Running through London

Firstly guys, I would like to say “Hello, I’m back”. I haven’t blogged for over a month. Work has been manic and so I haven’t had a moment to think.

At the end of September I flew over to London to take part in the first ever ‘Big Gay 10k’ run. I was very excited about doing the run. It was my first ever run. I was going to crawl and possibly die in a gutter do my best and try to get a good time.

For those who had read more on my Just Giving charity site would have known that I had been training to run since the beginning of July. Fun, fun, fun…

Well – 400 people took part in the 10km run in London. Some were runners, some were walkers and the rest were mincers!

The route was fantastic! Here are some photos from the fantastic day. (I’m in the blue vest, my fiancé is in bright yellow). Our super friends Sue and Caroline came to support us.

The fantastic route with London’s finest landmarks all the way around.

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The race was started by Cheryl Baker, in pink in the photos (from Bucks Fizz, the 1980s pop group who won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1981). I even met her and had a post-run-sweaty photo together. Once the race was started, Bas and I were off like a shot. My music was playing and I was high on adrenaline. I wanted to get a good time. So far my best time had been 10km in 52 minutes (I was averaging 55 mins).

We kept up with the front group and split from the main ‘pack’. The streets of London were packed. As we all reached the Embankment, where the London Eye stands we had to wriggle and jump in and out of the tourists. As it was the first Big Gay 10k in London the organisers had been unable to clear roads or pavements, meaning for us that we had to contend with human-obstacles. They must have wondered what was happening…

Halfway through the race I realised that I was well over my usual pace. I got ahead of Bas who probably got caught in the crowds. Bas caught up with me at about 7 or 8km into the run. That was when we came face-to-face with the photographers. (Time to look as though I was loving it…).

At 8km I hit the wall. Not literally – a wall of pain. I really didn’t know if my body would get to the 10km finish line. Bas was brilliant and ran along side me the rest of the way. The last bridge was the last hurdle. I said to Bas “I don’t want to go uphill anymore”. He replied that we were there.

We had made it.

We came 28th and 29th (seconds divided us). 29th!!!! From 400!!!!!

Stunned. You can see my time below. Just under 51 minutes. It probably took me those 41 seconds to stop my timer.

You can see how much money I was lucky enough to raise for a great charity in London! Brilliant supporters – thank you!

Proof on my time! I am still in shock that I managed it.

The breakdown of the route.

The amount I raised for ‘London Friend’.

Preparing for my BIG GAY 10K

I used to hate long distance running. I would watch runners go past and envy the fact that they could do it – and wondered why they liked it.

Strangely enough that all changed earlier this year. I had heard about an App for my phone which could help you get from ‘couch potato’ to a runner (possibly good enough for the Olympics… okay, I can dream).

I have stuck to the challenges and kept running a few times a week (once every two days when I’m being really good).

A friend of mine in London posted information about the first Big Gay 10K in London on Facebook and I was hooked…

A real challenge for me. Will you support me? Here’s my page.

What have I got myself into? The next thing I knew I was signing up for my very first ‘proper’ run. I am currently running distances of 3-4K. The 10K might just finish me off…

Here I am – Looking my most sporty….

I have set up a Just Giving page so that you can track my progress and see if I am still alive. Of course, I’ll be blogging more about it here too.

In short – this is what it’s all about.

• It’s the FIRST ever Big Gay 10k run in London.
• The run takes place on 30th September 2012.
• The 10k has been put together to raise money for some of the UK’s leading Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender health and well-being charities.
• The charities organising the event are London Friend and PACE.
• The route will go along the River Thames – It means I get to run past icons like the London Eye, Tate Modern, Big Ben and Westminster! Fab!
• You’re allowed to RUN it, WALK it, MINCE it…
• It’s a great excuse to get my legs out.
• I may not make it to October…

I would love it if you took the time to check out my Just Giving page – You may even like to make a small donation for the wonderful charity. (That’s the easy bit – I’ll be the one running around London in September).

Run Mo, Run!

I saw this website on Facebook earlier today. Mo Farah, the British athlete has created a storm of fans after winning two gold medals in the London 2012 Olympic Games. His expression at the end of his final race captured the imagination of some viewrs and inspired someone to create a website all about Mo.

It’s brilliant! you have to check it out.

Check out the brilliant website here ‘Mo Farah Running Away From Things’.

I wonder which other backgrounds he could be captured with… Suggestions?

 

Our Tandem Ride

On our recent holiday in France we decided to try something new as part of our ‘outdoors’ experience. Living in The Netherlands, we love cycling. It’s a national hobby for the Dutch and possibly the most-used form of transport.

But…

We didn’t want to hire ordinary bikes while we were staying near Lake Annecy in the south east of France – so we chose a tandem.

Big mistake.

Looking confident? We were anything but…

Riding a tandem is so difficult! My co-ordination and balance is pretty good, but this was so tricky. The fact that there were cars and other cyclists nearby didn’t help either. Cycling along we looked like something reminiscent of a Laurel and Hardy film.

After hiring the tandem for about 4 hours we decided that we wanted to live a little longer. Time to take the tandem back and reluctantly take two normal bikes.

I wish I could do this…

If any of you have tried cycling on a tandem then I would LOVE to hear about how you got on.

London 2012: The Announcement

I get tingly arms every time I think about the moment that London were announced the host city for the 30th Olympic Games.

I remember being at work (way back in 2005) and refreshing the page on the internet to see the announcement come through LIVE.

Would it be London?

Could London possibly beat the favourite, Paris?

Here’s a video of Trafalgar Square in London. You can feel the tension as the crowd nervously await the news…

What a moment!!!

Tonight all eyes will be on London as they open the games with a huge ceremony in the Olympic Stadium. Tonight I will be more than ever to be British. Here’s to a fantastic games. Good luck to all taking part.

Murray Mania!

He’s done it!

An emotional semi final victory for Murray

He’s made it to the Wimbledon Final.

The British fans have waited 74 years for this momentous day when finally a male Brit (and yes, I acknowledge that he is a Scot and a Brit) makes it to the last match.

The crowd cheer on the local hero – It’s almost as though he’s won the whole thing.

Can Murray win on Sunday?

I hope so.

The match against Tsonga was a thriller today. Murray started fighting for his final place right at the start! He broke Tsonga early and looked to take it in three straight sets. Tsonga wasn’t going to go down with a battle…

I never thought I would see the final section of the draw look this good! Yay!!!!!!!!!!!!! He meets Roger Federer next – it’s not going to be easy.

from Wikipedia

The 2012 Champion? – We will soon see….

There are some signs that he could be heading for victory:

• Fred Perry turned 25 in the May that he won Wimbledon. Murray has just turned 25 (this May).
• In 1977, Virginia Wade was the last British women to win Wimbledon… It was also a Jubilee year for Queen Elizabeth II – just like 2012.
• I have a feeling – and that’s good enough for me.

I have everything crossed for Andy Murray!

Go win it!

You may also enjoy reading these posts:

Shock at Wimbledon 2012 – the one where Nadal got knocked out by Rosol.

Is it time to ban Serena from Grand Slams? – the one where Serena lost her temper at the 2011 US Open Final.

Shock at Wimbledon 2012

The Wimbledon Championships are a sporting highlight of the year. Each year I tune in hopeful to see Andy Murray, the British number 1 make it to the final. This year, though I was more surprised by a match that I watched featuring Rafael Nadal and Lukáš Rosol.

Who is Lukáš Rosol? 

Exactly what I was thinking before I saw his amazing match on Thursday evening.

Rosol, from the Czech Republic blew Nadal out of the water with his thrilling tennis skills and ultimate composure. Nadal didn’t know what was happening. I don’t think I have seen a ‘newcomer’ play with such conviction in a long time (if ever). Rosol started a little nervous – and not surprising when playing one of the tennis greats. But, the first set went to a tie-break, and a close one too… Nadal won it, but was to be shocked when Rosol went on to take the 2nd and 3rd sets.

Shock!

Nadal fought back in the fourth and won it relatively easily. It was going to go to go the distance. A fifth set loomed. Surely, Nadal had it in the bag…

Rosol broke Nadal and kept up the big hits. Ace after ace and such precision! I was in awe! I couldn’t believe how accurate and how well he played. Lukáš Rosol had the look of a winner in his eyes. You could how much he really wanted the win.

Nadal out.

Rosol had done the unthinkable – and won!

Who would have predicted that the World number 100 could knock out Nadal? Not me. But I am pleased. I like the underdog to do well – but I also like Nadal out of the way – as Murray would have faced him in the semi-finals.

Image from Clive Rose/Getty Images

Here’s Rosol after his historical victory.

Below is the score line.

Via Wikipedia

What will happen next?

How far will Rosol get in the championships?

Will he go head-to-head with Murray?

Rugby Ridiculousness

Keeping up-to-date with current affairs and news from around the world, I thought I would add a little something about Rugby. I’m not a huge Rugby fan. I have nightmares just thinking about my school days, when I was expected to play Rugby.

I did not have the physic for such a sport.

The Rugby World Cup 2011 is now in full flow. I’ve found some great pictures of what can happen on the pitch. Keep an eye out for any of these whilst enjoying the tournament.

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Is it time to ban Serena from the Grand Slams?

Serena Williams. Oh yes, Mouthy-Serena-WIlliams. Once upon a time she was World #1 (actually she was #1 five times between 2002 and 2009). 

‘She is considered to be one of the greatest women’s tennis players of all time’. (I’m quoting Wikipedia there). Hmmm. I disagree. The quality of her game may be comendable, but her on-court behaviour and outbursts towards other players and the umpires is a disgrace! She is far from a world-class player.

Note to Serena: Lacking respect makes you a pretty poor tennis player.

Personally, I’m fed up with watching her parade about on TV as though she is superior to all others. Get off your podium Williams! The interviews that she gives send shivers down my spine.

So, this year’s US Open Women’s Final had to be degraded by Williams’ rant to the umpire, Eva Asderaki. Williams, who was playing against Australia’s Samantha Stosur had returned the ball and (thinking she’d won the point) shouted “Come on!”. The only problem was that the ball had not bounced twice – therefore she had lost the point. This all happened at an important break-point moment in the match (in favour of Stosur). Williams being Williams, she became angry with the umpire and made several gestures and snide remarks about her during the next several games, warning her, “Don’t look at me,” and telling her that if Asderaki ever saw Williams coming toward her, she should “walk the other way”.

Even in defeat she is graceless. She couldn’t even hold her hand up and accept her mistake or any responsibility. Instead she said “I hit a winner, but I guess it didn’t count,… Hmmm – such sarcasm. I’m glad she was defeated. I would imagine that Stosur has a little more dignity.

Just who does Williams think she is? It was only two years ago that she was playing, yet again at the US Open (2009), when she started ranting at the lineswoman after a foot-fault. It resulted in the infamous “I didn’t say I would kill you. Are you serious?” comments being caught on microphone…. Oh the shame! I felt so sorry for the lineswoman that year, and for Klijsters who had her comeback tainted by Serena’s selfish outbursts.

World Tennis can do without threatening behaviour on court. High emotions and a thirst to win is one thing – but Williams is something else.

The future is looking bright for British Tennis.

I love tennis. Watching tennis, that is…

Every Grand Slam I watch in eager anticipation that the British players (okay, that usually only means Andy Murray) will do well. But – oh yes – there’s a big…. BUT…

It’s all about to change. The British Juniors are doing better with each new season. In the Boy’s Singles Draw 2011 at the US Open, 3 of the final 4 players are British.

I’m so happy!

US Open 2011: Boy's Singles Draw (from Wikipedia)

That was the proof! 2 seeded Brits and Edmund, a newby. Let’s just hope that one of them manages to stop Veselý from winning. (Sorry readers in the Czech Republic).

While I am writing about tennis – Good Luck to Andy Murray! You’ve just made it to the semi finals. Wahooo!