the noughties

Dave has told me off for being rubbish at posting in non-Swedish lately, and I agree. Totally. But - would anyone care to read about how I’m too tired to run after work as I’ve been up since half a work day before sunrise, how my mojo seems to have emigrated to warmer places, that I simply can’t face continuing my low-pulse training, or because of all of the above I’m simply feeling to blaah to post? Thought so. But – as I now more resemble a seal than a lithe runner and all my running tights appear to have shrunk – I need to go buy myself a new mojo if I can’t find my own. I’ll start with a rundown of this past decade to get myself going…

2000: Year started in London, as an anthropology student at SOAS (and briefly also UCL). Went back home to Sweden in June, wrote my BA thesis on integration.

2001: MA thesis on mobile usage finished, I headed back to the big smoke. Tried working with genealogy but quickly realised I preferred it as a hobby.

2002: Got a job in publishing, in marketing. Not my cup of tea so jumped at first opportunity to move into editorial/production. Started kickboxing – white belt in November.

2003: Company was reorganised, I continued in the same department but with new management, and promptly started looking for a new position. Blue belt in February!

2004: Still at the same company – after much arguing with boss who I’m sure most of all wanted me to quit (I didn’t say “yes ma’m!” enough) got a coveted promotion. Ran my first 5 K, challenged by a colleague: Race for Life (with crap shoes and nearly killed myself in the process). New job in October – gave up business books for academic journals.

2005: Started proofreading. By now a proper coach potato – so joined Reebok Sports Club London. Discovered surfing!

2006: Abseiled down 200 ft tall building, again for charity… learned to snowboard from a stereotypically handsome French instructor – clearly my French doesn’t suck as bad as I thought. Godmother to little E. Ran first 10K race – and first 10K ever – at the same time. Also 4 5K’s – 3 for charity. Left my job, shipped off all our stuff to Sweden and took off round the world. Via Las Vegas. And yes we did… Spent Christmas Day on the beach in Lima, Boxing Day on the surfboard. Ahh…

2007: Back in Sweden after 5½ months’ backpacking. Challenged a friend to run Tjejmilen. Also ran Oxelöloppet (5K) and Trosa Stadslopp (8,9K – 17 minutes ahead of slowest woman, woo hoo :). Running bug seems firmly attached. Worked 45 minutes away by train – which over here is a long journey!

2008: Once again ran Tjejmilen with Bibbi – this time our mums did it too. Bibbi, who’d responded to my 10K challenge with “let’s do a half marathon next year” didn’t run, so I did it on my own. Moved back to London for the third time – joined my old team for a part time maternity cover, excellent! The race devil has got hold of me – I ran 14 races: 1x100m, 1x1 mile, 2x5K, 8x10K (eventually managed to break the sub-55 minute goal time by 21 seconds), and 2 half marathons.

2009: Once again moved back to Sweden and could finally pick up the cat who’d been living with my dad for all those years. Again ran Göteborgsvarvet without Bibbi, but she did join me for Tjejmilen. Discovered trail running, and managed to drag myself round Paris Marathon. Freelancing as a proofreader – as well as full-time course administrator…

And the decade isn’t over yet…