My 2012

Again time to round things up.

So, 2012:
Training: ran 1800 km (a bit more actually, but not that much), swam 34km, 14hrs of aerobics and a few kms on bike. Ran my first marathon :)
Made 26 drawings (about half as much as last year. hmm.. will want to manage more in 2013)
Visited 3 countries (Finland [only Helsinki], Egypt and England)
Saw 2 concerts (Example and Michael Bublè)
20 books (again not as much as I would have liked. Probably due to renovating our house in summer and that taking most of my time)
Again good music
Good TV shows and movies
I enjoy my work and was given an wonderful oppurtunity to expand my field once more.  
Met some brilliant people in life and online.

Not saying everything was good, as always bad (so very bad) experiences and emotions were part of my year but wouldn`t know the value of positive things if not for the bad. Be careful what you wish for? Prince Charming kind of found his way to my life but apparently he was not MY Prince Charming so still waiting for mine :)

Quite wonderful year. Let`s see what next one brings.

Tom Riley Da Vinci's Demons

Tom Riley

So, yet another Tom drawing. This time from Da Vinci's Demons, Roger Kisby`s shot.

Would love to get this signed by Tom. Though I don`t actually want to send it to him, in case it will not get back to me.

A4, bigger than the one I did send and got back. This time a bit trickier. And he didn`t reply to my tweet asking if his agency is the best place to send it to. Hoping for a Christmas miracle.

Edit. Did send it after all, with the GQ drawing. He did reply to my second tweet :) But deleted the reply the next day :( I`ll see how it goes, fingers crossed.

The rooster experience

Couple of days ago while running I came across a rooster standing by the roadside. It was couple of metres from the road. As it saw me (so it seemed at least), it started walking towards the road. I though I would be faster but closer I came, the faster it started walking and reached the road before I could pass it.

Not the same rooster :D This one was actually friendly

The rooster stood and looked at me. Fine, let it watch, I`ll go behind it, at least that was what I tried to do. For some reason I did not feel like turning my back to it and rightfully. As soon as I had passed it, the rooster started walking towards me. I was like wtf? What do I do if it attacks me? I picked up my pace and so did the rooster until it was running while beating its wings. Like I wasn`t paniced enough :D But fortunately it was not that trained.

The next day there were two roosters. What? The thing is, I have run past them uncountless of times without them so much as looking at my direction.

Til the end

First off, I know it should probably be `till the end but I like it better this way. So I saw this photo that I fell for. Unfortunately I didn`t think to found out who took the shot. It was so very touching, representing everlasting love in my head for some reason, something quite rare it seems. And something I have not drawn before (part of face without eyes) so I decided to try.

Disbalance

I have an amazing ability to find people in my life who have an entirely different view on relationships. Not only relationships per se but friendships, or communication in general.

It comes out I tend to be more interested in people than they are of me. And still not only that. I can`t call it communication skill, I am not the best at that. But.. but when I am talking to someone/writing with someone I tend to be the one who asks questions, rarely the other way around. I get that I can speak without being asked to but if the other person shows no actual interest then..

So when I don`t take the initiative, start an conversation, ask questions, propose to meet up and do whatever, nothing happnens.

Rasmus Mägi yet again

So this is the third drawing of Rasmus Mägi .

Last race this year

Apparently last weekend was not my last competition in 2012. Today was Margus Pirksaar`s race, found out only yesterday :)

Track is 4.8 km (four 1,2 km laps around Türi artificial lake), my time 21,51 (exactly one minute slower than last year), fouth place. Again I lacked speed. At least something real to focus on for next year. My purpose for next year is to run in gold category in Estonian city races (all the longer distances). I have diversified my trainings with aerobics and focusing more on strength. Not going to reduce running either. Calculated my kilometrage thus far and I still have two and a half months to go :)

Paide-Türi

My last competition this year, Paide-Türi race, took place on Sunday, 7th October.

Not quite happy with the time.I ran 13.6 km with 69min05sec, though I don`t think I could have been better either. For the first time I actually felt I have the energy to run (held back from the beginning for some reason). I am happy with the overall pace but need to increase my speed for next year.

Rasmus Mägi vol 2

Rasmus Mägi again. This time tried to draw a profile even though I usually try to avoid these :) Faces look so weird that way. To me anyway.

It will not be my last drawing of him. Already started the next.

Rasmus Mägi

And I finally met him and got to take his picture with my own camera (he was cute enough to actually look at me, he tends to look away from the camera :D )

Rasmus Mägi

I have been trying to finish a drawing for a `Draw this again` competition for DeviantArt. But as I have probably mentioned it has been so hard for me to get myself together and draw for the last.. I don`t know what time.

Instead I found myself taking a new piece of paper and starting yet another drawing (not even going to count how many unfinished ones I`ve got). Which I unbelievably managed to complete.

Rasmus Mägi

So this is Rasmus Mägi, an Estonian sportsman, a ridiculously beautiful man. Knowing I could have done at least a bit better I will try again.

My first marathon

So, my first marathon, the most important and anticipated event for me for more than a year, is over and I am still alive :) The run took place in Tallinn on 9th September, named SEB Tallinn Marathon. I was planning to run my 42km & 195m with 4 hours but ended with the time 4 hrs, 3 min and 35 sec.

The weather was superb, sunny but not too warm. Windy but I am quite used to that. The track was wonderful, two laps of 21 km of quite even landscape.

The only worry I had at the beginning was how to find the pacemaker. Since it was my first run of that length (although I have ran 30km laps during traning but not with that pace nor that much) I did not trust myself to run alone. And pacemakers were provided for every 15 minutes starting from 3 hours. So I chose 4 hours but he started a sector ahead of me and I was worried I wouldn`t be able to find him. Luckily my pacemaker, Toomas Unt, carried two red balloons (which he carried throughout the entire run :) ) But that anxiety was needless, after the start I was easily able to catch up with him.
Drank in every refreshment station, sip or two at a time. Which brought another issue, because our pacemaker did not drink from the first station and there were so many people wanting a drink at a time so I had to catch up with him. But that happnened for the first station only, knew what to wait for the next one.

I was able to run beside/behind our pacemaker up until the 32rd km and then my legs got tired. Not for a second did I think I wouldn`t make it to the finish, but I dropped my pace considerably. And as I understood, I was certain I ran the last 10 km even slower than I do while training when I need to get my pulse down with extra slow speed. I was certain my time would be over 5 hours. I had a minor cramp in my shin muscles on the 41st kilometre and that totally freaked me out, because I knew I wouldn`t be able to run with that. But it only lasted for a few seconds (I know the mineral water I drank the week prior saved me).

To my utmost surprise I finised with the time mentioned only five minutes after my group. Our estimated time was supposed to be 4 hrs but Toomas Unt said he was planning to finish within 3.58,..
After finish I had buzzing hands and legs (probably due to my slightly drifted cervical vertebrae - I am not exactly sure if that is the correct word). As a result I have three blue toenails, blisters, aching muscles. And I have the next compertition, Paide-Türi race 14km in four weeks.
It was so cute that my family, all my workmates, my parents workmates were so supportive of me. The only thing, two people, who are important to me were not slightly interested. But, yeah, I ran for myself.

But all in all, I am so proud of myself for making it. And I am quite happy with the time, will do better next time :)

Lionel Messi & Paloma Faith

Lionel Messi

There will be nothing written about Messi, just to be warned :)

I have not drawn much lately. For the last half a year to be precise. Anyways, I was asked to do a comission work of Lionel Messi.

Paloma Faith

And then tried out coloured pencils again to draw the wonderful Paloma Faith. I love her voice.

Ye Olde England

Back from England yet another year older. Counted, it was my fifth time being there. Though this trip was solely to England excluding other parts of Great Britain.

Whitby

The tour included mainly small towns (which I loved). We visited Liverpool, York, Windemere and a lot of tiny places where Bronte sisters, Wordsworth, Ruskin, miss Potter used to live, pencil museum etc. Had plenty of free time unlike most of the trips I have been to.

Whitby

The weather was horrid. It has never rained that much when I have travelled. And I managed to catch a cold and I still do not have my voice back.

My group members were so lovely. Well, most of of them. We had some artists with us. And they were fine. But they had this exeptionally rude tour guide for whatever reason.

Ohh, and I managed to fill my suitcase with books :D Bought 12. They are so cheap there compared to Estonia. Not to mention second-hand bookshops where they were less than 2 pounds. Completely avoided bookshops after third day :) Hardest thing I had to do. And I would have bought more, so much more but we were allowed to only take 15 kg luggage (compared to the usual 20 kg) and I had clothes and such as well. At some point I actually considered leaving my clothes :D

And so I am yet another year older. My Birthday was rather quiet. Fortunately it was one day that did not include rain. I saw a rabbit. Got some texts. And had time for myself. Finised the day with sitting in the cosiest reading room in Belsfield Hotel in Windermere sitting in a sofa facing the lake with a good book. What more could I ask for?

All in all it was a nice trip. But somehow something was lacking. And I am going to go back to Ireland.

Drawings

:)

These are some pictures from 2012.

Zac Efron

Helen McCrory

Veronika

Elle

Example

Til the end

A bit unaccurate Audi ;)

Paloma Faith

Happy :) 800m personal best

I had an unexpected competition today. Well, found out I`d be running last week and had the chance to run some faster distances, but still. 800 metres this time, Estonian cities summer games and came in third. But not even that is important. My time was 2.27,9, being my personal best :) Couldn`t be more surprised.

Summer is so very close :) Rakvere Night Run

Rakvere Night Run was last Friday. I am actually really happy with the result. Aimed to run it with 50 minutes (10 km that is) but managed with 48,59. But the main thing, it was entitely pressure free. Still a way to go, but I am going to be ready for September.

Exactly one month til my trip to England as I discovered today :) Finland comes before it (got cheap tickets from the run). And I am anxious to find out what will come of my application. Would make things interesting.

Marathon, here I come

Signed up for my first marathon today. So, fingers crossed that I`ll be able to finish on 9th September :)

I have had the idea since last summer, when I started training practically solely for it. I am a bit scared, but determined (stubbornly determined as I tend to be when it comes to things I want) to finish no matter the time. Hope all goes well. First race this year will be on next Friday in Rakvere (night run), this time 10km. And then the third (but second most important) competition this year will be Paide-Türi run in October.

In the meanwhile. Egypt. Andrew Buchan

It has been a while since my last post. Took some time off from everything to write my thesis (which turned out to be for nothing). Anyway. In the meantime..

Visited Egypt, Hurghada, with my mother. Were there for 7 days. This was a trip that was ment for resting not being cultural as I am used to. Though mom wanted to go, so there went nothing. Good food. Walked around a bit. Took photos. Did not get to see the pyramids unfortunately.

Andrew Buchan

Andrew Buchan replied. Sent him a letter to the theatre he was performing in. This is my second letter to him and the first time her relpied.

Example

Finally I managed to see Example. Made two drawings in hope of getting them signed. Ended up with no autograph and lost the drawings. That was heartbreaking.





And then I got to see Michael Bublè. That has to be the best concert I have been to. He was absolutly brilliant. And I was lucky enough to get his abutograph









And met P.C. Damn it is with me and finding the ones who are unavailable.