Ripper!

G'day friends!  

We have just touched down from a 3 week holiday in Australia and so a catch up is needed! I hope that everyone had a lovely Christmas and New Year, with lots of fun, food and Love Actually on repeat.

Well, what a year 2012 has been:

Finishing my first year at Oxford, punting/garden parties (with excessive amounts of Pimms), Berlin with Maddles, Chasing Zero at Momentum, a great beginning to second year at Oxford with surprise visits from wonderful friends, an incredible thanksgiving ball at St Aldates (and a lovely new pastorate to have joined!), playing women's football for Worcester, Oxmas and of course starting training for the Marathon!

Our (my family's) trip to Australia has been the cherry (and icing) on top! We have had so much fun no matter where we were or what we were doing, 3 weeks together has been awesome.

My Highlights: 

• Climbing Sydney harbour bridge

• Trekking the blue mountains 

I know, I know, such a geographer...

• Learning to surf

• Night Watching little penguins walk across the beach to their nests about a metre or 2 away from where we were sitting
• The most beautiful sunset I've ever seen
• Incredible stars 
• Swimming with wild dolphins and seals*

• Christmas on the highest floor of the tallest building in Melbourne 

• Staying in tents and sunbathing/burning in Jervis bay

• Going to Sydney taronga zoo and seeing meerkats (they're my favourite, other than pigs) 
• Watching the New Year's Eve fireworks at Sydney harbour bridge in the botanical gardens

... And breath! This new year I am thankful for such a lovely holiday, I am feeling truly blessed for my incredible, strong and loving family and to be given the opportunity to experience so much together is such a privilege. 

Our word for this holiday was 'ripper', I know - huh?!- but say it in a surfer dude accent and imagine yourself an aussie with long blonde hair, uber chilled out and called Maddy (preferably a female...).There you have our surfing instructor on Phillip island. Yup I have decided to bun uni and go live in Oz, catching waves, chilling with penguins and having a year round golden tan. No really**. 

Well apart from the bun uni part that probably won't be really workable with the whole life plan of getting a degree. I also tend to burn a bit so I would need money to buy sun cream and after sun so I would probably need a job too... Ok,ok, I may not be able to live life quite the same as Maddy***. 

But Maddy and all the other Sheila's and Bruce's (sorry it had to be done) we met in Australia and their laid-back attitude to life, definitely made me think.

With the everything that happened last year, the  good and the slightly harder, it has been a time to reflect and put things in perspective. Watch out here comes the New Years resolution, drum roll please (just so you know I am imagining you all at your computer screens doing a mini drum roll tap on  your knees. Snaps for those who did it.):

Have a more laid back, chilled out approach to life. 

Live. Be open and allow vulnerability. Continue to give my all to everything but remember to have fun. Love and let people know I love them (apologies for the sop, all you lucky people who may find that kind of thing uncomfortable, you are gonna love me when we next catch up). Do things that are daunting and scary but good, take new steps.

Even the koalas are pretty mellow, I could have sworn this one whispered 'duuuuude...'

Training in Oz started off grand with my first 10 mile run done around Sydney opera house, botanical gardens and the harbour bridge. However unfortunately for the first time in training I have a running injury. My lower back started playing up and when I landed on each foot whilst running I got a shooting  pain down the back of my thighs. So training paused for a while and I rested up. This was initially absolutely gutting, but gradually I've managed to start doing short runs and going in the gym and hopefully now that I'm back in the UK after I've seen the physiotherapist next week I can get back to my longer runs again. 

*Another highlight of that was meeting a lady whilst I was munching a carrot on the boat who I thought at first was joking (but as it turned out wasn't) that she could telepathically communicate with the seals and dolphins who are in a 5th dimension. Apparently their aim is to bring us to their 5th dimension... Don't worry, she also said that eating carrots (like I told her I always did) means you have 20/20 vision and she swears by it. I neglected to tell her I am practically blind without my contact lenses... Still, it made swimming with wild animals less scary as she kept singing to them when we were getting into the water. Kudos crazy lady. 

**I managed to stand up (kind of) once, I feel that qualifies me to say I could become the new female Kelly slater...

***Maddles I freaked out excitedly when Maddy introduced herself and nearly launched into suggesting she be my new Aussie you..., I think my family are grateful I stopped my jibber jabber before I made her confused and probably a bit scared.

‘It doesn’t matter where you’ve come from, only where you are going’.

I disagree with this statement. I believe that we are shaped by history, our childhood, our family and our experiences. Where we’re from, who’ve we’ve loved (or been loved by) and what we’ve done so far shapes the people that we are today and who we will become.

Arthur David Gwyther, is the name of my Grandad on my Dad’s side. Known to others as David of Dai (Welsh).

On the morning of Sunday 2^nd December, my Grandad, someone who has shaped who I am today, suddenly and tragically passed away.

Grandad was someone whose smile and warmth was infectious. He was strong, kind, gentle and loving. I can never remember a time when he was disappointed or angry with me, only ever proud and encouraging with a brilliant chuckle.

Grandad was always into his music, he played in a jazz band-piano and violin. I remember at Sara and Dave’s wedding after the first dance, Grandad and I taking to the dance floor and him telling me to stop looking at my feet, and for goodness sake let him lead! Grandad also served in the Navy in the Second World War. When I was 15 I joined the Navy Cadet Force, because of his service in it. I remember him singing to me ‘In the Navy,’ and chuckling as I told him my stories of marching, saluting and tying copious amounts of knots.

There are many more memories that I could share, all of them filled with joy from the great man that Grandad was. He always supported me in everything I did, whenever I got all passionate about something and ‘off on one again’ he would always say ‘ you go lass’ or ‘go on girl.’ Just as Grandparents are meant to be, Gran and Grandad were constant, always loving.

 Their relationship inspires me. I think you can learn a lot from the people who love you. The way that Granny and Granddad loved each other and how they just fitted together is incredible. This and the way they have encouraged and loved me, has strengthened me. It has increased my capacity to open up to people, and to love.

This past week has been hard, especially for Gran, Dad and my two Aunties. Tears have been shed, memories shared and arrangements have come together for Grandad’s funeral next Wednesday. What has been incredible about this week has been how our family has come together. I have always been brought up to appreciate and protect family relationships. But this week I have truly witnessed the ‘power of love’ (I know cheesy John Lewis advert). The raw, unconditional love of family is quite amazing.

I’m sorry this post may have been quite intense or depressing, but true to my personality of being quite open and outwardly processing things, it seemed wrong to chat about my running programme without acknowledging what has happened this week.

Training:

• 9 miles on Monday –that was a hard one, Chorleywood has too many hills. Started walking on the last hill I was running up (mile 9) because someone managed to walk past me-awkward.
• 3 miles on Tuesday- Legs were not loving life as I hauled myself around the hills once more. Think I may run to Amersham next time!
• Today Gym time and then tomorrow another 3-4 mile run.

Next Week:

•  9 miles on Monday and Tuesday 3-4 miles.
• On Wednesday evening, after the funeral, I am going to Australia for 3 weeks, where I will continue training (early morning runs) in 30 degree heat. Oh dear.

Whatever you do this Christmas, tell the people you love how much you appreciate them and love them. Let’s defy British social norms regarding displays of emotion and affection and just act on LOVE. Don’t worry I’m not getting all ‘hippy’ on you, I just think it’s important to gain perspective, to appreciate what you have, be thankful and honest.

Here is a song I’ll leave with you, one that sums up my Grandad and shall be played at his funeral.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_aJfZw3SA2c

Grandad, you will always hold a firm place in my heart and live on through our family. I will always cherish being told I had my grandad’s smile.

Have a joy-filled weekend,

Jen xx

WAD 2012

Tomorrow is World AIDS Day.

This post is only a short one, but hopefully one that will bring a bit of joy to your weekend in the form of ICE CREAM. mmm just what you need on a cold, wintry day.

For the past year I have been volunteering at Chasing Zero, which is an HIV/AIDS charity that was founded by a brilliant and inspiring friend Joel Wallington after he left University. (http://www.wearechasingzero.org/).

I am incredibly passionate and excited by the work that Chasing Zero does and would love to invite you all to get involved with an event called Freeze-AIDS happening from 9pm tonight (30th November) til Saturday 1st December. 

For more info check out: http://www.freezeaids.org/

If you want to know a bit more about why we've organised it I wrote a blog for Chasing Zero featured on Tearfund's Rhythms page which you can see here: http://village.rhythms.org/noticeboard/lets-freeze-aids/

So if you're anything like me and love ice cream (I am heading to G and Ds in Oxford now, I know breaking the whole marathon diet plan...) then I recommend getting involved with this! 

Also, if anyone is heading to Soul Survivor Church in Watford on Sunday, see you there- Joel will be chatting about Freeze-AIDS at the services there.

Running Update:

Flooding has meant I have had to take some crazy routes around Oxford, but thankfully I've managed to make up the miles this week around Jericho and Iffley.

Today Zara and I ran to the gym, great until we went in the gym and they had the heaters on?!  Crazy, I know, wasn't pretty.

Next week, back to Chorleywood, hill 'training' (oh dear) and onto 9 miles. Watch this space.

Have a great weekend friends :) xx

P.s. Sorry for all the shameless plugging and links on this post, but hopefully you might be interested in getting your ice cream on!

Joy

Ever since I was little, music has been a big part of my life. I vividly remember watching Top of the Pops, each week getting so excited to see who would be number 1. When I was small(er) my dad used to pick me up and we’d have a dance around the lounge before dinner to M people, Martine McCutcheon or Marvin Gaye. Having played in various orchestras, jazz bands, sung in choirs and the like, I’ve always been amazed at how liberating and 'joy-filling' music is. 

I also love a good old boogie. Word of caution, this does not mean I am a particularly good dancer (I know, shocker) but I love it when you give in to looking like a complete fool, throw some hilarious shapes and just go for it. Last term just before prelims, Becky, Maddy and I had a spontaneous, crazy dance around outside in a summer downpour- it was brilliant.

So this last week has been a pretty darned groovy week, because it has included so much music and dancing (and running!).

On Wednesday, I went to see Matt Corby at Scala, London with Charlotte and Ninz, which was awesome. If you haven’t checked him out he is just ...phoa*. I am also a huge fan of his hair.

Thursday, we had the St Aldates Thanksgiving ball- what a night! Jazz band, yummy food, dancing and a snowboard simulator!!

Here's Maddles and me, loving life.

I’m not normally a fan of all the fuss that comes with dressing up for events, so it was such a blessing to have our friend Anna pop by before the ball and offer to do Mine and Maddy’s hair and make up- what a babe. 

Yesterday, I met up with the wonderful Charli, had a great 8 mile run and went to the Sheldonian Carol service.

Carols, they could have a whole blog post. Essentially, what a way to bring people together to share in the joy and significance of Christmas, get your ‘opera-on’ and go all out attempting crazy descants. We also had mulled wine (and mince pies) beforehand. 

Mulled wine/cider (probably mulled anything, I have no idea what you do when you mull something…) is delicious and my favourite. I vote we should drink it all year round, as well as Pimms- let's break the mould, be all controversial and that.

This week is the last week of Oxford term and so although it will be tinged with sadness at leaving Oxford, I am determined to have another joyous week-chill out, laugh and enjoy life.

Challenge for your week (and mine):

Pick out the little bits that bring you joy each day, remember them and be thankful for them (I follow @thankyou_today which is a great way to remember the good part from each day).

Whatever you do, play this and have a good old boogie:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Z66wVo7uNw

 P.s. I almost forgot to say, but thank you to everyone who came to the Worcester Christmas Fayre and bought fudge and cookies, raised £100 for Amnesty- yay!

*I recommend a first listen of 'Brother' (massive crowd pleaser).

A budding romance...with rich tea biscuits

Rich tea biscuits have long been the ‘loser’ of all biscuits.

Contentious statement, I know.

But if given the choice would you rather have a chocolate digestive or a rich tea? A custard cream or a rich tea? A bourbon or a rich tea? Hands down, every time I would NOT pick the rich tea. I like variety, I like interesting tastes and trying different things. The standard rich tea biscuit, although consistent and perfectly ‘dippable’ does not ‘turn me on’ (such an awkward phrase, I don’t know why I used that) instead it encompasses everything boring- in a biscuit.

However, today I headed off for a run a little later than anticipated. So thinking that my porridge I’d had earlier to keep me going for my run, would have ‘worn off,’ I searched for a biscuit.

Absolute dilemma, all I could find was this packet of rich teas:

What a mare. So reluctantly I had one (or maybe two) and flip, was I surprised. They may be dry and not particularly aesthetically pleasing, but they hit the pre-run-snack spot. So, I take it back, rich teas are better than I thought. Rich tea, you have completely changed my precious conceptions about the biscuit world.

A lot of things have been broadening my perspective recently. This weekend I was away with a group of incredibly inspirational people as part of a Tearfund 'Emerging Influencers' course. It was an incredible experience to be with like-minded people, with a heart for justice and a vision for a better world.

Often, so much of what we see and hear about in the world can make us completely shut off, become apathetic and disillusioned with ideals and unequal, exploitative realities. Yet, I have come to believe that this indifference to creation, and our global and local neighbours, is much more harmful and ‘pointless’ than any difference we could make for good.

This may sound ridiculous and idealistic, believe me I know. Lots of the studying/reading I have done this year shows that theoretically, many development ideals are flawed or too Western orientated. However, getting bogged down in all of this theorising, has a negative effect, it makes us feel helpless.

The impact that small actions can make, like buying a Big Issue, acknowledging and chatting to the homeless in Oxford or signing petitions that call for the protection of human rights in different countries, is much bigger than we give them credit. It is my belief and central to my faith that to love my God and to love my neighbour is essential to how I live. I have hope that those living in unjust circumstances will see justice, and hope to dedicate my future to helping and loving those who may feel hopeless, have no voice or feel trapped by their circumstances. Whatever you believe, we live in an increasingly connected world. We are global citizens. Our actions affect each other.

I passionately believe that we can often over come what we thought was previously impossible. I was not born a runner. I only started running when I was about 15 and wanted to get fit and lose weight. I wouldn’t have dreamed about running a mile let alone 26.2, but fast forward to now and well, we all know what’s happening in April! Sometimes even the unimaginable may become reality, my hope and prayer is that we may grow in faith of each other. We would become more empathetic, and stirred into actions rather than apathetic to the problems we see in our neighbourhoods and in our world.

Today on my run I saw this:

(minor panic thinking someone may be in there and that I'd have to go all Baywatch on them and jump in...)

Sometimes it can feel that issues facing humanity today: climate change, poverty, the financial crisis, global conflicts/war, oppression and much more, are causing the world to be a sinking ship, a disaster. We are the captains of this fate, doomed to go down with our ship. I dispute that. Let us be a people of hope, thankful for today, and for our history, but ever expectant of a brighter future. Running for amnesty and raising this money, may not make the difference required for globally protected and enforced human rights. Yet, it will do something, and it will be a way to show brothers and sisters in different places that I, and the people who have donated, care.

As D. L. Moody once said: "I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And that which I can do, by the grace of God, I will do"

This blog post isn’t intended to guilt trip everyone. And it is definitely not meant to pass judgement. Rather I hope it’s more of an encouragement. Much of what we see in the news is not good, I’d like to see more stories of ‘what was thought impossible, became possible.’ Just like rich teas have miraculously gained some respect from me-the self-proclaimed, staircase 18, biscuit connoisseur.

Training this week:

-8.26 mile run yesterday

-2.75 mile run today

-5 miler on Thurs another run on Sat.

-Cassey from blogilates, yay for crunches…

As always, thank you so much for your support and donations so far. I am incredibly touched by everyone’s generosity!

Lots of Love xx

P.s. sorry for all of you who saw the title and thought the ‘budding romance’ was an actual romance. Grandparents, aunty(s), friends and everyone else who seem to be holding out for it to happen, I am still single. When the right person comes along, I will let you all know about it.

P.P.S. Let’s be honest, I’d probably call you all up and blog about it.

P.P.P.S. And yes Nana, I am taking a ‘good look round…’ (award for coolest Nana goes to Beryl for being online and reading my blogposts, and having facebook. My grandparents are down with the (grand)kids, fo real.)

Bringing Sexy Back

Justin Timberlake is an absolute hero.  Let me elaborate…

Having had a rollercoaster of a week it had been a bit of a weepy weekend and so today I was feeling like a ‘man-up’ talking to myself (via a 7 mile run) was needed. 

Feeling psyched up and positive, I stepped outside into rain. Fantastic.

Still, wanting to stick to the training plan I motored on. I decided to shake things up a bit and run up Iffley, across Donnington bridge to Abingdon road and up the canal to Port Meadow.

After the first 3 miles I was feeling pretty wet, tired and miserable (the endorphins hadn’t yet kicked in I think!). I had hit a premature running 'wall.' 

In perfect timing JT’s (I'll use his nickname, we're tight) ‘Sexy Back’ came on shuffle. Potentially the best song ever to lift my mood and get me groovin* as I carried on my run. JT helped break down this little ‘wall’ and I powered over Donny bridge. Snaps for Justin!

The other reason I love J-Dawg is because of this:

http://vimeo.com/34274511

I wish I was that gangster, Jimmy and Justin, I am in awe**.

So all in all, those 7 miles (and JT) ended up helping to improve my mood. Great way to clear my head, think and pray about things going on and gain perspective. Joy!

Hope you’ve all had a good Monday,

Lots of love xxx

*warning to any other runners, probably not best to sing along when you’re running to Sexy Back, people (builders and women pushing prams) tend to give you weird looks…clearly wasn’t quite ‘bringing sexy back’ in my bright purple running shorts.

**Girls from home, see 4.14-4.30, remind you of anything? (Hint: Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds) 

Lucky number 7... though mine is actually 22

Hey Friends!

Today I did my long run for the week, 7 miles down the canal and around Oxford town.

Best point of the run: meeting another ‘Benji’ (my dog at home, a border terrier), and having him follow me down the canal path before I had to take him back to his owner- called me the Pied piper (of dogs) of Oxford!

Low point: definitely should have wrapped up warmer, shorts and t-shirt just aren’t enough anymore.

Though kudos to the tourist (I’ll let you assume his nationality) who decided to take a few photos of me as I ran around Christchurch meadows. Felt like a running model…repping the cold, red lobster, confused-at-why-you're-now-filming look.

Ooh, but I miss out the most exciting part, here it is:

This is so much easier and more accurate to use than ‘Map my run’ and today it had its first test-drive, I think I’ll call him Marvin. Yes I name inanimate objects, and yes it is lime green because it’s the best, rockin colour which is making a come back. Slowly, but surely. Ok, probably only to me.

Also, my good friend sent me this as motivation, it made me chuckle. And I set it as the wallpaper for my phone, because if I'm honest, it worked.

This week training will be:

• A few shorter runs, (3-4 miles)
• Gym time with Zara- the legendary friend who’s also running the Silverstone Half Marathon with me in March (prep for the full one!)
• Leg-butt-tum strengthening exercises, oh the joys of squats and Cassey on Blogilates.

Hope you are all well, and as always any donations for Amnesty International (charity I’m running the Marathon for) are always massively appreciated and most welcome Xx

http://www.justgiving.com/JennyGwyther