What goes on inside a Pixie's head?

Here comes the sun!

2009-05-31T12:26:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year again. The sun comes out and us Brits just go crazee! I love this weather and have spent all weekend in my little shorts in the garden exposing my white legs.

Unlike 99.9% of the population I'm a little reluctant to bare the flesh in this country. You just feel kind of pasty and it doesn't feel right. Yet on a foreign beach - waheey! The bikini top comes off and I really don't care...

Anyway much as I love this weather I hate looking at my fellow countrymen in their summer attire. Bad tan lines on display. You know what I mean. Women in vest tops with a sun burnt square on their back. Or those awful t-shirt lines on your arms accompanied by free bingo wings. Women also tend to go bra less wearing tops such as cotton boob tubes (honestly the only 'good' boob tube is the sequined kind seen in 1970s discos). Then of course you have the ubiquitous muffin top......

Men don't escape criticism either. Why oh why do they insist on walking the streets topless occasionally sporting their t-shirt hanging out the back of their jeans with a can of beer clamped firmly in one hand? How scrotey is that? Now I did see a guy today dressed like this but he was extremely well defined so could get away with it. It's just when you see the fat jabbas with cavernous belly buttons or burnt like a lobster that it's not a good look.

Then you have the whole work summer wardrobe dilemma. Women can get away with t-shirts and knee length shorts whereas all men can do is dig out the short sleeved shirts which make them look like they're back in junior school. We're just not equipped to deal with this weather in any shape or form and will no doubt start moaning if the current temperature continues beyond next week.

With that in mind I'm off to iron some suitable summer clothes for work tomorrow and slap some aftersun on the red 'oval' on my chest!

I ride the short bus because I'm speshal!!

2009-05-25T11:31:00.000-07:00

I've had to make use of public transport a bit lately. The mini went in the garage for a service and then again last week to get a leaking power steering pipe fixed. To get to and from the garage I had to ride the bus. I sometimes get the bus to Chelmsford station and always enjoy the experience. Everyone, regardless of age, politely thanks the driver when they get off. The only bit I don't like is the waiting around as you often have 'just missed one' especially the notorious 45! On my recent journeys to and from the garage I purchased a day rover - something I haven't made use of since my teens!

Whilst still on the subject of public transport I'm fed up of the ongoing engineering works on our local train service. Every weekend including bank holidays buses replace trains at some point. Take my journey to the O2 yesterday to see Girls Aloud. Train to Romford, bus to Newbury Park, tube to Stratford, bus to the 02. It wasn't as much of a 'mare as I thought nevertheless it was a hassle. So a little whinge about how if they are trying to encourage us to use more public transport and expect to host the Olympics in 2012 they should make it more reliable! Oh and they should also send staff on some customer relations training. At Chelmsford station when I asked for a travel card the sales assistant just pointed at the sign saying there was engineering work and was zero help when I asked what was the easiest way for me to get to the 02. I could quite easily have ceded defeat and turned round but instead, like a good old Brit, I coughed up £17 and thanked her for her trouble.

Hello! Hello! It's good to be back! It's good to be back!

2009-05-25T11:16:00.000-07:00

Hello there! Well it's been some time hasn't it (as Papa Pixie and others keep reminding me)? Just over a month to be precise although it feels soooo much longer! Last time I posted it was the day before the London marathon. I think most, if not all, readers of this blog will have heard or seen evidence that I did actually complete this feat of endurance in 5 hours 15 minutes and 2 seconds (would've been quicker if I hadn't queued for a rather smelly portaloo at the 17 mile mark and just gone in a bush instead). It was an emotional and amazing day. I tried to remember every bit but it was difficult as I was so focused on just making it to the end. Support round the course was fantastic. The crowd do really keep you going. The noise in places was like being at a concert. I also was extremely fortunate to have 'Team Pixie' there who were ab fab! When the Mall came in sight I couldn't believe it and after crossing the line it all felt a bit surreal. Not the over-whelming sense of achievement I thought it would be. I think I was just plain knackered!

So lots has happened since the marathon including the obvious Katie and Peter news which I'll save for another time...I've only been running twice post-London. The advice is to rest for a week with others suggesting resting for 1 day for each mile run which takes me to Friday just gone so I shouldn't feel bad that I've not been training. However, my entire being is literally screaming that I do need to get back on it. This is what always happens to me after a big race. I just think "oh I've done that let's take it easy, I'll go running tomorrow" and then I lose all my hard earned fitness and have to start from scratch again. I've not put on any weight but am eating loads of rubbish. This has caused a rather floppy muffin top to form which must be blitzed! So I've pledged to myself that I will race once a month between now and October starting with the Horndon Feast and Fayre 10k at the end of June. Just need to get my entry in now and trainers on!

When you stand...

2009-04-25T03:12:00.000-07:00

This was shared by a friend on the Runners World Forum. I shall be taking it to the start line with me tomorrow:

When you stand on the Start Line, you join the club. When you stand at the Starting Line you earn your membership. Millions dream of being where you are. You are no longer a dreamer. You are a doer. Thousands more started a training programme but never finished. They started with the same enthusiasm (or more than) you. They started with more or less the same physical gifts or disadvantages as you did. They had no more and no less reason to be successful than you. But somewhere along the way, they lost that enthusiasm. Somewhere on the road or on the track or treadmill, they decided that the rewards just weren't worth the effort. They decided that they could live without finding their limits, without challenging their expectations of themselves and without taking a hard look at their image of themselves. You didn't. If you’re standing at the Start Line, you've not only accepted the challenge, but you've also beaten back the demons. You've conquered your imagination and self-imposed limitations. You've gone further, got stronger and become tougher than you ever imagined.

Go Team Pixie!!

2009-04-24T14:13:00.000-07:00

About to hit the sack and when I wake up there will only be one more sleep to go! I went to the Expo yesterday at Excel. As you walked through the entrance they played 'that' music (that accompanies the BBC footage) and it got me right 'there'. Never fails. The people on the registration desk couldn't have been more lovely. I almost burst into tears. They guessed I was a first timer - apparently it's something in the eyes. So I was issued with my number, kit bag and also a leaflet entitled 'Introducing the P-mate to the Flora London Marathon'. For the first time this year they are providing female urinals at the start. The leaflet had some handy diagrams and instructions about how to use said P-mate including 'straighten your knees and push your bottom backwards, relax and let nature do the rest - PEE!!' I seriously don't think I will attempt to use one of these. It's a disaster waiting to happen.

The Expo was quite good. Loads of stands advertising races around the world. I got a fab map of the world with races on it so I've stuck that up at home and am already planning what next (Disney in January 2010 with a Mickey Mouse medal sounds appealing). There were numerous clothes stands so I treated myself to an official Adidas blue and flouro yellow vest for a most reasonable £20. Guide Dogs for the Blind were doing a demo. That was a real 'pull at the heart strings' thing. Cute pups and even the old dogs (one of whom was meant to be a stud dog until they discovered he was infertile). I got asked if I'd sponsor a pup but managed to restrain myself.

I've had such amazing support from friends, family, work colleagues and my new found friends on the Runners World Forum - it really has been overwhelming. Tomorrow is a day of almost complete rest - just a few jobs to do first. So I'll be putting my feet up and trying to remain calm. I think I'm more worried about getting to the start (public transport a concern) than anything else. Anyway next time I post on here it will be my race report! I'll also have to think about the next focus for the blog. We've gone through Premier Inns/working away to running...what next?

p.s Team Pixie t-shirts (as modelled by the lovely Dan) are available from most good retail stores...

3 days and counting...

2009-04-22T12:50:00.000-07:00

Ok so I'm still in pregnant lady mode. I've now got my little bum bag filled with sport beans, wet wipes, sunblock for my lips, factor 30 for my face, blister plasters, mini deodrant and vaseline. Oh yes I've decided to succomb to the petroleum jelly and have purchased a big vat to slather over my body parts to avoid any further chafing.

I'm riding a roller coaster of emotions at the moment. I just have to think about Sunday and could quite literally burst into tears. It's overwhelming. The whole occasion. The culmination of 4 months of training and 3 years of waiting. I'm also apprehensive, excited and full of fear! What I've got to remember though is that I have trained for this. That whatever happens I'm guaranteed a personal best because I've never run a marathon before. Also that the crowd will really help. I'm so overwhelmed by support from family, friends and complete strangers. I had an email today from an old running acquaintance from South Woodham who had spotted me on the forum, saw I was running this weekend and just mailed to wish me luck. It's the little things that mean so much...

The eating hasn't exactly gone to plan this week. Last night I carb loaded with a Dominos Pizza after 9 pm which wasn't sensible at all although I am keeping religiously hydrated. Tonight was a much more wholesome plate of pasta with tomato sauce.

Tomorrow I'm off to the marathon expo at the Excel centre in Docklands to pick up my race number and hopefully a host of freebies. I'm really looking forward to it!

The waiting game...

2009-04-17T08:33:00.000-07:00

I feel like I'm pregnant although I clearly have no concept of what that feels like in reality. I just wanted to use it as an analogy in terms of the marathon because there are many similarities. I'm meant to be resting as much as possible. No stress. No over-exertion. Think sitting on the sofa with your feet up watching day time TV all day having someone on hand to ensure you remain fed and watered (apparently if you are even slightly dehydrated your performance will be affected). And like many pregnant women I'm not exactly following advice. Last week I began to feel quite energised and thought 'yeah bring it on'! Now I'm just exhausted, drained and the thought of the extreme physical and mental pressure I'm going to put myself though on Sunday 26th is scary. So basically I need to go to marathon rehab for a week. Just rest. Eat good foods - not exist on a diet of fat coke, black coffee and chocolate bars (although I have lost 3 pounds in weight!). Sleep. Lots. And prepare some mantras for when I no doubt hit some tough times along the 26.2 miles. An old fave is indeed 'bring it on' (that was from a chick flick cheerleader film staring Kirsten Dunst). I also frequently just say out loud when I'm running 'you can do it'. I've got to believe that. I know I will but I can also guarantee I'm going to shed many tears that day. At the start when they play that stupid music, when I see friends/family round the course and of course at the end. Must remember to add waterproof mascara to my kit bag checklist...

Celebrity Nibs (news in brief)

2009-04-17T08:19:00.000-07:00

The little niblets that have caught my interest this week are:

Zac Efron of HSM fame is NOT on Twitter of FB shocker!!! Can't wait to see him in '17 Again' though...

Also soooo cannot wait for the Girls Aloud tour!! Today's 'Sun' reports that the girls have been taking pole dancing lessons. They also apparently cover Britney's 'Womaniser' dishing out punishment to their male dancers. It's going to be amazing...

One of my fave female artists Pink is to renew her wedding vows with her ex-husband Carey Hart. They split up 2 years ago and apparently said they needed the time apart to realise they wanted to continue their marriage. They're now totally loved up again unlike Brangelina who are reported to have taken a 'break'. The pressure came from Ange who wanted some time out but during the process has decided what she actually wants is out!! According to 'Look' magazine they're drawing up a pre-nup type agreement about what happens to the kids. Do you think Jen will be sniffing round Brad again?

I LOVE Girls of the Playboy Mansion and am completely fascinated by it. This week Hef celebrated his 83rd birthday and was joined by his current 3 girlfriends (twins and some other girl who I think has been hanging around for years but obviously been promoted) and his previous 3 girlfriends - Holly, Kendra and Bridget. I was completely shocked at Holly (she's the one on the right). She used to be really curvy, very 1950s Marilyn Monro glam, but now seems to be completely wasting away. Her arms are super thin, her face looks gaunt and her tum hollow. Sad. On the happy side my fave Playmate Kendra (the one on the left) is getting married soon! She is reported to have said she had to be unfaithful to Hef as, although she was intimate with him, she had to go elsewhere for sex. Ewwwwww! But this is completely the kind of stuff I love to know about life at the Mansion.

And finally...watched Katie and Peter on Paul O'Grady yesterday and then caught their new ITV2 show although I fell asleep before the end. I sooo hope I see them at the marathon. Apparently the furthest Katie has run in training is 18 miles and she reckons she'll have to walk the rest. That gives me even more chance of tracking her down!

Until next time...

I want one of those...

2009-04-10T00:38:00.000-07:00

For anyone that is particularly observant/bothered you might have noticed that I haven't posted last week's marathon training update yet. Why? Because I think you're all probably as bored of distance and miles as I am. Most people know I ran 20 miles last week via FB or wherever so I don't want to go OTT. Also whilst I'm super excited about race day itself the next few weeks feel quite tortuous. I just want them to be over. I know I've said it before and I'll say it again - it wasn't meant to be easy, that was the point but it's been a struggle. Particularly juggling work and home life. I thought that training for the marathon would teach/give me 3 things - consistency, discipline and a hot bod! I have been consistent and disciplined in that I've always done my long run no matter what. But at the back of my mind I keep thinking I could/should've done more, I've made too many excuses, I could be in MUCH better shape. So on the latter and the hot bod front, I thought that training for the marathon would transform me into a super fit, super toned human being (think Mel B's current look) who consumes only pure, wholesome food. If we had sound effects at this point I'd play a big fat Family Fortunes 'X' (I don't know how you can describe that sound).

Current state of play on the body front. Blisters on both feet, cuts on both my lady lumps, a cut at the bottom of my spine and a toe nail that is rapidly turning black. I don't appear to have lost much weight over the last 3 months - just a couple of pounds. I'm not too fussed about that as Jordan has put on 10 pounds and I know muscle weighs more than fat. However, I feel as if my body has been possessed by someone awaiting gastric band surgery! I feel puffy, heavy and am craving bad foods. I went out for a run yesterday and after half a mile could quite easily have thrown myself prostrate on the floor and screamed 'Feed me jam donuts - NOW!'.

I know this is largely hormonal. I've previously blogged about PMT (Pixie Mental Time). It tends to assume two types - mental and physical. Mental is when I turn into a total psycho bitch from hell with a tendency to collapse in tidal waves of tears at any moment. Physical is inflating up fat suit stylie, eating my way down the cake aisle at Tessies and total, utter lethargy. On a positive note at least I won't feel like this come 26 April and I'm hoping I'll be put out of my misery soon. In the meantime waddle on friends...

Things that make you go arrrgh!

2009-04-07T13:10:00.000-07:00

I don't know what it is about Tuesdays but they seem to be the most frantic day of my week at the moment. I have to be in Cambridge super early and usually leave late so by the time I get home I'm too hungry/tired to run. Today has been no exception and I need to get a few things off my chest as a lot seems to have gone in both mine and the wider world:

In celebsville...

Firstly the 80s are back with a vengeance and I've seen the evidence. Tonight walking the dog we passed a girl with a pineapple on her head. Not of the fruit variety but the famous 80s hairstyle for girls. It still doesn't look good....Posh is also sporting the 80s trend but in a very expensive designer leather jacket with mahoosive shoulder pads.
New dad Gareth Gates papped wearing Ugg Boots (they're soooo NOT for men) visiting his new born daughter Missy...yes that's right Missy Gates. As Scott Mills mused this afternoon was she named after Missy 'Misdemeanour' Elliott?
My celeb obsession continues with Natalie Cassidy. She's split with her fiancee saying she needs some space...no jokes please about extra space required because of her expanding waist line...
Chris Brown. Now this REALLY got me today. How can he plead not guilty?!

In Pixieland...

I got called a d&ckhead today. It's clearly factually incorrect. I was driving home, attempting to pull onto the A11 when this man just refused to pull over to let me join the road. I couldn't slow down especially as he was towing some sort of trailer so put my foot down, so did he. In the end I ran out of slip road and just had to go for it. He twice made gestures with his hands. I didn't stoop to his level but it made me mad!
Now I LOVE pheasants! They're one of my fave animals as the males are sooo stunning. Sadly on my daily commute to Cambridge I see way too many obliterated at the side of the road or frantically trying to fly upwards for their lives! Today, after a big fat bee hit my windscreen and then got temporarily wedged in my windscreen wiper, I was distraught to see a woman in a BMW coming in the opposite direction with a female pheasant caught in her grill.....awful!
On a positive note I sent a couple of begging emails out last night and my sponsorship total is now almost £400 - yay!! People are being way generous and it's much appreciated so thank you.

The Pixometer...

2009-04-02T12:59:00.001-07:00

Going up...

Nice sunshiney days...
The impending visit from the Easter Bunny!
Twitter.

Going down...

Matt Horne collapsing because he's been working flat out. Try telling that to the boyf who's been doing the same but for a lot less money and zero adulation (apart from me!).
Blisters and sports bra chafing.
My peanut butter and marmite breakfast bagel addiction. Damn you Sellen for introducing me to this delicious combo! In fact my marmite addiction full stop is getting way out of hand.

It's all going off in Walford!

2009-04-02T12:52:00.001-07:00

Now I usually can't stand Eastenders. Way too much dramarama, shouting and predictable story lines but tonight I was glued to my screen for 1 hour for those very reasons I usually detest! This episode had it all as Walford celebrated the inevitably doomed wedding of Peggy and Archie. I thought Babs looked seriously gorgeous in her wedding outfit and Larry Lamb plays baddie Archie sooo well. It's such a contrast to his Mick Shipman in Gavin and Stacey. The plot was a bit predictable though. As soon as Janine sped off from the car lot I knew someone was gonna get it and that someone was bound to be Danielle (thank god she's gone out of it but sooo tragic just as Samantha Janus finally acknowledged that they were indeed muvva and dawter). Anyway that's my fill of Easties for another year. It's all way too draining. Now gaw on. Get outta my pub!!

Week 12 - not good...

2009-03-29T08:22:00.000-07:00

Weather conditions: Variable.
Number of sessions: 2. Not a good week (feel like I say that a lot!). I did zero training in the week because of illness and just general lethargy. Thing is no-one said it was going to be easy did they? That's the challenge isn't it? To see not only if you can survive the 26.2 miles but the 4 months of training that comes with it. As the Race Director of the London Marathon said "Running is a lot like life. Only 10% of it is exciting. 90% of it is slog and drudge." I was worried it was just me and I'm not up to it or lack the commitment but a trawl of the Runners World website shows that everyone suffers big time at this stage.

Anyway I forced myself out in the wind and rain yesterday for a 5 mile trot 'round the block'. I didn't take my Garmin so was not under any pressure to complete a certain distance or time. It was OK. My knees felt quite sore. Then today I headed out for my second attempt at 18 miles. The first 9 went fine. I was thinking positive thoughts - not everyone gets this opportunity, not everyone lasts the course, how lucky I am to be reasonably physically fit and I saw the 3 and a half hours that I would be out running not as a chore but as some 'me' time to sing along to my ipod and appreciate my surroundings (although running past a long dead fox that reeked wasn't pleasant!).

My mental positivity didn't equate with my physical stamina. I made a few walking stops and by mile 16 ground to a halt completely. After a walk break I managed to shuffle on for half a mile. With 1 mile to go I was in my local Co-op buying a can of fat Coke with my emergency £1 and crawling the rest of the way home swigging it. I made it in 3 hours 39 minutes and 24 seconds - a whole 17 minutes slower than last week. 'He who knows best' could only say 'well what do you expect when you haven't trained all week?' - fair comment. So lesson learnt, next week I 'must try harder'. After all the end is in sight!
Weekly mileage: 23 miles.
Total to date: 232.64.

Must be the music...

2009-03-28T02:26:00.000-07:00

OK so what tunes are floating your boat at the moment? I'm loving the new BEP (Black Eyed Peas) track Boom Boom Boom - perfect if you're an Essex boy on cruise night down Southend seafront. PCD (Pussycat Dolls) are also getting me dancing round my lounge to Jai Ho! (you are my destiny). The video makes me laugh though as they've made lead singer Nicole Scherzinger look like totally Indian and she's the only one that sings. You'd be hard pressed to notice the other girls but they throw out some totally awesome moves. I would love to learn that routine. Finally new band on the block Metro Station are rocking my world with their great track Shake It. They're a strange looking bunch though. Saw them on Paul O'Grady the other day (not exactly his usual fare) and one of them looks very Marilyn Manson-esque.

I want to be Michaela Strachan...

2009-03-28T02:17:00.001-07:00

After watching Orangutan Diaries this week I've decided that I'd like to pack it all in and head off to Borneo. Michaela Strachan has such a fab life! Sadly orangutans are on the verge of extinction and the closest I'm going to get to see them is in my local zoo. Talking of which I love 'Zoo Days' on Fiver which is filmed on location at said local zoo in Colchester. Can't wait to go there for a day out soon.

On the dark side of animal loving did anyone watch the programme about that totally bonkers Grizzly Man this week? Really freaked me out... This guy spent every summer out in the middle of nowhere filming bears with names such as Mr Chocolate and The Grinch. He came across as more wacko than Jacko and ended up, on his 13th summer no less, getting eaten by one. It was exactly how he wanted to go...

Week 11 - fame at last!

2009-03-22T11:14:00.000-07:00

Weather conditions: Frosty mornings and glorious sunshine
Number of sessions: 3. It's been a good week for training. I've been much more disciplined getting up at 5.30 am on two occasions in the week to go out and run so it doesn't matter if I get home late or just want to do nothing in the evening. Today I ran my longest to date, 18 miles in 3 hours 22 minutes and 28 seconds (the suggested time was 3 hours 50 mins). It was a beautiful day and I should've worn sunscreen. It all went really well until I ran out of drink with 6 miles still to run. I began to get concerned because of the heat and after trying a couple of closed pubs (for water of course) I made it to our local Asda where I washed my face (which was as salty as the Dead Sea) and filled up my empty Lucozade bottle with water. So really chuffed that I've hit the 18 mile mark...same again next weekend.

My 'final instructions' magazine and race number arrived this week which was exciting. It also makes me realise that race day is getting that much closer and I need to start thinking about logistics etc. Another piece of excitement was a post I'd put on the RW beginner's forum thread being the feature question in this week's Runner's World Marathon Newsletter - fame at last!

Celeb training update: apparently Jordan is not liking her changed body shape as a consequence of her marathon training. Her calves are so big she's had to go up 3 sizes in her riding boots and people keep asking if she's pregnant as she's got a bit of a tum from eating so much pasta. Jordan's solution? She has pledged to lose 10 pounds after race day by having lipo..... As for changes to my body shape I think my boobs are shrinking! I'm going to head to M&S next weekend for confirmation.

Weekly mileage: 30 miles
Total to date: 209.64 miles

p.s The picture is of my blistered feet.....ew!

Week 10 - Silverstone

2009-03-20T08:37:00.000-07:00

Weather conditions: A beautiful day at Silverstone.
Number of sessions: 2. This was not a good week for training. Motivation still wasn’t great and the odds seemed to be stacked against me. My first planned session on Tuesday evening was scuppered by an extremely late return home from Cambridge. Attempt number two to finally brave the Springfield Striders main club session on Thursday night also went totally ‘Pete Tong’. I got stuck in unexpected road works in Chelmsford meaning I got there too late. Instead of still going out for a run when I got home I just moaned.

On Sunday I headed off to Silverstone to run a half marathon. This race is touted as THE big London warm up with 10,000 runners participating many of whom didn’t disappoint in the usual rhino outfits or sporting a fibre glass Yellow Submarine. My Dad was official driver, coach, photographer and cheer leader for the day and he did a fab job – didn’t even lose it when we had to queue for over an hour to get out of the car park and then promptly queued on the A43 and worse still got diverted around St Albans as the M1 was closed.

It was great having the opportunity to run on the hallowed race track at Silverstone. The place is mahoosive and I can imagine the noise levels on Grand Prix day are something else. Unfortunately the crackly PA system didn’t provide much of a boost pumping out some well dodgy tunes as you circumnavigated the track. We had the very apt S Club ‘Don’t Stop Moving’, the awful ‘Boom Boom Boom Boom I want you in my room’ and the worst, 2 miles from the finish, ‘Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep’……the announcer was also rather annoying constantly giving out time checks. “You’ve got 2 minutes left if you want to hit a sub 1 hour 30 time” – yeah right I’ve still got 4 miles to go mate…

My highlights round the track had to be spotting a huge hare running across the grass at the 6 mile marker, signs that kept telling me to ‘brake’, overtaking ‘Pollard’ from Emmerdale at 10 miles (he was hobbling badly) and spotting my Dad on two occasions. The race didn’t get very good reviews on the Runner’s World website. Complaints about men relieving themselves up against the hoardings before the race even started, the crap goody bag (containing a XL t-shirt, a jar of Cranberry Sauce and a carton of Cranberry Juice) and the fact the course was actually a quarter of a mile too long….I finished 5013 out of about 10,000 (so almost half way) in 2 hours 15 minutes and 59 seconds. Not a PB but also not my worst half time and it was a longer course so I was happy.
Weekly mileage: 18 miles ish.
Total to date: 179.64 miles.

My justgiving page is now up and running (ha ha!) so if you've not already sponsored me pledge a Pixie £1 (that's all I ask!) at www.justgiving.com/pixiemarathon thank you!

A Whole New World...

2009-03-17T14:11:00.000-07:00

So this Pixie is now inhabiting a whole new world. Life seems to have turned super busy on all fronts leaving little time for much especially blogging. So I've missed commenting on Posh's freaky neck, the state of Kerry Katona's marriage (is it on/off/where's her cash gone?), that awful picture of a very gaunt Patrick Swayze last week, Comic Relief, Paris Hilton's British Best Friend and whether the Horne and Corden sketch show is any good. On a positive note I'm really enjoying work (sad I know) but evenings and weekends seem to pass in a blur and I feel like I've barely sat down. I don't know why. Anyway I'm happy spring is sprunging and I'm hoping that by the time the Easter Bunny visits a much needed holiday will be in the offing...

Week 9 - it's all in the mind...

2009-03-09T14:53:00.001-07:00

Weather conditions: Sunshine, rain, strong gusty winds and huge hail stones (that hurt!).
Number of sessions: 3. It wasn't a great week in some ways as I split my mid week 8 miler into to 4 mile sessions and ditched my effort session altogether. I wasn't feeling very motivated or energetic. So much so that I posted a message on the Runners World Forum. There's a thread for marathon newbies like me where you can ask an expert for advice. I just wanted to know if I was on track, suppose I wanted some reassurance that I'm doing OK. Needless to say no reply...

The hardest session by far of the week was the long run. The boyf watched a programme the other day which said that 25% of exercise is mental. In my marathon newsletter this week it said "everyone else has trained the same distance as you. The only way to beat them is to be mentally stronger." I know a marathon is just as much about mental as physical endurance. It's more often than not my mind and not any physical inability that stops me from going training. Anyways...yesterday beautiful morning. Needless to say once I'm ready to head out the sky turns black, the heavens open and it whips up a storm. The boyf is telling me to stay home but I tell him I has to do it (oops slipped into Nessa!) - it's a mental thing! By the time I'm out the door the sun has come out. I decide to head for Hatfield Peverel (for those with local knowledge!). On the return leg the heavens open again and I'm in the middle of a severe hail storm getting blown all over the shop. It hurt...lots...but overall I was SUPER chuffed as I made it home feeling good, still able to sing along to Phil Bailey and Phil Collins 'Easy Lover' on my ipod having covered my longest distance ever (woo hoo!) without any walk breaks. Tidy!
Weekly mileage: 24 miles
Total to date: 161.32 miles

Happy Birthday Mini!

2009-03-09T14:45:00.000-07:00

The mini is 50 this year! My first car was a mini. A strange green colour which Dad then kindly re-sprayed red and added some white stripes so it looked like a Cooper. Being small a mini was the only car I could 'safely' drive without having to sit on a stack of cushions. They didn't really go for height adjustable seats in those days. I then went on to have a pink one. I loved all things mini. Joined the club, religiously read Mini World magazine...those were the days when you were happy to spend a few hours polishing your car every weekend rather than pay some Polish guy a fiver at Sainsburys to do the job for you. Anyway 20 years later and I'm back in a mini only this time it's a proper Cooper. He's called Oscar (you have to give them names) and it's just as exciting as when I was 18!

The gospel according to Pixie...

2009-03-04T09:53:00.000-08:00

So what am I evangelising about at the moment and what's destined for the sin bin?

I just love the Barclaycard ad with the guy on the waterslide. The accompanying soundtrack 'Let your love flow' by the Bellamy Brothers is such a feel good tune it always makes me smile and how cool would it be to travel home from work on a giant waterslide?
The other ad I like is the Virgin Atlantic 25 year anniversary with all the 80s references and super glam air hostesses.
Harry Hill's TV Burp still has me in hysterics...it's a genius piece of tv programming and whilst I like Saturday Night Takeaway the whole 'win the ads' thing gets to me. I've never seen some of them!
GMTV's relentless obsession with the credit crunch has been a real switch off in our house and that new Fiona replacement is dull. We tried BBC Breakfast and Eammon on SKY but they're just as bad. Talking of the credit crunch what credit crunch? Car showrooms are brimming at the seams as are not so cheap restaurants. Where I have noticed it though is in my local supermarket...a cucumber portion used to be 32p. It's now 64p - outrage!!!
Pampering...it's over-rated. Last Friday I took the day off for a bit of R&R including a 'luxury facial'. Now I paid £35 (well a tenner as I had a £25 voucher courtesy of the boyf) and came out looking like total crap! My hair was covered in oil and stuck out all over the place and I was horribly spaced out. I don't really think it made any difference to my skin and it wasn't even that relaxing. I'd be just as happy sticking on my Hello Kitty headband and slapping on my Oil of Ulay mud mask at home and saving myself some money!
Driving. I nearly crashed the car twice last week and then tried to get in someone else's bland silver Peugeot 206 mistaking it for my own. I'm also fed up of other drivers telling me I have water in one of my rear lights - thank you but I know!!

Sir Hump-a-lot...

2009-03-04T09:47:00.000-08:00

So Flyn is up to his usual antics again...last week we got him a little squeaky ball as a treat. He loved it so much he even went outside to wee with it still in his mouth. Yesterday morning he walked all the way back from the park with a piece of baguette in his mouth - his form of take away. Then last night was a trip down Moulsham Street which always offers good pickings (usually KFC). He scoffed what I thought was either a really huge piece of dropped chocolate brownie or more likely a load of dog poo...ewwwww! The piece de resistance was this morning, down at his fave stomping ground of the John Shennan playing field. He met a scruffy 7 month old black dog called Arnold and basically they humped (in all sorts of strange combinations!) and necked for the next 30 minutes. Luckily Arnold's owner didn't mind and who was I to spoil their fun?

Week 8 - woah we're half way there!

2009-03-01T11:02:00.001-08:00

Weather conditions: Getting a bit boringly normal now - no hurricanes or snow drifts to report.

Number of sessions: The recommended 3. A fairly uneventful week's training. On a positive note I've made it to the half way mark (hence the classic Jon Bon Jovi picture to accompany the lyrics to Living on a Prayer - wooooooaaaah we're halfway there, wo-ah! living on a prayer! It's a song I often sing in my head when I'm on the homeward stretch of a run). Despite making it to the 8 week mark I'm beginning to find it increasingly hard to drag myself out for my sessions and I'm bored of running the same routes, especially on the longer runs. I need to do something this week to spice it up.

I was meant to race today anything from 5 miles to a half marathon. Although there was a half marathon within driving distance on the outskirts of London, I decided not to attempt it as I'm already doing a half marathon on the 15th March. Racing twice within 3 weeks is probably not wise especially at that distance. So off I headed a couple of hours ago, out to Broomfield Hospital (again). At less than 3 miles in I had to make an emergency wee stop in a local pub which had a big sign on the loos saying for pub customers only. I then got a cheeky thumbs up and a grin from a man waiting to cross the road and a wolf whistle from some old drunkards outside a country pub in Broomfield itself. I felt quite fresh when I got home!

Anyway I'm not the only one out there training. My local streets are positively brimming with runners on any day of the week all with the same mission in mind. And out in celeb land they're clocking up the miles too in preparation for April. In one of those celeb gossip mags this week there were pictures of Jordan/Katie Price/Mrs Andre out on a 13 miler in Malibu (how nice) with hubby Pete. She's had some problems with her hips, knees and arches (like me!). Apparently her feet have been bandaged as they're not used to running - surely it should be her boobs that are bandaged down?! I REALLY hope I see her on marathon day...

Weekly mileage: 24 miles.

Total to date: 137.32 miles.

Week 7 - ouch that hurt!

2009-02-23T13:03:00.000-08:00

Weather conditions: Good. A gorgeous day on Saturday with lots of people out running but not me...

Number of sessions: 2 (because of injury). Almost half way through my 16 week training schedule and I thought my marathon was over. My right arch which had begun to ache last week was really beginning to hurt. It was so bad after a 6 mile run on Friday that I couldn't walk bare foot on carpet. In a panic I began 'Googling' and discovered I had possible Plantar Fasciitis - a condition which admits over 1,000 people to hospital a year and can mean surgery in extreme cases! Thinking my trainers might be the culprit I headed to my local running shop for some advice. Whilst my trainers are a very good make they are a 'neutral' model and not offering me enough support as my right foot tends to roll in a little when I run (I had my gait analysed on video!). Apparently I have weak abductors (inner thighs)... I was also advised to get a bigger shoe as your feet swell by at least 1 shoe size if not more when you run a marathon. If there's no room for expansion that's when your toe nails turn black and drop off! So I left the shop £75 lighter, with some very nice supportive Sauconys (a brand I've had before) and renewed hope that my running 'career' was not over. That evening I decided to do a bit of self medication. One of the top tips on t'internet was to freeze a small bottle of water and roll that round under your foot as hard as you can bear. It seemed to help. I also bought some Arnica cream to try and reduce the inflammation.

The physio in the running shop said I could attempt my long run on Sunday but should be prepared to pull up at any time. So off I went in my shiny nice new trainers to attempt 14 miles - the longest distance I have ever run. It killed me but I suppose this wasn't meant to be easy! I had to stop and walk briefly a couple of times. By mile 12 my calf muscles felt like they were going to burst as did my heart. However, I had no pain in my feet at all! I finished in 2 hours 31 minutes and 29 seconds. I was super chuffed as the suggested time to complete was 3 hours.

Weekly mileage: 20 miles.

Total to date: 113.32 miles.

Total number of calories burnt to date: A whopping 10,730 calories - that's 63 creme eggs people!

Total time spent running to date: 20 hours, 27 minutes and 44 seconds...

Brits analysis!

2009-02-19T13:07:00.001-08:00

Ok so here's my analysis of the Brits 2009:

The hosts: James Corden, Matthew Horne and Kylie Minogue were a mixed bag. I thought Kylie looked soo Madame Tussauds, like she hasn't aged in at least the last 10 years, and she didn't come across as having much personality. Matthew Horne appeared to be extremely nervous almost on the verge of rabbit in the headlights. The lovely James Corden was super hyper and by far the best out of the trio.

The outfits: I loved Katy Perry's diamante Helly Kitty corset although it got a big thumbs down in today's Sun. I also thought Girls Aloud looked amazing both in their on and off stage outfits. Duffy also gets a look-in for having amazing pins, the most fabulous girlie walk and looking just classy. Person I most wanted to look like was Natalie Imbruglia sporting a new hair do (extensions?), to die for cheekbones and dimples and a nice LBD.

The performances: The show opened with U2 performing their latest single 'Get on your boots'. It was basically a slightly different performance to the one they did at last week's Grammys. I like the track though and have fond memories of my major school girl crush on drummer Larry Mullen Jnr. Coldplay also did a Grammys repeat. I thought Chris Martin's vocal was a bit hit and miss (which is unusual) and that poor guy banging the drum all that time - his arm must hurt! Does anyone actually know the names of the other people in Coldplay?? Most disappointing performance has to go to Take That I'm afraid. Bad miming, not loving the Star Trek outfits and the geek glasses gave me flashbacks to clubbing at Cream in Liverpool in 1997 - although they did appear to be de rigeur last night with Alan Carr and Gok Wan also wearing them. Girls Aloud were awesome...I loved the whole pink feather thing and can't wait to see them live this year. I also loved the Kings of Leon. They totally rocked it! Oh and how could I forget the big finale - the Pet Shop Boys. Dire...awful...they soo didn't get me out of my seat (actually I was in bed for this bit) although I couldn't help but recite with Neil Tennant some of the lines in West End Girls. Oh and how could I forget the Ting Tings and Estelle...the Tings annoy me at the best of times but this collaboration was just bad.

'Celebs': Freaky midget Jamie Callum, sooo annoying Fearne Cotton (such a shame as I'm sure she's a lovely girl), Tom Jones proudly showing off his grey hair, irritating shots of Matt Lucas in the audience grinning inanely and a special appearance by the Hoff (he's a big unit). Can't wait for next year...