wellieswithwings

running

Monday, January 28th, 2008 | sophie | No Comments

At the end of last year I promised myself that I’d do more exercise and so in time honoured tradition, set this as one of my new year’s resolutions. Four weeks later, and minus a week where I suffered some nasty lurgy attack, I’ve kept it up. Three times a week I don my running shoes, clip on my ipod and join Tom (albeit briefly before he runs off) to jog round the Level.

I’m actually rather impressed with myself. I hate exercise. At school I was always picked last and was never very good. I can completely understand why no one would want me on their team, I dropped the netball, fell over, generally got in the way and remained resolutely miserable throughout any games lesson. I did join a gym a couple of years ago and for six months I did go along, still miserable and forced myself to lift a few weights, row a few yards and would dump myself on the exercise bike for as little time as I thought I could get away with. Perhaps not the best introduction to any new form of exercise – I didn’t expect to last once round the Level.

What has surprised me most is that I actually enjoy running. Who’d have thought it? I listen to music, I try and push myself a little further each time, I get a little shakey, I breathe mist into the air and clutch at my sides, but each lap round feels good. Even when I have to force heavy legs on those occasions when my body really doesn’t fancy it (normally Friday’s for some reason – I suspect it would rather be down the pub). So I’ve invested in some decent running shoes, am going to stock up on podcasts and continue to jog around. It’s no marathon, but it’s good enough for me.

Tags: running

fin

Thursday, January 3rd, 2008 | Uncategorized | No Comments

So 2007 has drawn to a close and it’s time to look back on what has been another busy year. I thought last year was busy but I was wrong, last year was a quiet stroll in the park.

I began the year working at Sussex Uni, feeling like I was, in turn, banging my head against a brick wall and

pointlessly treading water. Fortunately all this changed in May when I left the squirrels and countryside of Falmer behind and, somewhat nervously, started at the beginning again with Clearleft. The change was immediate, it’s so refreshing to really enjoy your job again! There have been plenty of new challenges and I often find my head swimming with the new, but that makes it all the better.

Apart from a trip to Barcelona in March, our big travel adventure for 2007 was Burning Man and boy was that an adventure! Closely followed by Picnic in Amsterdam, one of my favourite cities. I still feel as if I’ve spent more time in the last two years travelling than over the rest of my life. I think each trip spurs me on to visit new places, and the possible list for 2008 shows no sign of slowing.

On the home front I’ve managed to decorate half the flat, with the kitchen still to rip out and build anew at some point this year. I’ve decided to sell my car, having had the roof slashed and numerous issues with the insurers. I’ve come to realise I don’t really need a car, not if it’s going to be that much trouble. I suspect 2008 will include further upheavals in the home department, but admit that I’m looking forward to those adventures.

I’ve spent time with my friends, cats, puppies and of course the lovely one (despite his propensity to make somewhat cheeky remarks). Fear not, I’ll get my own back somehow.

So any resolutions? Unsurprisingly two of them revolve around finding time, something which I spent lots of 2007 trying to do. So will they be unachievable? Well I don’t really like to set myself too hard a task, so I must have some confidence in finding this time from somewhere surely? Only time (ha ha, ed.) will tell but I’m looking forward to the coming year and the journeys it will bring.