SUDDENLY AWESOME
10
I HAVEN’T GOT THE RUNS BUT THAT’S
what it feels like
Suddenly our Ms Suddenly Awesome has been beset by a suddenly bad knee. Talk about bad timing. Because she had suddenly been offered a work trip to the EU and UK and was planning on competing in a 50 km run. Read on the dreaded word injury has finally caught me. After flogging myself for more than four years, my left knee has finally said, ‘ah, I don’t think so’ and has decided to lock up on me for no particular reason. I can’t run and I can’t ride — all I can do is swim long distances in the pool and lift heavy weights at the gym. Now I know it is not the end of the world by any means. It is not life threatening; and it is just a knee injury; but for many years exercise has been my mental saviour — and it is taking me a little to adjust. My poor little doggo Barney-George looks at me every morning, his hopeful little eyes and a wag in his tail, only to be crushed when he
it looks like
realises no running again today. I have taken to trying to sneak out of bed but every morning he stands in the doorway, staring into my soul hoping for a run, and it’s killing me. And my mental health. Lucky I left angry Sophie behind when I ran the Melbourne half marathon in 2018, because she certainly wouldn’t be coping today. I think I am going to have to admit defeat and head to the doctors, my usual procedure of ignoring the pain isn’t working this time and it certainly doesn’t appear to be going away anytime soon. I was hoping to do a half ironman in Shepparton in April but that is looking more and more unlikely as time goes on. Lucky for me I have something else to focus on — my first big overseas holiday coming up. Well it’s like 99 per cent confirmed, and aside from a global pandemic shutting down the world with the coronavirus I will be heading to Europe in June. I have been given an opportunity to travel to the Netherlands and UK through work, so I have decided to add a bit of extra time and include Scotland and Germany as well. I think I have commandeered my brother and his wife
Damian DRUM MP FEDERAL MEMBER FOR NICHOLLS
to come with me because that sounds way too scary to do on my own — coming from someone who gets lost in the toilets in a shopping centre. Let’s just say my sense of direction is not great and I have been lost in a shopping centre more times than I would like to admit, so God knows where I could end up in a whole new country — I am a strong and independent woman capable of many things, I just don’t think solo travel is one of them. But what a great opportunity, I mean seriously how often does something like this come up in your lifetime? I have already been googling places to go and things to see, and of course that did include a bit of a look at possible runs, where I happened to come across a 50 km trail run in Northumberland — from one castle to another (how very English). I mean that race has my name all over it and if my knee does decide to come the party, I think this will well and truly be on the agenda as it has always been a dream of mine to run overseas. I had a feeling 2020 was going to be a good one — I just wish my knee felt the same.
International Women’s Day Sunday March 8
Contact my office for assistance with any Federal Government issues. 426 Wyndham Street Shepparton VIC 3630 damian.drum.mp@aph.gov.au damiandrum.com.au DamianDrumMP (03) 5821 5371
This year’s theme is #EachForEqual International Women’s Day is an important opportunity for us all to celebrate women's achievements and to calling for greater equality. Authorised by Damian Drum MP, National Party of Australia, Shepparton.
MARCH 2020
