Leah Anstis: Continual Awesomeness

Article by Leah Anstis

Every so often James prods me to pen a few words. Perhaps to entertain you with my relatable trials and tribulations, maybe for me to vent, or simply just spend some time reflecting on the happenings and achievements that have crossed my path over the past few weeks. Either way, it’s a space for me to feel like I’m talking to someone without actually having to see anyone.

I make no secret of avoiding social situations where its not my idea to go. James loves it. He's learned that he needs to suggest something, I’ll shut it down, go away and think about, then suggest it like it was my idea all along. This particular quirk of mine has seen me avoid the racing/eventing scene for quite a while. So long in fact, that I’ve managed to turn it into this big hairy scary thing. I used to LOVE racing. Love it. I loved the people, the banter, the facebook groups, the community, everything. I was happy finishing in the middle of the bunch, I admired and wanted so much to be like the Lesley Turner Hall’s of the world (I still do LTH ♥). I was content being part of something. But after having Archer, I’ve become stronger and faster, and suddenly my expectations are so much higher to finish at the front of the bunch. Almost like I need to justify the time I take away from hanging with Archer, it needs to translate to results. You all care if I finish 4th or 57th right? Gah. It sounds so silly when you write it, but there is no reasoning with your inner crazy sometimes! 

​Anyway, I’ve ‘raced’ twice in the last 3 weeks. Once voluntarily, and once because James strongly suggested I do so. The first was the local Rotary Highbook 5km race, targeted at businesses to raise money for our local Rotary Club.  I took it upon myself to organise 15 or so of my workmates to come along too. I still maintain it’s the hardest 5km of undulating, ankle rolling, hay swimming running I’ve done.  This was a successful day for me, I managed a win, but more importantly I got another stellar race photo to add to the bank. You can’t fake this stuff. I’m a bloody gem.

A week or so later, came the race James suggested I run. The Rotorua Off-Road Half Marathon. No specific training, no specific taper, just turn up and blend in. I tried my best to not care, but secretly, as we all do, I wanted some particular results. They didn’t come, but they were annoyingly close (I wanted top 5 Female and was 7th, I wanted sub 1:50 and was 1:51). So that, paired with my not bailing the morning of was a reasonable success. Quite impressed with myself, because I assure you, the thought crossed my mind plenty! I can stand back now that my legs have stopped hurting and enjoy my success, appreciate that the result was probably ok given where I am with training, and identify what I need to hone in on before my next race (Loop the Lake).
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​I asked James what I should write about this time, and he said my continual awesomeness. I drove home thinking about that. Its often so hard for us to actually toot our own horn. To be outwardly proud and verbalise our achievements. But shit, if you don’t tell people what you’ve done, who is going to say ‘holy Shit Laurie Wilson, you’re such an amazing race walker’ or ‘Claire Fox, finishing Old Ghost is such an awesome achievement after all your PF issues, you made it look effortless’. That’s the stuff which makes the minutes/hours/days of suffering feel worth it.

I urge everyone to admire your friends out loud, admire yourself out loud….and ALWAYS embrace and share your ugly race photos ;-)

Article by Leah Anstis