Ta-da!

Match report

I often find myself in slightly ridiculous situations which may explain why I power walked 21 miles on the hottest day of the year so far.

Just in case you missed yesterdays post, the walk is done – 21 miles, five hours 35 mins, 46,096 steps. A week earlier than anticipated, but hey-ho! I have photographic evidence of the pedometer and hopefully Natalie will be able to get it off my phone tomorrow (I can be such a Luddite at times). Plenty of my colleagues have seen it so I can produce character witnesses if required.

Anyway, back to the walk. I knew something was afoot on Saturday evening when I was putting together my iPod’s 16 mile playlist (imaginatively titled ‘Walkies!’). I decided to add on an extra hour’s worth of tunes ‘just in case’ - hmmmm.

Woke up on Sunday morning and I knew what I had to do – get this walk out of the way. Rather than fully admit that to myself or anyone else I set off on my training walk as planned, just with extra provisions on the off-chance I fancied tagging an extra five miles on the end.

I would love to report some kind of triumph over adversity tale of five and a half hours of hell but it really wasn’t the case; in the main it was very enjoyable. The only problem I encountered was crushing boredom. To overcome this I mulled over such insightful topics as:

‘Would I like to live at River Cottage?’ (yes, but only if Hugh moved out)

‘What would being married to Tim Roth be like?’ (awesome)

‘Is my neighbour using his ice cream van empire as a cover for drug dealing (quite possibly)

The only time I came close to breaking was being forced to return to the house when I ran out of water at 37,000 steps. It was heartbreaking to dash in, fill up and leave again – all the time knowing that all that stood between me and that sofa was another 9,000 steps (sigh).

Mr Swift was kind enough to accompany me for the last hour and his company was greatly appreciated. His sense of humour at 43,000 steps, was not. “Wouldn’t it be funny if I locked you out of the house when we got back?” Err, no. We’re friends again now.

Once it was all over i celebrated by having a glass of bubbly and watching the second half of the Bollywood film Fanaa – an epic tale of casual holiday sex and international terrorism.

The good news is it’s not too late to sponsor me if you’re feeling that way inclined; my justgiving page is still very much open for business. So far I’ve raised £369 (thank you, thank you, thank you) and would love to see that grow a little larger.

Right, I bid you all goodnight; I’ll be back in the next couple of days to give you an update on progress.

Hip Hip Hooray

Hello again. I’ve only gone and bloody done it!

You’re going to have to take my word for it at the moment as I can’t get the pic of my pedometer off my phone.

So, 21 miles in 5 hours and 35 minutes has got me to 46,000 steps. I wasn't planning the big push until next week, but i just knew that today should be the day from the moment i woke up.

I am extremely relieved to have it in the bag. My calves ache the tiniest bit, but I think that may be down to dehydration rather than anything else. It was extremely warm out there today.

There will be a full match report tomorrow once I’ve recovered, but tonight there will be some long overdue chocolate cake and champagne - hooray!

Week eight round-up

Week eight! My, it only seems like yesterday Stuart convinced me this blog would be a good idea.

Can i get a drum roll please ............. 16 miles nailed in 4 hours 10 mins. I'm chuffed to bits with the time and the distance. No major problems to report apart from abject boredom. I desperately need some new tunes on the iPod to keep me entertained.

Anyhoo - here's what i've learned this week:

• Hugh's River Cottage Garlic Soup is amazing (even if you substitute the chicken stock for a veg alternative)
• Never underestimate the comedy value of a short Irish man in a cape and jackboots (or a giant purple cow)
• iTunes support section is full of lies

So, week nine - the penultimate week. I'm looking at three midweek walks (two six miles and one seven miler) then a repeat of today's 16 mile endurance test next Sunday. I feel tired just typing that.

Pollen, Garlic, Hooowwwwwllllll

What a blissful way to start the weekend - I’m sat in my study (at my shiny new computer) looking out over the garden, wondering what on earth I’m going to do with abundance of fruit ripening nicely on my apple tree (I’m leaning towards cider).

The only thing spoiling this scenario is the puffy eyes and streaming nose courtesy of my arch nemesis, pollen. I’ve had hay fever for the last 20 years but for some reason this season is particularly bad. For someone who spends a great deal of time in the garden, this is not cool.

This week has been pretty easy going on the training front; just a couple of six-mile midweek jaunts. Six miles really is nothing now, I can do it well within the 90 minutes recommended in my training schedule. However, tomorrow’s 16 miler looms menacingly in the background. My clothes and trainers are sitting in a pile, ready for me to drag myself out of bed early doors in order to get round in time to still have some of the day left to enjoy. Last week’s 14 miler wasn’t the nightmare it could have been, so pollen permitting it could be ok.

I should really mention the crushing tiredness that’s probably making the pollen appear ten times worse than it actually is. I had a very late night/early morning thanks to Andrew Maxwell and his merry band of fullmooners (hooowwwwwllllll) . As per usual, Maxwell overran by a good 40 minutes, meaning that Waterloo had closed for the night by the time we got there. Cue much frantic TFL checking on the iPhone (Natalie) and desperate attempts to locate bus stop D (Me). 50 minutes later we arrive in deepest, darkest Penge. I’m not complaining – the gig was a riotous laugh, and ended with Des Bishops's Gaelic rendition of House of Pain’s ‘Jump Around’. Des was accompanied on stage by Maxwell, three breakdancers and a giant dancing purple cow. If that’s not worth braving a trip on the night bus, I don’t know what is.

Anyway – will leave you all to your respective Saturday pursuits. I plan to spend the day repotting chili plants and picking my first garlic of the season. Can’t make my mind up whether to roast the bulbs whole or make a garlic soup. Either way, I apologise in advance to any Campaign staff that have to speak to me next week – its’ going to be a fragrant experience.

I love research!

I’ve just got back from one of my favourite Breast Cancer Campaign events, our annual Induction Day. The event, in its ninth year (I’ve been to seven of them), is designed to bring together our newly funded scientists with Campaign’s staff, Trustees and Scientific Advisory Board members. We split the day into two halves - the scientists talk about their research in the morning and Campaign’s staff talk about what they do in the afternoon. Hopefully, by the end of the day we all know a little bit more about our ground breaking research and the scientists understand the dedication and perseverance of Campaign’s staff and supporters (and how they can help us to raise even more money).

I have the great privilege of suggesting the scientific speakers and it’s a wonderful opportunity for me to share some of my favourite new research projects with staff and scientists alike. Here’s a few of the research questions that our new researchers are answering right now:

· Can a type of physiotherapy called myofacial release help to improve the lack of mobility and pain people experience in their upper arm after breast cancer surgery and radiotherapy?

· Can we design a brand new way of treating breast cancer by putting a gene into breast cancer cells that causes them to self-destruct, leaving healthy cells intact?

· Are a group of cells called cancer stem cells responsible for people’s breast cancer returning after treatment? If so, can we develop ways to kill these stem cells and prevent the cancer from recurring?

I am inspired by what I hear at every Induction Day, not just from the scientists but also the dedication of our staff. It’s motivated me to keep on going with the walking, and I know however much I raise will be a step in the right direction (no pun intended) to helping us support event more research.

I won’t go on about the current economic climate but as Liz (our Director of Fundraising) pointed out in her talk this afternoon there are around 20,000 active charities all vying for your cash right now. Each person is motivated to raise funds for Campaign for very different reasons; mine is the unwavering belief that Campaign’s research does and will continue to make a huge difference to the 550,000 people alive in the UK who have been diagnosed with breast cancer, and those people who’ll be diagnosed in the future.

I guess a spot of exercise and a few inconvenienced weekends seems like a small price to pay in return.

P.S – On a more flippant note, I’ve calmed down 1000 per cent since last night’s Apple-directed tirade (a note to Steve Jobs, it’s probably safe for you to pop round our house now). The iTunes issue still isn’t resolved; however I have (unrealistically) high hopes for this evening.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Just spent the last three hours failing to transfer mine and Mr Swift's iTune libraries from dying laptop to shiny new computer. If Steve Jobs walked into my study right now i'd punch him very hard in the face.

*deep breaths* Let's hope tomorrows six mile walk will help calm the nerves.

Week seven round-up

My, how time flies when you’re having fun. It’s been a really productive seven days with some significant progress made. Here’s a round-up:

· Did my longest walk to date – 14 miles in 3 hours 40 minutes. I felt much happier on this walk than last Monday’s 12 miler, conclusive proof that it was evil Gipsy Hill that did me in. My pedometer reckoned I’d amassed 31,000 steps. On that basis I calculate 46,000 steps will equate to 21 miles and around six hours of walking. The end is in sight!

· Now the last frosts are well and truly over I planted everything from my greenhouse into the raised beds. My full crop list stands at: apples, blueberries, rhubarb, sweet corn, broccoli, potatoes, carrots, beetroot, kale, courgettes, radishes, tomatoes, lettuce, spinach, dwarf beans, pink chard, parsley, basil, thyme, rosemary and coriander. As Natalie pointed out yesterday when I gave her the guided tour of ‘le jardin de Lisa’, come the zombie apocalypse/swine ‘flu pandemic I will be self sufficient as long as I can get into the back garden. Hmm, need to work on securing the perimeter.

· Special mention must go to PC World who processed and dispatched the order for my new computer without sending me a single email, and to DHL who left it with my (thankfully very trustworthy) neighbours. Proof indeed that excellent customer service is a thing of the past.

This week I’ve got a couple of six mile walks and a 16 miler at the weekend. I’m also really looking forward to Maxwell's Fullmooners Moonlanding Moontacula on Friday. I went in full zombie fancy dress to the last Moontacula (hence today’s photo – by the way, that’s not my hair or my rat). Unfortunately most of the other thousand-strong audience had ignored the ‘compulsory fancy dress’ request so Joe, Natalie, Simon, Kirk, Swifty and I looked a little strange. The numerous tequila shots downed before leaving the house prevented us from dying of shame.

New hip required?

I’m slightly concerned as I’ve developed a twinge in my hip; it was a tad sore on the short walk down to London Bridge last night. I’m pretty convinced it’s psychosomatic as it only came on after Arlene quizzed me about any aches and pains I may be experiencing. I’m going to stop talking to her about exercise; she’s starting to scare me.

Just to be on the safe side I’m going to invest in a new pair of walking trainers (yes, such things do exist) as my current Asics are designed for running and have seen better days (and, if the truth be known, they’re a bit fragrant).

So, I’ll be skipping tonight’s six mile hike in favour of a shorter walk tomorrow morning, leading into the 14 mile extravaganza on Sunday. I’m hoping I’ll be able to get into work on Monday without the need for crutches.

I am a shameless geek

Last night was a training-free evening so I got to spend some quality time with my one true love – the Xbox 360 (sorry Mr S).

I’ve always been a bit of a gamer and have happy childhood memories spent huddled round the ZX Spectrum playing Manic Miner, Daley Thompson’s Decathlon and Ghostbusters.

In 1997/1998, the final year of my undergraduate degree, I was the only girl in a house full of boys - we spent vast swaths of time playing Tomb Raider and Final Fantasy VII. Without Lara Croft and Chocobo Racing I would have got a 1st. I have no regrets.

I currently own five consoles; the Xbox 360, Wii, DS, Gamecube and Playstation 2 (the latter two are much-loved old friends I’m unable to part with). The irony is my husband has no interest in gaming at all; it all got too complicated for him after Frogger. He’s happy to watch from the sidelines.

You may think it’s pretty sad that a soon-to-be 36 year old woman likes playing games, but I can assure you I am not alone. There are many more women like me and we’re not all playing those patronising nurturing games aimed at us– take note developers, I’m primarily interested in puzzle solving and shooting zombies in the head.

However, exercise of the non-virtual kind does have its advantages. I doubt very much I’d have lost 10 pounds whilst sat on my backside playing Left 4 Dead.

So, six miles planned for this evening, after Monday’s adventure it’ll be a breeze. I may even get home in time for some online zombie culling – happy days!

Hills suck

I survived last night’s 12 mile walk home – hip hip hooray! Took me 3hrs 12 mins.

For the benefit of my fellow Londoners the route was as follows: Shoreditch- London Bridge – Elephant and Castle – Camberwell – Denmark Hill – Herne Hill – West Dulwich – Gipsy Hill – Crystal Palace – West Norwood – Croydon.

I wouldn’t recommend anyone walks this kind of distance on a regular basis as it was excruciatingly hard going after a days work. I had a slight wobbly moment upon reaching the top of Crystal Palace – 380 feet above the Thames– and stumbled the remaining three and a half miles home with legs that felt like they no longer belonged to me.

Got home just in time for dinner, watched Ashes to Ashes then fell asleep on the sofa.

Looking forward to a couple of six mile midweek walks and Sunday’s 14 mile stroll. As they say, no rest for the wicked.

Week six round-up

Not much to report, training has had to take a bit of back seat for the last few days. However, I’m standing on the precipice of a 40 mile training week - gulp.

Highlights from the week:

1. Whilst running the bar at Mum and Terry’s 25th Wedding Anniversary party Swifty and I invented a cocktail, ‘the Wendy’ - three parts champagne, one part pomegranate juice. Consume until you feel the need to dance to the Bay City Rollers ‘Bye Bye Baby’ while simultaneously eating squirty cream directly from the can.

2. I broke my self-imposed rules and succumbed to the tiniest glass of champagne and a huge piece of chocolate cake at the party. Both tasted all the better for a six week absence.

3. I’m being stalked by birds. I’ve had two baby birds in my living room over the last week (thanks Max and Eli) and two jackdaws flew down the chimney at my Mum’s house -I thought we were in Hodnet not Bodega Bay?

So, tonight is the big twelve mile hike from Shoreditch to Croydon. I have my Auntie Maria’s Jackie CD burned to my iPod, so lots of David Cassidy, Slade, The Osmonds and David Essex to keep me company all the way home. Marvellous!

Drag Me To Hell

No, that’s not a direct order. It’s just the title of a film I went to see last night. If you like silly horror then you’ll enjoy this.

The only thing that spoilt my enjoyment was my inability to be surprised by surprise endings. For example, the twist in The Sixth Sense was glaringly obvious to me within the first 15 minutes (as it should have been for everyone....). It’s a curse!

On the walking front I’ve had a rethink about the 12 mile walk of death planned for the weekend and on Arlene's advice I’m going to delay it until Monday when I’m back in London-town. This does mean I’ll be walking all the way from work to Croydon. Psychologically that seems like an awfully long way.

Week five round-up

Apologies for the lack of recent posts. I’ve been visited by both sets of parents over the last two weekends, so my opportunities to write have been very limited. Had a very lovely time with Dad, Marg and Scott this weekend. I felt terribly guilty for using them as slave labour to shift the three ton of topsoil that was delivered on Friday. Still, there’s no such thing as a free lunch (or board and lodgings) in our house.

Sunday saw me completed a ten mile walk in 159 minutes – a very respectable time given the temperature. Thankfully I have my camelbak (a combined rucksack/water carrier) otherwise I would have collapsed of exhaustion on Shirley golf course, never to be seen again…..

Anyway, things we have learned from week five of training:

1. Walking ten miles can be extremely enjoyable. No, honestly it can!

2. Cats are the axis of evil. They may pretend to love you, but at some point they’ll bring a live bird into your living room and you’ll spend over an hour trying to get the thing out alive

3. If you think you need three tons of topsoil to fill your raised beds, you’ll actually only require two tons. You’ll then have to endure your family reminding you of exactly why you had to re-sit your GSCE maths exam

4. A note to motorists – just because you’re in a steel box doesn’t give you the right to assume your journey is in any way superior to mine. It’s a good job I don’t own a handgun otherwise there would have been a few fatalities in the Addiscombe/West Wickham/Shirley area this weekend.

Another strange week looms. It’s Mum and Terry’s silver wedding anniversary party on Saturday so I’ll be heading back to sunny Shropshire to meet up with the rest of the family. I’m also going to have to do a twelve mile walk in a village that has next to no paths and lots of crazy country roads. Highly likely I’ll be run over by a Landrover.

Nice knowing you all.