Swansea 10k and Scam monkey update

Another year, another run around Swansea for 6 miles! Only this year my expectations were on the floor. After a year of physio and rehabilitation classes, before starting back to run properly, I was happily hoping to get round in 55 mins or so (although I was faster than that in the Merthyr 10k).

Come race day, I'm feeling good, had to run an unexpected 1k kids race practically dragging Gracie by the hand  first thing. But that's all warm up I suppose! Plenty of stretching so as not to destroy my knee again and i was off.

Got to give it to Swansea, it's a nice course, especially when the sun is pumping down on you on such a nice day. Downside is... sun is pumping down on you as it's such a nice day. Big thanks to the guy with the hose at about 6 or 7k, much appreciated. So so hot!

On route, felt horrible at first, had been stood in the baking sun for 20+ mins before hand, was really overheating! But got myself into a good rhythm and within 2 or 3k i was going at a decent pace. Then the realisation hit me... I could maintain this pace, this was comfortable... so I maintained it. It got to the point where occasionally I was losing time due to traffic, this does not happen to me.

Got to the last 400m or so and I felt like i had more in the tank, so off i went, no quite a sprint finish but a quick one. I run in before the clock gets that close to 51 mins and instantly know... PB. Phone says 50:38, but slightly over distance (as usual me wandering past the line trying to turn it off). But regardless I'm happy.

Time later comes through at 50:19, 1:31 off my old best time! Barely mediocre in the grand scheme of things but for me, not bad. Although I have got sunburn on both my shoulders... in September... and it is quite sore...

Also, update on scam monkey from other day, reported to police, PayPal and gumtree (who ignored my email) and my money is on it's way back! Massive thanks to Andrew Aitcheson for the assistance/advice on this. Now hoping to get a capture card again! Have recorded one XB1 video, but it was shite and has been filed away on some god forsaken corner of YouTube. as a WIP!

Cardiff half in 2 weeks, expect more running related writings before then.

And I'm spent...

Running season is over, for now anyway. last weekend was the final run of my 3 leg September/October jaunt round Swansea, Cardiff and Aberdare(!). Personal Bests tumbled, knee joints crumbled but after a roughly combined 242 minutes of running, I'm done.

As a result of my efforts, Barnardo's has a little more money and I have...

A truly epic collection of event t-shirts and participation medals!

My favourite shifted this year too, usually the Swansea 10k is my fav race, but this year it was Cardiff. This was helped by Swansea being horrifically wet and windy, but the crowds etc in Cardiff did spur you on, plus I wasn't struggling as much as before so could take stuff in! Aberdare? Fuck me, hardest first mile and a bit ever, but quite pleasant apart form that. Think I'd like to do it quicker, but the main issue was my brains unwillingness to let me run quickly down steep hills.

Given my standard of coordination I'd have been picking up my teeth from a rock half way down if I'd gone for it! Still worth a go though and the t-shirt from that was the nicest!  

So what now? Time to sit on my arse over crimbo and get fat... well to a degree. I've classed myself as injured at the moment as I am walking like I've shit myself due to swelling on my foot and a ropey knee, but give me a week and I'll be back in the gym on lunch times, I've kind of agreed with my pointless and demon run co-person to do the 5k 'santa' dash in Cardiff in December. It's 5k, there are no concerns there, but it'll keep me going.

Further more there's then a 8 mile road run in Newport in January (let's face it if I'm in Newport, I'm going to be running, to save my trainers from chavs at least) which looks like a great warm up for the Llanelli Half Marathon in March, which is supposed to be a nice and quite quick course. Sub 2 hours anyone? I doubt it too but I'm going to try.

Long term goal is apply for London 2014... but calm down for 5.

Then next year I'll do it all again! Well maybe!

Either way the slightly smaller version of me is more manageable and less likely to die horribly from a heart attack or related illnesses, so the exercise levels should at least stay the same, and to be fair do need to get picked up further. Particularly on distance, must run further at a time.

But for today... where's me burger?

Cardiff Half Marathon

Well that was fun, the only dry day in about 6 months, contrasting the Swansea 10k drastically, freezing temperatures to start but warming up nicely, and improvement on the course they used last year. The Cardiff Marathon was a nice day out:

I went in with a target time of 2:10, hoping for 2:05 and for the second race in a row, I hit the better target! Moving my oversized gut round the 13.1 miles in 2:03:58. If anything a bit frustrating I was closer to 2 hours than I was expecting while still falling a bit short.

A slow first mile people dodging (10:40ish) didn't help, and there was also a massive flap at around the 8 mile mark all of which cost me quite a bit of time of course. But I think with better training 2 hours should be my target come Llanelli in March.

Not a bad couple of races, taking 6ish mins of my 10k time and 19ish of my 1/2 marathon and judging by how I feel, there'#s more to come on both. Sadly my knee doesn't seem as willing as the rest of me and is rather useless at the moment, as a result I'm now officially doubtful for the Aberdare Demon Run this coming Sunday, as long as it feels ok by Wednesday I'll be raring to go, but I think I quick check up on it may be in need tomorrow.

Next year though, sub 2 hour 1/2 is on, and I also fancy a go at a 26.2 miler at some point, but maybe 2014.

Olympic Partners and Pomp

This doesn't refer to athletes shaggin' in the village, although I'm sure that does go on.

The days of the Olypics being an amateur event about sport are obviously long gone.  It seems to now be an odd trend between pointless ritual and money, with some events thrown in the middle somewhere. Let's face it, the games themselves are about 3 weeks? Just over? While the worldwide cash in campaign is months, if not years.

Companies (the partners of the title) will throw any possible amount of money at the organisers just to get their name associated with the event. Some of these just don't make sense. Two obvious one's stick out, McDonalds and Coca Cola, two things criminally bad for health, I enjoy partaking in both, but in no way do I think Big Mac meal with a coke, let's do some triple jump!Is unhealthy food really who the IOC want to be associated with? Of course, as they have the most money to give them.

Others on the list just make you think, why? P&G are on there and it's plastered all over their adverts. But once again... what's the association? Are the risks of Paula Radcliffe shitting on the pavement again so high, they've got the manufacturers of pampers in just in case? Or have they got some discount Ariel out of the deal and the athletes wash their (hopefully not shit stained) clothes in it?

UPS? Well I suppose if I was an athlete I wouldn't want to use bastard Yodel either, who would? Fucking Yodel.

Visa? Naturally the more active or accurate or... ummm, of the payment methods...

Nature Valley? Will those business people falling into the haystack on the advert be being replaced with water polo players?

There are some obvious matches, Airwave a radio supplier, going to need them. Ticketmaster, yep going to need someone to sell tickets, addidas, sportswear... yeah cool, technogym, running to techno music? I not sure but it sounds like something that makes sense.

Basically any company with enough cash and the urge to have their name associated with such a global spectacle of an event can become an Olympic partner, I don't like that.

Then there's all the pointless ceremony. Friday I've taken the day off work, the reason? A good percentage of Cardiff will be closed while people run through the streets holding the Olympic torch, so everyone can get to see it. Wow, a torch. Yeah, I'll hang round for that...

Then the bastard thing is following me and will close bits of Merthyr Saturday, for gods sake I've got things to do!The idea that this torch thing has to go within x distance of everyone's house baffles me. I understand it some attempt to involve the whole country, but I don't give a shit. I don't want to see the torch, I don't want a T-Shirt, I don't want a mouse mat, or a mug. I momentarily thought about getting tickets to the football, but as my beliefs are no Welsh players should be involved (Bale, Ramsey, Williams, Allen, etc this means you) I thought no, plus they were expensive!

There'll be an xbox game, it'll be crap, they're always crap, so I don't want that.

I also don't want to watch drug cheats such as Dwaine Chambers compete, but looks like I'm stuck with that too. I won't celebrate if he gets a medal, luckily he shouldn't.

I'll watch and enjoy the Olympics, don't get me wrong, but all the BS that comes with it, I can do without. I'm now resigned to however many decades of having this shit stuffed down my throat. It should be about the athletes, not cash.

Keep on running

It's that time of the year again, the time of year I try to do something I'm physically incapable of to raise money for charity (well not only for that, I do it so I don't become a 30 stone monster as well, beefcake!), this year I've used all my imagination and done exactly the same as last year, the Cardiff Half Marathon, plus probably the Swansea 10k as a warm up race.

This year I'll be joined by my friends Brad and James (or so I'm told by Brad, don't count numbers til the start line), here's the classiest photo I could find of myself (the floral number) and Bradley (the little black/grey dress) from my stag night. Ignore the bald one, we always find it best.

Anyway, running requires preparation, something which traditionally I suck at as much as the running part. So this year I've started earlier (well it can't be any later than last year as I barely did anything, lazy motherf...) so Rhydycar gym will actually start earning the £9,500 a month it takes from my account. So far I've made 2 visits, on the first covering 4 miles and doing a bit on the bike and the second 5 miles, both at pretty decent pace too, so I'm pretty confident I'll be able to do 13 by October.

The main issue at the moment is feeling the urge to stop at even the faintest hint of fatigue. Knowing rest and relaxation is just a large red stop button away is quite tempting, to the point where on the 5 miles, I could have easily have carried on, I wasn't feeling that bad, but just thought, "That'll do fatty, go get a burger." Which of course I didn't.

Luckily I get myself into a mindset that once I'm going I do tend to really enjoy training. Headphones in, decent music, bit of adrenaline or something pumping, sense of achievement when you get there, it's good stuff.

Equally my choice of charity is still open, traditionally of late I've fund raised for Velindre, a very worthy cause. But with a new sprog on the way (have I mentioned that? I have now anyway) the temptation is there to support a kids charity, such as the NSPCC who I ran for on my first half marathon, also with Brad but no James, ended with quite a nasty knee injury...

Any suggestions, I have a comments section....

I may keep this blog updated periodically with training updates, I doubt they'll be that interesting, but it's my blog and I'll post what I like! I'm planning on hitting the gym this very evening, 5 miles again is the target, see how I feel when I get there. I'm still far to heavy to make a decent go at it, but I'll get there. I even have Special K for Breakfast this morning! Not out of any weight-loss plan, I just really like the red berries one. 

Also is it wrong I'm really fancying a kebab at the moment?

Please sponsor me!

Hello,

No rant today, more of a beg!

In just 9 days time I, under the persona of runner 6695, will be one of a massive 14,000 people tearing through the streets of Cardiff as a runner in the Cardiff Half Marathon.

I do these things as a personal challenge, something always to keep ahead of me to work for, although this time the work has been beyond non-existent, I'll do better next time I promise, but I also do them to do what I can for charity. This run as my last couple have been is for Velindre Cancer Hospital in Cardiff.

I could spout endless amounts of shite about their good work but it's generally better to let them do the talking, their information is here:

http://velindrefundraising.com/

So if you have a spare pound, fiver, grand (maybe not) and want to give it to Velindre, I'll be happy to be the conduit for that. Plus it'll help spur me round the 13+ miles of disaster and torment that lay ahead of me.

You can sponsor me at:

http://www.justgiving.com/andrew-driscoll0 

Thanks in advance!

Merthyr Town / Non league football

I took the bank holiday weekend to revisit the world of non-league football.

I support Arsenal as I'd imagine the vast majority of people reading this will know are not non-league, far from it (and no I don't want to talk about Sunday). But as much as I want them (and Swansea) to do well, my team has always been and will always be Merthyr Town (formerly Tydfil) FC.

The team has just returned to play in Penydarren Park, after a year in exile (which I didn't make a single game in)  20 or so miles away in Taffs Well. So I trotted down to the park yesterday to watch them play league pace setters, the undefeated Brislington Town (where??). It was then I realised I quite missed watching football like this, TV is comfortable, gives you replays, you can stop, rewind and all that shit, you have commentators telling you whjat to think any any given moment, stats popping up on screen, and generally speaking it's of a higher standard.

But being right up next to the pitch, taking it all in yourself, the experience is so much better.

The game itself was quite decent, Merthyr looked tidy passed the ball quite well, sometimes overly so and they could have done with taking a shot more. While at the back, but punts forward were a bit haphazard. Brislington had one or two tidy players, their left back looked good, while on the reverse their no4 looked like we was as likely to fall over at any given moment than successfully run in a straight line. Both keepers showed some... interesting positioning, but proved to be good shot stoppers when needed.

There was a few moments of marking (mainly the English side to be fair) that would I'm sure would give both sides coaches nightmares for a while. Even the ref had mostly a good game (although the away penalty was a bit of a mystery).

Happily Merthyr won 2-1 and moved 3rd in the table. Next week they have 2 matches in 2 days in 2 different cups (FA Prelim Round, Welsh Cup 2Q) and if I'm able I'll take the chance to pop down for the Welsh Cup game on Sunday.

Next week is an international break, no Prem games, no Championship games, which means come the weekend many football fans are at a loose end (Wales playing Friday). So if that applies to you, why not go see a team a bit further down the pyramid than you're used too? Go see Newport, Merthyr, whatever lower league teams are around, whoever's closer, you might like it! It's not always a comfortable as a sofa and sky sports, it's likely to be less conformable than a seat in the Liberty or CCS, but it's fun!

But speaking of armchair fans, the US Open started yesterday and I do love my tennis. I'll happily go see it in person if anyone wants to shout me flights and tickets. Please?

Football season has properly begun, 'mon the Martyrs

So we're into the Premier league season, and this one could potentially quite interesting. Don't get me wrong I've written Arsenal off already, I think 4th is a pipe dream and 5th more likely, chances are Man Utd will win it, Chelsea and Man City close behind and maybe a bit of improving Liverpool rounding off the Champs league spaces. But I don't think I'm most interested by the top this year.

As everyone probably knows who has any interest in the sport, Swansea were promoted. Oooh a Welsh team in the Premier, and, as I've said before, a Welsh team I quite like (sorry Cardiff, you could be playing in the Champs League final and I wouldn't give a rats ass and everytime I'm told by Cardiff fans I 'should' support them, and it's great for the whole of Wales when they win stuff, it makes me care just a little bit less.) so I find myself quite interested in how they do, to the point where I may even watch them tonight (while I still have sports).

Obviously I think they'll struggle and while I'd never say I 'support' them, I'd like them to do well. I think they've made some decent, not overly high risk signings which could be enough, could being the word. Just get to 40 points and the rest will sort itself out.

Going down the odd step, Merthyr are playing in Merthyr again, and I have a feeling this is where most of my football related time will be devoted this year. I didn't go Saturday as there was stuff on, but I'm quite fancying a few trips to Pen Park this year to watch them. They went up last season and are now playing in the Western League Premier, not exactly stuffed with footballing giants but you can only play what's infront of you. They started off beating Odd Town (I have no idea what's so odd about it) 7-1 which is a hiding at any level, so we may have a shout again this year, who knows.

I did miss every game last year, but the trip to Taffs Well was a pain in the arse.

Also the new kit is very nice

So if you see me wet and looking p'd off in Penydarren Park, say hi!

Oh and the bloke sitting behind me looks the spit of Leonard Nimoy...

UK Riots

Generally I think of the UK as a good country, but there are problems. Keeping 60m people on an island, you're gonna get problems there's no doubt about that. It's a sad thing that these problems are then used as an excuse for people to do what they want.

Yes, initially there was no doubting people wanted to peacefully protest about the shooting of Mark Duggan, as is their right to do so, and I would never deny anybody that right. If it came to something that my community cared about I'd hope we'd do the same. However, this peaceful protest was hijacked by people who, chances are, didn't give a flying fuck about the cause or reason, they just wanted to kick off.

I've heard many experts of the TV trying to explain away the reasons behind the rioting, I've heard it's police attitude, living conditions, no doubt someone had suggested it's cos they're daddy doesn't love them any more. Bullshit, these people want high end free stuff and suddenly this opportunity to loot en masse and they took it, knowing full well in the numbers they were the police would struggle to cope.

Lives were put at risk, livelihoods were destroyed just because someone wanted the thrill or setting fire to buildings. I'm by no means right wing but if the call was mine, on a strictly watching from a distance anger and frustration point of view, there would have been soldiers, armed police the works. If they want to create hell... fuck 'em.

Some of these morons even bragged on twitter/facebook "Yo biatches I got maself I new plasma last night" or a variation of. Thankfully people seemed to pick this up and forward on names etc to the police. These are the same 'protesters' that were so brave facing up to police they'd run up, throw something and immediately leg it incase they missed and the police smacked them one. Only problem there is the cop would probably be made into a villan and all police made to only use foam mallets in riot situations.

Some of the kids that have been interviewed, particularly those ones on the BBC yesterday, have come across as thick, mindless and many things I'm too polite to point out. Clearly no knowledge of the situation, using the pretence of 'sticking it to the man', well yeah if the 'man' is a independent business owner struggling to get by as it is, or someone renting a now destroyed flat who is temporarily homeless. Idiots.

Oops those right wing thoughts are back again. Honestly, if my daughter turns out like these morons, she's going to boarding school. Forever.

As you may be aware, as it says it on the top of the page, I'm from South Wales and rumours were flying last night about trouble in Cardiff, theer was little, it seems like about 7 14 year olds tried breaking into JD sports and something on Cowbridge road realised they didn't have a clue what they were doing and legged it before the police arrived. But still, these kids have obviously seen London/Birmingham/Manchester etc (even Gloucester last night?? Seriously??) as something to be aspired too, they fancied some new Reebok Classics an iPod touch and one of those bendy sausages from Wimpy (I mean honestly... looting Wimpy on Monday... that must be mindless violence as there's little to steal) for free and thought they'd try their luck.

There were facebook messages being sent round trying to incite rioting, however thankfully the Welsh either can't be arsed (which judging by our history is unlikely) or couldn't see the point. Kudos to all the Cardiff Chavs.

I think London may be done, extra police, the condemnation of Mark Duggans family, all may have helped the situation, but now it's spread, will things carry on in Manchester and Birmingham tonight? Probably yes, but with a bit of luck the police will soon be in control and can get started on locking these motherlovers up.

Finally massive respect of the riot clean up people. This shows what the UK is really about, helping out and getting back to normality. Thankfully none needed by me, but I like to think I'd help if there were (and work would give me the day off).

Cash Generator 2 - The reply

Right, here goes again, for anyone wanting the back story the original blog, including my communication to Cash Generator can be found here:

http://andrewdrisc.blogspot.com/2011/07/cash-generator-vs-good-service.html

Well you've never have guessed it, they've responded and to be honest it was a very predictable response, so as not to dilute the experience, here it is in all it's glory:

From: merthyr tydfil [mailto:merthyr@stores.cashgenerator.co.uk] 

Sent: 14 July 2011 15:37

To: Still not gonna leave my email address here, nuh-huh.

Subject: Kinnect Game

To

Mr Driscoll

In response to your e-mail as a gesture we will offer an exchange on the item or credit note to the value of the disc, our exchange policy is clearly stated and when initial query was handled no mention of disc burn was  mentioned and as far as we are aware this damage cannot be repaired, although scratches to discs can be. We will happily give you the exchange as above or credit note which has no expiry.

If you have any further questions please don't hesitate to contact us.

Thank you

Cash Generator

Merthyr Tydfil

I haven't responded.

A few points, not written the best (or maybe it's my years of letter writing giving me OTT standards) and it never fills you with confidence when they can't even spell the product... The product knowledge (disc 'burns' can't be repaired??) worries me a little also... and grow a pair (or the female equivalent) and sign your email.

No mention of disc burn, true, but saying that I didn't mention anything, I left the staff member to examine it, but they possibly/probably didn't know what disc burn was!

And honestly a credit note, like I'd ever want to shop in their pikey shitehole again after this experience. I'll leave that to people in tracksuits from now on.

I did take a picture of the pre-fixed disc and although it's a shite picture (I'm not a photographer!) you can see the white rings of surface disc scoring! Et voila:

By some crazy random happenstance though a guy from Trading Standards in Merthyr rang my house asking for me today, not long after the email landed in my inbox. One monster of a coincidence if you ask me. Maybe it's fate... maybe it's just really pro-active, maybe even it's some jester from Cash Gen pretending to be trading standards to judge a reaction! I'll give them a ring back tomorrow (or they now have my mobile) and see what they got to say.

There's very little in it for me to do anything, but I just feel like I should, or they'll just carry on.

BBC 606

Today sees the closure of 606, the BBC's 99% football but pushed as a general sports discussion board. Apparently killed due to cuts in the BBC's online budget, effectively leaving them without a discussion board.

Not a great loss if I'm honest.

Generally it always seemed to be filled with angry morons with little knowledge about what they were trying to 'talk' about, and no interest in trying to find out or take others points on board. In fact you could easily say the majority of the posts were intentionally aimed to wind up other users. As a result very little if any constructive debate ever went on. Users were permitted to set up multiple accounts and (particularly on the tennis board) would do so, pretend to agree with themselves to start arguments.

This made the board home to some very very weird (reclusive?) people.

Yes, some people on there tried to have genuine discussions, but it usually ended up boiling down to a slagging match whatever the topic. Whether it was Cardiff v Swansea fans, Spurs v Arsenal, everyone v Man Utd, Nadal v Federer, and so on.

The BBC introduced tighter moderation of posts, and the ability to delete posts from threads you set up, but only retrospectively, and while all this crap was being spouted it was never going to be money well spent. It's a shame the BBC will not be offering this kind of service any more, but to say it's a loss, or a tragedy as some posters have tried to do, is just not realistic.

So the confirmation of the closure went out yesterday  and come middle of today it'll be gone. Already there are about 50 'alternatives' banging round, none of which I'll name as they'll be filled with smaller populations of the same no doubt, each new forum 'owner' hoping he'll make some decent advertising revenue from the closure no doubt.

So it's farewell 606, good riddance!

Championship football

Not often I hit on sport that isn't tennis but here I go.

I believe sports should be decided on the relative abilities of the sportspersons playing it, and based on what I've seen of the English 2nd tier this year (not much) QPR are the best of a not particularly amazing bunch. However, there's a distinct possibility the league will be decided on an FA decision on if they are to be docked points for a back room offence in 2009.

They signed a player but the image rights were a third parties, which after the West Ham , Carlos Tevez debacle was made illegal.

Yes, it appears they have broken the rules, but does the player ownership affect the way he plays on the pitch, the rule breach is a financial one and therefore I think so should the punishment. Yes make it significant, yes make it hurt the club, the players have played within the 'on the pitch' rules and earned promotion, this should be how that promotion is decided.

The other point is clubs who have failed to earn promotion could benefit from this, 3rd placed side Cardiff (quite local to me, but I'm not a fan by any stretch) could be elevated to 2nd place and go up. Considering how well they've played when I've seen them this doesn't seem right, particularly the way they played yesterday on Sky! There's a chance that the 4th placed side Swansea (equally as local, bit more of a fan) could pass Cardiff on the last day, but it's highly unlikely, but even though I prefer them, it wouldn't be right. I can't honestly think any of the fans of the club would want to go up essentially 'by default'.

Therefore I hope the FA punish QPR, they broke the rules and I think they'll struggle to argue that aspect of the charge, however don't decide the league on it!

Saying that I primarily support Merthyr FC, who as Merthyr Tydfil (Now Merthyr Town) avoided relegation from the Conference (what would be now National) a couple of times on technicalities in the 90s. So maybe it's OK sometimes, when it suits me!

Right Blue are about to be on the TV in the break room, so I'm off before they start trying to sing/mime.

JoCo comes to the UK!

Some very exciting news (I think anyway) broke last night! Jonathan Coulton will be, briefly, in the UK in June! For those who have no idea who he is he's a singer! A singer of a highly geeky nature and to be fair has done some cracking songs in his time. He's best known (among geeks and gamers) for writing the song 'Still Alive' from the quite simply awesome game Portal. He also performs a good version of the song himself (in game it's sung by one of the characters) which is on the official orange box soundtrack. Go find, it's worth it.

Yesterday evening he announced via a blog via twitter (Jesus who would plug a blog via twitter, loser) that he'll be playing 3 dates in the UK! Now, there's no Cardiff date, I'm fairly sure he doesn't know Cardiff even exists and funnily enough he's not down to play Merthyr either. I have thoughts on bands who skip an entire country as I've posted previously. But I have travelled to see the likes on Ben Folds, Green Day, Barenaked Ladies so I clearly will do it. Coulton is playing Bristol so I'm thinking, as it's a small tour, I've never seen him before, I can let this one slide and take a trip over the bridge to see his acoustic delights!

This isn't of course a random trip, he has a new album due out any time now called Artificial Heart, which to be fair I'm also looking forward too. I can only urge everyone to check out his best of, it's surprisingly good, but as he doesn't own it, neither version of Still Alive is included. Valve have the rights as the game publishers.

He's also done a song for Portal 2, I'd imagine to take the same role as Still Alive, and my enthusiasm for this game is very high, as I may have mentioned. Only a 8 days to go! Plus I have to finish Fallout 3 before then!

So JoCo, when are the tickets out??

OK then, don't keep on running, it's up to you

I honestly don't know whether I'm accident prone, unlucky or my body has some kind conspiracy against me. I'm guessing it's the first, but no guarantees.

No sooner as I signed my name on the (digital) dotted line for the half marathon and good cause bit I so lovingly blogged about Monday, than I manage to injure myself! I'd been playing 5 a side for what must've been 35 or 40 seconds when I get a pain in my right thigh. No, that can't be great I thought, but I carried on and before I knew it kicking the damn thing became a remarkably sore experience. That's right, I'd done a muscle in my thigh. Highly annoying! I played on, but with little ability to kick, run or stick my leg out you can imagine how useful I was.

You think my body has some kind of problem with me becoming fitter. It felt the cardio about to be pushed and went, "Screw that fat boy, you aint taking my McDonalds off me." I would like to reassure my body, the McDonalds will be a constant, although overtaken in the preference scale by a Dominos American hot with no onion and extra pepperoni. mmmmmmmmmmmm

It's only now the second day and the pain is better and I'm already not walking like quite the weirdo I was yesterday, I honestly think I'll be fit to go back to the gym on the weekend, but it's still annoying as it's put me  behind where I wanted to be before I've even started.

I've got 4 months and I'm not exactly starting from scratch so I think I'll be OK. But if this happened just at the wrong moment, what's going to happen next? It's been a few years since I broke anything... I'm sure it'll be fine.

Regardless of no training I am today going to start my fundraising efforts in earnest. I'll start with work. Generally people in work with me a good people and generous ones too, I'm hoping that has continued into the current questionable economic climate. They should be used to me by now by generally do 1 charity thing a year, such as the Excalibur Challenge last year in which me n 3 others raised £1,300 or so for Velindre. I'm not going to manage that solo obviously, but its good as it shows I can do it.

I'm not sure whether to stick to, 'will you please sponsor me' stuff or expand a little. In that £1,300 was the proceeds from a quiz night, once again much harder to do anything with solo than with 4, but if I ask nice maybe they'll help!

Keep on Running!

Today, I signed myself up to run Octobers Cardiff half marathon.

I've always been one of those people who trains and looks after themselves far better when they have some sort of goal to work towards. Goal driven if you will. So today I put a rather large goal almost looming over me, as a result I will go to the gym, mainly as I don't want top die in a park in Cardiff.

13.1 miles is a long way and I'm not anywhere near fit enough at the moment but I'll get there. I'm hoping for a time around 2:20-2:30 with no injuries. I'll be happy with that. Let's be honest, I'll be happy to finish before the 3 hours is up and I have to dodge cars in the street to get to the line! It's good to have ambition I find.

I will of course drag my ass round the Swansea 10k as preparation, which is always nice and not too far. It'll be fine... my God what have I done...

What signing up for these types of events also does is give me an opportunity to raise some money for good causes and this is no exception. I have signed up as one of the Velindre 100 Team to help raise funds for Velindre Cancer Centre. I'm in the process of making up a justgiving page, which if anyone feels the urge to donate too.. please do. Link will follow! My initial target is a princely £100, I hope to beat that, but who knows, it relies on me getting sponsors, something which I'm bad at.

Oh well I'll try me best. I have twitter I suppose, I'll use that.

Anyway I off to play 5-a-side.

Rugby, football, tennis and a request

I'm Welsh so I love rugby yeah? Well no, not all that much.

I don't dislike rugby, I do like it as a sport. I like to watch international games, I support my nation, I'd even go as far to say I know a good % of the rules and can spot infringements. I'll get carried away in the moment when they are playing, I'll shout at the TV and a rugby day is always a good excuse to meet some friends in a pub. But there are sports I would rather watch.

I didn't get overly excited when Admiral announced they were the new WRU sponsors, while other staff members were almost rolling round on the floor in excitement. I haven't bought a shirt, as I don't really like them although the all blue training top is pretty snazzy, I haven't entered competitions and raffles for the steady stream of tickets that seem to be going round, and I have no intention of starting. Thinking about it the 20,000 empty seats for the (highly expensive) Australia game on the weekend seems to hint at the chance other people like me exist. Or at least at £60+ a ticket in places it's dropped down peoples priority lists.

I like football, I follow my home town club and Arsenal, but honestly if they lose, I don't get upset or worried. Of course I want them to do well, but when Arsenal got done 1-0 by Newcastle, my reaction was, "D'oh, oh well..." I'm not the kind of supporter that wants reflected glory from choosing a team, and believe me I know a fair few who do. I personally don't see how a team I support (Arsenal) beating a team Bob from number 44 supports (lets say Eastborne Borough for arguments sake) is any kind of personal victory for me. I wasn't there, I didn't play, I didn't coach I didn't even pump the balls up.

Although saying that, i do want to get back to reffing. I qualified a few years ago, did half a season then was in a crash and had to stop for a while. Never really got going again, seems such a waste now, I fricking aced the exams too.

I even don't like referring to the team as 'us' or 'we' but I do sometimes find myself falling into that habit. Must do better!!

Don't get me started on some of the local rivalries.. the Cardiff Swansea game on the weekend, some of the vitriol coming out of (mainly Cardiff to be fair) fans was laughable, and I was happy when Swansea won, purely down to that fact!

Honestly, if there was some funked up new rule that came into force tomorrow that dictated I could only ever watch one type of sport again, I'd choose Tennis. I enjoy Tennis far more than Rugby, Football, etc and by quite a distance. I would also love to be a participant in the sport, but unfortunately (weirdly??) the Tennis club sessions in Merthyr Tydfil leisure centre are 2-4 Tuesdays and Thursdays, work dictates that I can't attend as a result! I mean who can go then??

I also quite fancy playing squash, but have nobody to play with (any fellow novices who want to try, comment or find me on twitter!!)

How many people do you think were disappointed Alex Bogdanovic lost in the first round of a 80 point challenger tournament in Germany yesterday, well apart from him, his coach etc, prob only me! To be fair he got to a semi the week before, and lost to the same guy!! At least he took a set this time! Andy Murray plays the 2nd round of the Paris Masters today, I'll be watching with keen interest. Well I wont  be watching I'll be in work but there's be something on the BBC site to tell me the result.

Oh and of course I love the dodgeball, how could anyone not??? Go Hoffmesiters!

Oh and as a footnote, any twitter users I have a suggested follow. QRistmas. A Christmas single is coming out sung by former xfactor winner Steve Brookstein with the proceeds going to UK homeless charities, got to be worth a quid download of anyones iTunes cash? I believe it's a Peter Gabriel cover, I do love Peter Gabriel, maybe we could convince him to do Solsbury Hill, Shock the Monkey or Games Without Frontiers as a b-side?

Anyway, til next time...

Oh and the woman sat opposite me has a pink kindle... didn't know you could get them, they look quite snazzy! (Yes I've used snazzy twice in an blog, my vocab is the same as my daughters, head hung in shame)

Give me my money back you bitch

I'm a little late jumping on to moan about this, as it happened Sunday, and anyone following my twitter would have already gathered my thoughts on this, but this Sunday I one of the biggest non-voluntary groups in the UK as a victim of crime.

Sunday was the Welsh Open of dodgeball. in sunny Pentwyn Leisure Centre, Cardiff. I led 'The Hoffmeisters' into battle as I have done several times before. We didn't enjoy the best of afternoons, firstly being let down by several people, some with valid reasons, others with unspecified ones! Then we proceeded to win just a solitary match (3-2 against the Ceredigion Pirates), coming 4th in our group and crashing out of the tournament.

But during the day the revelation struck that a team member, who shall remain nameless, had returned to our communal locker but when locking up had left several items of clothing out, resulting in some piked, chavvy SOB going through my stuff and nicking my wallet. Not the most intelligent clearly as in the same pocket was my bank card and the opposite pocket my phone, which would have had far better rewards than the cash in my wallet and a Credit Card they couldn't use.

Luckily the police guy handling has high hopes of a conviction in this instance. Let's hope yeah!

A golf tournament in October? In Wales? Nice thinking...

Welcome to October! Shockingly the South Wales weather has chosen this moment for the sky to open and deposit as much good old precipitation as possible onto the land below. Not an unusual thing for Wales or indeed for the UK as a whole to experience. Then why choose this moment to hold the biggest outdoor sports event Newport has ever seen in what is essentially a field, actually lets be exact, in essentially what is rapidly turning into a bog? Even as I type play has been suspended for hours!!

Did someone say 'first Monday finish ever??'

Overall I'm seeing the Ryder Cup as a good thing for the area, yes most of the money is kept by the Ryder Cup association or whatever the frig it's called, but it's still brought people to the area, and taking the prices at Celtic Manor as a guide, the type of people it brings have considerably more money than me. I may be wrong, but that kind of generalisation fits well with Golf's image as a whole, seen as an expensive sport for a privileged few who also hand round in the clubhouse in plusfors sipping pimms. Now I'm sure this isn't true, I used to play myself only under less glamorous surroundings (Caerphilly generally, if you know it, you'll know what I mean), but its an image.

The elite/rich nature of at least this particular golf event has however sent people into hyperactive "OhmygodIthinkIjustsaw" mode. Storys coming from Cardiff city centre yesterday included, Will Smith and Michael Jordan shopping for a basketball in JD sports (do you think they were going to shoot some b-ball outside of the school??), David Beckham in some 'exclusive' clothes shop on Churchill Way (I forget the name, but I can't afford to shop there anyway), maybe even Samuel L Jackson getting a chicken bake and a bottle of Dr Pepper in Greggs, St Davids arcade. Do date I have seen nothing in the way of evidence that any of these people have graced Cardiff in the slightest (Apart from Mickey Jordan who was posing for pics in Revolution) but I suppose they have to be staying somewhere.

The truth is, to make the most money you need to attarct the people with most disposal income, which lets face it these people are. But I digress, a month or 6 weeks ago it would have been an event bathed in sunshine, but now? Washout? 2 years ago Nick Faldo made a joke about bring waterproofs to Wales, and by all accounts people laid into him, I think all thouse people owe him an apology. The writing was on teh wall at the Wales Open last year which was delayed by rain.

but oh well, people not outside may spend more in the gift shop. £40k watch anyone?

Also, this is an experiment, I'm submitting this via email written on my lunch break, let's see if it works. But of course if it doesn't work, you won't see it, but you know what I mean. I think. Do you?

PS It didn't work, my email added a huuuuuuuge disclaimer to the end so I'm doing this normally!!