We got Dirty, & We liked it

        

What better way to spend a stunning winters day in Auckland than with an amazing group of friends who came along to support me (and have a lot of laughs) 




Waking up this morning we were greeted with an 
abs-olutely glorious winters day, it was chilly with a light frost on the ground, but I could not have asked for a better day to go do my first Tough Girl Tough Guy challenge.  


The ever smiling Mrs J picked me up at 09:00, with her beautiful daughter in tow, the laughing started before we get to the end of my road... and it didn't stop until we all went staggered in our doors at the end of the day... 

Who could ask for better friends? Certainly not I.  

On arrival at the Woodhill Equestrian Centre, there was already a considerable crowd gathering with registration stalls handing out the goody bags and hundreds of eager mud runners ready to have some good old dirty fun.  

"These $3:00 Aviators are going to keep me clean and dry all day, just you watch."

"Bugger I've got mud on my new white t-shirt..."


4026 was going to be my lucky number... I could just tell. 

Here we go the first of a million mud swamps, and this was just a small one to get us into the swing of things..... BRILLIANT, loving it already

Who is that masked man?........  No really who is.. Peter 4680 ? 

 

Nearing the end now, sorry but there are no mid way photos, our lovely photographer wasn't able to get along the course, but there were many professional photographers, and I have a sneaking suspicion that the one of Mrs J and I stuck waist deep and laughing our heads off, just might have been captured for prosperity

Cold, deep and muddy doesn't even come close to describing the last mud'stical sliding down the bank into what quickly became thigh deep mud, only to be faced with a cargo net to belly crawl under, was a brilliant way to finish off a fantastic 6km run, slip, slide, splash.... bring on 2013, I can't wait..

   

It's Time to get Dirty

Sunday 8th July.....
It's here, the day I've been waiting for....... Let's do this thing........ 


Our photos to follow later today, I'm not sure why, but I'm off for a shower before getting ready for this madness.. 

Take a look at yesterdays Tough Girl Tough Guy Challenge

Two Down Days

Does not a failure make......

It's been a tough couple of days, dealing with stuff that saps the energy is pretty draining mentally and emotionally, but nobody gets anywhere sitting back and thinking woah is me... 

A busy day yesterday, met with two of my good friends, two of the crazies who are doing the mud run on Sunday with me, and through much laughter and silliness we decided that we will do the mud run as police officers.. thats if an $11.50 hat, some plastic handcuffs and a pair of cheap aviators makes us cops... photos to follow, I can't promise they will be good photos, but they will be posted, as proof I completed... shhhhhh don't tell them, they will never know.

Lunch was nice, I met with my Head Cheerleader, we talked, a lot, because talking is what we're do, and it was necessary, and this time it was more necessary than normal.... But just hearing the voice that empowered me to start this journey remind me I can do this gave me the push in the direction I needed.     Thank's you  :o)

Headed out for what was meant to be an early drink and tapas with a person who generously donated to my Silent Auction, considering I had been out since 8:30am and was not really dressed for an evening out in Parnell with the "beautiful people," I felt a little uncomfortable, but to be honest it was no biggie I coped.  So it was an evening of pleasant company, good wine, nice food, and what can only be described as variety of interesting people, it certainly made for a far more entertaining Thursday evening than I normally have.  It made me realise I really don't get out enough, maybe if I did I could have made a quarter of my Kenya target in week or two.  There were a few pretty generous offers that came my way as I shamelessly self promoted, and if even one of them comes to fruition I will be a happy camper... 

Watch this space!!!!!

All You Good Good People

It, was Friday and I'd promised the Mega Mitre10 guy a beer. 

To say it's been a tough week, is a bit of an understatement, lots of rubbish going on, that just drags you down, but it was Friday so no complaints there.  

But I just knew it had to be a good sign, that this was going to be a good day, when I got a very positive message via Facebook re: a my guest speaker, I'm not counting my chickens before they've hatched,  so fingers crossed.  I've mentioned the guy from Mega Mitre10 who generously offered support last week, well I promised him a beer for his generosity so far.  He had messaged me during the week to say already a number of items were starting to come in, I know I keep saying it, but I am astounded by how supportive people are.  

I'm constantly hearing "You're brave to be doing this!" it's not brave, it's just the need to fulfill something that has been burning inside me for 25 years.  I can't guarantee when I come back, I won't be looking for ways to return and continue helping there, or maybe once will be enough, who knows?

What I've learnt more than anything since starting this, is it really is about connections, the old adage of it's not what you, but who you know (or maybe who I'm getting to know, as I travel down this road to Kenya)  being the type of person who can talk easily to strangers has helped, and the passion inside me to achieve this, is what makes it even easier. 

My good friend Kerry-ann got the ball rolling last night, she came to meet me for a quick drink after work and we shared a laugh or two (always a lot of laughing with Kerry-ann) I head to the bar to buy the beer I owed the Mitre10 guy, only to return and find her not in our seat.  There she was happily promoting me and my cause to the table of 5 guys behind us, all of whom proceeded to be very generous in their monetary donations and their offers of support. "Thanks" Kerry-ann for being the kind of friend that gets off her butt and helps people, "thanks" random guys in the bar who gave generously, and bought me a wine.  

“When we're connected to others, we become better people.”
― Randy Pausch, The Last Lecture

The aim for today, my first "door knocking" to local business, if the truth be told, I'm a little scared.  But nothing ventured, nothing gained.  

Watch this space

Asante

Jacq

x

I entitled this post All You Good Good People, because anybody who knows me well, will know the importance of music to me.  I love the song of the same name by the band Embrace, but had never seen the video.  I had intended to link the video clip in via YouTube, but after going and finding it, I just couldn't, it has to be the saddest music video I have ever watched, it moved me to tears, but not in a good way.  So I just couldn't end my positive vibe on a negative note.  Brilliant song though.