 10K. Like you, I also have to have a deadline to get up and go.
They help with motivation.
Dude I totally get you about the deadlines. I wouldn’t necessarily work out for the sake of working out. It’s always better for me to think that I’m “training” for something. So I get off my butt because I realize that if I don’t train the whole experience is going to suck and I’m gonna be hurting. So yeah I agree with you … deadlines are awesome for stuff like this. Congrats for signing up on the 10K! Can’t wait to hear about it.
I need deadlines for most everything. And when I think back, all of my jobs had deadlines as well. What can I say, I’m a deadline type of gal. Or I would be extremely lazy.
You are very busy and doing so great:)
Thanks Tania.
i think there’s no doubt that you can do whatever you put your mind to. and what a lovely reason to run.
it does help having a good reason to run.
A great motivation. Your grandmother would be proud. Keep going! Have a good weekend.
BE ENCOURAGED! BE BLESSED!
Thanks Francine. Grandmothers are special people.
Good luck with the 10K, I’m still hoping for a 5k at some point in the next 5 years 😀
I do wish you luck. How is the exercise going?
It’s still going – had a bad last week because I got sick and couldn’t go for a couple of days, but then had a great day in the gym on Friday which is always nice.
I’m glad you are feeling better–that always ruins the momentum. Good for you for getting right back into it
Oh TBM! You chopped off your hair twice for people with cancer. That is so beyond kind.
I know what it is like when you need a wig. When I was 23 I lost all my hair and was bald for 7 years. I was very lucky, it grew back but having a decent wig was so hard and expensive to find, especially when you need Caucasian hair.
As for your running plans… I should follow your example, I’m so lame.
Btw – should you wonder – it was due to poisoning. Very complicated story…
wow Caroline how awful. I’m glad it grew back. Sounds like an experience. I had an illness that caused me to lose a lot of hair temporarily, but I never lost all of my hair. I hope all the side effects of the poisoning are gone with no lasting effects.
Good for you!
What a nice way to honor your dear grandmother!
Thanks. I think of her often and I’m lucky to have know such a beautiful person.
WOW !! , definitely why not, GO! GO! GO! .
By the way I nominated you blog for versatile blogger award:
(http://samokan.wordpress.com/2013/05/27/the-versatile-blogger-award/)
Ah, thanks so much. I’ll pop over soon to say hello. thanks again!
I’ve never climbed a mountain but this sure does make me want to climb one. 🙂
It’s a great experience, just really hard. I wish you luck if you do
Running or death… hmmm tough call. I seriously need to get back into the gym!
maybe that should be my chant when I’m running: run or die.
Your climb and heart of adventure inspires me my friend. I wish to follow your footsteps in pursuing what makes you happy and the drive to be at our best shape we could ever be. Wishing you an amazing 10K run.
Thank you very much for your kind words and support.
I’m with you. Deadlines definitely help, especially when it comes to running.
Completely agree. Otherwise I’ll say, “Oh I’ll go next week.” I need pressure!
Good luck with the marathon 🙂
I know you can do it \(^_^)/
thanks. it will be easier running it for my grandmother. she’ll give me the extra nudge to the finish line.
That’s a good deed you up too! Good luck for the run *do the cheering*
thank you very much