5k in under 40 minutes

When I set this task, I didn't really give a lot of thought to the time I wanted to run 5k in. I've done the distance a few times, and struggled to run the whole lot. The last time I can remember, I did a race for life in about 50 minutes, and had to walk the last 0.5k which was irritating.

After a few weeks of runs in the evening, I dragged Dan along to Parkrun with me. Parkrun is an interesting event, held at parks round England at 9.00am every Saturday morning with volunteers manning the route and giving you a time.

We went to the one in Hull (the nearest to where I live is an hour drive away and I'm not that committed!). I was really nervous and didn't know the route. I'd done 5k the week before one evening after work, just to check I could. I'd done it is 32 minutes and felt great, and wondered if I should be aiming for under 30 minute time.

For whatever reason, Parkrun was hard. Sometimes I find a rhythm when I run, sometimes I don't. Sometimes, it feels like I am running through treacle, and sometimes I find a natural pace. This day I couldn't get my act together. I tried to set pace with some people at the back, but got a bit overconfident and tried to keep up with runners too speedy for me. So I had to slow to a walk, so then when I began running again, I would sprint off determined to get a good time after all the course was flat so I knew I should be able to do it! Then minutes later, I'd be panting and out of breath and needing a walk.

I finished the course in an uninspiring 34 and a half minutes. For the record, Dan didn't stop and did it in 27 minutes.

So I passed the task, but I feel like I don't deserve to. I felt like I was pushing myself all the way round, and in a way I was, as every step I ran was a ridiculous battle. But in a way I can't have been pushing to limit, as I recovered my breath very quickly once I came to a stop.

So to this end I have just signed myself to do race for life, on home turf, to see if I can get a better time, plus cancer is still not cured. Given my genes, my preference is that this happens sooner rather than later...

Heres a link, in case you fancy sponsoring:
http://www.raceforlifesponsorme.org/stephstevens0503

Its a stepping stone on the way to a 10k!

Exporting Presents

Item 76 is also a present related one.

Two good friends emigrated to USA in the autumn of 2010, and I wanted to make sure they both got birthday presents (Nov/Dec) and that Christmas presents arrived in time.

Again, and mostly thanks to the power of the internet, I did achieve this :)

Birthday Present Quest 2010

Item 73 is a simple one, to buy my friend M a birthday present. This shouldn't have needed to be included on my Day Zero Project list, which is essentially a bucket list of experiences you want to do before you die. Or at least in the next 3 years.

However, despite M being one of my closet, nicest and most generous friends, I have spectacularly failed to buy him a birthday present for the last 3 years!

Each year I speak to his wife, find out what he wants, assure her I will purchase the present, and then I don't. I don't know why, I just have a blank spot around his birthday!

So, clearly it was time to rectify this. I was away visiting Dans family when his birthday fell, so I made Dan detour into Exeter on the day before his birthday to pick up the present I promised him a year ago. It was with much pride that we met on my return and I had a present to hand over. He seemed very pleased and his wife has reported that the present has been played with.

I am relieved to finally broken the bad habit. I don't know what will happen next year, lots of friends keep having children and this squeezes my present budget!

Snowboarding A Black Run!

Item 55 was to snowboard a black run.

You'll notice that I didn't specify how well I had to do it :) You might think that to count it, I needed to do it well, but personally I think it took so much guts that my attempts this winter counted!

My first ever black run was at Murren. Dan and I had the choice to turn down a red route or a black route. We noticed the black route was pretty short and thought we'd give it a go. The first bit was simply quite steep and so I simply took it slowly on my heel edge. Then we had to stop to see where the route went. It was off to the left, and it was narrower than my board... I was a little nervous so Dan went first to show me how to do it. And promptly fell over. I figured I could only do better and followed him down. It quickly widened to the most mogully slope ever, clearly a piste basher had never been near it. I edged over bumps, trees and bushes and was quite relieved to reach the red run and civilisation.

The photo above is taken at Birg on the last day where we had another go at an equally short black. It was fab! This time I attempted to do better than just slipping down on my heel edge so I bravely did a bit of falling leaf, until half way down, the slope flattened out and I quickly put two linked turns in before the route went over the edge of cliff and I had to get back under control. I got to the bottom feeling very proud of myself that I turned on a black slope. Wohooooo!

Visiting The Elderly

I won't say much about this one, as the subject probably doesn't want to be written about on the internet.

But I did visit my great aunt every month for six months. And the reason I did this in the first six months is that I'm hoping to keep it up as a habit. She always seems happy to see me and it's not a huge amount of effort, although finding the time is tricky!

Psycho!

I have never (to my knowledge) watched a black and white film, so this is on the list as I feel that its something cultural I should have done by now!

I had to choose carefully as I wanted to watch a "classic" but it couldn't be on top 20 list as I want to avoid overlaps where possible.

I picked Psycho because it is supposed the first and original horror film.

I watched it with my brother last night and we both really enjoyed. We both knew the iconic shower scene, but neither of us had figured there was a whole plot around it! For anyone who has not watched it, I won't give the plot away but go and watch it!

Bearing in mind the film was released in 1960, this film would have been shocking at the time. In this day and age the violence is nothing. I can only imagine it has its 15 rating for the pyschological angle, as you see hardly no blood, and no nudity to speak of. But 50 years ago, women were never in their underwear on screen, and according to wikipedia, this was one of the first films to show a toilet flushing! And some people objected to this!

Personally I found the small cast refreshing. I lose track of the characters in blockbusers these days, and I felt I was following this quite well. I loved the twists and turns of the plot and I'm so pleased this was on the list. Its also made me look forward to watching some more of the classic films on my top 20 list.

Rocking out with Ash

In November we ticked item 68 "Go to a rock gig with Dan" off the list.

It was on the list because I love live music. Its quite a big part of my life, and I usually have a gig lined up to go to, sometimes months away, but I like to know I have something to look forward to. Theres something about hearing the crashing guitars, and thumping bass right in front of you that is so energising... and I needed to know Dan gets this. Mostly because I'm hoping he wont think its a waste of money, I need these gigs in my life!

So we headed up to Shepherds Bush for Ash. We went to dinner first at a fab Thai restaurant and ate a really spicy curry, hence the need for the gigantic ice cream Dan is holding above! Stupidly we got one each and I wasn't able to finish mine, which is totally unheard of! I really like ice cream! But I was mindful I was about to go and jump and up and down for an hour or two!

Ash were excellent. I've seen them several times before, and they have always been great. They played a mix of the A-Z songs and old favourites. The crowd went mental for "Kung-Fu" I zoned out to my own little world for "Girl From Mars" but actually the best song was "Arcadia" which they opened with.

Apart from both feeling like we had eaten too much ice cream, it was the best night, I was so so happy and didn't want to end, and I think that answers my question about whether or not Dan gets it :)

Arcadia

Light up, spark the detonator

Now I'm homeward bound, way to see you later

If you make that step you're the instigator

Got my mind made up, I'll be your navigator

If you want me to travel over moonlit miles

For a precious smile

Following my lonely heart

Call on me, take me...

Far over the seas

I return in my dreams

Sailing home under the stars

To be safe in your arms

Ever near, travel through time

Ever close in my mind

Say you will truly be mine

Say you'll always be mine

We are a winning combination

We're two stars aligned in a constellation

When I get too low you're my inspiration

Never let me down, you're a revelation

One that comes along once in a lifetime

Oh I realise

You give me love free and wild

Oh my child, lead me...

Far over the seas

I return in my dreams

Sailing home under the stars

To be safe in your arms

Ever near, travel through time

Ever close in my mind

Say you will truly be mine

Say you'll always be mine

Our empire stretches from the deserts

To the ice fields

Love and courage can take us anywhere

We dare to go

Far over the seas

I return in my dreams

Sailing home under the stars

To be safe in your arms

Ever near, travel through time

Ever close in my mind

Say you will truly be mine

Say you'll always be mine