Miseducation

For the second night in a row I've put on my new running shoes and ran (aka jogged/walked) around Songsvann which is a lake close to my house. It is next to the Top Athletic Center in Norway (Olympiatoppen), so naturally I wasn't among the fastest around the lake, but I definitively wasn't the slowest either. I ran past at least two 95-years olds, a toddler and a woman on crutches.

My mind went racing back to the good times with Ivy at Melbourne City Baths, our local gym in Carlton. We'd gone from super-cool Fitness First to this old charming building, with even more charming personal trainers and spent about half the time at the gym in the sauna. Sweating in a hot sauna is good, Ivy said, it's like anaerob exercises or down that road. The rest of the time we spent in the pool, being close to drowning due to laughing attacks discussing past weekends' atrocities and escapades. Here we came to know "Trappetullingene", "Puster'n" and Andrew, and it was mighty good really.

But for a short time now, until the snow kicks in, I will actually try to call myself a jogger. Not only because I quit Elixia and haven't joined Domus yet, but I'll try to see what all the fuss really is about. Yesterday with Trude was quite entertaining, but it took us over an hour (including dinner shopping). Today I was down to 41 minutes (wonder if it helps my motivation by posting lap times here?) (Better laptimes will be deleted from the comment box, so don't try bragging). But it definitively was more fun jogging with someone. Today I was on the last stretch of concrete next to the train line, having just started walking to cool down when an old man in biking shorts came up next to me, screamed through Maria Mena on my iPod "KOOOM IGJEN!!" Well, I couldn't give up then could I, so jerked the headphones out, and started running after him. "Breath in on three, out of two" he said, before adding his wife sucks at running as well, but this breathing-technique was something he learned from his gymnastic teacher back in the old days. I followed him the last 400 meters before he went straight and I went left and I yelled a thank you after him. Bright red, and out of breath I reached home, only to conclude I can do 11 lousy full push ups and can't reach my toes with my legs straight.

But how did this frenzy start? The bikini season is over, 11 months til next time my belly button have to face the world. Well, I was visiting my 6-year old cousin last week, and she wanted me to play Barbie with her. I got an undressed doll and eagerly picked out a cool outfit which I surprisingly couldn't get on. I asked Filippa what was wrong, if I had to pull harder or something, but she looked at me with innocent eyes and said "That's for Barbie's friend. She's thinner."