Exercise is Good for You, Laziness is Not.

So. I went for a jog this morning. I've been wanting to go for a while but I've been putting it off and things keep getting in the way. It's the first time I've been for a proper jog and it's something I've been pondering for weeks. So here's my first person account, so that none of you ever have to do it.


First of all, it was 1 degree this morning. Just one. Physically, I wasn't that cold. But the air was dreadful. After about five minutes I could feel the outline of my lungs in my chest from the freezing cold air that was going into them. This carried on for the rest of my time outside, and then until I'd been in the shower for at least five minutes. The inhalations made my teeth ache from so much cold air moving past them. And my throat still hurts hours later.


I was surprisingly cold, given the sport I'd been doing, probably as a result of the weather. This didn't extend to my face and ears though, I have to say. The blood was pulsing so hard in my face that my head was physically moving with the force of it, and the rest of me was shaking uncontrollably. My eyesight got blurry from a combination of actual tiredness and physical exhaustion.


Apart from weird things like teeth and some muscle pains in my lower abs (which could be from scouts or something anyway) I didn't have any other aches or hurting. Which I was actually very surprised about. I'd expect my legs to hurt after jogging, but they didn't.*


It may have been awful, but I did it. I went out and I deliberately did sport. I'm sort of proud, and sort of glad because now, even though I probably won't do it again for a while, I've done it and I know how to improve. To be honest, I think I prefer cycling or swimming. I might have to start going after work with James the Praktikant (if he'll take me?) or spending my time more wisely at the weekends.


Still, now you all know what it's like, and you don't have to go and experience it for yourselves any time soon!


*NEXT DAY EDIT: Everything aches from my bellybutton down.

Fridgey Fridgey Fridge Fridge

Hallo zusammen, as they say in Germany (yes, it does mean "hello together", but try not to be so literal, it's just a general greeting) My ponderances today are on the madness and determined-ness of the human spirit. It really is a fantastic thing.

This morning, I heard an amazing interview on the radio (BBC Radio 2, Chris Evans' Breakfast Show - possibly the best show on the radio) with a man named Tony "The Fridge" Morrison who has set himself the challenge of running thirty half marathons - the equivalent of fifteen actual marathons- with a fridge strapped to his back! It is simply amazing; I could do anything with a fridge strapped to my back, except for lying on top of a fridge...

Anyway, it turns out he's trying to raise money for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, which work to diagnose and treat cancer in its early stages. The fridge he's carrying weighs about 6 stone and he's now on day 26 of 30, cumulating in the Great North Run (whenever that is, presumably soon). The best bit about this is that he's running the same course 30 times, instead of visiting 30 different organised half marathons in order to (I assume) raise the money quicker.

This has really shown me how amazing humnas are as a race (no pun intended); why would anyone feel the need to run 633 kilometres (393.3 miles) with a fridge strapped to their back? Because they want to raise awareness for a fantastic cause and help others. This is one of the most wonderful things I've ever heard of someone doing, as well as one of the most mad, so if you're interested in following Tony's excapades, please look him up on Twitter: @tony_the_fridge or check out his Just Giving account here if you want to donate some money.

This really is a great cause, so please check it out and add your support.
Much love xx

Olympic Fever 2012

As I cannot escape it, I've decided to ponder it. Olympic fever is, of course, sweeping the nation (as well as many other nations). How unsurprising is it that Britain has only won two golds so far? The answer is: not very. I am, however, very pleased to announce that Germany (my favourite country in the world ever, except perhaps Armenia) is sixth in the medal tables with three gold, seven silver and two bronze medals so far. Armenia, unfortunately, has won nothing so far, but seeing as their only athletes are Garo and his mother, this is hardly surprising.

Surprisingly enough, North Korea is currently beating South Korea, having won twice as many medals as the latter. Unsurprisingly, both of them are beating Team GB. Who are quite useless. Apart from the women's rowing pair (Helen Glover and Heather Stanning) and to Bradley Wiggins - well done you! :)

And, amazingly, France is third in the tables - wow!

And all that gubbins about "Having the Olympics in London will be really good for the economy and it'll more than cancel out all the spending the country's done in making the Olympics happen" is absolute rubbish! Spending in London has actually decreased since the Olympics started because the Government and TFL have been telling people not to travel into London because of the enormous strain on the public transport all these extra people will have. And as for those extra people in London, well, they're not doing things like going to shows because, well, think about it. They've been out all day in the East End of London watching sport; they're not really going to want to travel to the West End in the evening and spend several more hours sitting down, just to watch a show, are they?

Germany just won another silver, showing how quickly all this could change. So, before I'm shown to be hideously wrong about how bad Team GB are, I'm going to shut up.

By the way, here's some shameless plugging:

http://lorolocuaz.wordpress.com/ --> The best language-related blog written by one of my teachers I've ever read (seriously though, food for thought; it's awesome)

http://mingledyarns.wordpress.com/ --> If you like literary blogs, and who doesn't, then this is definitely worth a read. Or several. My amazing friend Alice has written this blog detailing books she's read and her opinions. Both of which (the books and the opinions) are well-written and fascinating (usually - some of the books are questionable)

http://shirleynomates.blogspot.com -->This blog is probably about as pointful as mine (i.e. not very) but it's still interesting to know what goes on inside Emily's tiny head. Some of it makes no sense, but the interpreting is part of the fun (see first link, above)

Much love xx