"The sum of the whole is this: walk and be happy; walk and be healthy.
The best way to lengthen out our days is to walk steadily and with a
purpose."
Charles Dickens certainly knew something about what is an everyday activity, something still relevant to a 24-year-old bumbling down the dimly lit streets of Mt Eden and Balmoral in the late-night hours of crisp August and September nights in 2013.
I've taken to walking as part of my buildup to my run as a way of shedding a couple of kilograms en route to the date of that glorious occasion - the Auckland Half Marathon - on November 3, 2013.
The walking has been a blessing, almost therapeutic. There's something incredibly cathartic about walking in a darkly lit street listening to an assortment of songs that projected a variety of emotions. And memories.
In fact, it's the memory-recollecting music that had my mind blown. It's incredibly funny to see what thoughts dominate your mind when you have plenty of time at hand.
If there is one thing that I enjoy the most about walking that I hadn't considered earlier was that it helps soothe you. It helps to take your mind off anything going on at present. While the halfie is only some eight weeks away there's absolutely no doubt I'll be walking more after I finish.
--
I had the honour of speaking to some of AUT University's newest bunch of student journalists last Friday and it was an absolute blast.
The prospect of having an impact, a fleck of influence on a group who pride themselves on seeking information was a little intimidating, but I was rapt to do it alongside two fellow outstanding AUT journalism alumni in Kimberlee Downs (TVNZ) and Vaimoana Tapaleao (NZ Herald).
What was particularly eye-opening for myself was the genuine interest shown by the students at the conclusion of our presentations. It was up to the overseeing lecturer Dr Allison Oosterman to bring the forum to a close, something that in my own year was instead halted following a few brief questions.
I was then shoulder tapped by a couple of students eager to learn more about my time in the Cook Islands. I was so rapt that people showed a genuine interest and was more than willing to share any nuggets of gold they were after. Hopefully they were easy to take in.
--
The marathon training has been a big learning curve mentally as much as physically. With some eight weeks to go I could probably say I'm a little late to the party in starting to run longer distances, but it's better late than never. From this week I start running 9km courses for a fortnight before increasing a further few kilometres a week ahead of the big day: November 3.
Am I nervous? Shit yeah. Am I scared of being underprepared? Most definitely. Am I going to give up? Pfft. Get out of here.
--
I've also started with a nutritionist, who gave me the idea of walking at night, and I've created a new phrase in order to help me keep on track with my weight loss goals: Lean Maori Lean. Cue the forced laughter.
It goes well, however, with my other phrase as I eye the halfie and one that I will leave you with today:
"I took on this challenge
To improve myself
And to prove others wrong."
Take care, and until next time stay safe and please stay in touch :)
M
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