I did it!!!!

WooHoo!! I did it! I ran the 14km City2Surf!!


It was a rainy morning but it didn't dampen the spirits of the 85,000 entrants I was surrounded by at the start line. I was pumped and when I crossed the start line I was so excited to finally be running in the official race after so many weeks of training.


I wish I could have had the energy and ability to take photos along the way because there is so many people in dress up, bands playing music on the side streets, little kids in their front yards waving to the crowd and generally lots and lots of people having fun!
Heartbreak Hill was tough but I got up it eventually and when I finally started the VERY welcome downhill home stretch into Bondi Beach I was rather proud of myself for getting there.
I finished the race in 1:32 and am pretty chuffed with that result as a first time entrant! I'll be back again next year to try and beat it though ;)

Most importantly I have to say THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU to everyone who was behind me for this run. Family, friends and so, so, so many of you gorgeous people (most of you I have never actually met face to face) who donated, sent well wishes, spread the word about why I was running and pushed me along the way - you all ROCK!!!!!
We managed to get our fundraising tally to $3708 for Felicity's Son-Rise Program so a HUGE *high 5* to all of you, THANK YOU!!!

5 sleeps till I take on the City 2 Surf!!

Sneakers are ready, my iPhone has been uploaded with music, I've sussed out the public transport theory for getting to the start line... now all we need to do is wait 5 more sleeps and the starting gun will go off for the 2011 City 2 Surf!!
I'm rather excited about this Sunday's race and I can't wait to cross the finish line with a smile on my face. if you didn't know already I am running the Sydney City 2 Surf for the first time ever all in aid of my step daughter Felicity and her full time Son-Rise Program for her Autism. I'll be thinking of Felicity's cheeky giggle throughout the race and especially while I take on Heart Break Hill to help keep me going but would love some extra motivating support in the form of sponsorship if you can.


There have been many many early morning runs, sore knees, blisters and puffed out lungs to train for this race but it's only a tiny effort in comparison to the challenges Felicity takes on head first with a smile on her face. The progress Felicity has made during her Son-Rise Program has been AMAZING and for these to continue I will enjoy every step I run on Sunday in an effort to raise more $$$ to help Felicity's program go further and further.


For the ways to sponsor me through donations please click HERE or to donate with your credit card or paypal account simply click on the yellow Donate button below and follow the easy instructions.

We aim to raise $5000 and so far are at $3213. It would be so cool to run on Sunday knowing we hit our target!!

Thanks so very, very much from me and my little family in advance xxx





Giggeleberry Creations Update:
Our kiddie free long weekend away break was amazing! Lots of great food & wine, staying up late, sleeping in, window shopping and generally relaxing! We arrived home late Sunday night and have heard wonderful stories from the kids about their weekend with Grandma & Papa Giggleberry (more on that in another post).
Giggleberry is back to business with most orders up to date and in the mail. All emails & Etsy conversation have been replied to and I thank you everyone for being patient and lovely while I got to everything after a few days off. xx

Snazzy Shirts!

Remember how I told you HERE how I'm training to run the City 2 Surf on August 14th for my step daughter Felicity? Well let me tell you I will be running in style!!


A HUMONGOUS thank you goes to Christina of Billy Mac Clothing for designing some awesome shirts for us to wear on race day - seriously how cool are these!?! They match our Running The Marathon Of Autism website perfectly and will help us stand out a little more in the huge crowd on the day of the run.


If you don't know about Billy Mac Clothing then you should! Their funky designs on quality tshirts for kids (and adults) are too cool to cope! I have shopped at Billy Mac a few times for birthday and Xmas gifts and couldn't resist the super cool Easter bunny design they had this year... I bought one for each of my little kids and one each for my nieces we spent Easter with!!


Be sure to check out all the Billy Mac Clothing goodies through their website HERE and stay tuned to see happy snaps of me running in our new fancy schmancy shirts - Thanks Christina!!

Run Giggleberry Run!

In about May last year I was floating through the blog & Daily Routine of Sunny Mummy. I LOVE everything Stacey stands for: Mum's should "look after themselves first in order to look after their families best". I adore being a mummy but was not completely happy with how much 'me time' I was allowing myself... It was then I realised I was doing no exercise - seriously NONE. Besides following my kids round at the park I was not active at all and was becoming increasingly un-impressed with my waistline so I decided to do something about it. I set an alarm for some un-godly hour of the morning (I'm NOT a morning person). I put on my sneakers (I had to dig them out of the corner of my cupboard and dust them off first LOL) and I went for a run!
I only got to the end of my street before I was huffing and puffing like crazy and quickly dropped off to a walk. I walked around the block but when I got home I felt great! Sure I hadn't run a marathon or anything but I had got up off my butt for the first time since trying to lose weight for our wedding 3.5 years earlier!!
Little bit by little bit my walking pace picked up each morning and eventually I was getting up at 6am to go jogging around our block 3 times a week. When we moved house in September I found a new route to run and was running 3kms 3-4 times per week... I have since added to it and was happily running 4kms 4 times a week.
NOTE: This all started as a pledge to myself to get fit, lose weight and start taking care of me - I had NO IDEA how much I would actually enjoy it! I truly think I am a happier wife and mum than I was 18 months ago and all it took was a little bit of 'me time'!!


For the past few years family & good friends of ours have trained then run many races in our Running The Marathon Of Autism campaign to help raise money for my step-daughter Felicity's Son-Rise Program for her severe Autism. Each and every runner who has done this for Felicity are NOT professional athletes - They are mums, dads and even grandparents who love Felicity and want to help. This year it's my turn to join them!!

On August 14th I WILL be taking part in the Sydney City 2 Surf and I WILL finish the race one way or another! I WILL enjoy every step and I WILL be doing it for Felicity, myself and my family!


I have added 2kms to my morning run already (go me!) and now run 6kms every morning while I watch the sun come up but I would LOVE your support and motivation vibes please - I, along with 3 others (so far) who are running the City 2 Surf for Felicity would all be so thrilled to know we were able to raise money along the way. Please head HERE to donate to Felicity's Son-Rise Program that she has come so far in already, our family will be forever grateful and I promise I'll run a little harder up 'Heartbreak Hill' :)


THANKYOU Sunny Mummy Stacey for the reminder to take care of myself! I am happier, healthier, 15kgs lighter and thrilled I can support my family this way all because I took a little time out for me!!
Keep watching this space as I'll up-date you all on my training, race prep and our fundraising efforts along the way!!

City2Surf - Awesome efforts and results!!

And just like that the 2010 City2Surf is all over. What an absolutely stunning day Sydney put on for it - sun shining, crisp winter air and 80,000 entrants into one of the worlds biggest fun runs!
Carley, Jocelyn and Ian all took on the mighty 14km race as planned and all walked away from the day with a few blisters & sore muscles but most importantly a HUGE smile on their faces.



RESULTS:
Jocelyn - 1hr 16minutes (beating her last years City2Surf by 13 minutes)
Ian - 1hr 37 minutes
Carley - 2hrs 15 minutes

These inspirational runners should be so very, very proud of their efforts - absolutely AWESOME!!!!!!! Enjoy a well earned rest.

We are touched that so many people have donated via sponsorship for the runners and so excited that our total raised so far is $5061 that's past the half way mark of our aim of $10,000 for the Running the Marathon of Autism campaign.... and that's without seeing our latest Direct Deposit donations (they always take a day or so to 'land' in the account) - WOW!!

Next race we are gearing up for now is the Sydney Half Marathon on Sunday, September 19th. Jocelyn, Sammy and Nicole will be taking this 21km event head on - Go Girls!!

4 sleeps to go...

The timer is ticking away... at the time of publishing this post there is only 3 days, 20 hours, 21 minutes and 42 seconds until the 2010 City2Surf!
3 of the Running the Marathon of Autism runners: Ian, Carley & Jocelyn, will be taking on the 14kms in Felicity's name - AWESOME!!

This is your chance to sponsor these wonderful people for their marathon efforts and in the same action you will be supporting Felicity through her own marathon journey recovering from autism.



We have been overwhelmed with all the support so far and are thrilled that our donation counters are currently at $4506.
How awesome would it be to crack the $5000 mark before the starting gun trigger is pulled at the City2Surf this weekend??

With 3 ways to donate it's quick and easy to further support Felicity in her Son-Rise Program.

PAYPAL:
Donation via credit card can be made by clicking the below yellow button (you do not need a paypal account to do this)

DIRECT DEPOSIT:
Account Name: T J Costin
BSB Number: 944 300
Account Number: 012 598 461

NOTE: If you would like a receipt, for tax purposes, please send your email address, postal address and a copy of the direct deposit transaction to - tanya@intellectualdisability.org

CHEQUE:
Cheques are to be made out to: T J Costin
Please post them to:
Running the Marathon of Autism
T J Costin
P.O. Box 304
Church Point
NSW, 2105

NOTE: If you would like a receipt, for tax purposes, please include a note with your email address & postal address

THANK YOU< THANK YOU< THANK YOU in advance for all your support!!