Fundraising Fatigue

I know it's not... but does the BBC have to make it look so easy?

It has been hard not to feel a little despondent today, as the generosity of the British people is being aired publicly on BBC television and radio for Children In Need and my fundraising hit an all time low yesterday.

Seizing an opportunity to break into the school market, poor C was sent in yesterday with a dozen chocolate muffins to sell at the lunchtime club his friend is organising. Significantly undercutting the school canteen I was confident that we were onto a winner and was busy planning what I could bake for next week, when a text from C put a bit of a spanner in the works. No one, apart from one girl and his brother would buy any and what should he do? Tempted to tell him to bring them home, but not wanting him to have to walk out of school still carrying the baking he hadn't wanted to take in in the first place, there was only one thing to do - refund the money and give them away.  I promise I won't ask again C.

An email from WaterAid last night compounded my feelings of inadequacy.  Apparently it is World Toilet Day on the 19th November and they are suggesting we kick start our fundraising with a loo-themed fundraising activity.  Thankfully I have my pledge amount for WaterAid already in the bank, because I'm not sure that five days is really enough time to plan anything, and I can only imagine the number of complaints that Al would receive if he told his students that anyone requesting to be excused from his lesson on Wednesday to go to the toilet will have to pay a pound for the pleasure!

However HMG if you're thinking this would be a great way to start your WaterAid campaign and would like to borrow my  bunting to adorn your front steps, perhaps you could attract a few passers-by in to use your facilities?! Aaaarrrgghhhh for people who don't work in offices (and possibly even for those who do) it is just not that easy to get anyone to part with their hard earned cash! (Unless of course you would like to pledge a large some of money to hear your name and have a really rather rubbish song played on Radio 2 - in which case it would appear there are lots of takers!).

So it was perhaps with a rather large degree of scepticism that I went to collect the face paints today for next weekend's adventure at the Leeds Juggling Convention.  I haven't even opened the box to look at them yet, let alone bribed H into coming downstairs to be my guinea pig (or tiger, or butterfly, or hulk?!) But I have enlisted the help of HMG and Garden Girl to come and be models next Friday when the face painter is coming round to give me a last minute lesson!

I don't mean to sound bitter, and I don't begrudge Children In Need a penny, in fact watching a little of the program this evening I am, as usual, humbled by the strength and tenacity displayed by so many people in the face of adversity and so very grateful for my wonderful family.  And my two thousand pound target may feel like a small drop in a very big ocean, but it will make a difference and it will be worth it . You Tube "How to Face Paint" here I come!

M - 543
Brighton Half - 100
Glasgow Half - 324
Total Distance covered      354.7 miles

Ouch!

But I think we knew it was coming....

(For the purposes of today's tale it is importanat that you are aware of a particular group of grown men who unashamedly go out in public in full football kit, they are known as Full Kit W*******.)

There is something incongruous about being rushed off your feet trying to get to an appointment the purpose of which is relaxation! I realised a little too late that I had the school run, supermarket shop, and three mile run to fit in before getting to my massage.

Lying in bed this morning I did toy with the idea of just getting up and going out for my run there and then but had left it just that little bit too late. I also contemplated not running at all (it is a rest week after all) but was reminded about something I wrote earlier to do with slippery slopes and fearing that once I've missed one run, others will invariably follow. With motivation low, and time at a premium I decided that there was only one thing for it. To get dressed as if I was going running and setting off as soon as I'd put the shopping away, no excuses. This worked well in terms of getting me out and round my 3 mile course, but meant I had to go to the supermarket looking like the equivalent of a Full Kit Fool (although I did dispense with my head band and running watch - so perhaps I managed to pass myself off as more of a gym babe!).

As predicted the massage was not of the hot stone variety, nor was it particularly peaceful as with two marathons under her belt and an interest in what I've found out at both the Biomechanics and Running Man, there was a lot to talk about (although admittedly I was rendered speechless with pain at certain points!). But I definitely feel better for going - perhaps fate knew what I needed more than I did!

Yet somehow I don't feel that the TLC box has really been ticked and I am clearly still hankering after a bit of a pamper session.  Still not removed from the mailing list (well it has only been a day) I received a voucher for a back and shoulder massage this morning, but having just looked at it is has sold out already, and to be fair I don't think it was really what I was looking for.  I'm thinking luxury, but given my bank balance I may have to settle for a scented candle and a hot bath!

M - 544
Brighton Half - 101
Glasgow Half - 325
Distance covered                  3.4 miles
Total Distance covered      354.7 miles

Christmas is coming...

and it's sent me into panic mode!

First thing this morning I got an email from a voucher code website highlighting today's top deals. Normally I ignore them (occasionally I even get round to deleting them) and I have for the past few weeks been meaning to remove myself from the mailing list as I never buy anything... until this morning!

Suddenly I became obsessed with sorting out Christmas in the twenty minutes between the boys appearing downstairs for their breakfast and leaving for school! Is this a good offer? Should I buy this? Would you like that? Not surprisingly we didn't seem to reach any conclusions, yet somehow Al and I have some new headphones on their way despite neither of us really needing them! I then seemed to spend the rest of the day in a bit of a tizz and, despite trying my best to work my way through my to do list, didn't make much progress.

I'm not sure how much of this is my fault, and had I been in a different frame of mind perhaps I would have just dealt with the problems differently but as they were of a computing nature I'm not sure I would ever have known how to fix them irrespective of my state of mind.

I was trying to upload photographs to be printed, and my pc kept crashing, the one time that it didn't and I got as far as ordering them, for some reason it wasn't processed and I was told (after ringing them up) that I'd have to start again.  I've had problems logging in to my account because there are two different sites running off the same page (another phone call) and interrupted on my last attempt I left the items in my basket to buy later, only to discover that they aren't stored anywhere and I have to start all over again! (phone call number three).

I've had a gentleman in India remotely accessing my computer to try and help speed things up a bit (such are the wonders of the modern world!) but I don't know if it's worked or not yet because after an evening of chauffeur duties I decided to get this written before giving it one last shot for the day, not trusting myself to be in any fit shape to write this if it doesn't!

Hot stones or deep muscle manipulation at tomorrow's massage - either way the poor woman's got her work cut out for her trying to de-stress this body - I think my mind may be beyond repair!

M - 545
Brighton Half - 102
Glasgow Half - 326
Total Distance covered      351.3 miles

Running on empty

Time for some TLC...

Having ascertained that I like to run first thing in the morning, there isn't much that will tempt me into postponing until later in the day... but the chance to go back to the fabric sale and buy a couple (or ten) more pieces for my fabric emporium was enough to tempt me into changing my routine. I'm glad I went and got the fabric, I'm less than pleased that I didn't plan my day better thereafter!

It was cold today and a bit grey, and all I wanted to do was get to the point where I didn't have to go out again! I couldn't face going for my run, coming home and showering only to have to head straight back out with the dogs.  I was all set to run post dog walk when I remembered that the boys had dentist appointments after school which would have meant heading straight back out to pick them up after school.  In the end I opted for phoning Al and offering him the chance to run with me after work, giving me the pleasure of his company on the run (provided he stayed alongside or behind!) and the added bonus of coming home and getting into my pyjama's before tea!

Trouble was, I didn't plan my food or water intake at all well for the day and by the time he got home I was in a foul mood, tired, hungry and dehydrated - I'm surprised he didn't leave me for dust! In the end we had a nice run but I think I need to start taking better care of myself.

I have finished working on our running schedule for Brighton, the next fourteen and a half weeks mapped out in front of me and HMG, and I think it's somewhat of a surprise to both of us that we feel it is achievable! We will be able to do this (as will you sisterofMG750 when you stop jet setting around the world long enough to get out for a run - but well done for your 8 miles on Sunday!). BUT the focus now has to be on keeping ourselves fit and healthy.

I need to start looking at what I'm eating and getting my water intake back up to the three litres a day it is supposed to be, but most importantly I need to get some sleep! No more sorting fabric at half eleven at night and then waking up thinking about the bits I didn't buy!

In an attempt to relax I decided to book myself a massage on Thursday and spent the vast majority of the afternoon picturing hot stones, smelly candles, and soothing music when suddenly it dawned on me that perhaps having been handed the flyer at parkrun on Saturday it might be 50% off a massage of the Sports Torture variety! Best get on with some foam rollering in preparation for it - just in case!

M - 546
Brighton Half - 103
Glasgow Half - 327
Distance covered                  3.4 miles
Total Distance covered      351.3 miles

PS Just looked her up on the internet... a Level 5 Advanced Diploma in Sports Therapy - not looking promising on the hot stone front!

Speculate

to accumulate - I hope so!

I was doing so well - supermarket, ironing, finances, running schedule, phone call from my friend alerting me to a fabric clearance sale, dog walking.... fabric shopping!

"I've just got one more piece of fabric to find" Ha! Ha! Ha! I have never bought so much material in my life, and I mean in total never mind in one go! I have no idea where I am going to store it, but I may well have run my marathon before I've finished sewing it! 

I have done no market research into the current demand for beautiful handmade shopping bags, but it doesn't matter. I will have to sell these whether anyone wants them or not! I am hopeful that the current policy of charging for carrier bags in Scotland will be rolled out to England in the near future, and going out with a 'designer' tote will be just what every girl needs.

You have all be warned! I can say that the fabric is fab-u-lous and they will be items to covet, and entirely original but it may well be into the New Year before I've finished sorting the fabric let alone started to sew!

But it's exciting and I'm ENERGISED sisterofMG750 and perhaps this is why my card 'business' has failed to take off (although thanks for the order sis) because rather than a creative card maker, I'm destined to be a bag lady! Oh dear quick look on the urban dictionary - weird looking outfits, fuzzy hair and a hat - that might be me already!

And so, if I'm going to start 'work' in the New Year then I have to be organised and ready to do so... Eight weeks to get my life in order? I'd better get a move on!


M - 547
Brighton Half - 104
Glasgow Half - 328
Total Distance covered      347.9 miles

PS Apologies to those who read via Twitter I forgot to post yesterday's double bill until this morning - it is now on there and at least explains why viewing figures were so low last night!

Creature of habit

My new norm and my old traits!

Whereas on Thursday I was in a really bad place and could quite happily have put my trainers on the shoe rack for an extended rest, today all I wanted to do was run! (I think this may have been a combination of some left over euphoria from yesterday, a beautiful sunny autumn morning, and the fact that it was a rest day!) Instead I contented myself with planning our ten mile route from the comfort of the sofa, trying to find one that I know we'll enjoy and for once doesn't have to end at Dewbury parkrun, but I am genuinely gutted that I'm going to have to wait a fortnight to run it!

This coming week is our first 'rest' week where we are cutting the mileage down, the week after we are shifting our long run from Saturday to Sunday to accommodate the juggling convention, and therefore doesn't have to factor in parkrun - hence the change of route.

None of the effects of these changes will actually come into force until later in the week, but already I'm feeling odd about it! Our long run to parkrun clearly having become the norm - but it will be nice not to have to set off quite so early. I am refusing to do the maths to work out what time we'll have to set off the day we run ten miles to parkrun! (but it may be somewhere around half past six!)

Had a nice relaxing Sunday, working out the dimensions and sorting fabric for my next sewing project. Started to feel guilty that I wasn't doing any of my jobs, and then reminded myself that it's the weekend and I deserve a day off! (Not sure what tomorrow's excuse is going to be!).

Actually what I need to do today is spend some time deciding where my focus is going to be for the coming week. I have a long list of jobs that hold much higher priority than sewing, but it is quickly becoming the only thing I am fixating on! Like my 'no exercises - no blog' mantra that worked so well for a couple of weeks perhaps I need a 'no jobs - no sewing' equivalent. In the meantime I've just got one more piece of fabric to find... and a trawl through the internet looking for the perfect piece surely doesn't count as actually sewing!

M - 548
Brighton Half - 105
Glasgow Half - 329
Total Distance covered      347.9 miles

On Cloud Nine

miles!

We did it!! HMG and I ran NINE miles this morning (smiley face, smiley face, smiley face!), almost three quarters of half a marathon! Bring it on Brighton - we can do this!! But not if we've to run the route we ran this morning again!

It was horrid, not significantly different to where we've been running previously but amazing the difference changing a couple of roads can make. Admittedly it was a mile further and perhaps we would have felt it wherever we were running but I don't think so. Fear not though HMG, I have been playing around on mapometer and found us an alternative for when we revisit nine miles some time in January!

Whether we liked it or not - we did it - and arrived at parkrun with just enough time for a few quick hello's (and the pre-requisite toilet stop!) before we were off again for the final three miles.  For once in my life I started off slower than normal and then let my pace build more naturally, it seemed to work and I think I'm finally starting to see some strength in my legs as a result of our increased mileage.  (Already I'm trying to work out what would be my optimum warm up distance if I wanted to have a go at setting a new parkrun PB - clearly still a speed freak at heart!).

Talking of which, watching Mrs Motivator's face break into a smile as she crossed the finish line knowing that she'd got a long awaited, post injury, sub 30 minutes PB, was a joy to see! Thank you for making me do my stretches with you afterwards - I never do them and you know that, which is why you made a point of suggesting I went with you to the bin to do them (all glamour in our park!).  Thank you also for the pep talk on making time to do my pre run exercises, I know I tried to stonewall you with excuses as to why I can't, even though I knew you would hold no truck with any of them! What can I say I'm a work in progress!

A bit of a lazy day followed with a bit of a mad dash towards the end of the afternoon with the realisation that I wasn't quite as prepared for our friends coming for dinner as I had led myself (and Al!) to believe. I did however stumble across what is now my top tip for cleaning - do it in the light in which it will be seen! Wait until it's dark, dim the lights, you'll get round with the hoover in no time and no need to dust! Yes fellow parkrunner - day 202 was a good day!


M - 549
Brighton Half - 106
Glasgow Half - 330
Distance covered                  9.2 miles
Total Distance covered      347.9 miles