Perfect Moments - Best Badminton Moment

Judging by the number of times it is mentioned, there are no prizes for guessing that badminton is 'my sport'. At primary school I was always last in line when it came to picking teams for football (no complaints; I was - and indeed still am - rubbish); and at secondary school, the brand so-new-they-sparkle pair of rugby boots which my parents bought for me, still looked just as sparkly after three years of games lessons; not so much as a spec of mud on them. In my defence of the latter, a boy with awful eyesight and no contact lenses was in a bit of a quandary. Either he wears his glasses and risks having them squished in the middle of a scrum, or he goes without them and ends up performing the perfect flying tackle........on one of the goal posts. As for the aforementioned scrum, don't get me started.....; (oh dear....too late!) I have been told that its purpose is to push forward as one unit and gain ground, however my personal aim was entirely based on self-preservation; to stay on my feet and not get trampled, irrespective of whether I was being pushed forward or backwards. In the end, my philosophy was to stay out of the way and just enjoy the fresh air!.....

Weigh in (34)

I'm still yo-yo-ing, but when the first yo is a weight increase it's good news to yo it back down the week after; and that is just what's happened. Two pounds off to a pleasing if still a little rotund 16 stone 10 pounds. I know what you're thinking, next week is crucial (what do you mean, you weren't thinking that?!) as a further weight loss will break the uppy-downy cycle (that sounds like a better name for one of those exercise machines when you pedal while moving the handlebars back and forth). The chances of this are excellent; with a match tonight and on Friday night, followed by a visit to the gym on Sunday morning exercise levels will be nice and high. Barring a medieval-type hedonistic banquet every night, even I can't mess it up this week..........?!!? In truth I am really pleased with how things are going at the moment. Monitoring - and writing about - progress weekly has really helped stop these fluctuations becoming gains. I am totally convinced that without this blog I would be back above 17 stone again, or worse.......

Running Rant

Scarcely a week goes by without hearing of some new government initiative to get people (especially kids) off their sofas and away from their Playstations, to get some exercise. Horrifying stories of the percentage of overweightees which occupy our country, and that said country is sinking into the sea as a result (kidding....but only about that last bit). As a result, we see the latest numtee minister for health being photographed biking about 100 yards along Downing Street before hopping into his chauffeur driven Mercedes to go home, while vowing never to be sat on 'peasant transport' ever again.
So here's me; insane plan in head, with one of the few silver linings to the cloud of nuttiness being the sure belief that there will not be a shortage of places in which to exercise; at one of the very few times where the governments beliefs match my own, it can't go wrong................yeeeeeeeeah right........
As you know, I have been debating as to the best place to train for the fast approaching runs; the aim being to do much of it on proper athletics tracks. With knees which are a bit tricky at the best of times - and weight which is still not quite conducive to long runs - I need a cushioned surface, and the synthetic track is perfect. Doing my research I narrowed down the list to three tracks. The first, in Bury; about four miles away. Lovely track and an ideal distance away. The second, in Bolton, still a nice track but a bit of a drive (25 minutes). The final track, a non-synthetic shayle (shail? shale?) type surface; not ideal, but again, very local. Surely one of these will fit the bill.......???.........

Perfect Moments - ARKs

Like most people, I have a couple of tear-off day calendars dotted around the house (well, two of them; so two dots). One is a movie 'question a day' type of thing, the other is a Thomas Kinkade iddy biddy one which is stuck on the fridge. For those of you who don't know, Kinkade is an artist who draws scenery in brilliant colours. Whether they are based on real-life scenery it is hard to tell, but his use of colour makes them look slightly fantasy-ish. But I digest......
The Kinkade calendar also contains those twee little mottoes like 'woe are they that forever look for the light at the end of the tunnel; happy is the one who finds the matches in their pocket' (okay, I made that one up; but you get the idea) and other words of pretentious 'wisdom' to make you wretch. However one popped up last week which struck a chord with me: 'Acts of random kindness are both contagious, and habit forming.' I cannot comment on the former, but the latter is definitely true; I love doing good things when the opportunity presents itself. They are little moments of goodness; of perfection. What follows are some examples of my most memorable ARKs......

Weigh in (33)

Yo-yo-yo-yo-yo-yo-yo-yo. Nope; I've not suddenly got all cool for school and the like (still the same old Star Wars loving, chick-flick adoring fella you all know so well), it appears I have a scorching case of the yo-yo's with my weight at the moment. This week it's two pounds on, giving me a grand total of 16 stone 12; it's official, my weight is now going up and down more often than a barmaids apron.
Two pounds heavier I might be, but too surprised I am not. The fact there has been no exercise for about three weeks is certainly the main reason; and in actual fact it is an encouragement that despite this fact, I have maintained my late 16 stone wobble (dance craze that is sweeping the nation) without it turning into an early 17 stone wibble. It shows that my diet hasn't been too bad at all.

Okay Gym......

Well, after years of trauma following my last gym experience (see previous entry 'no thanks gym'), I have ventured back into the fitness jungle, and am writing to you having just been through my induction. I love inductions........'see this?.......this is a treadmill.......you run on it......see this......this is an exercise bike....you cycle on it.......' Do you know, I really think I might mix those up if I wasn't told; and just wait until you see me try and row on the cross trainer.....
I jest; he was a really nice fella who was well impressed with my weight loss so far (best way to make a friend for life with me...'oh stop it! you're embarrassing me!!'). He is also a regular half snicke.....ummmm....marathon man, so will be able to tailor my training to increase the running distance with the up and coming races in mind. Not only this, he has also opened my eyes that the original plan of 'show up, run, go home' is not going to be as effective as doing a few weights and toning up. When you think about it (I say 'you'; maybe just me, you probably already know it don't you smartypants?!!), doing a long run is going to take it's toll on my swinging arms, and with strong abs (ooooh, 'ark at me, saying words like 'abs') my good running posture will be maintained for longer. He also introduced me to what will simultaneously be my friend and enemy in the next fifteen months; the running machine. I will be going for 'the one on the far left'. Now I am not someone who believes in naming his car (I think that may be wholly a girl thing) however I do have a significant urge to name my treadmill. Open to suggestions??.........

Oh God, Oh Goddy God.......

Do you remember a while ago, I talked about certain pivotal moments during the course of this challenge? Moments when it all becomes that little bit more real, and I become (or should be) that little bit more committed? Well, here is another one comin' atcha!
The greatest threat to succeeding - and my fear - are things over which I have limited control; trusting some of it to luck. Injury is one thing - although that can be managed, and the fitter I get, the less I am likely to do myself a mischief. My greatest concern however, is not being accepted onto the runs themselves. There are plenty of other half marathons and full marathons around the same date as the Great North and London, but I have kind of set my heart on what are the prima races of their kind. Let's face it, if I am going to do this, I want to do it in some style!.......

Perfect Moments - Meeting of Worlds

You may have noticed a distinct lack of posting on the theme of perfect moments lately. This is in no way due to the lack of subject matter, it's because I have found that the latest chapter is a very hard one to write. I've had a go on numerous occasions (part of one such attempt was published in error!), but none of them seemed to capture the what and why; which is kind of the whole point!
I am not a schizophrenic (am I Adrian...?.....no you are certainly not Adrian......!), however I find myself often living in different worlds; worlds where I am different things to different people, which kind of makes me a different person too. Two such worlds follow......

Weigh in (32)

Ooooooooooo kaaaayyyyyyyy; that was unexpected. Either my scales are knackered, or I am going to go on TV and advocate the pizza diet; 'Yes ladies and gentlemen, I lost two pounds on the deep pan plan! A twelve inch (don't be crude) will lose you two inches round the waist; try it.....NOW!'
If indeed the scales are telling the whole truth and nothing but the truth, it can't be called a healthy weight loss, but I will take it nonetheless. It has been a weird week and the diet has been all over the shop - not to mention the lack of exercise - but maybe the indulgences have been outweighed (literally) by the times I couldn't face eating because of my poorly woorly toothie woothie. Also there may be a loss in muscle mass (don't ask me for any more information in this, not a clue; up until a few months ago when someone mentioned it to me, I though it was a place muscles go to on a Sunday morning). Anyway, 16 stone 10 pounds I now am (and yes, I did get on the scales three times to make absolutely sure)........

All the best stories......

What makes an ok story a story into a great story? When you watch a feelgood movie, what is it that makes you feel good?
When Richard Gere climbs the fire escape so that Viviennne can rescue him, why do we love it? (and don't we all?). It's because she was a working girl, down on her luck - although a Pretty Woman! - and he was a millionaire businessman who fell in love with each other when they knew they shouldn't have. It was a bit tricky there for a while but their feelings would not be denied; happy ending!
When Luke Skywalker finally puts an end to the naughty darkside jedis, we love it because although he has his hand chopped off, loses his Aunt, Uncle and Father and almost becomes a naughty jedi himself; he still wins through; happy ending!...........

Weigh in (31)

Sorry about the delay fellas; I did weigh in on time Tuesday night, but have only just got round to blogging about it......doh me! It's been a tricky week. Can't seem to get totally shot of either the toothache or the cold and it's driving me mad! Consequently there has been more than a little comfort eating over the previous week (that chinese takeaway is looking far too tempting at the moment!); as a result it's a pound on, bringing me to 16 stone 12.
Putting on a pound is nothing to get in a twist over I know - and in actual fact considering how little exercise happening lately it is better than expected - but I seem to be yo-yo-ing a bit. It is also frustrating me that I can't get back into my running; and when I do I will probably be starting from scratch rather than build on what I have managed so far. I'm just a bit unfocused at the moment. I need some time to 'be'; that time was meant to be last weekend but I was too poorly for it to be of any benefit........