Postcards arrived

Postcards designed by my official sponsor arrived today, via MOO cards, they are really efficient and Rob's done a fantastic job, made me feel quite proud when I saw them.


In an effort to keep the training up and deliver cards I did so at a run, around the village, and distributed the first pack in about 40 minutes. In a village like this it's often hard to know which houses are holiday homes and so I asked a couple of local oracles and worked on Hazel's maxim that if there is a car outside, then someone's there. Slightly embarrassingly I bumped into people I knew, but was able to help one couple load a bookshelf into a truck, which made me feel less guilty about handing them a 'begging card'. Another couple, who are raising funds for the Cystic Fibrosis charity were keen to take books, which I had not sold at the boot sale - they have a really good bookstall which is on the road down to the river in Walberswick, if ever you are passing and the weather is fine, you are bound to find something interesting there.


The village shop team have been wonderful and the governors have already, very kindly, made a donation as well as allowing me to have a collection envelope behind the counter. The staff have been so encouraging too, and have displayed one of the cards in pride of place. The Anchor Pub has also offered to display a poster and I hope they will take a collecting envelope too.


I'm getting carried away with the whole idea and thinking t-shirts, flags, hats, mittens - all branded verycold claire.com, perhaps that's over doing it... stop me please

Lionel Guilt

There will be no more 'It's raining, no training' entries in my blog.

I read Lionel Shiver's article on her nocturnal runs and was wracked with guilt. How can I wimp out and not go for a run because it's raining, when I live by the sea and have the day time to run in?

I did actually end up doing some training yesterday as I remembered that there was a circuit training/keep fit class going on so I ran across the green, so as to keep dry - not for the health benefits, and joined Mark and the team. It was a good way to get back into the swing after a particularly food and drink filled weekend.

This morning I set off, with Lionel's word's ringing in my ears "The round trip is roughly nine miles and how I'd like to claim that over the years that distance has started to seem shorter. That it's got easier. But then exercise being hard is, you know, the point." And so now I have even more of an incentive than: the Dog's Trust, my health, my good and generous friends, who have sponsored me and the fact that I am going to be leaving for the Arctic in roughly 14 weeks, thanks Lionel.

Running on a good day here is a privilege. My route through the lanes, onto the common and down the river tow path onto the beach is remarkable and this morning it seemed to offer me more that the usual beauty, I'd like to think this was the result of my Lionel epiphany, and Mother Nature giving me one more reason to get out there.

The sky was clear, blue and the full moon hung low over the fields, the dogs were completely energised from an early night and the change in the weather, and of course Luna always responds to the moon. As I ran along the tow path the sun was blinding from the sky and from its reflection in the puddles that regularly span the whole path. We must look slightly batty from the other side of the river, running along a seemingly flat path but every 3 strides jumping a meter, one after each other; small dog, larger dog, human. It certainly upset the local white Ibis, who flew straight over our heads as we dropped down to the lower section of the path and squelched through the mud. The sand was hard work as usual but we kept going and took the longer circuit, increasing the time to 45 minutes. Tomorrow an hour.

My hard work was rewarded on my return when logged on to my sponsorship site at justgiving.com to find that I'd hit the £1000 mark, so THANK YOU ALL! Just another £2500 to go now...

It's raining... no training

PLEASE AND THANK YOU!

Thank you to all the lovely people who have already sponsored me:

Christine Howell

Dominic Gothard

Jo King (Mbili)

Pete and Ali Mayne

Gill and Becky Jones

Rob Bevan

Lise Bevan

Barbara Priestman

Kevin Avison

Mark Umfreville

Ute Towriss

Hazel Church

Terry Boase

Victoria and Nicholas Muers-Raby

June Bellis

Christa Partington

Fundraising starting in earnest

Last weekend the fundraising began in earnest with a car boot sale, raising £155, lots of lovely people just came and gave me a quid once they knew that it was all going to the Dog's Trust, but I really must get myself organised with a proper t-shirt, poster etc next time. It was interesting to see what sold and I was most surprised about selling a load of old gauges from my Father's workshop, as I was unpacking the Landrover. A couple of people asked if the Landrover was for sale - probably would have raised the total if I had sold her.

This weekend my official sponsor helped me to design a postcard and buy the domain name verycoldclaire.com so now I feel ready to start asking for support to get the necessary funds in for Christmas, otherwise it'll be no presents for anyone...

Lots of people have been very generous so far and will be getting big thanks.

Our new running track

This is the final stretch of the 3 mile loop, of the middle of the 5 miler. The dunes are pretty hard work and if it is warm, as it has been up till today, I've been getting a bit out of puff here. Luna and Willow take off at speed and run up and down the dunes, appearing between the clumps of grass every now and then.

Settled at last!

Finally settled in our new house and have a routine of sorts, which allows for fitness training, but as yet I haven't been able to go over to train with the dogs and it is hell! I really miss them all and the buzz of the morning dash - I just can't wait to find some time but it is so much further to travel now and I have my own hounds to consider.

Running by the sea is not only more pleasurable, but apparently training in the sand dunes is particularly good for snow running. The hounds are loving it here and they are getting better at running to heel, although they know, as well as I do, that here there is little risk of traffic as there are no through roads.

Today we had 4 miles of running, a short yoga session, then borrowed Mother's bike for a cycle of about the same distance. I'm looking into getting a bike of my own but I have no idea where to start. Must ask the bike oracle.