OK here by popular demand (well one person asked me about it) is the play-list which I ran the marathon to. For some reason it was just a great soundtrack to the run. Here it is:-:-
Step It Up - Stereo MCs
Thru Ya City - De La Soul
All Together Now - The Farm
Rubberneckin - Elvis Presley
Smile On - Dee-Lite
Missing - Everything But the Girl
Visions of You - Jah Wobble's Invaders of the Heart
The Man Who Told Everything - The Doves
Dance this Mess Around - The B-52s
Where is the Love - Black Eyed Peas
Heroes and Villians - Brian Wilson
LoveFool - The Cardigans
Mulder and Scully - Catatonia
God Shuffled His Feet - Crash Test Dummies
All Nighter - Elastica
Praise You - Fatboy Slim
I Can't get with that - Fun Lovin Criminals
Knockin on Heavens Door - Guns 'n' Roses
Main Offender - The Hives
Step On - Happy Mondays
Eton Rifles - The Jam
Run On - Moby
Thursday, 20 March 2008
Monday, 17 March 2008
Step On
The big day arrived with lots of rain and drizzle. Fortunately it was not too windy and I took the dog out to test the temparature. Forced myself to eat porridge (yuk never liked the stuff) and then almost an entire packet of jelly babies - apparently they are high on the type of carbohydrate you need for an endurance work-out combined with the suger rush for energy. Sue then takes me to the start where I pop into a local pub to use the loo and have a cup of coffee. I meet two other runners from Lewisham. The run itself went well. I was aiming for about 2 hours and I stopped my watch on the finish line at 1hr 59m 52s which is as near as you can get I guess. It all went as well as anything that long can go. No really bad patches and lots of support along the way. Peter HVA's fundraiser was spotted early on the course and I saw lots of other people throughout the course. Finally the entire family had gathered in the Old Town so it was nice to have their collective support. I stuck around at the finish to see other people go through thefinish line. Nice to see Erica finish in good spirits with Felix and Robin - one of HVAs trustees. My little Ipod machine through which I monitor my training told me that I had consumed 1,672 calories during the run. So it was onto the Jenny Lind for a meal to put some of them back. Overall the body stood up well and many many thanks for those who supported me. Talking of support I also had the most fabulous playlist in the ipod which I have painstakingly compiled from my running activities over the last couple of months. This made the whole task a lot easier than just listening to the sound of your own breathing I will publish it on here tomorrow. Our lyric reference is from the Happy Mondays one of the songs that helped me on the run.
Tapering Down
To work where another full day beckons. I meet with 4 new health workers we are employing to facilitate a project with the local Healthy Living Centre (PULSE) to design and promote key health messages to young people. There is overwhelming research to suggest that young people respond to other young people on issues relating to their health pareticularly on issues like sex and drugs and rock and roll. Therefore, 4 new health trainers are being trained as we speak to take on this role. It is an exciting project.
On the marathon front we are in "tapering" mode which basically means that the week before the marathon itself you do little except stretch, eat and save your strength. No training you can do in the last week can imporove preparation or performance but it can certainly damage it if you pull or twist something.
Taking something out of your routine which has been a big part of it leads to something which marathon runners call "taper madness". The fact that you have nothing do to except to count the days down to a big (and gruelling) event leads to some odd behaviour. I learnt this from someone I met running who told me the story of his entry in the New York Marathon. It was a big deal as I believe from what he said that he had a family association with someone who died in the Twin Towers disaster in 9/11. Anyway running the New York marathon was a key date in his calender and he described his experience leading up to the big day. Firstly, he said that he had convinced himself that any twinge or the most minor ache - which most people in their middle years get every day - was, in fact, the onset of a major injury which would prevent him from running. Secondly, he also managed to convince himself that any loved one friend or colleague was in fact the bearer of a cold or virus which he would certainly contract and prevent him from running. He told me that he treated everyone as if they were "typhoid Mary". This reached such manic proportions that he spent virtually the entire flight from Gatwick to NYC with a napkin over his mouth. Strange behaviour indeed. I don't think that I am suffering from any of the extreme symptoms of "taper madness" but if I do exhibit any behaviour this week just ignore me and remember it is all for a good cause. On which note we are up to about £500 sponsorship so far so it is all looking OK for the big day.
On the marathon front we are in "tapering" mode which basically means that the week before the marathon itself you do little except stretch, eat and save your strength. No training you can do in the last week can imporove preparation or performance but it can certainly damage it if you pull or twist something.
Taking something out of your routine which has been a big part of it leads to something which marathon runners call "taper madness". The fact that you have nothing do to except to count the days down to a big (and gruelling) event leads to some odd behaviour. I learnt this from someone I met running who told me the story of his entry in the New York Marathon. It was a big deal as I believe from what he said that he had a family association with someone who died in the Twin Towers disaster in 9/11. Anyway running the New York marathon was a key date in his calender and he described his experience leading up to the big day. Firstly, he said that he had convinced himself that any twinge or the most minor ache - which most people in their middle years get every day - was, in fact, the onset of a major injury which would prevent him from running. Secondly, he also managed to convince himself that any loved one friend or colleague was in fact the bearer of a cold or virus which he would certainly contract and prevent him from running. He told me that he treated everyone as if they were "typhoid Mary". This reached such manic proportions that he spent virtually the entire flight from Gatwick to NYC with a napkin over his mouth. Strange behaviour indeed. I don't think that I am suffering from any of the extreme symptoms of "taper madness" but if I do exhibit any behaviour this week just ignore me and remember it is all for a good cause. On which note we are up to about £500 sponsorship so far so it is all looking OK for the big day.
Monday, 10 March 2008
A Windy Day
It is blowing a gale here and, I gather, most of the country. The walk with Maddy (the family dog) involves hopping over fallen trees and branches together with the recycling bins which are all over the place distributing litter and cans evertywhere. The Council haven't quite got to grips with what happens to their nice recycling bins in very windy weather. Anyway, today involves a lot of catching up as last week I was a stranger to my desk - my work taking me to virtually every part of East Sussex. There are hundreds of e-mails waiting mosty of which want to sell me viagra! I draft a letter to the Borough Council about a breach of the Compact arising from the enmtirely inconsistent way they have treated the voluntary sector in their recent decisions. My last compact breach report still awaits an answer after almost 7 months. We will wait and see as this may be a real test of the local Compact arrangements. There is lots of concern within the networks and forums and among our membership and probably only right that we should use the Compact to address these concerns.
What else? I spent a good part of the weekend working on transitional funding arrangements for posts within the organisation which require a detailed work programme for the next 3 months. And I do my last long run before the marathon. All the books tell you to taper your running in the last week which I guess is wise advice. Anyway the prospect of getting blown over - as the wind really is that strong - doesn't appeal. Erica who does some of HVA's design work and who is also doing the marathon wrote a really nice article in the Hastings Handbook. My running is cited as an inspiration to her entry. Not ever been a role model before. The article suggests that I have gone from Labrador to greyhound which I guess is true except that my reduction in size has not been accompanied by an increase in speed. In running terms I still remain, and will always be, a "plodder". Anyway there are few lyric references to greyhounds but here is Parklife by Blur - the cover to this album did feature a greyhound I recall which is as close as I can get - enjoy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQw6AKC-AR0
What else? I spent a good part of the weekend working on transitional funding arrangements for posts within the organisation which require a detailed work programme for the next 3 months. And I do my last long run before the marathon. All the books tell you to taper your running in the last week which I guess is wise advice. Anyway the prospect of getting blown over - as the wind really is that strong - doesn't appeal. Erica who does some of HVA's design work and who is also doing the marathon wrote a really nice article in the Hastings Handbook. My running is cited as an inspiration to her entry. Not ever been a role model before. The article suggests that I have gone from Labrador to greyhound which I guess is true except that my reduction in size has not been accompanied by an increase in speed. In running terms I still remain, and will always be, a "plodder". Anyway there are few lyric references to greyhounds but here is Parklife by Blur - the cover to this album did feature a greyhound I recall which is as close as I can get - enjoy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQw6AKC-AR0
Thursday, 6 March 2008
A Catchup
For a minute there I thought the HVA blog was going to become one of the dormant blogs you never see updated. Lots has been happening in the CVS world so let us see where to begin. Firstly we have our AGM which is well attended and provides useful intelligence to help us review the kind of services we want to provide in future. It is a good morning and finishes on time. I hope I was able to do justice to the work of the team who have done much this year in very uncertain times. As I speak the council are still in the process of restructuring and after threats of massive cuts which caused much concern they have now done a Duke of York and marched their troops down the hill again with more modest reductions. The are unaware that much trust and credibility has been sacrificed on the alter of political posturing but there you go. We take part in the Day Services Review which was pleasing in that members of the Health and Social Care Forum do themselves proud and maybe the Active Age Centre which Age Concern Hastings have been advocating for no longer seems such a pipe dream. On which note I spend most of Tuesday interviewing for its new Director. It is a full day but a good appointment is made. It needs a good person as Ian's boots are big to fill. As well as steering the organisatiohn back from the funding brink he has also chaired the multi agency service providers group for older people as well as being a community activist in his won right in the Ore Valley.
Today it was the East Sussex Strategic Partnership and the agreement of the Integrated Community Strategy, LAA targets and then onto Lewes for a meeting with the Chief Executive and Fund Development Manager for the Sussex Community Foundation. We discuss the grassroots grants bid and ways of getting endowment money. On the way back I run into Peter HVAs funding adviser and we travel back to Hastings talking about VAT and Charities, Small Grants, Running Marathons, Old Town Politics, Fishing Communities and Museums.
My journey to both Eastbourne and Lewes nets me 4 Albums by artists as diverse as The Strokes, Kanye West, Jools Holland and Simply Red. The Kanye West album (College Drop Out) is my companion on a 5 mile run along the seafront - the marathon is just over a week away and Sunday will be my last really serious run. All the books tell you to "taper" in the final week which basically means cutting back on the mileage and putting your feet up. Am ending the day listening to a classic Portishead album (Dummy) which has to be one of the best albums of the last 20 years in my humble opinion. This is as good as it gets http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vg1jyL3cr60&feature=related
Today it was the East Sussex Strategic Partnership and the agreement of the Integrated Community Strategy, LAA targets and then onto Lewes for a meeting with the Chief Executive and Fund Development Manager for the Sussex Community Foundation. We discuss the grassroots grants bid and ways of getting endowment money. On the way back I run into Peter HVAs funding adviser and we travel back to Hastings talking about VAT and Charities, Small Grants, Running Marathons, Old Town Politics, Fishing Communities and Museums.
My journey to both Eastbourne and Lewes nets me 4 Albums by artists as diverse as The Strokes, Kanye West, Jools Holland and Simply Red. The Kanye West album (College Drop Out) is my companion on a 5 mile run along the seafront - the marathon is just over a week away and Sunday will be my last really serious run. All the books tell you to "taper" in the final week which basically means cutting back on the mileage and putting your feet up. Am ending the day listening to a classic Portishead album (Dummy) which has to be one of the best albums of the last 20 years in my humble opinion. This is as good as it gets http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vg1jyL3cr60&feature=related
Thursday, 7 February 2008
Gimme Shelter
The morning is spent visiting the new community bridgebuilder premises in central st leonards and discussing the induction of the 3 new workers we have appointed. It is an exciting period to see the small project we started all those years ago expand into a team with its own manager and 3 year funding. Onwards to a less positive meeting with a group who are in financial difficulty to say the least the next three months cashflow is going to be absolutely crucial and I try and help where I can. We identify some possible ways forward. Then it is an employment issue with a group followed by a quick visit to the office to submit comments to the Borough Councils draft ec0nomic inclusion strategy. Home for a brief break and then to a meeting of local churches where I have been invited to discussing homelessness, poverty and the moral agenda. It is actually rather a well attended meeting with lots of people involved in work with rough sleepers and asylum seekers. I give an analysis of the homelessness picture since Cathy come home and the current deficiencies of our housing and support system. It is followed by a highly intelligent debate which is wide-ranging. I would find the Rolling Stones video for our song lyric but as I am a bit knackered you will have to take my word for it it is a great song.
Tuesday, 5 February 2008
One Hit Wonder
I am reminded by Jan - a loyal reader of the Blog - that I have been lax in keeping it up to date. It really has been a bit busy in the world of the CVS with much to report so here goes.
The saga of the Working Neighbourhoods Fund rolls on at todays Executive Delivery Group with some general recognition that the logistics are going to be difficult. Introducing a new funding regime with sufficient time to make it robust but in a way which can also make best use of the NRF projects which contribute significantly to the local agenda. It is a circle that simply cannot be squared in the time the Council have left and they are very much seeing it as "their show" reminding everyone that they are the controller of the cash rather than the partnership of previous. It is also all mired in a HUGE political row which is becoming more acrimonious with each passing week. The politicians have taken to copying the whole world into their e-mails as the accuse and counter accuse accross the internet. I advocate for transitional money to apply so that we can make some real sense of this out of the heat of the current situation and after the election issue - for we have local elections looming - is settled.
I have also been bid writing like crazy as Monday was a key deadline for 2 proposals one to support an enhanced county wide Hate crime reporting service and the other to continue our community cohesion work. It is an all day Saturday job with some early work being done to the budget in Eastbourne on Monday morning. This is then whisked up to London by hand to meet their 5pm deadline. We cross fingers and wait and see.
I have also been asking for money in two key respects. Firstly it is marathon time again and I am running for the Saxon Mt Youth project and secondly I am tapping all the rich people in Hastings to start a fund for small grants. Can't say too much yet but it is generating the kind of interest I had hoped and I am optomistic about this project. Anyway the title of todays blog entry is based on my playlist for this evenings run. I put together a list of one hit wonders - bands who had one hit only. My personal favourtite of all time (I know not why) is the 1978 "Uptown Top Ranking" reached number one in February, 1978, after much early championing by John Peel. Ironically I am just finishing his autobiography - which is more than he did as he died without completing nthe manuscript. It is finished by his wife who writes well and affectionately of him, the music and his radio work.
A piece of trivia Althea & Donna became the youngest female duo to reach the pinnacle of the UK chart. There you didn't know that but if it comes up in next years inter-agency quiz we are prepared. Peter - we can't bank on it being prefrab sprout every year. Over to you girls http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mcz_YjR3LKQ
The saga of the Working Neighbourhoods Fund rolls on at todays Executive Delivery Group with some general recognition that the logistics are going to be difficult. Introducing a new funding regime with sufficient time to make it robust but in a way which can also make best use of the NRF projects which contribute significantly to the local agenda. It is a circle that simply cannot be squared in the time the Council have left and they are very much seeing it as "their show" reminding everyone that they are the controller of the cash rather than the partnership of previous. It is also all mired in a HUGE political row which is becoming more acrimonious with each passing week. The politicians have taken to copying the whole world into their e-mails as the accuse and counter accuse accross the internet. I advocate for transitional money to apply so that we can make some real sense of this out of the heat of the current situation and after the election issue - for we have local elections looming - is settled.
I have also been bid writing like crazy as Monday was a key deadline for 2 proposals one to support an enhanced county wide Hate crime reporting service and the other to continue our community cohesion work. It is an all day Saturday job with some early work being done to the budget in Eastbourne on Monday morning. This is then whisked up to London by hand to meet their 5pm deadline. We cross fingers and wait and see.
I have also been asking for money in two key respects. Firstly it is marathon time again and I am running for the Saxon Mt Youth project and secondly I am tapping all the rich people in Hastings to start a fund for small grants. Can't say too much yet but it is generating the kind of interest I had hoped and I am optomistic about this project. Anyway the title of todays blog entry is based on my playlist for this evenings run. I put together a list of one hit wonders - bands who had one hit only. My personal favourtite of all time (I know not why) is the 1978 "Uptown Top Ranking" reached number one in February, 1978, after much early championing by John Peel. Ironically I am just finishing his autobiography - which is more than he did as he died without completing nthe manuscript. It is finished by his wife who writes well and affectionately of him, the music and his radio work.
A piece of trivia Althea & Donna became the youngest female duo to reach the pinnacle of the UK chart. There you didn't know that but if it comes up in next years inter-agency quiz we are prepared. Peter - we can't bank on it being prefrab sprout every year. Over to you girls http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mcz_YjR3LKQ
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