Wednesday May 9th

We leave on Monday for China, the packing has started, thankfully the taper has started as well, and I can now say 'I'm running on the Great Wall next week'.  Wow!

The course looks amazing - up to the wall, then along it for 4 km or so, off the wall, down the hill and passing through 4 or 5 small villages before turning around to do it all again.  I have the camera ready and charging, and can't wait!  Despite the travel to get there, and the very early start on race day next Saturday - the bus will leave at 3 am - yikes!

Continent # 2, and I am fleshing out plans for the others now.  There is a part of me that would love to sign up for the Rio marathon only 9 weeks away, but I think that would annoy almost everyone around me.  I'll have to leave it to next year, I think.

I have become involved with the 'Yurrebilla Newbies' via Trail Running SA which has been a good opportunity to meet some other runners and a chance to do some group runs.  Beck and I did the now infamous (in perhaps a limited circle) 16km Norton Summit run that took us 24km along the Yurrebilla from Norton Summit to Black Hill and back via Montecute road and Chapmans Track.  It was great to meet some other folks, and good to chat to while away the km, especially with so much of my training being solo. 

I have really enjoyed the fact that I am doing this run with such a dear friend, and am really looking forward to the trip to China, and the trot on the wall.  I am feeling fit and strong again now, having battled with a niggley left hip for the last few weeks.  I had a terrible time at the SA Trail Championships at Cleland a month ago - I walked what felt like half of it, and finished about 30 minutes slower than I think I was capable of.  In contrast, last Sunday was the Pioneer Women's Trail run.  I opted to do the 19 km run from Bridgewater to Beaumont, rather than the full 26 km from Hahndorf (Adrienne was well impressed I opted for the shorter run), and felt great.  I passed people and was never passed (what a change!!) and I think I finished 3rd overall for that distance, and 1st female finisher.  Admittedly, most of the regular runners were doing the full distance from Hahndorf, but nonetheless - it is nice to finish up the front of the pack

I am still practicing yoga regularly, unfortunately it has only been about weekly in recent weeks, but I love the atmosphere and energy that Sue fosters in her studio, Yogafusion, in Norwood.  It is also great to bump into familiar faces so we can get sweaty together!

I am still raising funds for the Jodi Lee Foundation - I was pleased to see Bowel Screen Australia testing kits at Priceline this week - and I continue to talk to all sorts of people about the importance of screening for bowel cancer every two years from the age of 40.  If you are able to support the wonderful work they do, please do.  Incidently - did you see the news this week about the federal government increasing the scope of the government funded testing?  Eventually, all Australian aged 50 - 74 will be tested every two years.  This is a great initiative, but as I often point out to people, it is not enough yet - my mum is 62 and has not had a government test yet.  The system has a few cracks, so the more we can be aware for ourselves and our loved ones, the better.

Beck is raising money for the Pelvic Instability Association - a support group for women suffering from Pelvic Girdle pain, especially associated with pregnancy.  Both Rebecca and I suffered from this condition when pregnant, so she is highlighting how, by setting small goals, you can turn those small goals into bigger ones, and that there is a very fit and active life to be had after this dibilitating condition.  For more information, cheeck out the PIA site, 'like' them on Facebook, and donate via the links.  Of course, we also treat many women with this condition at Vital Core Physiotherapy - you can 'like' us on Facebook too, to keep up to date with what we are doing.