Yesterday I competed in my second ever official Noosa Half Marathon.
I went with my good friend Cheryl who was competing in her first ever 10km run that I had trained her for.

Cheryl went Sensational! She smashed over 13mins off her training time which she had only ever run 7.5km of and ran the whole course nonstop with a PB of 1:10:24 mins!! Well done Cheryl, I’m very proud of you, especially from someone who once said, “I’m NOT running a step!” It’s Fantastic to see someone take not only their fitness but their MIND to another extraordinary level!

I also smashed out a 21km PB of 1:59:24 mins!!! I took 4:11mins of my old PB and did what I set out to do which was crack the 2hrs. Results here.
Cheryl being a massage therapist was awesome and gave me a quick rub down before the race to warm up my muscles and being on a 10 day Detox I was hoping to be in prime form!
I started out strong and felt it! But I was disappointed when my right knee went ( patellofemoral pain syndrome ) at the 13km mark and the Nurophen I had down my bra in case this happened was not there!! OMG! I had to run the last 8km in extreme pain which slowed me right down by 30+ seconds per km.

But at least I still achieved my goal of cracking 2hrs, which is Excellent, even if I could have taken a couple more minutes off (there’s always next year) and being on Day 6 of my Detox, I can’t celebrate for 4 more days LOL.

We stayed at the Sheraton Noosa and enjoyed luxury and excellent service from the staff, porters and chauffeurs and enjoyed a sauna and spa, great for our bodies! We also just stepped straight out of room to the start of the race, talk about convenience!

Another OUTSTANDING weekend of goal achieving, thanks Cheryl, Awesome Work! x

I started walking 10km, twice weekly with Jeanette Maynes. I was getting quite breathless at times, just doing this at a brisk pace. It took me about 1:55 mins to complete.

I loved walking, as I could take in glimpses of our Hervey Bay beach, and started to feel more motivated. I had no intentions at this stage, of running however, as I thought I didn’t have it in me to run anymore. I was into Zumba, Tai Bo, Dancing, but no running.

I had not done any running, in at least 20 years!

Over a period of about 1month , I gradually decreased my walking time.. I noticed that the labored breathing I had begun with, was disappearing, and that my lung capacity was improving. After about a month and a half, Jeanette had gone on a weeks trip, and I wondered what it would feel like to run. I was curious to see if I still could run. So, I very hesitantly tried to run 200m. Yes. I could do it, even though the lungs didn’t like it much. I tried a couple of 200’s together. Now, I really felt my lungs working!

When Jeanette and I resumed walking together, I let slip that I had tried “the running thing”. Well, that was it. Jeanette, started to increase our walks to running time. She quickly increased the 200m to 500m, even though I though “this was really pushing it”. Then up again to 2 x 500m. The next week it was 1 x 500m and 1 x 1km. The next 1  x 2km. Over a period of about 2 months, we increased this to a 7.5kms running which left 2.5km to walk. I was so amazed, as I felt the “block” in my lungs lift, and felt myself getting stronger.

Jeanette, was always encouraging, and gave me some positive “self talk”, which I keep using every time I run. This keeps me focused when my body tries to tell me “I can’t do it”. When I really was ready to stop on a few occasions, Jeanette made me push through it. I’m so glad she did this, as otherwise I don’t think I would have made it to the next level especially when I ran 10km nonstop in 1:10:24 hr at Noosa on the weekend.

In the beginning, I didn’t think I was fit enough or strong enough to run. I also believed you had to have a certain physique to be a runner, Thanks to Jeanettes’ coaching, I now know I’m made of tough stuff and have thrown away those preconceived negative thoughts about running. Besides feeling fitter, trimming down and breathing better, running has also enabled me to think of other areas of my life, and ask “what more am I capable of?” A big THANKYOU to Jeanette!

Cheryl Virgo – 8^th May 2012

Last weekend I participated in one of the most amazing experiences of my life, ‘Unleash The Power Within’, a 4 day seminar with Tony Robbins in Sydney.

The main reason of attending was to firewalk which we did on the first day, I didn’t feel any heat what so ever. From then on what happened was so profound.

I completely reprogrammed my mind and have removed negative experiences from my life / childhood and created a new timeline.

I realised I was living my life with excellent standards but to reach the next level in life you must have ‘OUTSTANDING’ Standards which is only a 2mm gap you need to close. This will be beneficial in all aspects of my life especially my business.

On the last day we heard about nutrition which I also learnt some very profound new information and found this extremely interesting as I am studying to be a personal trainer.
I am now on day 7 of a DETOX Tony put us on and am loving it!!! No alcohol, caffeine and an alkaline diet + a few other new healthy & positive habits to incorporate.

This seminar was such a precious gift I gave to myself, the information was priceless and the results truly invaluable!!
Thank you Tony, you certainly did create value and more than expected!!!

Please, please, please start teaching your program in schools you could revolutionise the world even more by programming correct mind, body and nutritional habits from an early age!!!

Some other information I learnt from my notes:

- Emotion is created by Motion.

- Put yourself in a PEAK STATE!

- Who you spend life with is who you become.

- People lives are a direct reflection of the expectations of their peer group.

- Find a peer group that has higher expectations that your own.

- Find a team that is going to challenge you.

- Every single person has 2 primary fears: 1. You are not good enough  2.  You won’t be loved

- The only thing that stops you getting what you want is the story you tell yourself.

- Problems & Happiness have no relationship.

- Wire yourself for certaintly and you will find the skills

- We live what we hold in out subconscious

- Secret to wealth and happiness; to be a team player

- Treat people well who treat your poorly

- Life is about LOVE

- Proximity is Power!

- “If I can’t, then I MUST!”

- The secret of life, STANDARDS!

- Want to change your life then raise your standards.

- Raise your standards means turns your shoulds into musts.

- Compete with yourself.

- See things completed in your mind first.

- How much you earn or who you are in a relationship with comes down to your beliefs or values.

- Our rules & values can make it impossible to feel good.

- More joy = less or better rules

- When you are grateful there is no anger or fear.

- The secret to HAPPINESS is PROGRESS!

- I am not what I eat, I am what I digest & assimilate.

- 5mins of anger suppresses your immune system for 6-7hours

- Stress is the basis of what makes the body break down.

If you want to know the tools and strategies for an OUTSTANDING LIFE, book your spot for the 2013 seminar, it will change your life forever!!!! Click here to book!

- Learn the secret to peak performance that Anthony Robbins has used to transform the world’s elite athletes, entertainers, and business leaders.

- Discover how to break the unconscious fears that are holding you back.

- Storm across a bed of hot coals between 1,200 and 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit. (You don’t have to, but you’ll want to!) Once you start doing the impossible (or at least what you thought was impossible), you can conquer the other fires of your life with ease.

…You’ll test and amaze yourself. But, most of all… you’ll grow.

He’s the world’s oldest marathon runner & at the grand old age of 100, Fauja Singh is certainly showing no signs of slowing down.

Born: 1 April 1911 in Beas Pind, Jalandar , Punjab , India
Former occupation: Farmer
Running career: Rediscovered at age of 81
Diet: Ginger curry, Vegetarian
Marathons: London (5), Toronto (1), New York (1)
Marathon debut: London, 2000 aged 89
London marathon pb: 6h 2m

‎’I am not a learned person in any shape or form. To me, the secret is being happy, doing charity work, staying healthy & being positive,’ … ‘The secret to a long & healthy life is to be stress-free. ‘If there’s something you can’t change then why worry about it? Be grateful for everything you have, stay away from people who are negative, stay smiling & keep running.’ – Fauja Singh

[More info here Fauja Singh]

Letter to the Editor (Fraser Coast Chronicle)  in Full:
Having lived in Hervey Bay for nearly 34 years and owned and operated Design House, a successful graphic and website design and marketing business for over seven years, I’ve witnessed the Fraser Coast go from THRIVE to complete Nose Dive!

We need Clear Vision! New Ideas! Positive Energy! Excitement! Fresh Enthusiasm! Creativity! Leadership! … from a Mayor.

Don’t get too excited about going shopping or having a meal out as a large proportion of the businesses I thought were strong have had to shut up shop. You only have to take a scenic drive down the Esplanade to see this. Working in the business and marketing industry, I feel we should create opportunities and provide  seminars to train and educate our local businesses. Something as simple as a business plan can clearly forecast whether a business is viable or not.
Strong and feasible businesses create local employment.

Is it a matter of play spot the tourist nowadays?
Hervey Bay used to be the place to be!
Where are all the promotions for what we have to offer on the Fraser Coast for locals, interstate and overseas visitors?
I know we have Staycations but is this really working? There are only a handful of businesses registered on the website when there are thousands of businesses on the Fraser Coast? What are the figures? Are our tourist attractions and tours affordable?
People are doing it tough with everything going up except for our wages or senior pensions.
Why are we not promoting regional ‘package deals’ including and combining accommodation, meals, restaurants, free outings suggestions and a tour for a set fee, saving our tourists heaps of dollars and doing the hard work of planning for them?

When I was a teenager I briefly moved to Brisbane for work and entertainment as there was certainly none here for those under 18! From what I can see twenty years on, not much has changed and some of our teenagers are either bored, unemployed, leaving, drinking in the parks or sadly resorting to crime and violence. Let’s get them engaged, involved, trained with new skills, excited about life plus have more supervised youth recreational facilities. I started working at 14 and a half and feel as a teenager it is important to be working whilst still at school and learning life skills, not idle.

Upon leaving school, I couldn’t study my field of interest – graphic design here at the TAFE or University and twenty years on there is still not that option. A high majority of our locals whether younger or mature aged students are fortunate to be highly creative, let’s see what courses we can offer to keep them local.

I understand that current Councillors may have done their best to keep rates low, as this affects them also, but perhaps we could make changes within the operational budget?
A staffing review could ensure staff positions are achieving KPI’s and outputs, benchmarking the outputs and ensure that staff provide input into making their departments continue to run better, more efficiently, economically and are achieving results.
When rates go up so does rent, putting our residents under financial and emotional stress.
I personally know thousands of dollars have been wasted by Council on their advertising and marketing with jobs going outside the Fraser Coast and not a single local designer or printer being offered the opportunity to quote on tenders. By obtaining a professional opinion in this area the Council could save a fortune! How many other industries does this happen to?

Where are direct flights for all the mine workers, business people and tourists eg. to Gladstone, Rockhampton, Townsville or Cairns? What is the current figures and research? Let’s get to our destinations quicker, with less fatigue and road causalities. One could then spend that time with loved ones plus be home to spend your money locally. Why no local mining skills training?

More consideration needs to be given to community safety through improving partnerships with law enforcement agencies and the community. There is a definite need to lobby State Government for increased Police numbers for our safety and theirs.

Why are our severely ill and elderly residents travelling for treatment to other towns or even Brisbane?
We should be making life as comfortable and affordable as possible for these unwell people and have the  latest technology medical machines and resources local, if possible.

Let’s start some proactive regular large scale community fortnightly or monthly events targeting fitness, fun and wellbeing while promoting a positive mind and healthy lifestyle!
“Strong Mind, Strong Body!”
Time to start preventing illness, obesity and unnecessary health issues!
Our health professionals do a magnificent job so let’s not make them responsible for us. Instead as members of the community let’s be proactive and help to take the pressure off them by having excellent health and fitness!

Sadly there are many VICTIMS within any community (children, women and men) whether it be from sexual assault and molestation, domestic violence, victims of crimes, bullying, alcohol or substance abuse, depression, divorce, separation, abandonment etc.
Let’s support, promote and facilitate recovery, healing, counselling, education, growth, inclusion and the biggie ‘Self Love’! Make people aware they are not alone, people do care, healing is achievable and enable these people to become SURVIVORS and have confidence within themselves and the community.
Until we love ourselves we are unable to love others.

I understand all these issues are not at local government level but none the less they need to be addressed and I feel the local, state and federal members should be working together on achieving the same common community GOALS!
Please note I strongly say GOALS; something that is specific, measureable, action based, realistic, time bound, executed and recorded.

Unless the boys club are going to hit me with some ‘WOW  FACTOR’ Mayoral GOALS not policies, I may have to run myself!

My life motto…’Failure is NOT an Option!’

How cool is this website, especially if you are creative, check it out! …thanks heaps Jackie xx

Pinterest is a Virtual Pinboard.

Pinterest lets you organize and share all the beautiful things you find on the web. People use pinboards to plan their weddings, decorate their homes, and organize their favorite recipes.

Best of all, you can browse pinboards created by other people. Browsing pinboards is a fun way to discover new things and get inspiration from people who share your interests. To get started, request an invite.

What Can You Do with Pinterest?

Redecorate your Home, Plan a Wedding, Find your Style, Save your Inspirations & Save Your Recipes!

In January 2009 I was 6months older than my real age!! OMG story here.

In August 2009 I was 2.4 years younger than my real age due to diet and exercise! Story here.

Today in December 2011, I am 5.3years younger than my real age!!

What’s your Real Age?
Take the test today and start turning back the years!!! Test here!!
Make sure you read your full report, it’s very interesting!

OMG I would be SO lost without my Polar FT7 Heart Rate Monitor!

It cost me $125 and is the best money I ever spent! (Thanks for the tip T)

I use it every day to accurately gauge my calories burnt exercising and feel naked without it!!!

I even wear it when cleaning and gardening! (Obsessed!)

This Heart Rate Monitor is now down to $114 on ebay and delivered the following day!

Body measurement features

• Average and maximum heart rate of training
• Heart rate – bpm / %
• HR-based target zones with visual and audible alarm
• Manual target zone – bpm (upper limit)
• Polar EnergyPointer
• Polar OwnCal® – calorie expenditure
• Polar OwnCode® (5kHz) – coded transmission

Data transfer

• Compatible with polarpersonaltrainer.com – opt. with Polar FlowLink
• Recording features
• Totals
• Training files (with summaries) – 99
• Weekly history

Training features

• Graphical target zone indicator
• HeartTouch – button-free operation of wrist unit

Watch features

• Backlight
• Date and weekday indicator
• Display text in English, German, Finnish, Swedish, French, Portuguese, Spanish, and Italian
• Dual time zone
• KeyLock
• Low battery indicator
• StopWatch
• Time of day (12/24h) with alarm and snooze
• User replaceable battery
• Water resistant – 50m

A huge thank you to Steve Bates, the manager from Breathe Health Clubs Hervey Bay for sponsoring $50 for me to ride 45km in The Hervey Bay Neighbourhood Centre and Rotary Sunrise ‘Tour de Bay’ Charity Bike Ride to be held this Sunday October 16th in support of the Hervey Bay Youth Mentoring Program!!

In return I have sponsored $50 for Steve from Design House to also participate in this FUN charity event!

We had some amazing weather today for the event, especially after last nights storms, with almost 200 people participating raising a phenomenal $20,000. Steve had alittle stack at the half way mark but was not injured too seriously. I think I’ll do the 64km loop next year!

A huge thank you to the event organisers and volunteers!
The registration was smooth, the course was extremely well signed and the brekkie was delicious!

Latin & Burlesque dance performance!!!!
It’s Party Time!!!
Saturday 12th November 2011 @ The Bayswater Hotel!
Come and learn to how to SALSA & ZUMBA®!!!!
REOW!

RSVP Here All Welcome!

More info here!

HERVEY BAY’S OWN BUDDHIST CENTRE!!!!

PLEASE PLEASE HELP with immediate renovations it will bring you good karma!!!!

Please support Choeying our beautiful resident Buddhist nun to bring peace and harmony to our minds and community plus to attract visitors to the area to help with our fragile local economy.
When up and running the centre will teach meditation and Buddhist philosophy, offer massage, yoga classes, counselling services and a Vegetarian Cafe!
A perfect sanctuary to work on inner peace!

399 The Esplanade Torquay, feel free to drop in and lend a hand or offer your services!

For more information on The Oddiyana Dharma Sanctuary and meditation or to contact Choeying please click here!

399 The Esplanade Torquay, feel free to drop in and lend a hand or offer your services! For more information on The Oddiyana Dharma Sanctuary and meditation or to contact Choeying please click here!

The response and offer of support from the Hervey Bay community has warmed my heart and I dedicate their merit to the well being and happiness of all beings. I would like to thank the sangha members (Buddhist Community) for their selfless courage in turning their lives upside down to make this happen for the benefit of all beings. I welcome the overwhelming community support in helping this community centre be transformed into a place that brings the community of Hervey Bay together in a heartfelt way. A healthy connected community benefits the whole community…alone we suffer coming together with wisdom and compassion in our hearts we are powerful and peaceful. Thank you Hervey Bay with love and appreciation choeying xooooo

Fraser Coast Chronicle News on the event here and gallery here!

I had a fantastic run on Sunday at the Bridge to Brisbane, smashing my time from two years ago even with a sore strapped right knee (PFPS).

This really is a fun event and so well run and organised, I’ll definitely be back next year!!

My charity was Fraser Coast Meals on Wheels and $60 was raised, a big thank you to those who donated (Myself, Rosie & Karen) You can still donate here till the 11th of October 2011.

Time: Saturday, September 24 2011: 10:00am 

Location: Meet at the Torquay Sailing Club & walk to the Sea Front Oval Hervey Bay (3km)

More Info:
No Dogs.
Children Welcome.
Everyone is invited to support a great cause.
Registered with the foundation and asking for a gold coin donation to help a great cause.
Parents responsible for their own child on the day.

What to bring:
Water Bottle
Joggers
Sunscreen
Hat

MAKE SURE YOU WEAR A RED SHIRT PLEASE

Facebook Event here.

RSVP HERE!!!

The Daniel Morcombe Foundation, purchase shirts here.

A huge THANK YOU to Lisa Holmes editor of ‘Runner’s World’ (my favourite mag) for a mention, 2 images and editorial piece in this September’s edition!

On Sunday I ran in the second ever Cane to Coral fun run with my friends Scott and Tania who did the run with me last year.
I’m very proud to say we all did a PB this year! Race results can be found here.

I came is at ‎1:21:32 mins!! 5:33mins faster than last year. My run was really good and felt great. A couple of friends told me they struggled a little.

As per last year the heat was hideous but not quite as bad!
I really have no idea why the race is run at 8.30am so late in the day, a statement made by many.
Every other race I’ve done has started no later than 7.30am.

Also over an hour’s wait in the midday sun for a bus back to Bundaberg is not on. We were all quite sun burnt by the time they arrived, especially having fair skin. There was three buses for a race with nearly 3,000 people, common sense would suggest having a few more??

Sadly a competitor passed away during the run at about the 8km mark, a very sad ending to a happy race day. My condolences go out to Rod Young’s Family, Colleagues and Friends. [NewsMail]

The race was very popular with over 2,900 entrants and was extremely well run and organised. Thank you to all the sponsors, organisers and volunteers!
Can’t wait for next year’s!

2010 Cane to Coral story here

This is one of my favourite meals so I thought I would share it with you …  I think usually they say a cup of, not two hand fulls LOL!!!!  ‎4 ingredients …. any more then that and I FREAK OUT! (My Caesar Salad has 6, that’s tops for me!)

10.08.2011: Since I wrote this story my Dad said you can use up to 4 or 5 eggs.

I’ve registered to run in the Bridge to Brisbane 10km run this year on Sunday 11th of September and have decided to raise money for a local charity also, being Meals On Wheels Fraser Coast Inc.    

Meals On Wheels Fraser Coast Inc strives to provide delivered fresh nutritiously balanced meals and fellowship to frail, aged and younger infirm on the basis of need.

Please click here if you would like to help me raise money for this worthy cause! Thank you!

Or better still, enter the event also!!!

Last Saturday I entered the Gold Coast Marathon to do a 10km run.
2 years ago I did my first ever 10km run here without stopping in 01:07:33mins, story here.

Over the past two years I have improved a fair bit but never cracked 55mins for my 10km run.

On Saturday I was very happy to smash my time running a new PB of 53:32mins!!!

My finishing overall percentage has risen from 22% to 82% of the finishers in my age group! I never thought I would see an achievement like this!

My friend Naomi, decided last minute to come with me and also completed her first ever 10km with no training what so ever and came in, in 01:09:59mins, run / walking the event!
What an awesome and inspiring effort!
Naomi mentioned if I hadn’t of asked her to do a casual 6km walk/  run with me a month earlier she would not have considered this, but making that distance in 53mins with me gave her the strength to enter.
See, anyone can do these challenges, just take the first step and register!

I also had the pleasure of meeting Lisa Holmes editor of ‘Runner’s World Magazine’ my favourite running mag at the Race Expo …. (whose work and knowledge I greatly admire) !

Plus a huge THANK YOU to the 1,000+ volunteers who worked in the areas of event operations, registrations, sports services, marketing, road marshalling, aid stations and recovery assistance!

[Info via Holstee Manifesto]

Yesterday I completed another challenge, this one was the Kokoda 30km trail run through the Brisbane Forest. My body was still a little weary from last week’s Great Wall marathon and lack of sleep but I managed to pull of the task.

After some speeches, the last post and a minutes silence, we (myself, Scott and Tania) headed off at 7am into the bush and hills. OMG nonstop steep hills!!!
Next year if I participate I must remember to take my trekking poles, especially for when climbing back up out of the Hell Hole! Every single muscle was being used at some stage or the other and this could be felt the following day, our bodies felt like they have had an awesome all over work out, quite stiff and sore in all muscles and joints!!!

The morning was alittle cool but about half an hour in we soon warmed off and stripped our long sleeve compression tops off. It turned into a gorgeous day to be trekking and running through the bush and forest.

We had on our green “Smells Like Team Spirit” shirts with the print proudly sponsored by Design House! Every time we passed people they said, “There goes the green team again!”

My cousins Amanda, Mark and their friend Tom also had a three persons team called the “Challengers!”

I ended up having to dig deep after the Hell Hole and came in half an hour in front of my team. I was feeling so drained from the week before I had to keep moving while I had the energy, I couldn’t keep stop starting to catch my breath on every hill, I just had to keep moving! Pain was starting in my knee from my PFPS so I had to get finished asap!

My run keeper said I came in at 4:57:07 mins.
Doing 32.4km with an elevation climb of 1,257m!!!
Why the extra 2.4km?
Coming to a crucial turn that was unmarked all us at the front of the pack turned right and followed the leaders perhaps up to 100 people. Until someone came along and said we were going the wrong way, so all had to turn around and head the other way! On the way back some signage magically appeared!!
All the leaders were now up to 2 to 4km off track!
Why there was no marshal on the track to direct people and correct signage was commented on by several competitors.

When I finally ran in under the finish line the woman who was supposed to scan my bib to take my time said she didn’t think she would till the rest of my team came in?
I queried how am I supposed to know my official time?
A man I had chatted to at one stage during the race came and spoke to me while I waited for the others, he said he left his mate half way as he was lagging and they agree to do this before the race due to different fitness levels and said he got scanned in. I also passed several other people on their own on the track.
I decided to go back to the time station and informed them I wished to have my bib scanned.
After I said you have done this for others, the lady said, “yeah well we probably weren’t supposed to??”
(one would assume a time marshal would have been briefed on what to do and know their role thoroughly for a competition race?)
Anyway I FINALLY had my bib scanned at 12:09:32pm, 15 minutes after I had completed the race!
My team came in another 17 minutes after this at 05:26:55mins which was a fantastic result!
The woman said the time on our certificates would be the time of the slowest runner to come in. I said that’s fine, makes sense?
Our team time would have been over 20+mins shorter for our team if we hadn’t of run an extra 2.4km due to the direction error plus a time marshal delaying my individual result by 15mins on top of this. The website also gives you your INDIVIDUAL RESULTS official time … it would be nice to have that correct to try to better in the future.

There was quite a long delay for people registering, some competitors were still lined up when we started the race. As this was the Inaugural race I’m sure some systems could and will be improved upon for next year.

Our team ended up coming 9th out of 51 - three person teams so that was an Awesome result considering doing an extra 2.4km on top of the original 30km plus we are amateur fun runners!!
All in all we had a fantastic day and desipte those couple of things the event was really well run and fun, so thank you to the volunteers and organisers … the weather was magical ….there was a free sausage sizzle afterwards … we met heaps of nice and motivated people on the course …. and have many great memories of a tough but doable challenge…. I dare say we will be back next year and highly recommend this event to anyone seeking a fun adventure with your mates!!
What an Awesome experience to have the opportunity to take part in the Inaugural Event, this should grow to be huge!