Well its been a very busy few days as I have been opening a show in town so haven't had much chance to sit down and meander about on the internet. I am also rehearsing for a reading of another show so its been all go at this end.
I have, however, been able to keep up my training. On sunday me and my boy went for a 6 mile run which included Nunhead Cemetery and Peckham Rye and just as we set off so did the rain. At one point it was so heavy and so angled at our faces that we had to run with our eyes closed! It was fabulous though - I much prefer running in the rain as it keeps my temperature down! I am from team beetroot-face whenever I do any kind of sport so a cooling spray of water is always welcome!
Monday was rest day so rest I did. As far as going into rehearsals all day is resting but I didn't run.
Tuesday I went into a early morning preview and rehearsals then got home after dark and waited for the boy to return from work so he could accompany me on my 3 mile. It was brilliant running in the dark but would have been proper scary on my own as part of the run is in Hilly Fields park with all its spooky bits...
Today was 'cross training' day so I got on my bike and rode to Hyde Park for a long overdue swim in the serp. It was no colder than I've been in before (6 degrees C) but because I haven't been for a week my fingers and feet really felt it. Made me feel awesome though...
Tomorrow is another 3 mile run as is friday then on sunday is 7. I have to work out my routes for my trip to ireland and get some miles under my belt when I'm there too.
Am completely loving getting into training and am positive i can keep it up. the long run on sunday felt completely comfortable which makes me insanely proud as a few years ago when I started running and was training to do a 10k run I would have found that incredibly hard...!
hurrah!
anyway, will aim to do another post before Ireland because after that I will be offline for 2 weeks...
(nearly) chocs away!
xx
Wednesday, 25 November 2009
Friday, 20 November 2009
another 3 miles...
so today I was up at 7 to spend some time rewriting a script that i will be doing a reading of next week and what I thought was going to be a morning's work pretty much turned into a day. this happened because of the obvious reasons...displacement activities.
actually to be fair to myself it was only the odd slip up and i did spend most of the day deep in my script but i still had the odd foray into facebook and emails that i didn't need to do. why is this? why can't i just completely focus?!
anyway, i did get lots done and am pleased with the rewrite which has now gone off to my co-writer and director and fingers crossed he likes the changes...
so i then went off for another 3 mile training run. same route as wednesdays and i have to say it definitely felt easier. I felt like i could continue on for quite some time. this definitely bodes well for sunday's 6 mile jaunt.
beautiful sunset when I was up in the park - goddamn wish I'd had my camera! sorry!
off to the dress rehearsal of a show i have in town...can't wait to see it with all the staging and costumes!
over and out
actually to be fair to myself it was only the odd slip up and i did spend most of the day deep in my script but i still had the odd foray into facebook and emails that i didn't need to do. why is this? why can't i just completely focus?!
anyway, i did get lots done and am pleased with the rewrite which has now gone off to my co-writer and director and fingers crossed he likes the changes...
so i then went off for another 3 mile training run. same route as wednesdays and i have to say it definitely felt easier. I felt like i could continue on for quite some time. this definitely bodes well for sunday's 6 mile jaunt.
beautiful sunset when I was up in the park - goddamn wish I'd had my camera! sorry!
off to the dress rehearsal of a show i have in town...can't wait to see it with all the staging and costumes!
over and out
falling at the first hurdle...
ok so yesterday I should have done another 3 mile run but instead i got up and rode my 8 miles to the serpentine, had my swim and rode my 8 miles back...can this count instead?! answers on a postcard...
today i will be going out for my 3 mile run for definite, i just have to get a script rewrite finished and i am totally there...
its blowing a bit of a gale out so it will be a very dramatic run. love a bit of rain action as i tend to go a shade of bright fuscia when i do any kind of exercise so a bit of moisture to cool me down is always welcome. have done a couple of london 10k runs in the past and they always seem to fall on the hottest day of the year which is basically equal to hell for me. big fat red face and sweat a-go-go...lovely.
anyway, my first little hiccup will be made up for on sunday when i do my 6 mile run. trying to work out where would be nice to run...perhaps a little jaunt to Nunhead cemetary
will attempt to finally get the camera going for this and take some pics...
anyway, back to work. enough displacing. wish me luck.
today i will be going out for my 3 mile run for definite, i just have to get a script rewrite finished and i am totally there...
its blowing a bit of a gale out so it will be a very dramatic run. love a bit of rain action as i tend to go a shade of bright fuscia when i do any kind of exercise so a bit of moisture to cool me down is always welcome. have done a couple of london 10k runs in the past and they always seem to fall on the hottest day of the year which is basically equal to hell for me. big fat red face and sweat a-go-go...lovely.
anyway, my first little hiccup will be made up for on sunday when i do my 6 mile run. trying to work out where would be nice to run...perhaps a little jaunt to Nunhead cemetary
will attempt to finally get the camera going for this and take some pics...
anyway, back to work. enough displacing. wish me luck.
Tuesday, 17 November 2009
And so it begins...
Well this morning I started my marathon training...24 weeks to go. I did 3 miles today which is a very long way away from the full distance I'll be running in April but softly softly catchee monkey...
haven't been for a swim since last week but am planning on going on thursday and having a run in Hyde Park before hand. I have to do another 3 miles so that should warm me up before my dip!
I really need to get my mitts on a digital camera that works so that I can blog images as well as rambling text. Will aim to do this asap...
In other displacement activity news I am less than 2 weeks away from my trip to Ireland to write all on my own and away from any distractions. I will be actively avoiding displacement activities other than running and cycling (and maybe swimming if I'm feeling brave) in order to actually get some solid work done.
I'm currently compiling a list of possible projects to complete or start whilst out there. Current favourite is my musical project which I'll definitely be working on but I also want to have a bash at completing at least one of my full length plays...
Anyway, back to work now...ooh hang on, the garden could do with tidying up....
haven't been for a swim since last week but am planning on going on thursday and having a run in Hyde Park before hand. I have to do another 3 miles so that should warm me up before my dip!
I really need to get my mitts on a digital camera that works so that I can blog images as well as rambling text. Will aim to do this asap...
In other displacement activity news I am less than 2 weeks away from my trip to Ireland to write all on my own and away from any distractions. I will be actively avoiding displacement activities other than running and cycling (and maybe swimming if I'm feeling brave) in order to actually get some solid work done.
I'm currently compiling a list of possible projects to complete or start whilst out there. Current favourite is my musical project which I'll definitely be working on but I also want to have a bash at completing at least one of my full length plays...
Anyway, back to work now...ooh hang on, the garden could do with tidying up....
Wednesday, 11 November 2009
a marathon displacement activitie...
hello there
sorry for the delay since my last post...its been busy times in London town...not that anyone is reading this...just me pretending there are...!
One thing that has occured is that I have achieved a place on the Penny Brohn Cancer Care London Marathon team! I am extremely honored as there are only 9 places and I now need to try and raise as much money as possible for them. Oh. And train for the marathon!!
How about that for a displacement activity?!
I was sent a training plan by a fellow marathon runner and the schedule literally starts next week so I need to get on it. It's a gradual build up of mileage and rests. I am currently considering how possible it is to incorporate a run into my morning swim routine...
It was a brisk 5 and a half degrees this morning at the serpentine...and that half is very important!!! It is still dropping...
Also a couple of weekends ago my family and I went on a day trip to the Brecon Beacons in Wales and found the most beautiful walk along a river in some woods. It had all sorts of waterfalls and there was one that we just had to get into...
sorry for the delay since my last post...its been busy times in London town...not that anyone is reading this...just me pretending there are...!
One thing that has occured is that I have achieved a place on the Penny Brohn Cancer Care London Marathon team! I am extremely honored as there are only 9 places and I now need to try and raise as much money as possible for them. Oh. And train for the marathon!!
How about that for a displacement activity?!
I was sent a training plan by a fellow marathon runner and the schedule literally starts next week so I need to get on it. It's a gradual build up of mileage and rests. I am currently considering how possible it is to incorporate a run into my morning swim routine...
It was a brisk 5 and a half degrees this morning at the serpentine...and that half is very important!!! It is still dropping...
Also a couple of weekends ago my family and I went on a day trip to the Brecon Beacons in Wales and found the most beautiful walk along a river in some woods. It had all sorts of waterfalls and there was one that we just had to get into...
and another....
I will blog my progress with the marathon training...
Sunday, 25 October 2009
An extra hour means more time to displace...
Well the clocks went back which was lush for all the obvious reasons. I woke up at what would normally be quarter to nine but it was quarter to eight and when I looked out the window it was bright sunshine - how could I resist?
I got out of bed, dressed and got onto my trusty steed - the green baron - and rode to the Serpentine.
On the up side because it was a Sunday the roads were completely clear but on the down side there were SO many people swimming! Apparently weekends are busy anyway but today was particularly busy because we were all doing the same thing - making the most of swimming at what feels like ten o'clock!
The changing room was completely packed but it made it warmer in there which is always useful when you've just climbed out of icy cold water! Didn't check the temperature but it was probably around 8 degrees C which is what it's been most of the week. Pretty brisk...!
Rode back and then headed to the Brockley Mess for breakfast with the Brockley massive. Lovely to see everyone and always nice to do it while eating great food...
Home now and have some reading to do but also am feeling the urge to work on a play I've been picking up and putting down for a while now...better seize the moment then!
Mx
I got out of bed, dressed and got onto my trusty steed - the green baron - and rode to the Serpentine.
On the up side because it was a Sunday the roads were completely clear but on the down side there were SO many people swimming! Apparently weekends are busy anyway but today was particularly busy because we were all doing the same thing - making the most of swimming at what feels like ten o'clock!
The changing room was completely packed but it made it warmer in there which is always useful when you've just climbed out of icy cold water! Didn't check the temperature but it was probably around 8 degrees C which is what it's been most of the week. Pretty brisk...!
Rode back and then headed to the Brockley Mess for breakfast with the Brockley massive. Lovely to see everyone and always nice to do it while eating great food...
Home now and have some reading to do but also am feeling the urge to work on a play I've been picking up and putting down for a while now...better seize the moment then!
Mx
Friday, 23 October 2009
My top ten displacement activities...
Inspired by this blog I have decided to give you my list of things i end up doing rather than writing...
1. refreshing my email just in case i've got something new come in
2. facebook stalking
3. cleaning the bathroom
4. rearranging stuff in the kitchen that haven't been put back properly
5. eating
6. staring out the window and watching the cats up the tree
7. calling people for long long chats
8. having a little browse on ebay 'just in case' i find a bargain
9. avoiding checking my bank balance
10. get really cross with myself for all of the above
1. refreshing my email just in case i've got something new come in
2. facebook stalking
3. cleaning the bathroom
4. rearranging stuff in the kitchen that haven't been put back properly
5. eating
6. staring out the window and watching the cats up the tree
7. calling people for long long chats
8. having a little browse on ebay 'just in case' i find a bargain
9. avoiding checking my bank balance
10. get really cross with myself for all of the above
the start
Ok, I have started blogs in the past and I have never managed more than about four postings. This is now my attempt at it again. Will it work? Frankly who cares. But at least I'm giving it another bash.
This one is hopefully different.
You see I am a writer - scripts mostly - and I spend a lot of time at home on my own...not writing. Instead I will do things like browse the internet, repeatedly refresh my emails, clean the bathroom and find pointless "important" things to do like unblocking drains and going out to buy a bar of chocolate which i simply must have with my tea.
These mundanities all fall under the heading of 'Displacement Activities' - hence the blog.
Don't get me wrong - I'm not lazy. When I have a deadline I work my arse off for it. Or when I have a great idea I won't be able to let it go until I've committed it to paper. But when I'm just not in the mood or don't have anything particularly pressing my mind and body literally come to a halt.
Considering I'm always complaining about how busy I am it's amazing how poorly I do use time when I have it. I guess it's that old adage - if you want something doing give it to a busy person. I am literally incapable of doing anything important unless I have a deadline breathing sweaty hot air down my neck...
Not only am I the queen of displacement activities but I also hurtling towards my thirties. I am suddenly realising that in terms of my actual physical body I need to step up the game a bit - while i still can.
I have never been a small girl. I have always needed exercise to maintain a healthy looking vessel but, you guessed it, exercise has always been something that has fallen foul of the 'displacement activity' monster. There is literally always something more important to do than go for a five mile run...
But then something happened to me last year that started me thinking. My dad was diagnosed with Bowel Cancer (don't worry, I really won't go on about this much - this isn't X Factor) last year. He is a healthy guy, he swims most days and because of my uber healthy mum he has eaten well and mostly organic for almost twenty years. Yes he likes a drink and yes he likes his cheese but he never did anything 'wrong' per se. And when we did some research into this we found some interesting things related to stress and cancer. If you are genuinly interested in this subject then please visit the penny brohn centre's website which will tell you more about lifestyle, diet and how to help you cope with cancer and it's treatment when you are diagnosed. This place really helped him. But that's kind of by the by; cancer treatment is very individual. What I'm trying to say is that in the last year I've learnt quite a bit about how important it is to avoid stress and actively seek out happiness - not just for your mental health but also for your physical health.
And this brings me back round to me and my health - I have realised how much I need to look after both my mental and my physical well being, not just for keeping me happy but also for keeping me alive.
SO...
I have decided that I am going to make a concerted effort to actively engage in displacement activities that have the remit of 'making me happy'.
These could be doing a bit of gardening, having a swim or going to see a movie. Whatever it is it's overwhelming outcome must be happiness and other outcomes (ie fitness, culture, carrots in the garden) will be bonuses.
Hopefully by taking the onus out of the task and making it a purely pleasurable experience means I will want to do these things.
For eg - only doing sport I genuinly enjoy. I hate the gym - so no gym. I love to swim - so plenty of that!
I will also be actively looking for other things i could do and if anyone ends up reading this blog i would love to know what you do to make yourself happy. It literally could be anything - like eating a really amazing meal or smiling at someone and getting a smile back...
Some things that already make me happy are:
Swimming in the Serpentine in Hyde Park
Playing Netball on tuesday nights
Going for runs with my pal
Taking my parent's dog for a walk
Watching Neighbours when I should be working... (ok that's a naughty one but we all need our guilty pleasures...!)
I will blog more info about all these things and more and hopefully through doing this I will find that I will want to blog more and more things which means doing more and more things.
And lastly - this obviously can't get in the way of my work - I still need to write. But hopefully when I'm having 'one of those days' rather than staring at inane crap on youtube or facebook I will be searching out the next awesome thing to do!
So if you are reading this - let me know! I am entirely new to this and when I have tried this before I've never gotten far enough to get any readers so it would be great to know if you're out there.
Fingers crossed this displacement activity is of more use than me re-organising that pile of shoes into a neat little line...
Oh sod it. It needs doing and if I don't do it then who will...?
Back in a bit.
Mx
This one is hopefully different.
You see I am a writer - scripts mostly - and I spend a lot of time at home on my own...not writing. Instead I will do things like browse the internet, repeatedly refresh my emails, clean the bathroom and find pointless "important" things to do like unblocking drains and going out to buy a bar of chocolate which i simply must have with my tea.
These mundanities all fall under the heading of 'Displacement Activities' - hence the blog.
Don't get me wrong - I'm not lazy. When I have a deadline I work my arse off for it. Or when I have a great idea I won't be able to let it go until I've committed it to paper. But when I'm just not in the mood or don't have anything particularly pressing my mind and body literally come to a halt.
Considering I'm always complaining about how busy I am it's amazing how poorly I do use time when I have it. I guess it's that old adage - if you want something doing give it to a busy person. I am literally incapable of doing anything important unless I have a deadline breathing sweaty hot air down my neck...
Not only am I the queen of displacement activities but I also hurtling towards my thirties. I am suddenly realising that in terms of my actual physical body I need to step up the game a bit - while i still can.
I have never been a small girl. I have always needed exercise to maintain a healthy looking vessel but, you guessed it, exercise has always been something that has fallen foul of the 'displacement activity' monster. There is literally always something more important to do than go for a five mile run...
But then something happened to me last year that started me thinking. My dad was diagnosed with Bowel Cancer (don't worry, I really won't go on about this much - this isn't X Factor) last year. He is a healthy guy, he swims most days and because of my uber healthy mum he has eaten well and mostly organic for almost twenty years. Yes he likes a drink and yes he likes his cheese but he never did anything 'wrong' per se. And when we did some research into this we found some interesting things related to stress and cancer. If you are genuinly interested in this subject then please visit the penny brohn centre's website which will tell you more about lifestyle, diet and how to help you cope with cancer and it's treatment when you are diagnosed. This place really helped him. But that's kind of by the by; cancer treatment is very individual. What I'm trying to say is that in the last year I've learnt quite a bit about how important it is to avoid stress and actively seek out happiness - not just for your mental health but also for your physical health.
And this brings me back round to me and my health - I have realised how much I need to look after both my mental and my physical well being, not just for keeping me happy but also for keeping me alive.
SO...
I have decided that I am going to make a concerted effort to actively engage in displacement activities that have the remit of 'making me happy'.
These could be doing a bit of gardening, having a swim or going to see a movie. Whatever it is it's overwhelming outcome must be happiness and other outcomes (ie fitness, culture, carrots in the garden) will be bonuses.
Hopefully by taking the onus out of the task and making it a purely pleasurable experience means I will want to do these things.
For eg - only doing sport I genuinly enjoy. I hate the gym - so no gym. I love to swim - so plenty of that!
I will also be actively looking for other things i could do and if anyone ends up reading this blog i would love to know what you do to make yourself happy. It literally could be anything - like eating a really amazing meal or smiling at someone and getting a smile back...
Some things that already make me happy are:
Swimming in the Serpentine in Hyde Park
Playing Netball on tuesday nights
Going for runs with my pal
Taking my parent's dog for a walk
Watching Neighbours when I should be working... (ok that's a naughty one but we all need our guilty pleasures...!)
I will blog more info about all these things and more and hopefully through doing this I will find that I will want to blog more and more things which means doing more and more things.
And lastly - this obviously can't get in the way of my work - I still need to write. But hopefully when I'm having 'one of those days' rather than staring at inane crap on youtube or facebook I will be searching out the next awesome thing to do!
So if you are reading this - let me know! I am entirely new to this and when I have tried this before I've never gotten far enough to get any readers so it would be great to know if you're out there.
Fingers crossed this displacement activity is of more use than me re-organising that pile of shoes into a neat little line...
Oh sod it. It needs doing and if I don't do it then who will...?
Back in a bit.
Mx
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