Running for Outward Bound

Hi friends! If you are visiting this page, it's the first step towards getting your credit card out and supporting me in supporting Outward Bound. For those of you ACTUALLY about to get your credit card out - THANK YOU! Remember every donation, no matter how big or small, will directly help someone get a step closer to going to Outward Bound. All donations over $5 are tax deductible - so you'll get a little reward at tax refund time for your generosity now! I attended Outward Bound, Hillary Watch 579, in March 2013. It was, quite simply, one of the best and most rewarding things I have ever done. I was taken by surprise about how much I loved being down at Anakiwa, spending 3 weeks challenging myself, reflecting, setting goals and being more physically active than I had ever been. It was great for the soul, and I came home completely energised and ready to change up a few things in my life. Probably the biggest, and most outwardly visible, change I made was seeking a change of job. I wasn't happy at work. I had a great employer, but the role I was doing and the pressures of that role were really starting to get me down. The week I returned to my desk after Outward Bound was probably one of the most challenging weeks I have ever had at work. Before Outward Bound I had told myself that I needed to just accept where I was, that my hours and role were good for family, that I was lucky to have part time work, that I wouldn't find anything else that I could balance so well. In reality, I was working from home on my days off and I was stressed from heavy targets and expectations. Following Outward Bound, I knew that at very least, I had to pursue other opportunities. Long story short - I now have a different role. It is still part time. The hours are even BETTER for balancing being a mum and I am in a lucky position that I can pick up my son from school every day. It's less stressful and I don't have to take work home. I actually strongly believe that, had I not attended Outward Bound and realised that no goal is impossible, I would still be doing my old job and I would be miserable. Thankfully I had managers close to me who also helped on that journey. Outward Bound's motto is ""plus et en vous"" - literal translation ""more is in you"". This motto was repeated in my head hundreds of times while I was at Outward Bound - and this allowed me to stay true to my commitment to say yes to any challenge given to me at OB - and thousands of times since then. And when do I hear those words the most? Running. Running. I actually don't like running. Running hurts me. I have an embarrassing affliction, whereby any time my heart elevates above more than about 100 beats per minute, all the blood goes directly to my head and I feel like I am going to explode or die from the heat in there. It's common for me to be still bright red from a workout for an hour after I have returned to rest. This can make running a challenging experience for me. BUT - it's really good for me and I feel great when I have been out for a run. My first 3.2km run at Outward Bound was a struggle. I had expected the distance, but I had not known there were going to be hills (small hills) involved. I do think I almost died. Yet, somehow, at the end of the course I completed a 22km half marathon. One that included a good couple of kilometers of solid incline. This was the biggest physical achievement I had ever had. BUT. I came home. Winter and dark evenings arrived. I got lazy. I stopped exercising. Gained a little weight that I didn't want to have. Felt bad. So I decided I needed a new goal. A perfectly timed long weekend in the Marlborough Sounds set for January helped me formulate an idea. And then I made it happen. With the encouragement from Rob (School Director at Outward Bound) and Diane (OB Funding and Finance Manager), I am at this point now. The point where I start harassing people for money. On January 23rd 2014 I am going to go back to Outward Bound and run their half marathon for the second time. I think it's a kind of twisted way of getting some Anakiwa magic again! I want to raise at least $1500 for the Outward Bound scholarship fund, which will help other young people achieve their goal of going to Outward Bound. You can only come home from Outward Bound a richer person, so I am passionate about this organisation and what they offer the community. But to get to $1500 I need your help. Training for the half marathon is going to be fully up to me. I won't have the luxury of three weeks full time physical activity in the lead up to the run, so I know it's going to be harder this time than last. But to reach my $$ target, I need YOUR help. So, please get your credit card out and help me achieve this goal. I will update here and on Facebook regularly so you know how I am doing. Thank you heaps and heaps in advance!