The Habulous Blog result Back Care

Only 4 days and 4 nights to go and then I will be running the London Marathon, Yes me that slightly overweight lady who likes her gin and prosecco a little too much, oh and did I mention chocolate..... . I apologise in advance to anyone who sees me running or limping along on Sunday, my running face is apparently an unhappy grimace (I do enjoy it, honest), my face muscles just don’t behave the way I want them to when I’m focussed on keeping my legs turning over.  Have you ever seen those silly YouTube clips “What I think I look like when I run” Verse “ What I actually look like when I run”, well imagine that and you’ll easily be able to pick me out in the crowds.

I started this blog nearly 5 months ago to share my training adventures and boy have there been adventures and lots and lots of hard work.  Surprisingly though, I have really quite enjoyed writing up my weeks for you to read, so if you can all cope I’ll try and keep it up.  You are all probably keen to hear the update on my torn soleus (calf muscle for those of you reading for the first time)!  After a visit to the sports Physio this week  I was cleared to try to start running again; just one mile yesterday, two today and three tomorrow.  Now he offered no reassurances that my soleus will stay intact, but he was hopeful and so am I. 

Tomorrow morning I’m heading up to London to enjoy a few days rest before the big day.  I must admit to feeling a little strange, a similar feeling to waiting for your exam results, excitement and apprehension rolled into one.  Before my mishap I was aiming to finish just under the 5 hour mark now I’d be really chuffed with 5 and a half hours, sort of like I’d have really liked to have achieved A’s in my GCSE’s, but that was before I realised that I would have to do lots and lots of revision, so I was quite happy with getting C’s (not that I’d tell me kids that).

I hope all of you with kids to occupy during half term have survived the trials of having them home all the time.  Hopefully you had some fun too.  My two have reached the stage of constant battle, telling tales on one another at every given opportunity. At times I felt like my head would explode, I really want to lie on the floor and throw a toddler tantrum (like that advert with the lady in the super market many years ago).

I was working in my Tavistock store today and got a lovely surprise when I arrived; my team had decorated the store window just for me.  I’ve got to say this really made me smile and even bought a tear to my eye.  It means such a lot as for the last 13 years I’ve always done the window displays so to approach the shop and see balloons etc was amazing, I’m smiling just writing about it.

Well on Sunday I get to tick the London Marathon off my bucket list, last year it was Venice that got a tick, no comparison really but I actually can’t wait.  Massive thanks to every one of you who has supported me, in terms of sponsoring, wishing me luck and especially to those who have put up with my moaning (sorry). 

Over the last few months I have been overwhelmed by the commitment needed to train for a marathon, it really does become all consuming. The dedication needed to just get around the course let alone focus on a good time is massive.  For some their time is important, however I have reached the conclusion that to just make it around is a bloody brilliant achievement. Hats off to everyone who has ever done one, I salute you.

My training has had its ups and downs, I’ve lost toe nails, been hailed on, lost all feeling in my limbs, played ridiculously petty mind games, etc, etc, etc.  I think the toughest element for me has been the solitude, its very hard to keep positive without someone else beside you.  If I was training again, I would definitely try to run with others (although I must say I have no intention of doing this ever again).

Today was to be my final long run and I’m pleased to say other than an early stop for a photo for this blog, I ran well.  Well that is for 11 miles and then my calf went ping, literally ping.  I tried to struggle on but the pain was to much and more importantly I can’t afford to do to much damage.   Much to my dismay I had to admit defeat and call friends who kindly came to my rescue.  I can’t believe that after all those months of training, that I have now injured myself.  I am still doing this, I will not be defeated by a mere muscle.

So my next few days will involve lots of ice packs and hopefully a session with a sports physio.  Fingers crossed it heals well, as I really do want to run not walk this marathon.

If you have sponsored me don’t worry, I will still be doing it but maybe even slower than anticipated... On the note of life giving you lemons; I may as well share another one of my card designs which we hope to launch in the upcoming months (It seems apt to me).  I’ve raised other £1000.00 to date and still have a way to go for Back Care, so if you are able to support me hobbling or running in 3 weeks just click on this link to donate to my page.   I’m signing off now with my leg in the air!

It’s amazing the influence the weather has on my life,  Its early morning and I’m beginning to feel very frustrated with the grey skies, fog and drizzle that have descended upon us for the last few days; as I’m typing this I can hear the weather becoming more and more aggressive outside my window.  I need sunlight and lots of it (preferably whilst I’m on a beach, sipping a cocktail and reading a great book).

Even though I’ve had my fill of fog and damp, (I often question my decision to live on Dartmoor), I had the most breathtaking drive to Exeter last week.   The whole area looked as if it had been dusted  with white icing like a  freshly baked cake, everything was coated with an even sprinkling of frost with pockets of white mist suspended above, the mist looked as though it had been produced by  an over worked smoke machine from a night club in the early 90’s.  What made the morning so stunning was the contrast between these pockets of white and the bright blue skies with lush green landscapes. In several places it looked like a line had been drawn in the ground between the two scenes, as the sun burnt away the frost in one area and not yet reaching the next. It is at times like this I feel the opposite to today and ever so lucky to live in an area of such outstanding natural beauty.

The week has been one full of shop displays and deliveries as the new stock ordered from Top Drawer (the first tradeshow of the year) slowly trickles into the stores.  I can often be seen in store scratching my chin whilst pondering the next theme for our window display, what I’m really doing is desperately hoping inspiration will come and stalling for time.  On this occasion I was lucky, whilst I was forcing the cogs in my head to move, a delivery of rather beautiful ceramics by a new Nordic supplier arrived.  Needless to say they are now proudly displayed in the window of our Exeter store; I do love it when things unexpectedly come together.

The week was over taken by the stores and making more of our Eco Soya Wax Melts, I had a sudden panic when I realised that I hadn’t any of the best sellers made up, so I had to get on top of my supplies. With the best sellers now back in store I can breathe a sigh of relief and focus on my pottery, which is without a doubt something I love to do. The kiln is on right now performing the final firing of jugs and bowls I made a few weeks ago.  So later this morning I’m going to slowly open the lid of my kiln and peer in, hoping to see wonderful results from a new glaze I’m trying out, I have my fingers crossed.

I actually started this blog at the suggestion of a few friends (bet they regret it now), in order to share my efforts of training for the London Marathon. The last week has been a poor one on that front, I have managed to get out there and do my long runs but I really have had to force myself, I’ve felt lack lustre and totally lacking in energy. A few weeks ago I easily ran 14 miles and this week I struggled with 10 (I have to confess to walking some of that 10 too), its amazing how different you can feel each time you run.  I’m starting to worry about the amount I have to raise for my golden bond place with Back Care, so if you fancy helping me hit my target and providing motivation please, please sponsor me, every penny is truly appreciated.  Sponsorship link here.  If you are enjoying or even just persevering with my blogs please like the social media link, or leave me a comment somewhere.  It’s good to know and keeps me motivated to carry on. 

 

 

 

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Blogging is beginning to feel like a Dear Diary entry.  I haven’t actually kept a diary for about 30 years (Yes I am old!), what’s really surprising is it’s actually a good feeling taking time out to think about how to express my week.  I must admit though my teenage diary entries where most definitely intended for my viewing only.  Looking back the amount of times I had a broken heart seems extraordinary, I was one of those kids that got pretty obsessed with certain things and certain people, to be honest when something interests me I can still be pretty obsessive.

Last week already seems so far away, in many ways it was a pretty standard week once I caught up with everything after my trade show. As soon as I’m back, I update the stores about the new product lines they can expect, the team love these updates and it helps keep everyone focussed on the coming months. 

My stores are best described as Lifestyle stores, although many still call them gift shops, personally I dislike the term gift shops, as for me it still conjures up the stores of my youth, you know the type a bit stayed and not particularly dynamic, the image in my head tends to be one of collectable figurines and dust, summed up by that wonderful saying “same old, same old”. I have a tendency to get bored easily, lucky for me this trait works with the stores, it means our stock is constantly evolving, so we are able to keep people interested and coming back for more.

Tuesday was the first day I have really managed to sit down at my pottery wheel since my course at the beginning of the year (I’ve been desperate to sit down and make but had to focus on other areas of the business first).  I was concerned that once back home, the progress I made on the course wouldn’t be evident, clay can be really intimidating at times. I can report back that I ended the day with a big smile on my lips, progress has been made, Yay! Now I’m hoping to develop some new products for the stores over the coming months.  The picture is one of my course makes, which I am really pleased with and hope to make one of the potential ranges around.   

When I’m running I often feel dehydrated so I am now the proud owner of a camel bak rucksack which allows me to take several litres of water out on my longer runs.  So if you are local and you hear what sounds like a baby elephant and swashing water when you are out and about, it may well be me trying to get my miles up.  This morning I managed 13.2 miles and boy they were tough, it amazes me how every time you get out there you can feel totally different. I think over indulging this weekend really came to kick me in the teeth today, it’s made me realise that I’m going to have to focus on changing a few weekend habits as well as increasing my miles, I think the challenge is beginning to grow. 

I’m still a long way off the total I need to raise, so if you are able to sponsor me it would be greatly appreciated. Here’s a link to my fundraising page.  

I really struggle to sit still, when I have too I resemble an annoying child fidgeting all the time. Right now I'm sat in a train on my way home after my first trade show of the year. I had tried to bring as many distractions as possible to occupy myself on my journeys (I really wanted to bring my crochet with me, but the item I'm working on is near completion and would take up to much space in my luggage, plus I really would look like a mad woman trying to stitch my granny squares together!) Right now everything I have to hand isn't inspiring me, so strangely I find myself turning to my blog (something I never thought I would do).

Top Drawer is the trade show that kick starts my buying year. It's one of my favourites, not just because I love visiting London, but also as I manage to couple work with seeing family, hopefully a little shopping of my own and if I'm really lucky a visit to the V&A.

It's proved to be a good start to the year with an amazing amount of strong new products on show. Now it's the patient wait for our new product ranges to arrive in the stores, there is nothing better than unpacking and displaying new stock and seeing our customers reactions.

After the cold weather at the end of last week I was worried about my running mojo, it had gone somewhere and was probably enjoying a gin and tonic.
I woke this morning after an exhausting day yesterday knowing I had to do my long training run. One look out of the window at the grey skies and rain did little to motivate me, but I did get out there in the end.

I normally run along the embankment when I'm in London, but today I fancied a change so I set off weaving around the streets, trying to stay parallel to the Thames. I decided to run to various places from my past for a little reminiscing down memory lane.

I've always thought running had improved my sense of direction, today I proved myself very wrong, having several deja vu moments, thinking things looked familiar only to realise I had unintentionally looped back to the start, when I thought I'd ran in one direction. I'd love to say I only went off track once but it happened several  times the most worrying was when I realised I was in an area I didn't feel at all comfortable in and the signposts where for Dover! Luckily London doesn't lack tall buildings and at times like that the Shard really does has it uses! Getting lost was a blessing as it meant I managed 12 miles and even more surprisingly I actually felt like I could carry on.....

I've got a hefty amount to raise for my golden bond place, so if your feeling generous click here