Beach House. Travel Doctor. Cruise Ship.

Last weekend I stayed at our beach house at Omokoroa Beach with family - enjoyed just relaxing, eating, drinking, running, and sleeping. On my big run we went to Mount Maunganui and my little sister Mikaela (16), little brothers Jack (12) & Graham (11), and their friends joined me. I was very impressed that both Jack & Graham ran for 1:40, while I did 2 hours to run 18km around the beach. Graham even had a proper face plant fall during the run but just got up and started running again like nothing had happened - I did wait to check he was okay before I cracked up laughing hehe. Mum was waiting for us along the beach with my wee niece Ava, and when I finished the run I didn't bother getting out of my running gear - I went straight into the ocean. It was gorgeous, and we spent ages boogie boarding and body surfing... bliss!

Today I visited the travel doctor I was referred to, and she had actually done Everest Base Camp last year. On her trek a member of her group was bitten by a wild dog so she definitely agreed I needed the rabies shot. She went through everything with me from dealing with leeches, to how not to entice monkeys over to me! In total I will need ten shots, and two blood tests. I need a lot more than the standard trip to Nepal because not only will I spend a long time there in a rural area during monsoon season (hours away from a hospital), but also because I will be working with children.
I have also been prescribed Diomax to help combat altitude sickness. It is a drug that provides more oxygen to the blood. It is used a lot in altitude, and is very well known for its most significant side effect of making your fingers, toes, and lips go tingly and numb - very worth it if it stops altitude sickness having me evacuated from the mountain!
I spent an hour and a half at the doctors and despite all the warnings and vaccinations (which I start getting in the next few weeks) I became ridiculously excited about the trip - not the reaction I had expected. Must add here too, that I would 110% recommend Dr Bailey at Welcome Bay Clinic if you need a travel doctor - she knows her stuff.

Cruise ship at Mount Maunganui over the long weekend -
the same ship that we saw on our run today.

After the doctors, Tayla and I went for a long run around the beach at Mount Maunganui. After around an hour, we were struggling around the Mount but came around a corner to see the huge cruise ship driving by as it was leaving with everyone on the deck waving out! It was a total motivation booster, and we got a massive fright when it tooted its big horn. Very funny, and another random occurrence on one of our runs.... the more we run the more funny little things that happen. Although I have to learn to take note of where I park the car. This time we walked an extra 3km not realising we had walked straight past the car. Duhhhhh... hehe

These babies will get me to the Marathon Finish Line!

Yah... I got my new shoes this week!! And must thank my coach, Keegan, for sorting these out for me.... although am pretty sure you probably just picked the brightest pair you could find haha!

So surely, my runs should be perfect now and no pain or nout.... but unfortunately, although they are well better than my very old pair, they haven't magically made my runs easier. This past week has been probably my hardest week so far when it comes to motivation. Every day I have put on my shoes and done the training set out... but man, oh man, have they been my toughest runs. Keegan said to this, ' Two steps forward, one step back.' Definitely agree with that!

Although did find it funny that after one of my runs I discovered something on the bottom of my shoes (see below). So now I know they were definitely the perfect shoes for me eh!

This week on my day off I had an awesome catch up with my girlfriends in Auckland. Stayed at Tash & Mike's house after having a BBQ and reminiscing about school days - and laughing A LOT. Tash and Mike went to Nepal and did both Everest Base Camp and the Annapurna Circuit at the same time of year as I am going. So Tash was telling me all about things to be prepared for including the fact that Nepal doesn't have refrigeration. Her biggest tip for trying to avoid food poisoning is not to eat meat - NO meat whatsoever! Although she has told me of a place by the bungy in Kathmandu that has its own generator (in Nepal, power is turned off often during the day) and they do the best milkshakes. Will be visiting that cafe I think... especially since I am there at the start of monsoon season so 40 degrees heat and no ice cream? How will I survive hehe...

Will add here a congrats to Keegan who came 4th in the Challange Wanaka Ironman over the weekend. That is 3.8km swimming, 180km cycling, and 42.2km running (yes, a marathon too!). His athletes he coaches did awesome too, so I am definitely lucky to have him getting me ready for the marathon and Everest Base Camp.

.....But he does keep increasing my training so not really my favourite person at the moment!

So... the Doctor has confirmed the my worst fears...

...I will have to get injections - and A LOT of them!

When reading my prep pack for Nepal they mentioned vaccinations, something I had stupidly not even thought about! They recommended 6 or so vaccinations for 'roughin it' travel to Nepal.

First of all, I thought rabies was something made up that as kids we used to say other kids had. Nope, turns out it is a jab (in fact, it is the jab that you need when you get bitten by, for example, a random monkey)! And then there is Polio, Typhoid, Hepatitis A & B, Tetanus, etc..... I had a blood test today which will indicate whether I have an immunity to any of the above so I may get away with less jabs :-D fingers are crossed!

On the brighter side of my appointment, when asked about my alcohol consumption and I replied 'errr.. a glass of red wine a day' he actually said, and I quote, "Wow, that's really good - very moderate." So as the doctor orders...

Ooooo... and I don't really know what the blood pressure is all about but he took mine and oooooed and gushed about mine! He said it was amazing! When I told everyone this they asked what it was and I didn't really take note but think he said 95/60..? No idea so must get it done again for bragging rights. Must be the athlete inside of me eh... kickin that marathon's butt already.

The one comment I will ignore from the doctor was in regards to altitude sickness - something that does scare me coz if I get it, they pop you in a helicopter & goodbye my dream of reaching BC. I had said to the doctor that at least with training for the marathon I will be better able to cope with the altitude. He made a wee comment 'it seems to be the fittest of people that get altitude sickness' and then laughed it off and explained there is no way to completely safeguard yourself from it. Ta, Doc... a.k.a Mr Positivity! Forgot to tell him I have my weapon against altitude - Keegan and his altitude training machine (note to self - must chat to him about when I start that!)

I knew training for my marathon would put me out of my comfort zone before I flew to Nepal - but turns out there is more to come with these damn big, gigantic, horrible needles haha... after my blood test today I spoilt myself with a super duper massive bowl of Goody Gum Drop ice cream... so suppose I best make sure the freezer has a good supply! Don't think I have seen an obese marathon runner before?? So should be right eh - calcium for the bones! ;P

The Good, the Bad, & the Ugly... Highlights from my Marathon Training

 

Wairere Falls waterfall going up
rather than down. Crazy!

Well I am very proud to say that I have built up my running from 6-7km per week to 58km this past week! Actually cannot believe it, and the more I run the more I feel like I can do anything... but the runs can be very challenging at times and I will today include some highlights of recent runs!

• Running in 26 degrees heat with no clouds or breeze, and a hole in the o-zone layer! Spent 15 minutes running up and down the same 50 metres of road just because it was in the shade - boring but necessary.
• Being chased down the road by a dog who had bitten me a few years ago. Then spending the remaining 50 minutes running in tears before ringing my Aunty to pick me up as I couldn't get home without passing the dog.
• Running at Omokoroa beach with my older sister Tracy, and younger brothers Jack and Graham. While running up a steep hill, after 20 minutes, Mum slowly driving next to us eating an icecream! Of course, I ran to her window and had a mid run bite after failing my attempt to push it in her face hehe.
• Accomplishing my best run of 1 hour 45 minutes at a slow speed around the beaches of Mount Maunganui with my little sister Mikaela, and cousin Tayla. Feeling very proud, we enjoyed a swim at the beach, and fish and chips after (great post run food I am sure!).
• Hiking up and down Wairere Falls only to find when we got to the top we couldn't get to the lookout because the strong wind was pushing the waterfall upwards towards us!
• Looking forward to a very short run of 20 minutes (day after the biggie) only to find that it was the longest 20 minutes in the world and the biggie was very much easier!
• And finally, the best part of any run on a hot day.... jumping in the pool after is always a highlight! And the occasional gin or Pimms - not sure that Keegan would agree to that post run hydration technique....

So despite the horrible runs, they are necessary to really enjoy the goodie runs! I am still going in this training and see my drive and determination to run the marathon only increasing as I progress... as I like to say: bring it on! :-)

Hope & Home

I thought I would talk a little about my time volunteering at an orphanage in Nepal from the 15th of May this year.

Why do it?
I will quote Bear Grylls to answer this:

'I see volunteering as a character factory. It teaches us that there is more to life than having the latest clothes or getting a promotion. It reminds us that we're happiest when we work together for a common purpose that helps and empowers others.

When we are challenged, we find out just how much we are really capable of, and our confidence increases with each new challenge faced and overcome.'

So really, like with the marathon and Everest Base Camp, I just wanna give it a go and I'm sure it is something you can't leave untouched by the experience. I will admit right now that this part of my adventures terrifies me, absolutely and completely. Not just the 'singing toilets' (see below), but the fact that I will get to know these children over the month and although I am there to volunteer, I am truly helpless.

How?
I have booked my volunteering with International Volunteer HQ, a New Zealand company which focuses on affordable volunteering in places that need it. They have linked me with Hope and Home, who will place me in an orphanage in Nepal.

I will not know where I will be placed until a few days before I start. The reason for this? Hope and Home ensure that I am in the orphange that needs me most at the time. So I could be in Kathmandu or 7 hours away in Chitwan (where the Chitwan National Park is - with my fav animal the Rhino!), or Pokhara (a starting point for many treks into the mountains so gorgoues views from this small rural town) watch this space...

I will be living with a local Nepalese family and I have to say I am looking forward to it! I was an exchange student in Denmark for a year, and have lived with a host family before and the experience was amazing, and the best way to learn about a culture!

What Will I Do?
Well first of all, my primary role is to act like a big sister to the children in the orphanage. The age of the children will vary depending on the orphanage I am placed in. Tasks in the orphanage generally involve getting the children ready for school, hygiene routines, cleaning around the orphanages, supporting the other staff, helping with homework, and generally offering love and support to these children who do not have parents.

A Few Cultural Differences...
I don't think I will truly understand the cultural differences in Nepal until I get there and then it will be 'culture shock' - but hey, what you put in is what you get out of any experience so I plan to overcome these quickly!

Just a few for now that I have learnt about in my briefing pack from Hope and Home (some homestays differ, but majority will be as follows):

• No washing machines - handwashing only. They do mention that you can pay local woman to handwash your clothes as it does help them with school fees etc. But I think this might be a smaller of the differences!
• Very little hot water, if any - so cold showers for a month. But hey I will be there at the start of summer so will probably be the preference anywho!
• 'Singing Toilets' - this is what many are known as because they do not have doors. So when someone is close by you sing out. Also the toilets are usually located outside and are squats, so a torch is necessary I think!
• Eating - okay, so anyone who knows me knows I LOOVVVEEE my food hehe... The Nepalese eat two main meals a day, breakfast and dinner only (eek!). And these usually consist of rice and curry (yes, for breakfast too). During the day they also drink a lot of tea (yah!) and have fruit and nuts. This part will be interesting... I am intrigued!

I remember when I lived in Denmark and the U.K I had a few very funny wee stories because of the cultural differences. And so I look forward to all the interesting things that occur in Nepal due to cultural differences because I think it is slightly more differed to New Zealand. the U.K, and Denmark!

So that is a little about my volunteering adventure... I have moments of pure excitement and moment of pure terror when thinking about it! Bring it on!

Life doesn't come with a remote. You have to get up and change it yourself.

Happy New Year, Happy New Adventure 2013

Mount Maunganui beach on New Years Day

Ciao 2012, hellooooo 2013! There is something about the New Year. Suddenly (despite it just being another day, really) there are endless opportunities. Or maybe it is just relief to see a tough year gone & hope the next year will be easier....  who knows! 

I spent my New Year at Mount Maunganui (my favourite beach in the world!) at the Mangino's house :-) After a wee New Year's Eve Party and the youngins leaving to go downtown, Glenny, Spik, and I welcomed in the New Year with a few red wines - lovely!

Some Highlights:

• Spik getting the BBQ out at 1am & sausages on the menu. Must say when the youngins started to trickle back you would've thought the BBQ was a McDonalds drive thru - they were sooo happy.
• The next morning Sam taking a big gulp of her yummy OJ & discovering it had vodka mixed in it from the previous night.
• My New Years Day walk along the beach. So much happening on that beach.. cricket, frisbee, surfing, boogie boarding, fish & chips, sunbathing, sandcastle making... the list goes on! I stumbled upon the 2013 in the picture above, but only noticed the jandals later - very Kiwi!

So a BIG thank you to Glenny & Spik (& family) for making my New Year special, & for the constant laughs! A thank you is also owed for helping to further inspire me when it comes to photography. I now have a lens to go with my Nikon SLR body (thanks owed there to Sandra & Graham!). After chatting to both Spik & Sandra I have learnt sooooo much about photography & all the fun that comes with it - watch out Himalayas, I'm gunna snap ya up! Hehe :-)