Online charity sponsorship sites

I've been using a well known charity sponsorship website for a couple of years now - it's made fundraising so much easier and painless for me and my generous sponsors. But there are more available so I've been doing a little digging into the alternatives, comparing Everyclick, Virgin Money Giving, Bmycharity and Just Giving.

I'm not a fan of Everyclick's fundraiser web pages - very basic and I find it tricky to navigate - but it it is unique in not charging any setup or monthly fees to charities for being able to receive funds through their site. £10 donated with a visa debit card & with standard rate gift aid gives your chosen charity £12.23. There's also the USP of additional funds that can be raised by using Yahoo via the site.Probably a good choice for fund raising for a small charity.

Bmycharity is new to me - the fund raiser web pages look fine and it gives the highest sum to your chosen charity of the four I've looked at: £12.63 on the same basis as I've shown above. However, it charges £150 plus VAT setup to charities for being able to receive funds through their site. If you are raising money for a big charity where this may be a comparatively trivial expense, this site could be a good option.

Virgin Money Giving's USP is that they are set up as a not for profit company. £12.47 is the sum your charity will get for £10 donated as specified above. They charge £100 plus VAT setup to charities for being able to receive funds through their site. I like the idea that fund raisers have a "permanent" web page where they simply add campaigns - if you regularly raise money (e.g. I do one run for charity every year), this could appeal.

Just Giving charges charities £15 per month for being able to receive funds through their site. £10 results in £11.92 being given to the charity - the lowest of the 4. So apart from being very used to using the site and finding setting up fund raising pages quite easy, I think I now have compelling reasons to go elsewhere!

Top 40 final report

Now I am 41, it's time to look at what I have & haven't managed to do this year! All failures are to be rolled over....

26 straight successes.

5 adapted successes.

Leaving 9 failures.

1. Get into size 12 jeans (defined as Uniqlo - brand makes a difference!) - miserable failure, so rolled over

Making things:
2. Follow a crochet pattern - done
3. Crochet something wearable that isn't a scarf - done
4. Make vanilla ice cream - nope, rolled over
5. Make some home made Christmas presents - done
6. Make something from foraged food - done
7. Bake soda bread - nope & changing to make some bread
8. Make a curry paste from scratch - nope, rolled over

Culture stuff:
9. Discover a piece of classical music that I don't already know - nope, rolled over - it was weirdly tricky to get started on. The Proms might help me this year.
10. Finish a George Elliot novel - done
11. Watch Citizen Kane - done

Fitness:
12. Go to a circuits class - swapping for swim in sea at New Year - done!
13. Do a press up (not boxed!) - done
14. Swim a mile of proper head in water breast stroke - done and will do more
15. Try pilates - done & liked it
16. Try a dance class - done
17. Use my wii fit - done
18. Use our canoe - no, but used my sister's!

Home & Green stuff:
19. Grow something new to eat - done
20. Plant a tree in the garden - done
21. Fit a water butt - done
22. Get a thermal mug to wean myself off disposables at work - done
23. Improve our loft insulation - nope, rolled over
24. Redecorate hall & landing - done
25. Redecorate living room - done

Bike stuff:
26. Fix a bike puncture all by myself - done
27. Get the hang of berms - done, just about (1 at Dalbeattie!)
28. Get the hang of my GPS - nope, rolled over
29. Do the South Downs Way - nope, rolled over
30. Try somewhere new for mountain biking - done (7 Stanes Dalbeattie)

Running stuff:
31. Do level 2 coaching training - not possible, but did do some more running training
32. Eastleigh 10K in sub 55 mins - changed to sub 58 & done!
33. Great South Run - done
34. Half Marathon - done
35. Organise a WRN non-running event - done

Travel stuff:
36. Go somewhere new - done
37. Go to the Isle of Wight - nope, rolled over
38. Try a new spa or gym - done
39. Sleep in our tent - done
40. Organise a work social event - nope, but swapped for Try sailing

So resolutions to complete by my 42nd birthday are:

1. Get into size 12 jeans (defined as Uniqlo - brand makes a difference!)

2. Make vanilla ice cream

3. Bake bread not using a bread maker or IKEA cheat premix
4. Make a curry paste from scratch

5. Discover a piece of classical music that I don't already know

6. Improve our loft insulation

7. Do the South Downs Way (3rd time lucky...)

8. Get the hang of my GPS

9. Use our canoe

10. Go to the Isle of Wight

There will be a few more added when I feel more inspired.

Kirkcudbright & Skye

More holiday blogging as I've got internet access again after a few days camping.
Tuesday in Cumbria was spent walking around Arnside Knott - one of Husband & I's favourite spots from way back when we were at Lancaster Uni. Clear blue skies meant that the Cumbrian hills were really visible (for once) from across the Kent estuary. We then drove over Hardknott Pass, stopping for a wander at the Roman fort.
Wednesday was spent with Middle Sister, C and MBIL along the easy going cycle path that now connects Caton with Glasson Dock through Lancaster - more old stomping grounds for us! C looked very contented on th back of MBIL's bike - managing to fall asleep on the way back.
Drove up to Borgue nr Kirkcudbright to glamp in a wigwam for 3 nights. This is a wooden hut type thing with electricity, mini fridge, microwave, kettle and sleeing platform with foam mattresses that can in theory sleep 4-5. Or me & Husband very comfortably! Loved the campsite too - and plan to return.
Rain meant we did sightseeing in Kirkcudbright on Thursday, with a gentle riverside amble.
Friday - we finally got the bikes to one of the 7stanes. Dalbeattie was one of the first to be built & its signature challenge is "The Slab" in the picture. Much too scary for me - it's a kind of vertical drop. As for Husband - well, cameras don't lie do they??
My technique was abysmal as per usual - although I did improve a little towards the end with my very own (patio) slab type drop off. And I've done my first berms! Very little - but hey, that's 2 Top 40s covered in one afternoon (other was mtb-ing somewhere new).
Very excited to see a red squirrel - and Husband saw a pine martin.
Dalbeattie doesn't exactly flow in many places, but it's certainly challenging and the views were fabulous. Again, a return is planned.
Saturday was spent mostly in the car, driving to Skye. We're in a cottage with the Fabulous In Laws for a week.
Weather today was abysmal - apart from a blue sky 40 minutes which we were able to take full flukey advantage of with a 3km walk to Talisker Bay in the picture before a tour of the Talisker Distillery.

UK Holiday - Why paddle our own canoe?

Off on holiday at the moment - heading northwards. We had a sunny weekend in Llanymynech with Brother in Law's family with some gentle walking. Powis Castle Gardens on Saturday and from the house on Sunday. Husband adapted a hoop running game that we saw on Last Woman Standing to keep the boys interested in the Sunday walk - throw a ball ahead, then try to find it. They were also really keen to show us the old quarry's rails, connected to the huge Hoffman kiln and tower in the village.

Then further up to Cumbria to Middle Sister's home near Kendal.

We went paddling today on Windermere with Middle Brother In Law (MBIL??) and toddler nephew C. The plan was to use our inflatable, with MBIL using his lovely big "proper" canoe. but we worked out it would be quicker to set up and easier to keep C entertained on the water if we all went in the proper canoe. Husband in the back providing power, MBIL in teh middle proving local knowledge and skills advice and me in the front doing what I was told (for once!). C was extremely well behaved - he got excited about seeing a steam train. I was more excited by a red breasted merganser swimming along with her brood of ducklings. Getting canoe envy now - I think we may be getting a proper one if we ever get a garage for it to live in!

Dorset weekends

Our first attempt to go to Dorset for some mountain biking 2 weekends ago was thwarted whilst packing. Husband tried to adjust my brakes and accidentally bled them dry of hydraulic fluid! Luckily, we'd already planned to spend Sunday pedalling along Bournemouth seafront with G - and my commuter bike was fine for this. Lovely afternoon with chocolate ice cream and great company.

My mountain bike spent a couple of days at the bike shop and last weekend, we tried again. Loaded the camping stuff and bikes and headed for Dorchester. Our route was based on one in a

Dorset mountain bike book we've had for a while but hadn't used. It started on the ridge trail from Maiden Castle to Hardys Monument that we did last year. We then went downhill at Hells Bottom to Portesham (cute sculpture was in Portesham quarry) and along a disused railway to Abbotsbury. Pasty to refuel and we decided that rather than follow the book's suggestion of a road route back, we'd simply double back. Big views of the coast and countryside. The path had actually been destroyed by badger excavating at one point! 30km in total.

Camped at Osmington Mills again and attempted camp cooking for the first time in years - successful chorizo pasta storecupboard carb fest! We walked to the beach in time for sunset, then to the pub that does Badger ales on draught. I slept well, but Husband wasn't convinced that his airbed was working for him and being in a grassy field wasn't helping his hayfever.

Slow breakfast. What I love about being away is that I don't have guilty thoughts about what I should be doing and can just enjoy coffee, eggs, papers.

Sunday's ride was from Puddletown Forest, using a Rough Ride Guide route. We lost a turning early on so opted to change the route - the track was a little overgrown as you can see here. Later, we got to do more vegetation ploughing as rape had almost obliterated the bridleway. Quiet countryside with chalk hills. I had to keep pushing my brake levers outwards as the rape kept on catching them, pushing my brakes on! We went past Thomas Hardy's cottage towards the end - a lovely quiet spot on the edge of the forest. Got lost again in the woods, but weirdly emerged right by the car. My legs are covered in scratches, I'm a bit burned (despite sunscreen) and it was a great weekend.

Number 15 - Pilates

I have a pristine Darcy Bussel pilates DVD still in its cellophane wrap despite having been purchased about 2 years ago. It's lurking presence plus my occasional lower back & shoulder problems have created a nagging sense that pilates should be something I give a try. My only reasons not to are that I'm not big on exercise that doesn't involve charging around getting sweaty and that I didn't get on at all well with a previous attempt many years ago where there were about 30 people in one class.

I finally booked myself onto a class at the gym (so covered by gym membership) and was pleasantly surprised. The instructor was no nonsense & I could see what she was doing. There were only about 8 of us. And I realised that I had tried some of the exercises before without realising that they were pilates moves, thanks to a neat little "hotel room workout" in a Joanna Hall book that I used when spending most of my life in hotel rooms.

My tummy really knew that it had been worked for about 3 days afterwards!

So number 15 can be ticked off the list.

I have been to the class again - timing isn't great as it requires scarpering home on a Thursday very promptly - but I will go again when my calendar allows. Still haven't opened the DVD though!

Number 21

Number 21 complete - we finally fitted the water butt. I say "we" but
it was more Husband - although I did instigate it with the old trick
of starting to dig out tools, claiming I was going to fit it all by
myself. Especially as tools included the drill that I am not allowed
to use since destroying several bits on plastic plant pots.....
Great bike ride with G & Husband today along Bournemouth sea front,
admiring kite surfers. She is so much faster - despite not having
pedalled since September!

So much catching up to do

So much that I haven't written about recently! So much has happened - good stuff, bad stuff and I'm sure I can squeeze in ugly somehow.

In no particular order, I'll start with Top 40 progress - and with a picture taken yesterday of my first home grown strawberry (#19 - grow something new to eat). I shared it with Husband & fortunately (as many more are developing), liked it!

Next is #16 - do a dance class. I enjoyed a fabulous weekend with my sisters near Stratford which included lots of opportunities to try classes. All 3 of us did Street Dance - out done by many older ladies! Middle Sister & I also giggled our way through a Bravo Broadway class - jazz hands and a fantastically camp instructor. Yoga was also been revisited and I didn't hate it. Middle sister revisited body Combat for the first time in years with me. V.grateful to Baby Sister for inviting us - memorable and so much fun.

We haven't been cycling much recently - not since South Downs Way. My bike is now sporting new wheels as it was the hubs that had bust, not the bottom bracket - and that takes it's repair bill for 2010 to around £500 - maybe I should have bought a new bike instead at the start of the year. We we did a 20K route from the house on dry tracks yesterday, enjoying a long sunny evening.

I did my first parkrun last Saturday. This is a weekly times 5K that now takes place in parks around the country - and Eastleigh started just a few weeks ago. It's free to register, free to do & is very well organised. It's also a great time of day - 9am means that I still get most of Saturday for other stuff. My time was not my best (29:43), but plenty of room for improvement.

One of my original runners L tripped whilst running with me on Tuesday and was unlucky enough to break her leg - so I spent Tuesday evening in A&E with her. This meant cancelling the 8pm beginners group - but everyone was more focussed on L's injury.

So it's been a mix these last few weeks. Hoping that L recovers soon.

Not in the Algarve

Pesky volcanic ash cloud stopped us from flying to Portugal on Tuesday
4 sailing - we ended up rescheduling to July. I say "we" but I mean X
and S!
So we've come to Cornwall for a short break instead. The fabulous In
Laws have joined us & we are in a flat at Watergate Bay.
Fabulous lunch at Fifteen (photo location) - loved that they
automatically brought huge jug of tap water with ice & lemon and yummy
bread with olive oil. We all had gurnard to start - deep fried served
with aioli. I had pollock next with lentils followed by tiramisiu.
Pleased to have a wine with Sexy Rose on the label! Service was
gently done - a fabulous meal!
Went surfing once digestion was underway. That implies a higher level
of competence though than I achieved....
Blue sky, sunshine, beach - not bad at all.

South Downs Way - final post

Beachy Head - achieved by minibus!

South downs way - game over

Part way before checkpoint 1, bike started making a funny cronky
noise. Mechanic checked it and the bottom bracket was going. He
thought I would be able to get to next checkpoint, but it got worse
and I couldn't get 1st gear. So had to retire at 110km, 60km short. So
it remains a challenge to try again.

South downs way - end day 1

Got to the campsite at 5pm - 9 hours of pedalling but that includes
breaks. And wasn't quite last. And got the tent up. And bike is
receiving expert tlc. Now off to pub with a lovely group of 9 middle
aged blokes who have been keeping me company today. I think I will b
ok for tomorrow but it is going to be tough!

South Downs Way Day 1

At 2nd checkpoint & disappointed no cheese & pickle rolls! A bit
drizzly but not too wet.

Number 15 done - Pilates

I have tried Pilates before and did not enjoy. I don't have the right
mindset for slow classes, slow music and slow precise movements -
which is why I get on so much better with wii pseudo yoga than the
real thing. My Pilates experience was of a class of 30ish and I didn't
really get it.
But my back has been complaining of late and as I know my core muscles
are in need of development, I thought I should address 15 on my top 40
list with a class at the gym.
Only 6 attendees - good.
Instructor was straight forward and I could work out what we were
meant to do - good.
Abs ache today - probably good!
I may go again although 6:15pm is tough to achieve on a working day -
digging out my unopened Pilates DVD may be a more practical option.

Seaside running in Devon & Dorset

One on Bournemouth seafront over a week ago with a banging hangover
and today with my Fabulous Mother In Law across to Meadfoot Bay. I am
v.jealous of people who can run by the sea everyday!

Paintball last weekend was great fun. I haven't done it for ages and
loved feeling a bit fitter whilst scampering around failing to shoot
anyone! Lovely big bruises on my thigh are just starting to fade. Hurt
my back a little the following day whilst attempting to extract
buddleia roots but it's been worst when sitting, not moving.
Did all bar the beginners' run off road for Wrn last week - much more
engaging than pavement pounding.

Big Run

I did number 34 - Half marathon - on Sunday of my top 40 list. 2 hours 16 minutes & felt OK afterwards. Couldn't walk very well on Monday, but hey, the WRN-ers didn't seem to mind me leading from a bicycle!

A general catch up on the top 40 list - 15 complete:

1. Not Yet - Get into size 12 jeans (defined as Uniqlo - brand makes a difference!)

Making things:
2. Yup - Follow a crochet pattern
3. Yup - Crochet something wearable that isn't a scarf

4. Not Yet - Make vanilla ice cream

5. Yup - Make some home made Christmas presents

6. Not Yet - Make something from foraged food

7. Not Yet - Bake soda bread

8. Not Yet - Make a curry paste from scratch

Culture stuff:
9. Not Yet - Discover a piece of classical music that I don't already know

10. Yup - Finish a George Elliot novel

11. Not Yet - Watch Citizen Kane

Fitness:
12. Not Yet - Go to a circuits class

13. Not Yet - Do a press up (not boxed!)

14. Yup - Swim a mile of proper head in water breast stroke

15. Not Yet - Try pilates

16. Not Yet - Try a dance class

17. Yup - Use my wii fit

18. Not Yet - Use our canoe

Home & Green stuff:
19. WIP - Grow something new to eat
20. Not Yet - Plant a tree in the garden

21. WIP - Fit a water butt
22. Yup - Get a thermal mug to wean myself off disposables at work

23. Not Yet - Improve our loft insulation

24. WIP - Redecorate hall & landing
25. Yup - Redecorate living room

Bike stuff:
26. Yup - Fix a bike puncture all by myself

27. May not happen - Get the hang of berms - Might replace this with swimming in the sea at New Year.
28. Not Yet - Get the hang of my GPS
29. WIP - Do the South Downs Way

30. WIP - Try somewhere new for mountain biking

Running stuff:
31. No - parked to Sept & replaced by Land yachting - Do level 2 coaching training
32. Yup - Eastleigh 10K in sub 57 mins

33. Yup - Great South Run

34. Yup - Half Marathon

35. Yup - Organise a WRN non-running event

Travel stuff:
36. Not Yet - Go somewhere new

37. Not Yet - Go to the Isle of Wight

38. Yup - Try a new spa or gym
39. Yup - Sleep in our tent

40. Not Yet - Organise a work social event

UKIP don't love cyclists

If I was even entertaining the idea of wasting a vote on UKIP, I'd be persuaded otherwise by their attitude to cyclists! Walk at roundabouts, don't ride on roads, pay for bike parking. Barking.

Persuaded myself to jog in the woods tonight - I've been checking out paths & tracks to see which would be suitable for the fabulous WRN runners. 6km, not fast, thoroughly enjoyable. I now have a bigger portfolio of runs which will take advantage of sunny evenings and the beautiful Hampshire countryside. I really didn't miss repeatedly fiddling with my ipod's headphones - the new ones stay put & sound good.

Pedalled to work today - love the sunshine.

Less than boundless energy

Note to self - do not expect to be able to keep up with the speedier running group on Monday after pushing yourself on a Sunday. I was pathetic - didn't even manage to do the same distance, opting to have a brief chat with my neighbour at the top of the hill in the woods. I've got a couple of Mondays coming up when this might be repeated, so I will need to experiment with coaching from a bicycle - megaphone would give a great image!

Anyway, running took in more scenery - love the sunnier evenings & for very selfish reasons, I urge all to sign up to 10:10's Lighter Later campaign. Woods on Mon, river on Tue. Deer, sunsets, daffodils - what's not to love (excepting midges!)?

Brief swim tonight as Husband & CC Captain Chaos were installing gutter to the shed early evening and we only had 20mins or so before Aquafit took over the pool.

Pedalled to work today & yesterday. And a little wii.

Practise ride done

Next month, I'm doing one of my top 40 - the South Downs Way on my bike. A dodgy tummy meant that I failed to do this in 2008 over 3 days - so this time I'm aiming to do this in 2.... However, this time, it's with vehicle support - including a meat wagon! Goldfish is doing it too and although it's a bit late for serious training, we did a practise route today: 69.13km as a figure of 8 route from Cheesefoot Head, completed in about 5 1/2 hours including stopping time. M joined us for the first and larger loop. We were moaning about it being chilly to start, but all divested layers after we'd been riding for an hour or two.

Very impressed that Goldfish managed to fix a broken chain on the hoof - and relieved that this was the only bike problem on the way. The tracks were very dry, making this a comparatively easy ride.

Today's picture reflects my C&G exam that I'm doing tomorrow - the tutor asked me to send him a photo of traditional Hampshire brick & flint construction as he's not sure about its thermal efficiency!

I was tired at the end, but felt that I could have carried on - good as the SDW days will be a bit longer. Not so good was a cramped thigh later when crouching to plant out beetroot seedlings - I may have to go down the electrolyte drink on the trip for the first time.

Skating yesterday with G, SE and the F clan who were en route between sailing and the Forest of Dean. Enjoyed both that & going on with G & SE to meet Z for an average lunch in a beautiful location in Lee on Solent.

Not much else to report this week apart from running on Tuesday with WRN, Body Combat on Wed and about 90mins walking on Thursday - actually, that's not so shoddy!

Big D was sent on holiday for Friday & Saturday (cooking for guests is not compatible) but is back today. But as I burned at least 2,700 calories on the pedal, I'm eating buckets!

Easter Sunshine

So grateful for the weather deciding to be a little less typical for a British bank holiday weekend on Sunday & Monday. We'd hibernated during the rain on Good Friday & Saturday decorating the hall & landing (another Top 40 is close to completion), but escaped outside on Easter Sunday, spending the morning with Kitty & Goldfish at the allotment, then going for a 26km ride in the New Forest.

We did what I think of Kitty's route - Husband's favourite as it has some more interesting descents than most of the bike trails in the Forest. For the second time ever, I managed to cycle up the steep gravelly slope that's just after a horsey underpass. Completed it in 2 hours with no punctures - although Husband's chain & associated gubbins were demonstrating signs of wear.

I noticed the mosses more than usual - probably because all the usual spring plant happenings are so behind this year.

More sunshine today. Baby Sister came over with the children & we spent the afternoon admiring lambs, piglets and so many chickens at Manor Farm Country Park. J was very taken with a big black stag turkey, murmuring "magnificent" - not expected vocab for him! R still doesn't scream when being held by me - weird. A kept on calling me Grandma - bad enough - but she was aided and abetted by my naughty baby Sister!

Running tonight - I got very muddy checking out suitability of the path next to the Itchen, taking advantage of a no-show 7pm group. 5 for the 8pm group and we did the Bishopstoke hill route.

The Big D - again

Apparently, 21% of UK adults smoke and that number is declining. 40% of UK adults are overweight - 20% are obese - and this number is increasing. So is it easier to give up nicotine or chocolate??

I'm embarking on the Big D - yet again - and I am trying to remember how I succeeded in 2006. Hence a photo of me in beautiful NZ in Jan 2005 as my stick - and prove to myself that I can lose fat - after all, I have done it! Carrot is the sailing holiday in May - I'd like to be more toned & look cool in the photos (yes, I am that shallow!). I do need to drink more liquid - I often eat when I'm probably thirsty. I've also re-done my WLR account - clean start!

New beginners on Tuesday - not many so I need to work on getting a few more & retaining all. Very pleased to have a few more in the 7pm Tuesday group now that it's relaunched as the "easier" regular run.

Gym last night - deliberately didn't run & did 35mins spinning and 20 x trainer. I've been walking a little more than usual as I've been on a course in Ealing this week & getting there on the train. But only 1 day of cycling to work.

Eastleigh 10K

My time this year is 56:53 - just 7 seconds under my target of 57 minutes. I did make an effort this year - I have been guilty of treating the event as another run as opposed to a great opportunity to see what I can do! KB, J & KL were fabulous running partners - especially at 4.5km when I hit a bit of a bad patch. I found a second wind at about 7km - shortly after this pic was taken, but was running out of energy at 9km. And KB kept me going.

So proud of the WRN runners today. 7 of us completed the course - 4 in less than 1 hour - no drop outs!

A big improvement was pedalling to the race. Parking is always frustrating and it provided a good low impact warm up/cool down.

Husband was fabulous. He looked after my bag which was bulging with WRN runners jackets as well as cheering us on. And he took some great photos - more of which I'll be sending around soon.

I've been avoiding hard exercise as part of my prep for this morning. Bit of gardening yesterday & pedalling to work most days last week. We went 10 pin bowling with Kitty & Goldfish tonight - which must count at least a little as exercise!

We need more Rabbits

I used to be a keen Girl Guide - and the organisers of the company I was in all took names from Winnie the Pooh characters - hence the leader was Rabbit to us. She was also a friend of my Mum - and Mum let me know today that she died 2 days ago after a long illness. She gave so much time and effort over to Guiding - and was an influence on me and many others. Enthusiastic, dedicated, caring and utterly consistent. More Rabbits in the world would be a good thing!

Ada Lovelace Day

I heard the space scientist Maggie Aderin-Pocock on Desert Island Discs recently - and she was so passionate about her work, about space and about life that I've decided to dedicate my Ada Lovelace blog to her. She made her first telescope when just 14 so that she could study the moon and now develops satellite technologies & instrumentation.

She's now passing on her enthusiasm about space to youngsters through the Blue Peter satellite project and teaching schoolchildren.

Funny, clever and engaging - she sounded fabulous.

Brecon Beacons Weekend 3

Much better weather on Sunday and we tried out a blue route from the National Park's Mountain Bike leaflet collection/book thing.

Supposedly 24km, but I clocked it at 20km and from the National Park Visitor Centre near Brecon. Glorious views - as you can see! And plenty of red kites - I know I'm getting accustomed to seeing them now whenever I go to Baby Sister's in Bucks, but still exciting.

We watched a shepherd & dog herding sheep for a bit - although I've never heard anyone on One Man & His Dog yell "will you f***ing come by??".

The route was a good mix with challenging descents that beat me (and one even beat Husband) and uphills where the rocks made pedalling almost impossible in places. Across open moorland and rocky tracks. The road bits were quiet, pretty lanes. The best bit was the final descent, whizzing across the side of a hill (not sure if it qualified as a mountain!). Somehow, I got 3 punctures in one wheel, but all so slow that they didn't materialise until we got home.

We finished in the tea shop with a Black Beef Pie Challenge, undoing any calorific deficit from the ride.

We took it easy at running last night as it's the Eastleigh 10K on Sunday. I could still feel Sunday's ride though!

Brecon part 2

The first waterfall:

Brecon part 1

I had a long and tiring week - lots of work and lots of other stuff,
no cycling and the only exercise were much needed WRN runs on Mon and
Tue. Husband suggested a weekend away - and even better, made the
location a mystery so I couldn't organise anything. I really
appreciated that!
So I am now in a leather arm chair, close to a log fire, trying to
decide if it's g&t or tea time. We are in the Brecon Beacons. Drizzly
today but we still enjoyed a walk to waterfalls at Gwaun Hepste: Sgwd
Clun-Gwyn, Sgwd Isaf Clun-Gwyn and Sgwd y Pannwr. There was a 4th but
Husband's dodgy legs were starting to protest.
The hotel is fab - good food, interesting building (hunting lodge with
2 bell towers?!) and pretty grounds. I am almost de-worked and relaxed!

No drama - fantastic

I felt a bit twitchy cycling today following last week's excitement (slidey then mega claggy mud that stopped wheels from rolling even downhill and then bike collapsed) and took the first descent at a pace that was even more chicken than normal for me. Once I'd warmed up my head and body though, it was fine. It's starting to feel decidedly springlike outside - catkins and snowdrops. Everything seems a bit later than previous years though - a few daffs are out, but not much else yet.

We did a 37km route from Farley Mount that includes the Test Way - it's a variation of one in the Rough Rides book that we don't have.

No punctures, no problems and the bikes didn't require hours of de-mudding afterwards - this is how a Sunday bike ride should be!

Another wander on the beach

Bike shop fessed up - the pedal/coggy bit falling off was their fault - I'm actually impressed as it would have been very easy for them to bluff it & blame me instead! All fixed now & ready for a pedal today.

We went for a walk at Mudeford yesterday as we had much on our minds to discuss having just had an offer accepted for a house! I am trying to work out if pedalling to work will still be possible after the move, but it's 13.7 miles, about 4 times my current commute so I'm looking at ways to make it feasible at least a couple of times a week. I have a few months to work it out as we're hoping to do building works before moving in.

The walk also provided us with the opportunity to research which is the best cafe on the beach. My favourite so far is the one east from Avon Beach carpark & cafe - in the middle of the beach huts. Great soup, reasonable carrot cake, loved sitting outside.

Pedalled 3 days this week. Meeting in Sutton on Tuesday meant a train day and I had stuff to transport on Wednesday. Running went OK this week, with an extra 10K session on Wednesday. I've been trying to fit more wii in - surprised myself by having aching abs on Friday following exercising on Thursday evening.

Broken bike again

Live update from a grassy verge near rockbourne where I await rescue!
As you can see, bike is broken. Had to be at the furthest point from
the start didn't it?

Sports bras wear out

Let's just say that I bear the scars of a worn sports bra after running on Monday. Tuesday's choice of undergarment was a very different design - so nothing was exacerbated! Shock Absorber (which the offending bra was not) suggest replacement every 6 months - and other sites suggest 3-12 months.

You may note that Husband is on foot in this week's photo. My parents stayed for the day on Sunday unexpectedly - so we decided against cycling. Mum was too wiped out from a stomach bug for them to visit friends as they'd originally planned - so they watched the rugby whilst Husband & I went for a gentle walk in the woods. We also hit the gym where I tried a spinning bike for the first time - so much better than a "normal" exercise bike - felt much more realistic and great to focus on cadence. I think I can make more use of this as part of prep for South Downs Way. I also linked iPhone to the machines - exercise geek happiness!

Another 10K on Monday with WRN - and again, it went well. All other groups were fine - except 7pm Tuesday which didn't happen for the 3rd week. Cycled on Mon & Tue, but not today as I was walking around Earls Court all day.

My Swimming Coach

Top 40 number 14 - swim a mile of "proper" head-in-water breaststroke - completed this evening with some great support from Husband. As usual, I was on length 35 when he completed his 50, and I was expecting him to adjourn to the spa pool to wait for me to do the 64 lengths that I needed to do for my challenge. But instead, he coached me - helped me to keep my pace going & ended up doing a total of 85 lengths himself! Very much appreciated.

I have swum a mile before - and it used to take me over an hour. This time, it was around 42 minutes - demonstrating how much better my technique is.

I was more aware of how warm the pool was than of getting tired at the end - but I can really feel my arm muscles now! Legs are fine, but they are more used to being punished.

We went straight out afterwards to meet M & C's beautiful new baby girl. We were definitely dehydrated from the warm pool as the first drinks kind of vanished! And Husband didn't recoil in horror when I mentioned that perhaps I could progress to front crawl next (can only do doggy paddle atm!).

And number 25 was also completed today. Front room is now complete with new flooring, stripey rug - and the attached pic is a print I've had for about 6 years that's finally been framed! 15th century Iranian tiger that I loved at an exhibition about the silk road....

A run that clicked

6 of us braved a cold and damp dark evening to give the Eastleigh 10K route a go. Some runs go OK, some really click - and this was a click. L came along who I haven't seen for ages & it was great to introduce her to the other runners. We weren't amazingly speedy - darkness, puddles, tree root bumps on pavement and road crossings meant it was never going to be a PB kind of evening. Immensely satisfying though.

My only opportunity to cycle to work happened on Wednesday this week due to commitments in Portsmouth.

My mountain bike has finally been repaired - £340 of repairs! All wear, tear, salt and general abuse - no calamities. Price tag includes new brakes - but not the still needed new saddle. The bike shop bloke hinted that I may now be able to out pedal husband up hills - will have to see if that's the case on Saturday....

Fit head for running

There's a phrase I liked from coaching training that in order to be
fit enough to run, you need to run: run to get fit to run. This is
working for my head this week. I have been very upset by what happened
last Monday - this isn't the place for details but many of you know
about why. And i wasn't even directly impacted. I was really
apprehensive about running tonight but it went fine. I enjoyed it. I
think the runners enjoyed it.
So to get my head fit to run, I need to run. Like getting back on my
bike post face smashing. To appropriate a slogan, just do it instead
of obsess.
Ramble over.

Walk at the seaside

As I am mountain bike-less at present, we went for a wander at
Mudeford Quay. Water was really high and there were waves - a novelty!
There's also a new path being built - couldn't see why as it parallels
the current one. Read an info board and non the wiser - sailing
training at the olympics was on the list of reasons.

Swimming later this evening that I am looking forward to for once!

And I'm back

I went skating today with G. We'd done lessons together about 2 years ago for a while, but quit when my progress plateaued and G finally acknowledged that it was a heck of a drive for her every Monday evening. Today, we went up to Basingstoke for a great hour plus scooting around. I can't remember many of the fancy-ish moves we learned - but was chuffed that I could still get around without sliding on my backside! I was also relieved that my skate blades hadn't rusted away. And G looked as cool as ever on the ice. Lunch afterwards at a cafe on the way home - lovely day and much needed fun.

Even learning about the £340 worth of repairs required to my mountain bike when I got home didn't dent my improved mood.

Ran well at the gym on Friday - 10km in 57:10. I think my lack of exercise this week may have contributed to being able to run well. And it was fantastic to be able to work off some pent up frustration on the treadmill. I'm hoping I can get back to WRN next week with a positive attitude - WIP.

Off to surf for avid juicy 3 brakes for my poorly bike now....

Holding pattern

I've attached a photo from a fabulous weekend with parents and fabulous-in-laws. Nothing more to blog at the moment.

Walk free ride

No walking today! But this is a good thing as we were on a bike ride in the Forest. Husband & I did the uber loop - a 39km perimeter of our regular Forest rides, completed in 2:55 of pedalling. I am feeling happy about not resorting to walking on a slippery, sticky stretch where the week's rain had made an impact. And happy about actually pedalling all the way up a slope where I've always resorted to pushing my bike in the past. It's just after the tunnel under the dual carriageway (often full of horses, but not today) with a gravel short and steep stretch just as you come out. Perhaps this compensates for my miserable performance at the gym on Friday - and maybe for the chocolate dessert I had last night with ice cream.

My bike is broken though - front brake was scraping from the outset, making progress a tad more challenging. And about halfway around, my front wheel started making metallic twangy noises. Husband has diagnosed a broken bearing in the front wheel - and I have no idea, so he must be right!

I definitely prefer bike rides where the ride is the point of the day - not just an obligatory piece of exercise to be squeezed in somehow/sometime. I like being able to focus on enjoying myself, not worrying about getting back in time to hit the supermarket. And a mug of tea from the thermos is a lovely way to round off a day in the Forest.

I was in domestic mode yesterday - 7 jars of seville orange marmalade and we cooked for Kitty & Goldfish which was an op to discuss allotment plans for the year. Domesticity may recommence in a sec as I've found a recipe for my spare oranges....

Objective revision time!

I'm changing a few of my top 40 goals - some circumstances have changed and I'm having to apply a little realism!

31. Level 2 coaching - UK Athletics have revised their coaching qualifications and the new next level for me to do isn't available until September. And I'm 41 in August! If I did do the existing level 2, it would train me in coaching all types of athletics. Katharine from RiE apparently had to coach someone to do triple jump - having never done triple jump before. The big change with the new qualification is that it specialises in "Off track endurance" and specifically mentions mass participation running in the description. I think this will be more useful for me so I'm holding off. So I'm swapping objective 32 for "Swim in the sea on New Years Day" - which I did in Wales. So that's another done - yay me (with some fudging!).

32. Eastleigh 10K in sub 55 minutes - I'm changing this to sub 57 minutes - and that will still require some hard work between now and 28th March. I've found that coaching running 2 nights a week has done wonders for my endurance - but has not directly helped with speed!

I've been feeling a bit under the weather this week which may have resulted in me feeling like I was about to die at 6.5km at 10.5kph in the gym on Friday - or I might just be rubbish! Pedalled on Thursday & Friday - and I'm proud of pedalling to the pharmacy & paper shop this morning.

Fitness Equipment Al Fresco

I'm not sure if you can tell from the photo here (poor quality - sorry!) but some intriguing equipment has appeared outside the Hub (home to Eastleigh WRN amongst others). It's next to the kids playground, but appears to be gym style equipment - there's a cross trainer thing, strider thing and a weird skiing thing. We did give it a try after running on Tuesday - fair play for trying something new for adult fitness.

I was really impressed with Cragside's "fitness trail" that was more of an adventure playground for grown ups that I tried in the summer - and the popularity of Go Ape demonstrates that this is a potential growth area.

Monday's 8pm group did some great hill work, but numbers were as patchy as last week. My marketing efforts are going to be helped by WRN linking with Race for Life again this year - and I think I can organise the required training sessions around the Winchester and Southampton events.

Too pooped to go to Body Combat today - I slept badly last night and had an earlyish start - so it was just a walk up the hill today plus I will dig out the wii in a sec. Pedalled on Mon and Tue.

On the way to another top 40

Feeling very pleased - started decorating at half 12 and finished at nearly midnight and the front room refurb phase 1 is complete. We got the ceiling, whitework (bar the skirting boards) and 2 coats of paint on the walls done. And it now has energy saving light bulbs thanks to Husband agreeing to ditch the dimmer switch. Phase 2 is to get T in to fit the flooring (this falls into the category of "yes we could do it ourselves, but life is short") & paint the skirting boards. Phase 3 is the only fun bit - shop for a big squishy rug & choose pictures. I'm very tempted to make N from WRN an offer on one of her beautiful abstracts.

I am a little bit sad as the room used to be a chalky, sunny orange - but Husband has never liked it & I have to concede that application of yet another shade of beige makes for a more grown up looking room.

So not exercise (technically) - but my aching arms are telling me otherwise. And another top 40 is on the way to being achieved!

Haggis and a Hangover

Good party on Wednesday night hosted by Futerra, but I'm not sure that I danced enough to justify alcohol & haggis calories. Damage was made even worse by not having pedalled that day (overslept).

I had the opportunity to walk off my hangover on Thursday, making my way to the Eco Home exhibition at the Geffrye Museum somewhere near Hackney - some great items and well put together if not exactly huge or surprising! It's interesting that even when using the tube, just how much walking I do when I'm in London compared to home.

Just a bit of wii last night & lazed on sofa, crocheting.

Pedalled today & hit the treadmill. I decided to just run - no x trainer, no step machine, just running. And I really enjoyed it - did just over 9K at 10.5kph, so used it as my "long easy run" of the week. I was helped by the TV - when it was just 4 screens, it seemed to be Question of Sport & soaps on a Friday evening, neither of which float my boat (honourable exception to the gloriously trashy Hollyoaks), but I got to see the 1950s with Andrew Marr which most definitely does!

Uneven

Finished tonight's runs with a warm top half, but frozen from the waist down! It was so cold that the Panda's windscreen was already icing up when I set off home. It's been a bit uneven with WRN this week - 1 advanced, many Monday standards, 2 Tuesday standards and just 3 beginners. It is spurring me to actually do some marketing which I've let slip a bit of late. Given that I'm more of a career marketeer than I am career runner, you'd probably expect otherwise! Some of my laxness is down to confidence - can't quite bring myself to do a press release, even though it's well within my skill set.

I try to convince myself that communicating too slickly would be counter productive - but I'm so so far off slick atm. Pretty far off competent to be honest.

Pedalling to work has been great - Husband has serviced my commuter bike & I can really spot the difference. He also had to sort out the bike shed lock today after I managed to reset the combination without realising - a blonde (dyed) moment.

Challenging the little grey cells

Although I love cycling in the Forest, it's really not great for my pedalling skills as it's so easy! We knew that it would be muddy, but Husband and I opted for a route that extends the much-ridden Ellisfield HCC route over to Preston Candover to get our brains ticking again. And it was muddy. Much of the mud was clay on chalk that varies between ultra claggy and ultra slippery and I have to confess to much walking. Having said that, I also did enough to feel that I'd pushed myself.

3.5 hours to do 26.5km! Very grateful we didn't get any punctures as fixing them would have been very messy - and Husband made me go through a deep puddle repeatedly at the end so that tyres rather than mud would interface with our bike carrier.

I was surprised to still see a little snow around - as you can see from this picture. Snow damage was evident on many of the roads with new cracks & potholes.

Snow damaged roads yesterday too as my satnav took me down a very little lane en route to my nephew's 5th birthday party in a village hall Buckinghamshire. I didn't want to repeat Husband's experience so took it very slowly & chose a different route home later in the dark. Very proud of my nephew as he was beautifully behaved at his medieval themed party, looking cute in a crusader outfit. I can't count any exercise for Saturday - but I did make vast quantities of sandwiches!