day twenty - oxymoron

20 Jan

Fun Run. To many, it’s one of the greatest oxymorons out there. A dichotomy. Not unlike trying to force two magnets of the same polarity together. It doesn’t even sound good when you say it out loud. But, none the less, I am soon to embark on my first of these unmentionable events for the year.

Joking aside, a big part of this project is doing physical exercise, attempting to repair and rebuild my body and seeing the effect it has on my mental health. To that end, I’ve walked approximately 184 kms and 213,000 steps this year, only missing days when the bushfire smoke was too dense and the AQI rating hazardous.

The first event for the year is the city2city Albury Wodonga Health run/walk. It’s either a 15km, 10km or 7.5km Fun Run (shudder), or a 7.5km walk and talk event, held on Sunday the 16th of February.

What makes this event especially appropriate to my Kilt Life Crisis project is that the beneficiary is Nolan House, an acute mental health inpatient facility at the Albury Base Hospital.

In 2020 all proceeds raised by the City2City will stay local to support a redesign and upgrade of the Nolan House courtyard. The upgraded Courtyard will create a therapeutic garden that is safe, tranquil, multipurpose and family friendly. The proposed upgrade will allow for therapeutic group programs and skills assessments which contribute to a sense of community, skill competence and social enjoyment.

I’m not yet sure which event I’ll enter, and I’m still not sold on the fun part, but you can guarantee two things;