Training for a marathon - 4 weeks in.

In 3 months I'll be attempting to complete the iconic London Marathon course for the first time. I'm not a runner, I've never been a runner, and in all honesty, I'm not sure I will ever truly be a runner.

I still remember one of the first times I ever went for a jog. It was in my first year of university, and my flatmates in my hall of residence all decided to "get healthy" and go for a jog around the local park. It was approximately 1 mile around and I couldn't complete a circuit without stopping to walk and catch my breath. 12 years later and arguably fitter, I'm gearing up for a 10 mile jog this weekend as part of my training and I'm not hugely phased by the distance.

I realised that I quite enjoyed jogging when I moved to London. Growing up in the countryside, it might seem surprising that it took moving to London for my love of outdoor running to develop. But the thing I like most about the London running scene is the abundance of parks. Cross country running can be really challenging, particularly in winter, so to have paved parks that are solid underfoot but surrounded by greenery, I've got the best of both worlds.

I've completed a few fun runs in the past, 5k, 10k and a cross country half marathon over the picturesque South Downs. A full marathon is something I've not yet achieved though, so I'm hoping that by training right and eating well, I'll manage to complete it without any issues. Hopefully I might even enjoy the experience! I've wanted to run the London marathon for most of my adult life. I went to support my Dad when he ran it for the first time in 1999, and the atmosphere on the day was fantastic. 2016 is the year I decided I could wait no longer (and I'm not getting any younger!) so I've signed up with the National Childbirth Trust to raise money for new parents, with a particular focus on developing support for post natal depression. You can read more about the charity and the work they do on my fundraising page. Please donate, just a few pounds could make a huge difference to someone struggling with the most challenging time in their life.

Fundraising responsibilities aside, I also need to make sure I'm physically ready on the day. There are literally hundreds of marathon training plans available for free on the Internet, so after a brief perusal of the top few, I opted for this one from popsugar, as it seemed like the simplest to follow, and fitted best with my lifestyle. I'm about 4 weeks in, and so far it's going quite well. Here are a few things I've discovered since starting to follow a training plan:

1) Trying to plan new routes around unknown areas is exciting and infuriating in equal measure. It's fun trying to link up footpaths through scenic areas, but not knowing what the terrain is going to be like can pose some tricky obstacles mid-jog.

2) There are many factors which affect my speed over the same route. I have a few lunchtime routes around Hyde Park, and some days it'll feel really relaxed and I'll complete the course in a really good time. On other days the exact same route will feel 100 times tougher, and I'll be much slower. One of the main factors is the wind. A bit of light drizzle or a beautifully sunny day don't seem to make much difference, but a strong head wind is quite horrible. Adding in a few mini sprints really helps improve my speed but makes me feel awful, and I tend to run faster if I'm in a particularly good or particularly bad mood. If I'm having an average day, I'll run at an average pace.

3) Expensive running gear really isn't important. Having shoes that fit well is. I've had my running trainers for a few years, I went to a proper running shop where they looked at my gait and recommended the best shoes for me. Apart from that, I run in t shirts and leggings. I've got a lightweight jacket for when it's cold or raining, and a few sports bra style tops (I'm having some issues with these, ironically as they're the items I've spent the most on). I use my phone to track my routes, and just get up and go!

4) My strength training is suffering. A couple of years ago, I got really into strength and weight training in the gym. I noticed a difference in physical strength, my appearance, and my performance playing roller derby. A recurring shoulder injury somewhat stunted my development and I've been trying to get back to it recently. For me, the only real feasible time for me to go to the gym is in the morning, which is tough enough for me as a non-morning person. I've found that my motivation has been even more lacking, as I know that I'm going for a jog at lunch. It's just excuses, I know, but I definitely think if I wasn't going out running quite as often, I'd have more impetus to get my butt out of bed in the morning and pump some iron. I think this is mostly just a matter of willpower, but I am also aware that it can be dangerous to over-train. Food for thought.

5) I love dogs. I've planned all my routes to go through parks, and there are countless dogs being taken for walks in every one. At lunch in Kensington there are quite a few snooty dog walkers, at the weekend around Beddington and Mitcham there is a bigger mix of families, younger couples and solo dog walkers and nearly all of them are friendly (dogs and owners). I know that I don't have the time or right home to have a dog, but it's so lovely to see them all enjoying the outside.

So that's about it for now, I shan't waffle on any more. I've got the Kingston half marathon coming up in a month's time, so I'll post an update then about how that went. Do you like running? Are you training for anything soon?

Here's that link again for my JustGiving page. Please donate!

Camden shopping haul

I love Camden Market. When I was a teenager, living near Salisbury with my parents, I used to save up my wages from working in a coffee shop on Sundays and buy a train ticket to London, where my friends and I would explore the markets in Camden, Kensington and Portobello. Kensington underground market has long since been shut down and built over, and I've not been to Portobello since those youthful excursions, but I'm still a huge fan of Camden and the delights it has to offer. I've heard many people say that Camden has sold out, become commercial and lost its soul. And to an extent I agree, but I don't this all the charm has gone. There are still a large number of independent traders and small chain boutiques, and in all honesty if I'm going to browse rails of clothes for a few hours I'd much rather do it here than in a huge shopping centre with high street brands and strip lighting. 

So today, my intention was to purchase a new handbag. I've always been a one-handbag-holds-all-my-worldy-possessions kind of girl, and my last bag to fit this bill came from Camden lock market a few years ago. Alas, the lower portion of Camden lock village, with its little wooden huts and canalside street food, is no longer, commissioned by billionaire Teddy Sagi for redevelopment by construction company Mace, the firm responsible for creating the Shard.

Fortunately though, the stables and remaining lock markets are bustling with an array of stalls and shops, many of which sell handbags at very reasonable prices. I spot a pretty black leather bag with red piping in a little shop on the top floor of the lock market, and happily purchase it for a reduced price of £35. I've never been a haggler, and frankly I'm more than happy to pay the asking price for something of I think it's worth it.

So that really should have been my shopping complete, I got what I'd come for, no need to look at anything else. But I'm here now, so it would be rude not to. Right!?!?

One of my favourite mini chains is Collectif, who sell retro style pieces in modern fabrics. They started out as a stall in Camden, and now have 3 stores in London as well as a boutique in Brighton and an online business. I popped in to "browse", but they had so many bargains in the sale I couldn't help but pick up this gorgeous swing coat, cropped red cardigan, and pastel jumper which will be great in spring with its low neck and fine knit.

Thrilled with my bargains, I continued to wander through the stables market, checking out the jewellery and window shopping in a few more clothes stalls. At the end of the stables I approached leather store OdiLynch, with their selection of beautiful handbags. They had this olive green satchel-style bag reduced to £40 that I tried so hard not to buy but just couldn't resist in the end. This indoor lighting does not do the colour any justice whatsoever, I'll try and take a few snaps when I manage to get out in some daylight. 

Finally, as the market traders were starting to close up for the evening, I spotted a beautiful feather print burgundy and gold scarf which I picked up for just a few pounds. I could've bought so many more, they had hundreds of beautiful styles. 

So that's the lot. A very successful trip (maybe too successful!?) with some lovely new pieces to add to my wardrobe. Where are your favourite places to shop? Did you pick up any bargains in the January sales? 

What I Ate Wednesday

I keep meaning to start a regular What I Ate Wednesday #WIAW post, as it's something I've seen pop up on various blogs and social media pages I follow, and I think it's a great idea to keep track of an average day's food, and share with other foodies out there.

One of my goals for this year is to eat more healthily, and keep track of my food intake. I really, really love food, so I'm never going to be one of those people who live on a very restrictive diet, cutting out anything that's not 100% nutritious! I'm working on a post for the near future about nutrition in general, and how confusing it can be to try and eat well these days given the amount of conflicting opinions available to us in this technological age. But for now I shall just go through what I ate on Wednesday, and why!

Breakfast

Bowl of oats, with dried fruit, flaked almonds and full fat milk. Coffee.

Oats fill me up, and give me energy to concentrate on work up until lunch, when I'll often go for a jog. Adding some sweetness with dried fruit, good fats from the almonds and the creamy deliciousness of whole milk gives me a fairly balanced breakfast that I really enjoy eating. I usually have a coffee in the morning too with milk and a teaspoon of honey. In an ideal world I would have less sugar (from the fruit, honey and lactose in the milk) and more protein and fresh vegetables, As I mentioned earlier, however, I don't live in an ideal world and I'm well aware my diet has its flaws!

Lunch

Open sandwich on wholemeal bread with cream cheese, smoked salmon, mixed leaves and avocado. 

Again, I know there are better choices for lunch, but I enjoy these flavours, and I've got a combination of some complex carbs, good fats and nutrients from the avocado and salad. 

Dinner

Spinach and cheese omelette on toast.

I train on Wednesdays and I don't have time to eat beforehand, so I try and make something quick and tasty when I get in. I'm a huge fan of omlettes, I added cheese for flavour and spinach to be healthy! Carb-haters will sneer at the toast, but it's wholemeal, and a small loaf, and I don't have a wheat intolerance so when I have bread at home (which isn't that often) I will enjoy some toast!

Snacks

Chocolate mousse, a satsuma, a slice of cake, Tango.

Snacks are my downfall and this is a fair example of my bad snacking. The cake was left over from new year, as was the Fanta. I really enjoy satsumas, even more so when they're paired with something chocolatey. But I will make more of an effort as the last of the Christmas treats are gone to choose healthier options for a lite bite between meals.

Water (not enough of it!)

In summer, I'm good at drinking water, but in winter I tend to crave hot drinks instead, or just go without. I only had 3 or 4 glasses of water today and I aim for double that. The one thing I love about winter is when the tap water is super cold! 

So that's the lot. I've posted the nutritional details throughout, as part of my resolution to track my food consumption! Totals below:

Goals for next week - healthier snacks and maybe less bread. What healthier options have you been choosing this month?

Resolutions rehashed

For 2015, I made 15 resolutions. Although they weren't really resolutions, they were goals. A resolution can be broken, a goal is something to continually aim for. And there weren't actually 15, there were 16 because I forgot about a challenge I joined. So rather than not bother at all, or agonize over a whole new set of personal goals for this year, I'm just going to repeat last year's with a few tweaks and addendums. And since there are 16, that works perfectly for my 2016 goals!

I didn't manage to achieve many of these goals last year, but they did help me try and find motivation to pursue things I otherwise wouldn't have done. Here they are, with a few words about how they went last year and how I'm going to approach each one for 2016.

1. Spend at least 15 minutes a day doing something creative.

I tried to quantify this to give me a specific target, but it seems rather arbitrary, and not really representative of creativity! I think I'll update this to "Do something creative every day". Part of my plans for self improvement this year are to give myself a bit more credit for achieving things, so I'm including quite a lot of small activities as "doing something creative", for example painting my nails, posting an Instagram picture or making a new dish. A lot of my other goals are related to doing more specific creative things, like making jewellery, baking and blogging, so hopefully I'll be able to cross a few off at the same time.

2. Stop apologising for things that aren’t my fault.

This is a really tricky thing for me. It's my default, and although I was perhaps more aware of it happening last year, I really didn't manage to change my core belief that everything is my fault. But I can definitely try harder, and by stopping myself from always saying sorry, I'm hoping I'll eventually start to believe I'm not always to blame and the world won't collapse when the tiniest thing goes wrong.

3. By the end of the year, have a figure I’m proud of.

Nothing new, I'm just re-starting this one. No excuses, I just didn't eat healthily enough or work out hard enough to get to this point by the end of 2015. So, along with the rest of the population, I'll be trying to drag myself back to the gym, and say no to office treats in pursuit of this totally-achievable goal.

4. Bake every other week.

I had a spat of baking last year, mostly inspired by the Great British Bake Off. I didn't quite average every other week, but it was definitely a good start. I'm still determined to complete every bake from last year's show before this year's begins, and with a shiny new standalone mixer I received for Christmas, there's nothing to stop me continuing to practice my baking skills more often. Below is my bake along with Bake Off journey so far!

5. Sell at least 5 items of hand made jewellery.

Other one with which I made good progress, but didn't quite get to the finish line. I made a good handful of necklaces in 2015, and even photographed a few to upload to my as-yet-unopened Etsy shop. With more practice in 2016, I'll hopefully produce more pieces that I think are worthy of selling and get my shop underway.

6. Read a book every month.

I read an entire book in a few days over Christmas, so I know this is achievable! But I'm guilty of spending too much time scrolling through facebook and watching TV repeats, when I really could be reading. 12 books in a year is entirely achievable. Any recommendations?

7. Update my blog every other week.

Other one that was a good effort, but just not quite as frequent as I had hoped. I've discovered I tend to want to write article style posts, rather than brief updates, which might have slowed things down a little. I'm also terrible at taking pictures, which definitely hindered my progress! I've fallen into a pattern of posting about food, fashion, roller derby and music in the same order, which I quite like as it gives me a chance to think about the next post. I think I just need to write more! It sounds simple, but I'm sure the more that I start typing, the easier I will find it to complete a post and upload without overthinking and editing everything a hundred times.

8. Eat well 5 days a week.

I think my diet in 2015 was quite poor. My biggest problem is temptation! I'm quite good at eating healthy meals, it's everything that I eat in between that's the problem. Also, "eat well" is quite a vague concept and I think it needs re-defining. I'm a huge fan of nutritionist Nichola Whitehead of Nic's Nutrition, and I love her realistic approach to healthy eating, focusing on the 80/20 rule that as long as you eat healthily 80% of the time, you can treat yourself the other 20% of the time. If I'm honest, I was probably more 60/40 in 2015 and that's not a great way to be. One thing I'm going to add to this goal is to track my food intake properly. If I'm writing down everything I eat, it should be easier to see where I need to change my habits to be able to say I'm "eating well" (80% of the time!)

9. Be more adventurous with clothes and make-up.

This is one goal that I feel I pretty much achieved. I found doing little outfit challenges really enjoyable, and it pushed me out of my comfort zone a few times. I probably wasn't as adventurous as I could have been though, so 2016 will be about taking more risks and being braver.

10. Pass CIMA C02 – C05.

Well, I passed C02 and C03! Just 4 and 5 to go, then I'll be looking at the next set of exams. Updating this for 2016 is going to include passing at least 1 exam for the next level. At least 1.

11. Learn basic German.

I did not do this at all last year. However, my Mum bought me a beginner German set for Christmas, so now I've got the tools, I've really got no excuse not to grasp the basics in a year!

12. Keep the house clean and tidy.

This is definitely still a work in progress. I researched a couple of articles about keeping a tidy house, which have inspired me to try harder but which I've not quite yet put into practice. This one breaks down a cleaning schedule into 20 minutes a day. I might not like it, but I can't deny that I probably have 20 minutes spare that I can use to help me get on top of this challenge. It really doesn't come naturally to me, so it's a case of changing lifelong habits and developing different lifestyle choices. 

13. Make more of an effort to keep in touch with friends.

This is another one that's hard to quantify. What is "more of an effort"? I feel like it's really hard to keep in touch with old friends when we all have such busy schedules. I also struggle with the anxiety of contacting people I've not spoken to for ages, and I'm petrified of phoning anyone, even my very best friend. So perhaps this challenge is less about trying to meet up with as many people as possible, and more about braving contact and reaching out to people without fearing rejection.

14. Be on time.

Being late was one of my biggest sources of stress for 2015. Granted, the majority of my lateness was caused by severe and frequent delays on the trains, but leaving an hour earlier would still have avoided this. I've begun commuting via a different route which has (touch wood) so far been more reliable, but I'm still guilty of leaving things too late and not planning my time efficiently. For 2016, I'm really going to focus on planning and doing, rather than thinking about planning and getting distracted and waylaid.

15. Learn to swing dance.

As I write this post, I am on my way to my first class of 2016. Although I didn't actually get started until the end of 2015, I did start, and I enjoyed it, and I shall continue to dance all the way to 2017. My next challenge will be to go to a social dance. The thought of improvising and not messing everything up seems impossible at the moment, but I'm hoping that will have changed by the end of the year.

16. Jog 811 miles by the end of the year.

This was the extra one from last year I'd forgotten I'd agreed to, and I was nowhere near. 811 miles is a long way (It's the distance from Lands End to John O'Groats) and a big task. I've reset it for this year, but with the added excitement of running the London Marathon in April. I've wanted to run the marathon for so long, and having repeatedly failed to get a ballot place I've finally bitten the bullet and guaranteed to raise money for the National Childbirth Trust, giving invaluable support to new parents when it's most needed. If you've read this far and you'd like to help, please pop along to my justgiving page to donate, every pound really does help.

So that's it! New year, same goals! What are your goals for this year? I'd love to hear about how people decide on, and perhaps more importantly, stick to their resolutions.

Discovering new bands, that often aren't new at all.

I love music. But there's so much out there, I frequently wonder how long a band have been writing new music, performing at little venues around the world, never having appeared on my radar. I often hear friends and colleagues commenting that nobody is making decent music any more, but I just don't believe this is true.

In July last year, Spotify launched the "Discover Weekly" playlist, which selects artists based on your listening history to produce a 30 track playlist updated once a week. I can't praise this launch enough. Not only have I discovered countless new artists as a result of listening to this playlist, but it's got me talking about new artists with my friends, who in turn are sharing their new findings.

It's not all about new music though. Many of the "new" bands I've discovered have actually been around for years, but haven't yet appeared on my horizon. Similarly, I've had a few artists appear on the aforementioned playlist I've known and loved for a long time, but it's still nice to be reminded of a track that I've not listened to for a while.

If all you listen to is BBC and commercial radio stations, I can see why you might think that the music market is somewhat stagnant of late. Regardless of what kind of genre you're into, there is always more out there that doesn't have the budget for radio plugging, or lots of screentime on the music video channels, or a series of adverts to broadcast their sound to the nation. If you're a fan of music at all, I'd really suggest looking further and seeking out new artists. Whether it be through music streaming, or getting to a gig earlier to catch the support act, or chatting to your mates about what they're listening to, go forth and discover new tunes!

Here are 6 bands I'm looking forward to listening to more in 2016:

 Creeper

For anyone who knows me, this will be the least surprising revelation ever proclaimed. I've unashamedly become quite the fangirl in a short space of time, but that's not hard when people this lovely have songs this good. From playing their first gig in 2014 to signing with Roadrunner in summer 2015 and announcing their debut headline UK tour for 2016, these guys have been gigging relentlessly from the get go and were featured on the front cover of the first Kerrang! issue this year as predicted stars of 2016. Self described as "goth punk", Creeper have a togetherness that sets them apart from other newer outfits, and an infectious energy that is evident from the moment they step on stage. I've been fortunate enough to catch them a few times in 2015, and they never fail to deliver, bringing out a bit more excitement and a bit more magic with every show. Morphing seamlessly into a 6 piece for 2016, their 3rd EP, The Stranger, is released next month, and if you've not heard of them yet you should check them out immediately. Yes, I know I am a biased. Seriously though, they're amazing.

http://www.creepercult.com/

All Them Witches

This Nashville four-piece were brought to my attention by my ever suffering muso mate, who, despite having reasonably similar musical taste to me, normally has his suggestions callously rejected by yours truly, often with little articulate reasoning beyond "I just don't like it". This was one of the exceptions to the rule though, and if it were down to a spot of magic, All Them Witches are certainly the right band to have broken the mould with their psychedelic brand of mystical blues rock. They supported The Sword on an epic US tour at the end of 2015, and if you've read my review of the Sword's recent London show, you'll see how much I enjoy this Southern stoner rock style, particularly when it's backed up by astounding musical talent, which All Them Witches display in abundance. Check out their latest release, Dying Surfer Meets His Maker. 

http://www.allthemwitches.org/

Klone 

A classic example of another band who actually aren't new at all, Klone are a French prog metal outfit who formed in 1995 under the moniker "Sowat". Renamed as Klone in 1999, they've only recently made it over the Channel and into UK music press, with Total Guitar magazine listing them as "possibly the best kept secret in France" in a round up of the 20 best albums of 2015. Leaning towards the mellow end of prog, they remind me in parts of Pain Of Salvation, a band I discovered years ago supporting Opeth at Brixton Academy. As far as I can tell, some of their earlier albums are heavier, in keeping with the ever changing sounds of good prog bands, and I can't wait to delve into their back catalogue in the near future. Some quick research tells me they supported fellow French metallers Gojira in 2012 at London's Koko, which is a gig I wish I'd been at, albeit at a better venue. It appears that this is their only UK show, which is a shame. Here's hoping they come back soon!

http://klonosphere.com/klone/

Greenleaf 

On the surface, Greenleaf are a classic stoner rock band, exhibiting that archetypal Swedish alt rock vibe that emerged from the likes of Hellacopters / Backyard Babies, Truckfighters et al. The difference is that Greenleaf started as a side project for Tommi Holappa of Dozer, with a revolving line up who add something different and new to each release. On top of the heavy rock n roll riffs and gritty vocals come some unexpected key changes and harmonies that set this band apart from others in the same genre. They're playing at the Garage in London in February and I'm excited to check them out live.  

https://www.facebook.com/greenleafrocks

Novelists

Another French export, Novelists are also a progressive metal group, but in a very different ball park to Klone. Their sound is for more structured, with djent style tight guitar licks and an easy flowing balance between melody and screaming. The technical elements could be likened to Periphery, or another discovery for me this year, the awesome Monuments, showing the musical talent that this band clearly posses. This lot are actually fairly new, signing to Nuclear Blast sub label Arising Empire in July 2015. Their debut, Souvenirs, has received mixed reviews, arguably because Novelists' brand of metalcore just isn't cool at the moment. If they'd launched onto the scene a couple of years ago it might have been a different story, but metal subgenre trends aside, I'm personally hoping to hear more of these boys in the coming year.

https://www.facebook.com/NovelistsMusic

Elder

By far the proggiest of my new music discoveries, Elder are one of those bands who have a small number of seemingly endless tracks on each album, complete with ridiculously conceptual titles and about 8 difference phases in each song. They've been around for nearly a decade, but started young, releasing their first demo in 2007 when guitarist Nick DiSalvo was only 17. They don't sound young in the slightest though. Exuding 60s / 70s psychedelia, it's easy to see how they've taken influence from Zeppelin and Sabbath, with soaring riffs and a distinct old school groove to their sound. They're not touring any time soon, but I'll definitely be adding them to my playlist of progressive rock excellence for 2016.

https://www.facebook.com/elderofficial/

So that's just a few of the new and not-so-new bands I discovered in 2015, through Spotify or from friends, and I'm sure there are hundreds more out there that I've yet to encounter. Do you have any recommendations? I'd love to hear them.