Running with Music in your Mind

I have discovered a great motivator to keep me running for longer - my ipod nano!

It's fab. I went running on Saturday, and after work today as well. It's amazing how one feels compelled to keep running til one gets to the end of a song. Without little morsels of temptation and challenge like that, I probably would stop more regularly and run for less time each time (yes, I am still doing the run-walk-run-walk method).

So thank you Apple, and thank you Madonna for your latest album...you really are keeping this whole running malarkey sweet for me!

Measure your Footprint another way!

My dear father sent me a link to another website where you can measure your ecological footprint on the earth. I am sure there are numerous different sites trying to tell you similar sorts of things. However, this one is quite good I reckon:

www.earthday.net/footprint/index.asp

I did it and found that we would need the equivalent of two earths to support everybody if they consumed as much as I do. So, certainly food for thought and I recommend you do this quiz to get an impression of your impact. It doesnt take long to do, trust me.

Running training starts in earnest tomorrow.

I have been round the square several times near my work last week which was good. That sounds like I did several runs, but actually I only did one run and ran round the square several times haha! Not really done anything this week though, and last weekend was filled with surprising Partner to a seat at the Scotland v. Wales 6 Nations match in Edinburgh. Even though we (Wales) lost it was really good fun and I think Partner was chuffed, which was the main thing.

Nice to see Edinburgh again (love that place), but made me realise how hilly this run might be. So, not sure yet if I can beat my October time (1hr 6 mins). I guess it all depends on how successful my training is between now and then.

Feel quite psyched up and determined though, as I know how good it will be for me, my bones, and the charity I am running for. If you haven't sponsored me yet, there's plenty of time, but please do!!!! :)

Here's a picture of our view of the Murrayfield stadium, you might just be able to make out the drum & pipe band....

Carbon Footprint

I spend most mornings watching BBC Breakfast as I wake myself up and get ready for work. I do love the banter and gentle humour that occasionally takes place between some of presenters, particularly Bill Turnbull and Kate Silverton. Dermot Murnaghan is good as well. It's also very amusing when Declan Curry the Business Reporter comes on to talk all things business. Sometimes they get him to do some rather amusing things. He's certainly up for a laugh and it does help to perk one up in the mornings. I recommend you watch them if you're UK-based/can get BBC1 and are up at that sort of time.

Anyway last week they had a focus on Carbon Footprints. They used a family as a case study to assess the efforts they had made to try and reduce their overall impact on the environment. It got me thinking about my own carbon footprint....I have always tried my best to think how I can keep my carbon emissions to a minimum. I think I do a reasonably OK job (but by no means claim to be doing my best!)....I don't have car, I use public transport most of the time, I don't heat a large home, and I am trying my best to avoid using flights to get to places, particularly those which are 'short-haul'.

So I went onto the website www.carbonfootprint.co.uk and tapped in some rough/guesstimate details on my carbon creation efforts in the last year.

According to its calculations, I have emitted about 2000kg less carbon than the average UK person. The average carbon emissions per person is 10,963 per annum. Had I not gone to Mexico last year it would have been significantly lower.

To 'offset' these emissions I could plant 4 trees. I will have a serious think about this and let you know what I decide to do.

If you decide to do this little experiment/test on yourself/household let me know via my blog how you fared (if you dare!) and whether you might do anything to redress your carbon footprint.

Im Quite Excited - new blog!

Well it's been absolutely AGES since i put anything into this blog. Time has run away and i simply have put this at the bottom of my pile.

I upgraded my blog to the new version and then discovered I had loads of unread, unpublished comments from people! What a joyful surprise!!! :) Thanks folks. Don't know why I didnt see them before now.

So I have published all of them bar one, because it was some silly anonymous person trying to promote his own crappy moneymaking website that's probably a load of poo.

So anyway, i am now back on the case with my running! Yippee!!!! hahahahahaha

I am doing the 10km Great Edinburgh Run (I like to say Edinburrrrrrrrrrrrrgh!!!) on 6th May and will be raising money for CLIMB.

CLIMB is a charity which supports children and families that live with inherited metabolic conditions. They also fund research to find cures and help these type of things. It is a charity that means a lot to me so I would really appreciate if family, friends and strangers will sponsor me.

You can find out more by going to www.climb.org.uk

I start training properly tomorrow, and hope to keep a training running blog so you can all hear about my efforts.

My plan is to run faster than what I did when i ran around regents park for the Rainforest Foundation. However, I will have scottish hill inclines to contend with haha!