Wasabi Peas

This weekend my Aunty (who is also my godmother) was staying with my parents in Chorleywood. Unfortunately she hasn’t been well lately so I was desperate to head home to see her and hang out with such an incredibly strong and inspiring woman. I beavered through my essay reading and headed back home for the weekend. Joy.

All five of my family (and my aunty) were together again and it was flipping fantastic, if you hadn’t already guessed I absolutely love my family. I also managed to see some of my closest friends, which was such a treat, here I am with them in the loos at church. That sounds really weird written down, it wasn’t a planned loo trip to take a photo, it just sort of happened. Girls go to the loo in groups, it’s how we roll.

 (standard 13 year olds in the mirror photo, groovin and blurred)

Anyway, I headed back to Oxford on Monday and as a special treat, Mama G had bought me some Wasabi peas. Yum... but also kind of weird.

 You see, the thing with Wasabi peas is you have one and at first it’s sweet, and you think yes, I like you. But moments later, the wasabi kicks in and soon your mouth and nose start having a joint hissy fit. Stranger still, is that after this bizarre experience, you find that you want more (why? I have no idea). So here I was on the bus, munching my way through this packet half enjoying them, half crying and sneezing- poor girl sitting next to me must have thought I was cray cray.

It got me thinking (the bus journey was dull) eating Wasabi peas is a bit like running. I really enjoy it, I love being able to get away from work and college and have space to think. Yet, running isn’t the most glamorous of sports, you get tired, red, hot and sweaty, people question your sanity for wanting to run the Marathon… but I still go back for more. Weird isn’t it?! Hmm. 

Sorry I got so side tracked, back to training:

I‘ve been on two runs so far this week, one 6 mile* yesterday and one 3 mile today. Both were good (and cowfree) but I got pins and needles in my feet at the end of my 6 mile run, strange. If anyone knows what that is maybe message me?... Aka Mum, who I suspect may be the only one religiously reading this blog, yodel ma.

*I know I said I was upping the miles this week to 7, turns out I can’t read and that’s not until next week. So I’m heading to the gym on Thursday and then getting ready for 7 miles on Monday-chaboomski.

Small Victories

There is one thing that has stopped me running many times. Not injury (luckily!). Not a stitch. Not even just laziness.

No. What I’m talking about gets a blog post of its own. That’s right, this thing I’m talking about is big. Literally.

Cows. You may laugh, but I have an issue with cows. And particularly the ones that are found at the beginning of my run. The ones that terrorise the pathway  through Port Meadow leading to the Canal.

You would think that as I’m running I can just sail on by, power through and it’s over in 2 minutes. No.

Here is a picture of why we should all be afraid of cows (Yes, really):

Check out those horns-blimey.

To be fair I am better than I used to be, but I still think that if given the chance, if cows decided that eating grass wasn’t all it’s been cracked up to be and became carnivores, I don't stand a chance. I’m short, I’m pretty weak by comparison, and one fatal turn in my direction would send me flying. Just saying, I’m first to go if it happens, I said it here first.

Anyway, back to the point, I went on 2 runs this week, both about 5-6 miles long through Jericho, Port Meadow, along the Canal up to Christchurch, round Christchurch Meadows and wound my way back to Worcester. AND managed to time both runs so that I did not meet any cows and have to turn around and take a different route #BOOM*

So running is going well, I've got another one planned for Saturday and then upping the mileage to 7 miles next week. Let’s hope this lucky streak of meeting no cows continues!

*I realise (Alex) #s are only for Twitter, haters gonna hate.

And so it begins...

Hello wonderful people!

This week I am starting to train to be able to run 26.2 miles by 21st April next year. Exciting stuff. 

I realise running the Marathon is not something that appeals to many people, I have definitely got some confusing looks from people I've told about it! Still, for me it's been a dream for about 4-5 years now and to have finally secured a place is just, well, joyous. I am so pleased to be able to be running for Amnesty International, I am a passionate supporter of the work that they do and am overjoyed that by running for them I can raise awareness for the organisation as well as funds.

I hope to use this blog mainly to keep everyone updated with how training is going and how far I've upped the mileage! But I'd also like to use it as a way of keeping in touch with everyone who has donated/ knows me, to explain what I'm up to, why I run and also to highlight some of what Amnesty does. Hopefully it'll be a bit more insightful into who I am and what I'm about, especially while I'm here in Oxford.

Lots of love and happy Monday! Xx