Today was a bitch of a day, winter again – rain, hail, more rain, more hail, never ending rain… I hate winter… well I hate the wintry days that come after a week of beautiful, hot, sunny days where you can get out and run in singlets and shorts and be hot before you even start running. Whereas for the last few days its been back to running on the treadmill. And because I had those glorious runs outside last week – 5 last week to be exact, the most in a week for a while, and even swimming was vetoed in favour of getting some colour while running onto my lily white arms and legs – anyway, because I had those magnificent runs the tready was sooooo boring. I barely lasted a half hour each time. I was clock watching right from the start, which never bodes well for a lengthy running time.

I decided to run in tandem with Em today, albeit a very poor replica attempt on the treadmill. She was running the 1500m in her very first track meet, a really bad day to do it but she did a fantastic job in very trying conditions. I wanted to do a 1500m too, but had no idea what pace to run, therfore no clue what to set the stupid treadmill on. 2km warm up first, some dynamic stretches, a brief break and then I was into it. I did it hard in 6m40s but had a lot left in the tank when I finished so could have gone harder. A good first attempt but I would have rather tried it on the track where I could have a real gauge of my fitness. Next time I will – but not in a race just yet! 1.5km cool down and I finished with 5km for the day. I should have done more but I was really, really bored and just wanted to go home by that time.

Yesterday I had a really productive day. I woke up early and took Buster for a half hour jog. Weather was ok surprisingly, although I was back in skins and a t-shirt. In the evening after work I toddled off to the pool, the  first time in a couple of weeks – even though I’m not a swimmer by any stretch of the imagination, it’s amazing how I feel guilty if I haven’t gone at least once a week. I get over it quickly mind you, but the guilt is there initially. Anyway I had a great swim! I had an epiphany after 400m – and this sounds so obvious to all you natural swimmers out there but I assure you to all lame duck swimmers like me – well ok just to me – this was a real turning point. “Lead the arm stroke with the elbow”. Well duh I hear you you say. Yes yes very obvious. And to be honest I’m not entirely sure how I was doing it prior to having the epiphany, but afterward my arm stroke was so smooth and clean and faster and i was moving quicker through the water and not getting as tired and I did 200m just like that *snap*. And then it was time to get out of the water cuz they were shutting for the night BUT I could have done more!! 600m all up and I felt fantastic! Starving afterwards too. I never really get hungry after I run but after only 25 odd minutes in the pool (yes I know it’s slow, I did say I wasn’t a swimmer ) I could’ve eaten a horse.

So what else did I do exercise wise this week… It’s just crazy how fast this year is going, the days are just melting by. Thursday night I did 6km jog on the treadmill, again felt great. Probably because I was lazy Tuesday and Wednesday and didn’t do anything and so was fresh as a daisy on Thursday… And Monday I went for a 7km run along the trails from home. Sunday was a non-excercise day as I spent the day moving all my stuff out of my old house – I am free! free! The great thing about it was my sis and her fiance came visiting to help, it was so cool to see them, I don’t see them anywhere near often enough. Bad thing was I forgot to get their Eastlink trip pass. I’m so scatterbarined sometimes. To combat this I have decided to adopt a “patent-pending super-dooper never forget anything ever again post-it note system” where I actually write things down – preferably on a post-it note – put it somewhere prominent, and provided I actually refer to and read said post-it note in the not too distant and timely future I will never forget to do anything ever again! Brilliant no? And before you ask, no its not my system, I’m just adopting it.

OMG Steffi the Staffi definitely has some kind of stomach issue – IBS, celiac, something – she absolutely reeks when she farts. I’ve just banished her outside, I gave her one farts leeway and then she did another, impossibly even worse smelling, so that’s it, no third chances.

1. Immediate Problem

• A problem which the client is most concern

• A problem that is causing the current difficulties

2. Underlying Problem

• The over all situation that creates and tends to perpetuate the immediate problems.

3. working Problem

• Those contributory factor that stand in the way of both remedy and prevention which must be dealt with.