An echo of things to come!

OK, so it’s been nearly a month since my last post.

In my defense I have been somewhat busy with pounding the streets in preparation for that 26.2 round London the other weekend.

However I wanted to reassure all my loyal followers (yes both of you ) that the blog will be coming back to life in the next few days and to give some hints at what my next posts will be.

Topics will include the marathon (rather obviously as I don’t think I couldn’t post about that), the garden, honesty and truth (could be a bit of an over warm spud), tennis and hopefully lots more.

If I get things in gear, the first of these will be done before the end of the week.

Best of times and the worst of times

Today is one of those days that for a lot of people, especially those in the UK, will, in years to come, be able to remember what they were doing when they heard the news.  Today is the day that Baroness Thatcher passed away.

A lot can and has been said about her.  As with all people, she did things that many found wrong, and things that many found right.  However discussion on at side of things isn’t what I’m looking to focus on.  Instead I’m looking at social media again (and I would include blogs like this in the term).

The title I have chosen for this sums up what I have seen on social media in the 6 hours or so it has been since the news was broken that her death had occurred.  In that 6 hour spell I have seen public postings that have demonstrated how social media can be used in a positive, constructive way, but also many demonstrations of how social media can be used in a negative and destructive way.

One thing that does make me pause for thought is a quote from a podcast host that I always remember when it comes to the internet.  ” ‘Inset name of search engine’ never forgets”.  While said in jest, there is an element of truth behind it, not specifically for a search engine, but for the internet in general.  Once something is out there on the internet it is very hard to ensure it’s permanent deletion.  Even deleted posts can still exist somewhere (as some people have discovered) and we know from news stories the issues that can arise with photographs.  Days, maybe months or years, down the line, will people be embarrassed by what they have posted in haste?  What would their extended family think about how negatively they use social media?  Whereas these arguments used to be raised in relation to certain types of ‘artistic work’, with the age of the internet and expansion of social media, is this another area where people should be encouraged more to think before they act, not just for the benefit of others, but for themselves as well.

Off Piste

So I have recently returned from the second of two ski trips.  (I know that sounds extravagant, but it is totally true that if you want to improve you have to ski more than once a year, but that’s not the point of the post).  I wanted to put something out there about something that happened on the first trip.

It was the last day (a Friday) and me and a couple of friends were preparing to do our last ‘run’ of the day.  It involved having a hot chocolate at a place on the mountains that is one of the last places to get the sun.  You then wait for the lifts to stop, and then ski all the way down to the hotel.  There’s nothing very dangerous in that, the slopes back down aren’t difficult for a half competent skier.

The hot chocolates were drunk, the lifts stopped, and off we went.  The slope started nice and easy, but when we got to the first steep part, we came across someone clambering back up the slope to their skis.  In this situation the usual ‘form’ is to help out and make sure the person is ok.  I collected the skis, a friend collected the pole he’d dropped and we gave them back.  It was then that we discovered there was a problem.  The person was as drunk as a skunk (no offense to any skunks that are reading this).

We did, eventually, with the help of a ski restaurant, get him to safety, but the whole situation left me with a few challenges in terms of what is an isn’t acceptable on the slopes.

So the question being posed is whether it is acceptable to drink on the slopes.  The chap we found would and should never be allowed to drive given how much he had drunk, yet, there were no restrictions in terms of skiing.  He was a risk to himself, and had it been earlier in the day would have been a risk to others.  At -15C at night if he’d skied off the piste and collapsed, he wouldn’t have survived.

So, should there be no alcohol allowed on the slopes at all.  I was shocked to see that there were a number of places happily selling high %vol miniatures to people on the slopes, with no concern over if they were to be shared or all consumed by one person.  That sort of consumption is something that I believe would be unacceptable.  So, at first look an alcohol ban would seem logical.  However it’s when you move to other drinks that things possibly become a bit more difficult.  I’ll freely admit that I have, on occasion, had a gluhwien or a beer with a meal when skiing, but would limit it to that.

Now I like to believe that I’m quite a responsible skier and make sure that I am in control of what I am doing.  Some may argue that I’m not being so by having a gluhwien, and I’m willing to accept that some may view it that way.  I would though argue there is a difference between that and ‘sinking’ a load of miniatures before skiing.

I’m yet to be convinced that a total ban should be enforced, but having met someone who was a risk to themselves, a ban on alcohol over a certain % would get my support.  The person I found on the slopes would certainly have been drinking that rather than a beer or gluhwein given the state he was in.

Thinking Out Loud

Well it’s been 3 days since my recent ski trip.  I don’t think I miss my new friends any the less.  Possibly because I don’t have any of them as local friends it’s a bit stronger.  Who knows.  Anyway, the title of the post sums up how I have been in the last couple of days.  I’ve lost count of the number of people I have said my thoughts to.  So far I haven’t managed everyone who’s important in my local circles, but that will sort itself out soon, and I trust they won’t mind it appearing on here.

I have certainly come back changed from the holiday and I have to say that it’s the first time in a long time that I have felt this way.  The change is twofold.

I am certainly happier from the holiday (despite not having these new friends nearby).  I feel more energized spiritually than I have for a long time.  The CDs have changed in the car and in due course the loaded podcasts will be changed as well (though finding new ones will take a bit of time).  I am desperate to keep this energy going now that ‘normal life’ is resuming.  During the week away I felt so very positive, it is how I want to keep feeling.

The other change is about where I live.  I’m not thinking of packing up in the next two weeks and moving, nor am I necessarily thinking of moving abroad.  However what I have realised is just how unnecessarily ‘tethered’ I have become to where I live.  I think this happened due to property and having my own place.  I’m not looking for sympathy here as I know I am fortunate, and I would like to hope that I haven’t turned where I live into a idol of sorts.  However the holiday has made me realise that there is nothing that should stop me from being willing to be more mobile.  I have no ties to where I am in terms of family.  I have some very good friends, who would be missed, but that is it.

I feel that the next few months and years could be very positive and hold a lot of change.  I need to hold onto what I have come back with and my fear is that as time goes on the normal run of life will take over again and these desires will fade.  Hopefully I can look back on this post and it will be a reminder of what can be.

Skiing Speculation

Well I've been away from blogging for a week, but that's due to going on a ski trip. (pictures will be posted in due course).

So the last bit of skiing was on Friday (and interesting day that will be posted about in it's own right) with a journey home on Saturday.  I think for the first time from such a holiday I am really missing everyone I met on the holiday and that I've come home.  Although it's only been a week together I know that a lot of them have become special to me for a variety of reasons.

Now I don't want misunderstanding here.  I have some great friends here that I'm very close to and see regularly.  I also have a job that keeps me busy and is enjoyable without stresses or major issues.  In that respect, there are no issues with coming home.

The holiday itself was great fun, lots of good skiing, some challenging conditions at times, but was able to ski every day.  There was a great group of people that were on the trip and out of the 40 or so people, everyone got on really well.  I don't think anyone was ever 'isolated' in terms of the group as a whole.  Obviously in terms of the group there are those you spend more time with as a result of the skiing and socially and some really good friendships have been formed.

Staying in touch is easier now.  Social media being one option (not one that I partake in much now having left Facebook) but there is email and other options as well.  However it's different from having all these people that you get on with around you on a daily basis.

Possibly part of it is due to the nature of the holiday itself.  There was some good teaching on the trip that has made me think a lot about the future and different options.  (I'll post on that more in due course as well). 
Maybe all these things combined have created the feelings like a 'perfect storm'.  There is a large part of me that doesn't want to lose the feeling because I want to miss these new friends, and want to meet up with them again soon.

Hopefully there will be a get together soon, maybe not everyone, but certainly a good number.  Travel is easier now so its more than possible.  Time will tell.

Stay on target

Well I’ve finally managed to feel within myself that the marathon training is sort of on target.  While I had planned to be a bit further along on my long runs than I am, with the minor injuries and the bad weather, am I content with where I have got to.

So, Sunday morning and I woke to what must have been one of the nicest days of the year down here.  Bright sunshine, clear blue skies, not a cloud in the sky.  Yes at 8am was a little fresh, but once I was running I didn’t really notice it.  I had to take a totally new route due to local events taking place and took a bit of a risk as if I had to stop after about 1/2 way there was no shortcut home.  Lots of nice new things to see though, and the podcasts kept me company during the run.  Will be adding it to my list of training routes for when I’m up early enough to avoid shoppers!

By the end of the 11 miles (50% more than I’ve done in training so far this year) the legs were quite tired so I was glad I had finished, but there have been no problems after, so that is good.Having finished in a good time, I carried on and watch those running the offical local 1/2 marathon, something I could have done if I’d managed to get around to signing up last year.  Took me a little while to realise it by I was in celeb corner with Zoe Ball and David Walliams in attendance.  Happily they did their bit with flag waving and a couple of photos for a local charity.  No one disturbed them, which was also good.  Norman has been good at supporting the full marathon and was there quite late last year as he was still cheering when I went past!
So I plan to do another 10 miler this week towards the end to start getting the longer distances under me.

As things stand I think I’m pretty close to being on target.

Its the little things

So, the marathon training continues, but has become somewhat interrupted.

First of all there was a load of snow and ice.  Living on a hill makes training somewhat difficult in these situations.  It was a shame as I was doing well with the training, had got over the injury I always get when I restart my run training, and was increasing the distances nicely.  Getting somewhere flat to carry on the running wasn’t possible either, with driving conditions, esp on a hill, too risky.

Anyway, the snow goes and I resume.  Thankfully the legs are still used to running so no repeating issues from before.  Again the runs start to go well, times coming down, distances going up.  All the good stuff that encourages you.

Then came last Sunday.  I’m heading out on my first 10 miler.  Not worried about the distance, have done over 7 already, so know that I’m building up gradually and it won’t be an issue.  Then less than a mile in, I notice or rather feel, something wrong.  Pain in the left foot arch when I land.  Not shooting pain, but enough for it to be uncomfortable.  I run on for a bit (possibly a mistake) to see if it goes, but no luck.  After less than 2 miles I’m heading home, walking, to avoid doing any long term damage.  I go out for a trial run on Monday, just in case it was a ‘oh it’s playing up today’ type thing on the Sunday.  Same problem and I stop straight away.

I choose to rest for a bit and due to a series of events, it’s come round to Saturday and I’ve not run.  Hopefully it will be better.  The plan is for a 5 mile run today and a longer one tomorrow, possibly 10 miles.  Of course that’s the plan.  It’s not been helped by another niggle now.  Bringing in the shopping (not heavy bags at all), I walk up the step to my house and feel a muscle by the shoulder blade go.  I’ve no idea how this might effect the running, will have to wait and see, but you can imagine my thoughts when it happened!

None of these are big injuries, but they are annoying little niggles that are stopping me getting to a decent distance in terms of training runs.  I know I still have over 2 months to go, but I’d have liked to have got 10 miles under the belt by now.  Hopefully tomorrow!