Hastings Half Marathon

I did it! I ran a half marathon! Here's proof:



Considering I only trained for two and half months, and struggled to get over four miles in training, to finish in 2.28.44 is a major achievement for me, especially as I was targetting a time of 2.30.00!

I am really pleased with myself! And I won a medal, the first medal I've ever won!

Peace and Love
xx

Long time, no type...

So I've been to a few recruitment agencies recently. The first was very un-enthused by my CV, but the second one, Recruitment COlutions in Tunbridge Wells, they think they can get me something. That's got to be good news - a job and it would be out of Margate! It's the stuff dreams are made of!

Anyways, running - it's getting tough now. I'm running far more regularly and for longer amounts of time. As a rookie who is only a couple of months into training, it's starting to become a bit of a struggle. The knees ache and the calves are tight, but I'm pushing on.

I've bought a running shirt and a pair of adidas sunglasses. They cost a bomb, of course, because I need prescription lenses with them, but it means that I can see whilst running in the sun, which is something I couldn't do before.

Time is flying by, Sunday is the Hastings half marathon! I'm not really in good enough shape to run it, but I'm going to give it my best shot. I can only do my best, so that is what I will do. Wish me luck!

Peace and Love
xx

Updates...

Firstly, all the nonsense with the Student Loan seems to have been cleared up. I actually got 2 letters from them this week, from the relevant departments, apologising for their mistakes and clearing up all the grey areas. So hopefully, all is good on that front.

Secondly, that interview... The interviewer said he'd call me in three to four days. It's been seven. That doesn't look so good. What's more disappointing however is that means my hot streak of 4 successful interviews in a row has come to an end. I'm now 4 from 7 overall.

Thirdly, training for the Marathon is getting better. I had a cracking session this morning, completing 2 miles (only 1.5 jogging) in under twenty minutes. I'm very pleased with that. I felt relaxed and comfortable while I was running, which made me feel even better.

So I have some positives and some negatives to build upon over the next few weeks.

Peace and Love
xx

Excitement

I have discovered something amazing - Lady Antebellum! No that is not Lady Gaga's sister...

They are a country music singing group, and they are so awesome that I've ordered both of their albums. Their second album isn't released until next month in the US, so I'm having to import it, but it's so worth it! They are unbelievable, I've heard all of the songs off their first album, and I love them!

I also have a Keith Urban album on the way, and I'm really enjoying to Kellie Pickler, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill online. And let's not forget Julianne Hough and my angel Taylor Swift!

So there it is, I've finally found a genre of music that I can call my own. It may seem to have come as a surprise, but I have been wearing jeans and checked shirts for many years now. I should have seen this coming!

I am also excited about running the Hastings Half Marathon in March, which seems like the ideal event to warm up for the London Marathon, which is in April.

Exciting times... Now all I need is a job...

Peace and Love
xx

New Shoes

Yesterday I took my new running shoes for a test run... well, test walk. I didn't want to run in them immediately, I wanted to make sure they were comfortable before any running begins.

And they were so comfortable, almost like walking on air. I couldn't feel the road beneath my feet. They also felt very sturdy and supportive, so I certainly made the right choice. Which is a relief, I must say. They only cost me £50, and they are therefore the most expensive thing I have bought since October last year, when I bought my current jacket!

Peace and Love
xx

Marathon

I've applied to run the London Marathon in 2010! I've entered the public ballot along with 120,000 other people for the 20,000 spaces available, meaning I have a 1 in 6 chance of getting in the race... Or do I?

I also applied directly to the RNIB, a charity for blind people, to run the race for them, as there are 12,000 reserved spaces for charity runners. They have confirmed to me that I am on their list of reserve runners. This doesn't entitle me to a place in the race outright, but it does increase my chances when the public ballot results are drawn in September...

Many of the people who have applied directly to a charity would also have entered the public ballot too. Now if a charity selects their runners, and then some of these selected runners get public ballot places, these runners would technically have two places in the race, so the charity drops them from their team and offer the newly available places to their reserve runners...

My maths isn't great, but I think that shortens my odds to 2 in 11! I'm pleased with that!

Peace and Love
xx