I've emerged from my Olympics-watching stupor for an update. Aside from cheering on Team GB and Australia in fairly equal measure, I've been absorbed in an Olympic Challenge.
You might remember the awesome Jilanna who I interviewed about her lard busting triumphs last year. She threw out an Olympic Challenge on the Up & Running Forum. Challengers had to come up with a challenge for the duration of the Games:
My hope is that each person’s goal will be specific, measurable and a STRETCH for them. Think of what you are doing (or should be doing 
) now and then dare to dream a little bigger.
Initially I thought I'd just sit back and watch the ladies kick arse. But then they came up with so many cool and random ideas, such as:
- a sugar-free Olympics
- running 20.12 miles
- walk 50km in tribute to the 50k Walk event
- swimming the total distance of the Olympic swimming events
- running 5k for every Aussie gold
- cycling one kilometre for every Kiwi athlete in the Games (184!)
And when they started posting spreadsheets and charts… dude, I wanted some of that. I came up with a Podium Challenge:
Week 1 went pretty well – walks and weights done, but only 2 out of 3 morning sessions. That's what happens when you stay up past midnight watching waterpolo and volleyball and highlights of stuff you already saw three times during the day.
The rehab exercises went well (75% compliance) but the bike didn't happen as the sciatic pain was nausea-inducing bad last week so sitting on the bike awful. Back on track now, thank goodness.
What's slayed me is the bloody Dual Citizenship Challenge. Oz and GB are rolling in the Silver! As I write we've won 25 of them!
Tally nicked from Sydney Morning Herald
So that's 500 minutes – 8.3333333 hours of housework to be done before the torch is snuffed out on Sunday night.
If you're a neat freak like Gareth that may sound totally normal for an Olympic fortnight but it is torture for a grot like me. At least it's meant I finally sorted out my Wardrobe of Doom – that was a good three hours, despite Gareth insisting that "shuffling your claes about" doesn't count as housework. My challenge, my rules!
I'm surprised at how helpful and absorbing the Olympic Challenge has been – in the back of mind I thought I'd written up a recipe for failure. But I'm loving the short-term focus. It's good to be specific and measurable instead of "lose weight" and "heal the knee". There's also the fun of doing it with the other Up & Runners… not to mention not wanting to fail in front of your pals!
Now, back to my dusting…
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