a few more challenges completed and underway...

So... the keeping a blog challenge is not going so well... as I have not been updating this on where I am with my challenges... so this is what you have been missing out on!

London Marathon

So the challenge I was set was actually a half marathon... which at the time some of the 'challenge setters' though this might be maybe pushing it too far! However... unbeknownst to any of the challenge setters at the time I had already applied to run the london marathon and had been accepted! Which was a bit of a joke as at this point I could not run half a mile without stopping! So... after many months of training, running in the rain and minus temperatures, refraining from curry and alcohol on 17th April this year I completed the London Marathon! And here is my post marathon photo (where I am wearing my much loved medal) to prove it! And all the wonderful people who came along to cheer me on - not only on the day but during the months leading up to the big day - coming along for a few practice runs, listening to me moaning about blisters and pushing me out of the office door to go for a run around the block! (and now many of whom are up for running the marathon themselves next year... I am not sure if I am an inspiration or make it seem easier knowing that I have not exactly been on a par with Paula Radcliffe but more Ronald Macdonald when it comes to running!)

Going the wrong way up/down an escalator
So today...while in the Harlequin this challenge was completed! I went down the 'up escalator' outside Starbucks. This was not a planned challenge - but more that the down escalator was not working and had been blocked off... so I decided to walk down the other one (which was also stopped) then half way down I realised that this was actually one of my challenges! Brilliant!

challenges collide

nearly ticked another challenge off the list this week... but it was not meant to be! thanks to an automated email system set up by one of those 'be an audience on a tv show for free' websites I had been invited to witness a comic relief challenge take place. the idea is 24 hours of different tv comedies (mainly panel type things i.e. nevermind the buzzcocks) with a different audience every few hours - sounded interesting i thought. However... wait a minute... it clashes with my long run ready for the marathon. so this challenge will have to be done another time! :-(

another one bites the dust

80s are back, jumpsuits are in fashion and Challenge Anneka might have a a rival on her hands! Yes today another one of the challenges has been completed! I accompanied fitness guru and regular gym attendee, Helen Rushton to the gym. As I type this I am still able to walk... however we will see what the morning holds! It was useful at times having a primary school teacher on hand as counting to 20 was not always my strength! From cross trainer, to power plates, to sit ups with a football and a machine that is to skiing what a treadmill is to running (not too sure of the technical name... Ski Trainer maybe..??) Followed by a compulsory sit in the jacuzzi.

Another challenge bites the dust.... now just for planning for the next one!

double the challenge!

So... there is taking the challenges seriously and taking them to a new level! Well actually I had already got this in the bag before the challenges were even a glint in Emily's eye, or a line was written on the inside of a birthday card...

So the challenge is to 'fun a half marathon'... but I will actually being taking on the full thing... a whole 26.2 miles of 42 kilometers! So in addition to hearing all about the 'before I am 30 challenges' you might hear a little bit about running too on the blog!

This is probably the one which is currently taking the most effort to complete... as I  am not a runner... in fact back in October I could not even run half a mile without stopping!
Should be a fun 71 days ahead!

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another challenge set in motion....

So... in July I will be taking on another challenge! Tickets to JLS are booked! We all know what that means.... ;-) Photos of this event will be taken!

Next challenge complete .....PJ day

Another challenge under my belt... or in this case my duvet. Yesterday I completed the 'be in your pajamas all day' challenge. The prefect challenge for a winters day... and especially as Santa did provide me with a JLS hoodie to keep me warm for such an occasion! And also helped disguise a little that I was wearing my pajamas for when I did a trip to the airport (so I did venture out into the world outside of the comfort of my own home in my pajamas! Although this will be a once in a lifetime thing I think).

Hola, como estas?

So the language challenge.... turns out that I am not a natural! And in fact it has been noticed by others that the whole pronounciation thing is not quite there! Two months in and I can say ' hello, what is your name? my name is Gemma. How are you? I am very well. Let me introduce you to my secretary!' Yeah the last bit sentence is an interesting one! All the credit for learning that phrase needs to go to google and you tube... (although learning the correct phrase came later after a quick conversation with my friend and spanish teacher, Nuria, who informed me that I had actually been introducing my secretary [well Admin Assistant]as if she were a boy!) However I am pushing ahead and I might even get onto my age or the weather soon....