I'm the one in the Santa suit...

Sunday 1st December 2013 was a big day for me, to start with I had to get up at 6 o'clock.


In the morning.

On a Sunday.

Did I mention I had to get up at 6 o'clock??

I had been told that there was another 6 o'clock apart from the one with the evening news, but I never actually believed it.

It was the Variety Australia Santa Fun Run, and I went to the Newcastle event, which didn't kick off until 10am but due to an almost 2 hour travel time and registration etc it meant a very early start.

It was my third - that's right THIRD - fun run in 6 months...

I still can't believe it, I do Fun Runs!  Amusing Walks!  Joyful Rambles!

I had registered to do the 5km event which started at the Newcastle Yacht Club and followed the foreshore along past Queens Wharf Brewery (the 3km mark and official finish line) up to Nobby's and back to the Brewery.

I hadn't realised it when I signed up, but it meant a 3km walk back to the car when it was over - someone obviously hadn't heard of the 6 P's!   When I did figure it out, it didn't really bother me too much, the course was flat, and as long as I didn't stop I'd be fine.

I just thought of it as another milestone to celebrate.

Like when I tried on the Santa suit that Variety supply, and that you're supposed to wear on the day.  It's made of cheap polycotton crap, and has 5 pieces - jacket, shorts, hat, beard, belt...  I was hoping beyond hope, wanting desperately, praying fervently  for it to fit but knowing in my heart that it wouldn't, I was gonna still be too big.

Trish & Moi

The moment came to try it on, I opened the pack, pulled out the pants, stepped into them and pulled them up... to my knees!  There's heartbreak right there.

The jacket was okay as long as I didn't breathe.  Or move my arms.  At all.  In any way.

The hat was tight and gave me a headache, which I expected - I have an inordinately big noggin which hats of any sort normally do not fit.

Happily though, the beard was a perfect fit and I rocked that facial hair most of the way!!

Lyndal & Amy

Lots of lovely people - friends both old and new - were signing up to do it too.  There was my new walking buddy and old friend Trish who was also my daughter's Kindergarten & Sunday School teacher,  new 12WBT friends Amy & Lyndal with their hubby's and kids, and Madam Lash & her sister Lisa with their kids...

I'm the one in the Santa suit...

As much as we wanted to walk it together, there were one or two other Santa's there, and we got separated early on in the piece.  I have no idea how long it took Madam Lash & Lisa, but Amy & Lyndal did the 3km in 36mins flat!  Awesome effort.

Home security is my priority!

I have no idea how long it took Trish and I, because being sleep deprived as I was, did you know I had to get up at 6am?   I remembered to wear my HRM - but forgot to turn it on... I remembered to take my phone - but forgot to open the tracker apps... I know what time we started - but forgot to check the time when we got back to the car...  To top it off, when I finally got home, I found that I had remembered to lock the front door - but forgotten to bring the keys with me...





The plan was to go all the way from the Yacht Club to Nobby's and back, which would have been a total of 8km.  We were almost at the Brewery (3km) when we saw a couple of familiar munchkins running back the other way.  When we saw their Mum, it turned out they'd gotten carried away with the excitement of the fun run and instead of waiting where they were told, they turned around and headed back!  We did an about face and headed back in hopes of finding them.  Mum got to them before we did, which may or may not be a good thing depending on your point of view,  and we could relax knowing the kids were safe.

So our planned 8km walk turned into a 6km walk which I'm by no means unhappy about because it was still a personal best for me - I had never walked that far in one hit before!  In fact I don't think I've ever walked that far before EVER!

Do you know the moral of the story?

Don't make plans, it just makes (insert Deity of choice here) laugh!!

Recapping...

• Up at sparrow fart.

• 3rd Fun Run.

• Santa suits suck.

• I can rock a beard.

• Can't remember shit.

• Personal best.

• Don't make plans.