5K Cancer Research UK Race for Life

Well the hills of Heaton Park were a shock to the system (never again will I take the flatness of Holland for granted!) and the crowds were difficult to manoeuvre around too! BUT I did it – I ran a 5K Race for Life this morning in loving memory of my Nanna Eva. Despite the hills (that I've not once trained on!) I didn't stop or walk once and also managed to achieve my best time yet of just under 36 minutes! A million thank yous to everyone who has supported me on this journey with kind words of encouragement, to those that have sponsored me helping me to more than double my original target with an astounding £422.48 raised so far for such a special, life changing charity, and to my nearest and dearest who were there to cheer me on this morning, catch me when I collapsed at the end, then buy me celebratory ice cream – love you all. An extremely emotional and empowering experience today that I will remember forever and that I am very proud of. An amazing and unforgettable day 💗

C25K SUCCESS!

Well, boys and girls, I bet you never thought you'd see the day this girl was physically capable of running for half an hour straight without dropping down dead?! And more than than, not only enjoying it but actually quite addicted and often itching to get out for a run! 

Well, I'm pleased to tell you, folks, that I have just got back from completing my very last session of the Couch to 5K Programme and I'm absolutely thrilled with what I have achieved in such a short space of time. Granted, the programme, due to illness and holidays and life generally getting in the way, took longer than the 9 weeks it states it will take and I have accumulated more than the 27 sessions it should have been completed in, BUT I have done it and what an amazing feeling that is! 

I've now got 12 weeks before the race to speed up as I'm still being overtaken by EVERYONE (cue a barrage of mortifying high school cross country memories!) and haven't actually yet run a distance of 5km because, with my current pace, that would be impossible to achieve within the 30 minute running time you have during week 9 of the programme. My aim now is to improve my current pace of about 8min per km to 7min per km in order to run the 5K race in 35mins. 

I've just achieved the first part of my challenge so I'm hopeful I can achieve the next! Bring it on! :) 

Dutchie for LIFE...?!

What a day! I spent ten hours sorting through the science room and technician's room from top to bottom, which was actually a lot more fun than I thought it was going to be. AND I also received some very exciting news which was a huge surprise; I found out, one year earlier than expected, that my contract has been renewed... INDEFINITELY!! So I'm here for life, if I want to be!

I've not had job security sine 2010 when I resigned from my job and left for Korea. I've enjoyed every moment of my four and half years of adventure and not knowing what's next (it's been VERY good for me!!) but I'm now looking forward to feeling settled in one place. Absolutely over the moon!

(Worst day ever to be doing Dry January! I want a glass of celebratory wine!!! >.< )