Competition Preview

Worcester tomorrow for WUMA
Sarah, Jack, George and I are all fighting in the WUMA open series competition in Worcester tomorrow. I've dropped a couple of kilos since my last tournament, so I'm quite looking forwards to my weigh in! It's Sarah, Jack and George's first competition.... watch this space for results and reports!

Diving, Running and Grading!

Been a busy few days....
I come to you this morning writing this as a green belt. Yup, I passed my grading and am one step closer to the ultimate goal of my black belt. How did the run go??? I hear you all asking. Well, I was set a time to beat of 6:20. Was I confident? I fancied I could run it in around 6:30, so mostly confident. A little daunted, maybe, but mostly confident. It was hard work - my running schedule's not been up to much this week, and I've not run a mile yet in what I have done of it thus far, so it was a bit of a slog, however I managed to survive and cross the line in 5:42. With which I am very happy! Of course, come blue belt grading I'm expected to beat my time from this one, so I need to maintain (or even actually complete) my training. Three months fits inside the nine week plan, and I should be starting week three of it tomorrow, so I'm pretty confident that if I keep up the training I'll shave a reasonable amount off that. A quick mention for Steve, who blistered around the mile course in 4:46. Impressive!
So I've gone a little bit out of sequence there, but I had a great day on Thursday when I went diving at Stoney Cove.The sun was out, the sky was blue, and the reports coming from the shop were that the water temperature was in double figures! Not 4.3 degrees, as one wag suggested, but a balmy 10 degrees centigrade. We confirmed this on our computers after our dives - must be a record temperature for April, and testament to the mild Winter we've just had. The dives were excellent fun, unremarkable in terms of variation from the "norm", but great fun nonetheless. It kind of reminded me why I love diving so much, and has really got me wanting to go and do some more. I'm looking forward to going to Majorca in September - okay, it's not the Red Sea, but it's warm, clear and there are more fish than the Roach, Perch and Pike we saw on Thursday.
Side benefit of the karate is that my superior fitness level has made my diving much more enjoyable too!

Day off, but busy busy!

Some people must have nice, restful lives....
If there's balance in the Universe, then someone must have a very quiet, boring life to make up for mine at the moment. We went to Rock City in Nottingham last night to see Maximo Park who totally rocked the place. The crowd reception for classics like "Apply Some Pressure" and "Limassol" rivalled anything I've seen at a gig of this size. Didn't think much of the support acts though - he first were just rubbish, and the second - while entertaining - weren't "good".
But it was great to have a night out!
Next up, today: I've got the day off work. Chilling out at home after last night? Nope. Going scuba diving. Looking back through my log book I only went three times in the last year (well, I have been quite busy - see the pic of Sam, below!). I haven't seen my buddy, Andy, for ages either, so looking forward to catching up with him. Stoney Cove is the venue today, as on so many previous occasions!
After that exertion, you must just enjoy the afternoon, I hear you cry. But no! There's a run to fit in - I'm a bit behind on my schedule - and then karate tonight, in preparation for my grading tomorrow night! Chuck in he fact that I'm at work tomorrow, and that I've got a stiff neck, and it all adds up to a busy busy life.

New pic of Sam

sam_tongue
Originally uploaded by rjm2007.

Well, I said I'd post more images.
This one's been done directly from flickr, where I'm putting them these days. You can head on over here, and have a squizz. This particular one of Sam shows him with his tongue out, which is his default state at the moment. Nine months old already. Where does it go?

The second No Jog Blog...

This is not going to turn into the excuse blog!
It's early on Tuesday morning, and according to The Plan I should be out pounding the tarmac as I power through week three run two. In actual fact I'm sitting in the lounge with a coffee, supervising a restless nine month old, having just changed one of the great smelly nappies of our time. He's playing with the changing box, and absorbed in watching the raindrops run into each other as they cascade down the window. Oh, yeah, it's chucking it down... but that's nothing to do with the fact that I'm not running. No Sirree. Bit of a washout day altogether, if you'll excuse the pun, as I can't make it to karate training tonight. Ho hum... rest day then! G-Day, grading day, fast approaching and I've got one more opportunity to get out running before then, early on Thursday morning. That said, I'm going scuba diving on Thursday, so will I want to get up and run? Damn right I will, or I'll be back on here posting another excuse for not having done so.

Oops! The NO Jog blog

Well, the wheels came off the jogging...
No jogging Sunday morning. Well, no jogging Sunday at all. Reason being the impressive imbibation of alcohol by me and Sensei Craig on Saturday night! Popped round for a beer, as one does, and left at about one o'clock Sunday morning, having drunk all the beer, dented the whisky and learnt some basic sword moves. Yup, you read that right... sword moves. Craig's big into swordplay, in a martial arts stylee. So, we were out on the lawn playing with shinai, bokken and foam swords. The foam ones weren't up to the job and snapped on heavy contact... so we got on with the wooden ones!
Anyway, enough rambling, suffice to say that the jogging has suffered, and I'm going to have to get it back on track (excuse the pun). Grading, and my timed mile, are on Friday... looming large.

Jog Blog #6

End of week two!
Well, another milestone I suppose. Still running, still getting up and going, still enjoying it. Getting up and exercising is proven to get you rmetabolism going in the morning, and it certainly makes you feel less lethargic and lets you hit the rest of the day running, if you'll pardon the pun. Come Sunday the schedule ups again, another building block, another gear change. Excellent!
As you've probably gathered, I'm not finding this overly difficult so far. The running is pleasant, the weather nice, and it's great to be outside. Perhaps as the run to walk ratio increases I'll find it harder going, or perhaps I'm just not running hard enough when I am running at the moment (although I seem to be covering a good amount of ground). I'm sure we'll find out in the coming weeks.
This morning was cool again, there was a bit of a frost down on the fields behind Chruch Lane. I learnt a lesson this morning too - running through ankle high grqass first thing in the morning makes for soaking wet, very cold feet. Less than comfortable but fortunately I was on my way home by then. I reversed one of my previous routes, so headed down to the church on North Street, along the path, across the stepping stones, through the fields (sounds like a Famous Five adventure!) and back up Thornborough Road / Brooks Lane.
The new headphones are still proving worth their weight in gold, although since they weigh practically nothing this doesn't really reflect their value... let me rephrase that, they're proving exceptional value. This morning's soundtrack was provided by The Offspring, which was an excellent blast from the past. So, I need to quickly hop on over to geodistance and work out how far I ran this morning: two miles more or less exactly. I'm happy with that.

Outside!

I love being outside.
Always have done, ever since I was a nipper. The reasons have changed through the years, but I still love the freedom that a park, rolling fields, the beach, the sea, the ocean provide. I've been thinking recently about it more, and one of the coolest things I can think of is that if you're outside (or even if you're inside with a window or door open) is that you can draw a line, unbroken, from the palm of your hand up into the sky, across the land and sea and join it to someone elses hand - anywhere in the world. Anywhere. That's really cool. I can connect, theoretically, with far flung, exotic sounding places that I want to visit: Tijuana, Vanatu, Cape Town, Rio, Machu Pichu... You can also connect with not so exotic sounding places, and not so cool places to visit, but the fact that you can have that connection is way cool. If these sounds like the ramblings of a madman, then welcome to my mind! It works another way too: if I'm at work, in the office with the window open, and Sarah's at home, or work, and she's got a window open, then I can imagine an unbroken line between us all the time. That, if nothing else, makes me smile.

Jog Blog #5

Still going!
Another early start, another lovely morning. A little cool, maybe, but that's a pleasant enough change from the sun and heat of Saturday. I'm quite liking the ninety seconds on, two minutes off approach at the moment, although I'm also looking forward to ramping up the running. All good things come to those who wait.
Got some new headphones - designed for active people (such as myself!) which actually stay in my ears while I run. This is a significant improvement over the previous ones which bounced out every fifty paces or so, causing a loss of musical accompaniment, a distraction while I fumbled around trying to reinsert it, and plenty of swearing. The new ones clip over the ear, and the sound quality's ace. Not bad for a tenner from Amazon.
What else? Oh, yeah. Found a coooool map tool, which uses Google Maps and some nifty API programming to let you draw lines on a map (of any scale) to calculate the distance of a route. Brilliant! Today's run was almost exactly two miles, while the one I did the other morning over Red Hill was a good 2.7 miles. So, the running's going well, and I'm feeling good. Today's route? A bit of a mishmash really. Through the estate, down onto Brooks Lane, along North Street to Church Lane, along there, then a little bit of Thornborough, then back along the back of Church Lane through the fields, across and back past Whitwick Park. All good... twenty minutes exactly. Very quiet out this morning, I saw maybe three people. Everyone else was probably in bed. I think I might be going slightly mad....

Is it Summer?

Wahey! What a weekend's weather!
'Tis gorgeous. I'm sitting in the garden, in just a pair of shorts (you wanted to know that, didn't you?) having spent an excellent day - well, I say day, I mean afternoon - wandering around enjoying the weather at Moira Furnace. It's the site of a ninetheenth century blast funace, and situated by the Ashby Canal. Presumably this was for functional reasons rather than aesthetic reasons, but in the modern day it works well because you can wander along by the canal, look around the museum, enjoy the tea shop(pe?) or let the kids run riot in the adventure playground.
Adventure playground and picnic was first stop. All good there, then through the woods to the furnace buildings. They're quite imposing - it's about the size of a small row of terraced houses, with a big sloping bit at the end! There's a bridge out over the canal too, which is good. A wander along the canal was notable for a rite of passage moment, a passing of truth from one generation to the next, a grommit of knowledge lodged in the mind of the young. What prompted this moment? What nugget of truth did I pass on to the awestruck two? Welll..... they're nasty buggers them swans. Oh ho, yes... they can break your arm, y'know. I don't know if it's ever been the subject of extended research - how many casualty admissions are the result of aggravated swan attack? However, I deemed it to be worth passing on to the younger generation. As with most things, it was met with the retort of "why do you know that?". Not "HOW do you know that?", but "Why?". Why do I know it? It's information. I know things. People know things. A lack of knowing things is called ignorance, and leads to the Dark Side! It reminds me of a Bill Hicks (I think it was the great man) routine, where he's talking about reading a book in a diner, and being asked by the waitress "what you reading for?". Not "what are your reading?", but "what are you reading for?". Just reminds me of that. Not "how do you know", but "why do you know". Anyway, that's by the by. Where had I got to? Oh yeah... the George fell out of a tree. Well, down a tree more than out of it, but it shook him up a bit. He'll be a bit sore for a few days, but I'm sure it won't stop him attempting the next Redwood in his path. Well, except John Redwood maybe.
Oh, and it was a wise decision to go for my run yesterday rather than this morning. Enough said, I think! Back to it Tuesday morning for week two run two.

Jog Blog #4

Week two begins.
Glorious Saturday afternoon. I know I meant to go this morning, but there was a problem with my alarm (I forgot to set it), and I didn't get up in time to go before Sarah had to head off to work. So, five o'clock in the early evening on a balmy early Summer's day, and I was slogging it around Whitwick on the first run of the second week's regime. This week it's ninety seconds running followed by two minutes walking. Any different? Yeah, a little bit. Problem? Not in the slightest. The heat, sun and route I chose made it a more challenging run than previously, but not much. Route? Well, a series of on the spur of the moment choices about whether to turn right or left at any given junction. Worked out well, as it turned out - an exact twenty minute route through the heart of Whitwick, along the stream. Very pleasant.
So, we're still on track. I might sneak in a cheeky run tomorrow too, but the next scheduled one is for Tuesday morning. Right! We're off out on the ale in Shepshed, so that's it for this posting.

Jog Blog #3

End of week #1!
Well, some small measure of achievement in that I've lasted a week, and I've managed to drag my backside out of bed on a couple of early starts. The weather's helped, no rain, mostly sunny - although this morning was filppin' cold. Still, I was assisted in getting up and getting going by SJM, who seems to see six o'clock as his wake up time. He'll grow out of that, hopefully!
So, to this morning. It was cold, not just cool, but cold, and the park was again closed. Made a route decision again, and headed off the other way along Church Lane, down to Brooks Lane. I could have headed back up towards home at that point, seen how long it took me, then done another lap or so to suit. Nope! I was feeling good, so I headed off up past New Swannington school - Jack and George's seat of learning - and up over Red Hill. About half way up the hill I began to think this might have been a little ambitious, but there was no turning back and I ploughed on.
I was rewarded at the top with some great views across the valley, looking back towards Whitwick. The cold, moisture laden air lying in the valley like a tethered cloud, with clear air and sparkling views across the top. This gave me a lift, and I pressed on again, on the homeward leg now. Except that once I got to the bottom of Red Hill it's an uphill trawl back up Talbot Lane, onto Talbot Road, past The Oak (scene of Monday's merry-making), up Brooks Lane (no snippets of exciting conversation to snatch this morning) and up the hill onto our estate. Phew!
Six minutes over time, lungs full of cold air... but feeling good! This is the end of week one, the training regime picks up a notch come Sunday morning (although we're out Sat night, so I might go on Saturday morning instead!) and we move on. Watch this space!

Jog Blog #2

Well, it was less unpleasant than I expected.
I think that's the best thing I can say about this morning. Having decided I was running this morning, circumstances leading up to the event could have conspired to lead to me staying in bed, a virtual run, perhaps. The afternoon drinking in the pub yesterday and the sleepless night thanks to SJM were probably the main culprits. I overcame them, however, to brave the dull (but thankfully dry) morning and continue my training as per my schedule.
A grey morning in Whitwick, I was up and about before anyone else, I think - to the extent that the park was still locked up. I had to modify my route from run number one as a result, and didn't bother heading over to Hermitage Lake, opting instead for a road circuit along Church Lane, North Street, Brooks Lane and Stinson Way. Turned out that I needed to do two laps to use up my allotted time, so two laps I did.
Interesting snippet overheard from a man talking to an inch open door, as I squeezed past: "I think what he did was wrong, and I punched him for it..." as I carried on running, the Raconteurs returning as the primary aural relief. Now I don't know who did what, why it was wrong, and whether he deserved punching for it, but it's all part of the zoo we live in!
The run was quite nice, cleared my head and set me up for the day, which is a result given the lack of sleep and the imbibation yesterday. I could get used to this. Thursday morning's scheduled in for my next run, so we'll see how it goes then.

Hot or not? The cartoon remix....

Anyone else remember the Cadbury's Caramel Rabbit?
Back before Anne Summers claimed the rabbit as a de facto trademark, if you mentioned a rabbit in the playground all the boys knew exactly who you were talking about. There was only one advert around at that particular time which sent cartoon shivers up your spine, and down into the bits medium-sized boys (age wise, c'mon!) don't talk about. Yep, the Cadbury's Caramel Rabbit. The original entry in the cartoon hottie hall of fame. She was the cartoon who made me sit up and take notice, then sit forward to conceal my interest. Can you think of anyone else? Jessica Rabbit, from the seminal anima-real movie "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" is a good one, and Betty Rubble's got to be in with a shout. Coming soon, a hot or not style web app for rating cartoons - so if you want someone to feature, now's the time to let me know!
Postscript: I asked Sarah if there were any male cartoon characters who did it for women, and she couldn't name one. If any ladies have any cartoon fantasy men then please, let me know!
Oh, and I'm not really into Manga, Hentai or any of the weird web "furry" stuff. You know who you are.

Superheroes!

I happened to be reading Jon's blog and thought I'd post a quick response!
Captain Black to Superpowers, to Superheroes and the cause / effect of a Superhero taking up residence in your friendly, neighbourhood fictional (or otherwise) outpost... Could it really be the case that having a Superhero in the locale is the catalyst for arch-villains to also take up residence? If that is the case then is it better to exist in a normal city, town or village with no "Supers", and just put up with a normal crime level? Alternatively, is it the case that "Supers" become resident in motropolises which are already ridden with evil, and where evil continues to thrive? Is there a "conduit" for evil in the regions of Metropolis and Gotham City (a la Torchwood? Don't get me started on that!). I feel this discussion has legs!
The secondary discussion is what makes a hero into a "Super" hero? Is it powers? Is it deeds? Is it something else? If it's powers, then Batman doesn't qualify, nor does Flash Gordon. Superman and Spidey are fine, though. If it's deeds, then the deeds of Batman could certainly be considered to be "Super", in the context of being above and beyond the call of duty, and beyond the realms of "normality". Flash Gordon too, saves the entire world - not just a city, some jewels or an heiress... THE WORLD! In deed, if not in power, he is a true "super" hero.
Mr. Pearson... what say you?????

New website and blog!

Here we go!
New website live today, and a new blog to go along with it! Blogging, eh? I've mentioned Jon's blog enough times, and now I've jumped on the bandwagon. Why? Well, if you see the "Jog Blog" you'll know that I've started running, and an article I read said that a good way to keep your motivation up was to keep a diary of your running. Well, who has a diary these days? So... entered into the world of blogging. I wonder how often I'll post to this. I wonder if it'll be interesting, informative, or just irrelevant. I suspect the latter.

Jog Blog #1

Started running today!
Having taken up karate / kickboxing to get fit, it now appears that I am getting fit for karate / kickboxing! One of the requirements for my next belt grading is to run a timed mile. Okay, all you joggers and runners - it's only a mile. I haven't done any running for years, let alone run a full mile. Surely that's what cars / bikes / buses... anything except feet are for? So, rather than just blithely amble along with my usual "it'll be alright" attitude (I'm sure it would be!), rather than doing that I've decided to follow a training schedule I found on t'interweb. Now, I'm normally somewhat sceptical about facts and figures culled from the information superhighway, but I'm willing to put that aside in this case and see where it takes me. The progamme I've decided to follow is here, and builds you up over a course of two months / nine weeks to running consistent 5K / 3 mile runs. Sounds ideal! So, that's the background over.... how did run number 1 go?
Well, it went pretty well! Week one, according to my schedule, consists of three days of alternating 60 seconds of jogging with 90 seconds of walking, for a total of twenty minutes. Sounds pretty easy, doesnt it? I thought so - to the extent that I was going to skip it, and the following week and get into the nitty-gritty of it! However, the article discusses exactly this scenario, and tells you to be patient - as both Sarah and Mike counselled too! I want to achieve what it promises, so I suppose I should lay the groundwork! I kitted up - pedometer, heart rate monitor, phone (doubling as an mp3 player, loaded with Bloc Party's new album) and of course, sunglasses! Glorious morning, and alternating the running and walking meant I covered quite a lot of ground - much more than I would just walking. Enjoying the sunshine I headed up to Whitwick Park, around it and then on to Hermitage Park, around the lake, and home. To anyone in the know, that's not actually that far, but I actually enjoyed it! The only people you see around seem to be dog walkers and fellow runners (fellow runners? How quickly one can claim to enter a fraternity!), along with optimistic anglers around the lake. The weather helped, I think; I'm not sure how enjoyable I'd find it in a freezing cold mizzle (drizzle / mist), but I'm sure that if I stick with this for long enough I'll find out. So, more of the same coming up... Tuesday morning, all being well!
The big questions are: will it get me running consistent 3 mile runs in two months? Will I manage a single mile in a respectable time for my karate grading? That is, of course, what all this is about! I think future gradings also have a running component, so the future benefit of following this programme now is clear. Onwards... to my green belt, and beyond!