'Allo 'Allo!

18.03.17

I was in the poop 

- Officer Crabtree (character from the British sitcom 'Allo 'Allo! )

My Berlin Marathon training is in the middle of Week 10, and before I share the recap of Week 9 and begin the draft for Week 10, I thought I would make a quick, "Hello! How are you all doing!" blogpost. :) I think I will just put this under the category : Random and Happy post!

I've been visiting blogs and FB blog pages, discovering new bloggers on Instagram but I have hardly time and peace to leave behind a sensible comment. So, as usual, I remain a silent reader!

It takes a lot of mental energy to interact with other bloggers on their blogsite, and I admire other bloggers, who could do this.

Even though I know I should not take it all - the process of leaving a comment -  too seriously, I want to always truly know the blogger I am reading before I leave comments.  Sometimes even by the bloggers, I truly know IRL, I struggle to leave a comment behind.

Often I have left, a "I am bookmarking and will read, tonight!" comment and I always worry :D hahaha that the blogger will think I am simply "making a presence", so "their readers" could check my own blog, and I am not genuinely interested in their blogs.

I know, crazy thoughts!!!  Perhaps in the future, when I have less responsibilities, I could blog hop with less over-obsessing. :D

I will feel freeeeeeee!

19.03.17

Taken by my P,
 last Sunday, at kilometre 7
of a total of 12 km
 challenging LDR training.

Behind me is the Netherlands Institute for Sound & Vision

The compromise I thought of is create a blogpost like this and maybe get to know other bloggers.  It is my baby step to NOT over-obsess about the one sentence, I would like to leave behind.  Specially to bloggers I have been reading and following for so long, as a silent reader!

I guess,  this is also my way of inviting my silent readers ;) to leave me a comment behind! Even if it is a simple, "Hi! I read you!"

See, I would not mind reading this, or a "I am bookmarking to read, later!" - I would simply be delighted to get to know my readers. :)

For the bloggers, I visit, I am surmising they would not mind as well.  Or, perhaps when they do check out, who I am, stumble upon this blogpost and discern from it, how complicated my thoughts are, how much I can ramble (and afraid to ramble on their blog with my comment!) hahaha AND they would "get it" - maybe. Maybe affirm they went through the same period!



By the way, I found the quote above from 'Allo 'Allo too  funny and I thought just about summarised my feelings and how my mind was from the very busy weekend before my 45th birthday! Long story for a blog, later.

The picture I have on the very top of this blogpost was taken by my beloved P last week, Saturday. It was before my  quick 4.5 kilometre. I was participating in a challenge hosted by Girls Love 2 Run.  It was about taking pictures during your run with Spring motive.

Today, we have a lovely beautiful Spring day!  I took some pictures to give you the impression of the day.

I love this sculpture called
"Meisje met Ganzen"
Girl with the Geese

Taken on my daily bike route.
It's currently closed for traffic.
Bliss to bike through and have the road all to myself!

This was taken from the floral shop
in the village's shopping centre.
They have a very lovely friendly staff.

I bought flowers in Jumbo, though.
They even gave me (other customers, too!) a free bouquet of mixed buttercups & tulips
because otherwise, they would just be thrown away.

My humble bike and the flowers for the week, home at last.
I am putting this picture, here to remind myself to go back to my water colours, again.
Flowers on the bike is a water colour painting theme I have been visualising in my mind.

Have a great day!

Don't forget to leave a "Hello!" comment below, if you happen upon this blogpost. :)

created 22.03.17 10:46 Wednesday
updated 23.03.17 09:06 Thursday

Be Always in Motion: 42 Days to 42.195 KM

Mijn liefste P & I after Paris Marathon 2013, behind us from a distance the Arc de Triomphe
BAM (Be Always -in- Motion!)!

I didnt pay attention to times or distance, instead focusing on how it felt
just to be in motion,
knowing it wasn't about the finish line
but how I got there that mattered.
Sarah Dessen, The Truth About Forever

Appreciation - it is a lesson I derive while I recover from my current injury.

Appreciation for my partner, my family, friends, and many people I have yet to personally meet but who all supports me generously in spirit, in my effort to make myself a better person through running.

I have achieved a lot in the short period of time since I begun with running.  This is something I had  to learn to acknowledge while I brooded over being unable to run long distance until I can do so without pain.

Brooding never really helps; positive writing, positively does.

This thought has helped me and kept me motivated in continuing with my blogging here about my marathon training even though there is not much to write about running.

Writing what I have been thinking while I rest from long distance running, and strengthen my feet to come back to it. Rest is a part of training, and keeping positive needs training as well!

After all, the success of finishing a marathon is much sweeter once all these hurdles have been overcome.  Stories behind the statistics of running (or stories before you go back to running after an injury!) are as interesting as the recorded mileage, and it's corresponding pace!

Speaking of statistics, statistics show I've ran 100 runs (as documented via Nike+ from August 2012 - August 2013; August 2011 - August 2012  I still have to piece together from various online records).  From being a complete couch potato to a multiple marathoner in 24 months.

All these statistics can't illustrate how much my life has changed for the better, though.

Running has literally helped me move forward; it continues to do so in the form of different goals.

Training for marathons, and running everywhere in Holland and abroad, has helped improve my mental health tremendously.

Blogging about this adventure, this transition helps me to consistently follow the path of a stronger me.

A collage of our weekend a year ago 18. - 19th of August
It is the 42nd image
from the FB album 42 for 42: countdown to Berlin Marathon 2012

In 2012, on a beautiful late Summer of September, I finished my first marathon in Berlin with a huge smile and tears falling freely on my joyous face.

running towards the finish line just a few hundred meters away
Berlin Marathon 2012

Berlin Marathon 2013 course

I plan and I am determined to finish as strong and as happy this year!