What a day!!!!
It was only the day before my birthday that I decided I shall do something memorable on my birthday. A few days before my birthday, I wasn't even excited. I felt like it was just another day. My mood hasn't been too good either as I was pretty much down as I hate the feeling of being unemployed and also not getting my physio registration yet. The mood to celebrate just wasn't there. Besides, there isn't really anyone here to celebrate it with me. I miss NZ. I miss everyone there.
But somehow, on the eve of my birthday, I decided... I can't just let it pass like that. I might regret it. Sure, I do not have friends with me to celebrate but afterall, my birthday is about ME. Heeheehee.... And so, I decided to do a 21km run despite not running since the 23rd of December in Singapore. And when I say not running, it means not even a 10 min run since then. Haha!!
I heard of the 7 bridges run in Sydney. A 21km run. Always wanted to do it but never had the guts to do so. I am not familiar with the place and the map is tiny when printed on an A4 paper. But since now I have my baby Legend, equipped with google maps... there's no excuse not to run it.
I printed out the map anyway and wrote out instructions on when to turn left, when to turn right. Downloaded mapmyrun to my baby Legend so I can track my pace thinking I want to do a good run (what a joke!!).
Told my aunt and cousin about it and the reactions I got from them was... CRAZY WOMAN!!!
Swan called me at midnight and she also said CRAZY!!!! when I told her I'm gonna do 21km on my birthday.
I got a birthday wall post on fb from nat and it said CRAZY MONKEY with regards to my 21km run.
Hahaha!!! Crazy? I didn't think it was... till halfway of my run...
It started pretty good running across the anzac bridge as I knew the way.
#1: Anzac bridge
Getting onto Iron Cove bridge was pretty straight forward to as it was all the way along victoria road. Except I ended up on the right side of the bridge and doesn't have the pedestrian path and I had to go under the bridge and so I had to U-turn back and get onto the left side of the bridge to cross it. that.. broke my momentum a little.
#2: Iron Cove bridge
The run after Iron Cove bridge towards Gladesville bridge wasn't too bad. I gained my momentun back pretty quick and didn't have to stop. It was quite an elevation for Gladesville Bridge. Quite a big bridge actually as it crosses the Paramatta river. The view was nice and so I stopped to snap a photo of the view. Started to walk a lil as it was quite a climb to me.
View from Gladesville Bridge - Paramatta river
After crossing Gladesville bridge, I got a little confused as there weren't any proper road signs and I have no idea what road I am on. I saw a bridge that I thought was the Tarban Ck Bridge that I was meant to get onto. took the pedestrain subway and just ended up on the other side of the road. Had to backtrack and realized the bridge I saw wasn't Tarban Ck Bridge. Had to run a lil off road to get to Tarban Ck Bridge.
Once I crossed that... it was all downhill from there. The roads are so confusing and I had trouble getting onto Fig Tree bridge. The directions on the map was also useless. Used my google map and still had no idea how to get to the pedestrian part of the bridge. I was going back and forth one area about 3-4 times, pausing to look at my map.
Some reserve that i was going round and round at
It was at that point where I really wanted to just turn back and head home and forget about it. I was so disappointed that this is taking longer than I expected. So frustrated that my legs were killing me and I can't run much. I thought to myself: Maybe there's isn't a pedestrian foot path for this bridge. But from far, I could see people walking along it. Weird... how the heck do I get on it? And so I walked around again, walked back to the traffic light I passed, saw a bike coming off Burns Bay Road which looked sorta like a highway, and then stood there and tried to figure if pedestrians were allowed on that lane... and then saw no cars and ran on that lane as I saw the pedestrian walkway from far. Lol!
As I got onto the pedestrian part of the bridge, I saw a small footpath leading to it from Reiby Road. The road I was on earlier but I turned around too quickly as I thought it was a dead end as it says No Through Road. Gahhh!! It was meant for the cars! lol!
Once I crossed that bridge, I was really demotivated. Really gave up on running and decided I will just walk it. And because I stopped and ran, stopped and ran so many times... the pain in my feet, my toes, my thighs were just burning every single time I try to run. Stopped by a Shell station and bought myself a bottle of Coke. Wahhh!! best Coke i ever tasted! thank goodness I brought 50 bucks with me. Lol!
the point where i was so tempted to wave a car down and hitch a ride
I ran a lil afterwards but it was mostly walking throughout. I always seem to get lost when I start runnning. I would miss a turn and go too far or make the wrong turn. Aihhh.. and then when I realized I have to turn back, I get frustrated and then I walk it. Lol! It was quite a funny feeling really. Frustrated but at the same time, laughing at myself. No wonder people said I was crazy. It was then I decided, yes, I am crazy. But I was happy at the same time. Because I am on this tiny adventure and I will get to write about it.
It was around 11 where my mum called me. She was asking what I was doing as she wanted to skype. And so i told her I was out running. I said.. "i'm out for a LONG run." I didn't tell her I got lost so many times. When she called, I was actually running and so I stopped to answer the phone. I continued walking as I was talking to her and dad. And when I put down the phone.... I realized I made a wrong turn as I came to a dead end. I turned right into Shirley Road instead of turning left. And so, I had to walk all the way back up again. Hahahaha!!!
The Sydney Harbour Bridge - something familiar, Finally!!
Soon, I could see the harbour bridge and it wasn't that far. Got so excited coz it means I am not too far away now. Arrived milson's point and filled up my bottle with water, got onto the Harbour Bridge and ran across. It was quite a painful run across the bridge. The bum, the thighs, the knees, the feet.. they were all aching so bad. It was noon under the scorching sun. But I did it. I ran across without stopping.
Walked through The Rocks and along George Street to get onto Pyrmont bridge. Wanted to actually catch the bus home from george street and skip bridge #7 but I was so close to the last bridge. And so.... the final bridge. Bridge #7- Pyrmont bridge on Darling Harbour. The bridge I walk across everyday. Fom there, I made my final run... and returned HOME!
And so, that was the story of my little adventure on my 23rd birthday. That is how I am going to remember my 23rd birthday. What was meant to be a 21km, 2 hour morning run turned out to be a 27.55km, 5 hour adventure.
My body sure is aching right now am I am typing this out but I dare not complain to mum and dad as they will definitely say... "Why do you want to torture your body like that on your birthday?". Well, it wasn't a torture. I felt great after it, satisfied with a feeling of great accomplishment. I got to know myself better and did not expected to do so.
There were so many times where I wanted to hitch a ride, turn back or catch the bus home but I managed to resist all those temptations, and managed to avoid giving up. Despite all the dead ends, frustrations, disappointments... I managed to visit all 7 bridges with my own two feet. Which was what I was set out to do this morning. Sure it took almost 3 times the time but I eventually completed it.
And that is how I would like to face this year's challenges. I am facing disappointments and frustrations in my life right now, setbacks and feelings of coming to dead ends... but after today, I realized.. as long as I have the will power, the strength and focus to U-turn, backtrack, make a detour... I will be able to achieve my goals. It is all about putting in the extra time and effort (in my case right now, to fix my CV and over letter) in order to get what I want (securing a job). I mustn't be put down by rejections ... I must be strong and face all these obstacles and conquer them... and I know I can... because of what happened today.
This tiny adventure not only showed me other parts of Sydney and allowed me to cross 7 bridges... it also showed me what I am capable of doing. It showed me that I can do things as long as I do not give up, as long as I am willing to contribute. Perhaps this trip is a tiny preview of what this year is going to be like? And so, I am going to take this attitude and mindset of mine that I had today, and face the challenges that are gonna be thrown at me this year :)
Happy Birthday to me!!!
And and.. of course... what made my day even more special was the birthday phone calls from loved ones...MOH Ah Swan is not suprisingly to be the first one to call me!!!!! followed by my parents, the significant other and brother..... birthday emails, birthday texts, birthday wall posts on fb, birthday msgs in fb inbox..... thank you all!!! I feel so loved!!!
And my aunty cooked me a yummy dinner of steam chicken and my favourite chap chye and noodles... cousin bought me a watermelon cake.... and we all watched a DVD from my 6 weeks free DVD rental :p
And also to
Audrey, who wrote a
birthday post just for me and making me feel special with all the compliments.... almost burst my bubble.. lol!!! Mwahhhhhh!! love u to bits!!!!
And to my other half,
ah swan... phone call, sms, fb, and now....
a post consisting of three facts ... in which I was nodding my head for fact #1, totally agreeing with it.... bursting my bubble on fact #2, shaking my head for fact #3... hahaha!!! thank u!!!!!
So this is my 23rd birthday.... surprisingly a memorable one :) Happy Birthday to me!!!!!!!!!!!!! Heeeheeeheeeee......
