First blog post

My very first blog post. I'm nervous. I don't know where to begin. Just write.

I have toyed with the idea of a blog for years now, but I have always decided that it was too egocentric for me and therefore never went through with it. But this time is different. I am in my final year of uni and face the prospect of finding a job next year. NEXT YEAR. From next year, I can no longer give the reason (excuse) of being at uni for being 30 and not yet having a 'proper job'. And that is scary cos now that I am actually looking into jobs and things, I think I have even less of an idea. I kind of have an imaginary job in my mind, but it doesn't seem to be advertised on Seek. Anyway, the area I am interested in involves writing, research, and that word which I think means something else to me than it actually is: communication. And these tend to include the internet. So that is why I am starting this blog - to learn something new, something that may prove useful later on.

The topics of my blog will be these:

1. Trying to run a half marathon
2. Being a mature student and trying to start a completely new career at 30
3. Planning a wedding

Half marathon - I have probably been thinking about doing one of these for as long as I've been thinking about starting a blog. Late 2011 I signed up for the Wellington Round the Bays which was to be held February 2012. I should mention I've always been a casual runner. It has always been my exercise of choice and I did it regularly, but never long distances. So it wasn't like I was starting from scratch when I started training for RTB, but it was definitely the most running I'd ever done. My longest run was one where I left my house in Mt Victoria and went down Adelaide Rd, through Berhampore and Island Bay to the coast and along the coast to Lyall Bay and back to Mt. Victoria. It was amazing! Just about 14km. I felt like I was floating, I think they call it being 'in the zone'. I was fit, I lost 7kgs and I loved it. On my next run, my calf muscle felt like it tore in half. I was by the NIWA station in Evans Bay so I had to limp home. I went to physio and that experience prompted the memory of doing the same thing when I was at school, after my calf muscle went while I was playing hockey. So I figured it was an old injury that never healed properly and I don't know much about muscles but I imagine that if they don't heal properly the first time, they may not ever heal completely. At least, that is the conclusion I've come to after this same calf injury happening again and again. I didn't run that half marathon. One great positive outcome of that time was the free trial at Les Mills that came with registration, thanks to their sponsorship. I started going to the gym for the first time in my life, and became totally addicted to Pump! Jeeeez, I love it. That was the best shape I have ever been, fit from the running and toned from Pump. I will get that body back...

Anyway, I really want to run a half marathon. I know I can do it, if my calf muscle can.

Study and career - As stated above, I am in my third year of my Bachelor of Arts majoring in Linguistics. I love it. It's so interesting and is fulfilling a passion and curiosity of mine. I just don't really know what to do next. Most students say this, especially those doing a BA. One day I would love to become a Speech Therapist but this would require me to do a Master's in either Christchurch or Auckland and that is not something I am ready to do at the moment. I just want to get a job and work for a year or two. I've been poor for too long!

Planning a wedding - yay! Nick and I are getting married next February at a campsite in the Marlborough Sounds. That is all we have planned at the moment, so there is plenty more to come with this topic!