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Since this is my first post on the forum i just wanted to bore you all to tears and write up a quick introduction to my background, where ive come and where i hope to be going
Where do i start!! ok, well i can now proudly say that i am a non-smoker! wow what a change to nine months back. Nine months ago i was a 34 year old Male who smoked a pack/pack and a half a day(sometimes 2!) hadnt excercised at all since high school! unless you would call boogying the night away in the early twenties excercise
One sunny day over a year ago i was invited to a StarBucks Staff BBQ. As it turned out at the BBQ one thing led to another, a few Basketball war stories told over the rasping sound of sizzling sausages, a few beers later and some built up male bravado mixed in with a hint of spice, i found myself facing off against 19 and 20 year olds in a 2 on 2 matchup of the century! with the 'other' older guy.. essentially it was the old guys vs the young pups.. i felt good about it, i quickly weighed up the opposition "they were lightweights" i said to myself, "We will take them on no problemmmm!" i thought.. Then there was the inner voice tapping me on the shoulder reminding me "Hey! you havent excercised in years!" with that thought in mind, my self belief took over and i was ready for whatever these pip squeeks could bring on! It started brilliantly i imposed my height as i thought i would although my shooting rader seemed to have seen better days hehe anyhow all in all the first 3 mins i was keeping up if not outperforming these puppys! i was into it, i was hungry!, i wanted to do well.. was the first time in a verrrry long time the competitive juices were flowing.. i even pulled off my trademark Vlade divac spin and drive in the low post! happy days were here again.. oh did i mentioned the 3 minute thing.. hmm yes that little matter, see i say 3 minutes it could have been 5 or it could have been 6 whatever it was in a relatively short time frame i found myself struggling to breath. It felt like i was breathing through a straw! i just couldnt continue.. i went to get a drink from the tap and i threw up! now from that day on i knew i had a problem and i had to change, it was that serios and i knew it. I had to change my lifestlyle otherwise in the story of life my book would have ended up a golden books picture book as opposed to a literary novel that it has the potential to be.. ok ok yes getting a little long whinded and overly dramatic but its my story so cut me some slack not every day you introduce yourself to the world and yes this is a coming out party of sorts so i will cry if i want to Ultimately that led me to quitting smoking, joining the Gym and taking up running as a lifestyle choice! Running has essentially, deeply and profoundly changed my life and im so thankfull for it. 6 months after i tread those first few tentative steps to my local fitness first i ran the northern beaches 7k Sun Run. What a glorious day it was, had to do the obligatory hands raised over the line ofcourse (always wanted to do that!) ran that on the hottest day of the year in 32m:25sec as a first run i was absolutely chuffed. Since then ive been running and enjoying every ounce of it! another crazy story, see originally i was aiming to do the city to surf and blackmores Half MArathon then i was sitting in the Sauna 2 weeks ago and someone mentioned the Syd Morn Herald Half Marathon, i didnt even know it was on so soon.. I at first dismissed it ofcourse as i didnt think i was ready even though i knew ive trained hard, trained very hard.. also the next day or so i was at a local cafe and i saw a flyer for running for premmature babies i read the story and i was touched..so i set out to test myself the following days.. i upped it to 15k from 13k and did it relatively ok.. always willing to give things a go i threw my hat in the ring ehehe yup thats right crazy old me is going for it.. Last Sunday ran my first 18k with a group of wonderful!!! ppl running for premature babies and i did the 18k in 1hr and 30min something.. apparantly thats a pretty quick time for a 1st timer.. mind you i felt every bit of those last 3ks.. upping it again to 21k in such a short time frame wont be easy i know but im excited, im motivated and i really cant wait for it.. i have 2 goals my 1st goal is to complete in atleast the 1hr and 50 something however my heart is hoping for the 1hour and 40 something fingers crossed over those last 3 ks on the day!
One last note i just wanted to say also there are so many inspirational stories out there and i guess i just wanted to say im looking forward to life and whats ahead! For an ex smoker thats a liberating feeling! who knows maybe even a marathon in the not to distant future
.. Living life to the fullest is such a used statement.. If i had a so called 'mission statement' in my personal resume id say id hope to atleast remind myself of those words from time to time and live up to those words the best i can, and you know what.. from time to time, i think i just will thanks to running ill keep you all posted.. cheers thanks for listening..
unfortunately those ill fitting sneakers may have caused and i stress may( Have to go to the doctor and check it out) have caused some damage 
as when i was running down a hill i felt my left knee kind of moving like a what i imagen a shock absorber to , more pronounced then ive felt before then a few ks later a slight pain. Since that run the left side doesnt feel 100% before i freak myself out im going to the doc tomorrow to check it out.. def want an MRI to atleast get a diagnostic of sorts either way..
