RunningBlog: A Decision

A Decision
I’m not going to run the Gold Coast marathon this year. I’m not going to run any marathon this year. I know this sounds stupid, but it feels incredibly FREEING to say that. I know I said I was going to. But as soon as I said it, I felt weighed down by it. The next seven months stretched ahead like the worst homework assignment ever. It wasn’t like that last year. I don’t know what changed. But lately running is feeling less fun and more like a chore. It feels like something I only do because you guys expect it, and because I’ve made my running so public. It doesn’t help that I keep adding a new injury every six months. I hurt my right knee ten days ago, and it’s still not recovered. Every day that I don’t run, I feel a terrible guilt knowing that I’m “falling behind” on my goals. Isn’t that silly? I went out for a run this morning knowing that I shouldn’t, just because I felt ashamed at not getting in any miles this week. (I got plenty of exercise, just not running.) That’s just stupid, right? Who am I doing this for, anyway?! So when I got back to the house this morning, wincing as my knee climbed each step, I said to the Snook, “I don’t think I want to run the marathon.” And he said, “Okay.” And I immediately felt SO MUCH BETTER. I feel like that’s a big sign that I’m making the right choice. Right now to run would be to force the issue, and I don’t feel like forcing it. I want to have some fun. I want to face some new challenges. I will continue to run, but I’m not going to set any expectations on it. That feels good to me.

BA Trends for 2012

7 Trends in Business Analysis and Project Management to Watch for in 2012 – I especially like #1: “Divergence of the PM and BA Role.” This is a big one for me. I don’t want to be a PM, but my whole career people keep trying to get me to be one. They are very different roles, and it doesn’t make a lot of sense to have the same person filling both on a project. (The good news is that my new job will be strictly BA.)

Achievement Unlocked: Bicycle Commuter!

Achievement Unlocked: Bicycle Commuter!
Yesterday I survived my first ever rides to and from work on Tiffany. I spent some time working out a route that would avoid major roads and traffic. In the morning, I ended up cutting through Redfern to get to the Bourke Street Cycleway. Man, that thing is NICE! Separated bike lane all the way to work. Then in the evening, I cut across the CBD to meet up with the Snook and ride home via Darling Harbour. The worst part was the three blocks on Park Street between Elizabeth and George. I ended up getting off and just walking through that bit. (Too many pedestrians; too much traffic.) Both routes ended up being about 5K, so I did 10K total for the day. And I did a Spudds class too at lunch! FIT KRIS IS FIT.