Inspiration!

Hey there all you people cosily sitting in a warm place - I'm probably out in the freezing conditions running as you read this.... HA ok so probably not but there is a small chance the 2 events may coincide! Training has not been going to plan recently due to the ice I've been avoiding outdoors like the plague - mum slipped over in B&Q car park and now has a bruise extending the length of her entire leg :O had to go to A&E and everything - thought it was a broken hip but lucky for us not this time! Don't quite fancy hitting the ground like a sack of potatoes and so have not been on the pavements which I am sure will come back to haunt me in the week to come. Spent last night at the National TV Awards which considering I spent all day moaning and stressing about having to find an outfit and not being bothered to go - were actually fantastic! Saw loads of stars (as well of loads of people I have never even heard of in my whole life...) sadly no Miranda, Sir David or Stephen Fry but some of the highlights  - Alan Davies, Joanna Lumley, cast of Mrs Browns Boys and of course the lovely Merlin lads. <3 Sophie and I were pretty tired after having to sit still and scream and wooo for 2 hours (bloody ITV and their constant ad breaks!) so had to resort to conserving our shrieks for our fave shows only. Didn't meet any stars but the whole evening seeing deserving (mostly) people receiving awards for their hard work was inspiring and although I'm not doing anything near as exciting as being a magician or having my own comedy show I still have a goal to work towards and the marathon will be an achievement and at the end I'll probably be happier than all of the NTA winners put together! Got back in the gym today and did 40 minutes continuous workout 6 miles on the crosstrainer and another mile on the treadmill - doesn't sound much but I'm happy with that progress! Finally got some posters printed too, just need to stick them up now. Started a new trend with the fundraising inviting friends to use me as a servant (not in an inappropriate manner!) and paying me a couple of quid each time for a lift somewhere or some kind of favour, the first being today I took Anna shopping and she gave me £5 so thanks to her for her continued support and also the latest donors Alessandro, Hannah and Zozo - it means so much to me so thanks so much all of you! Current amount at £349...... £1750 watch out we're coming to get you! As always if you feel a sudden urge of generosity hit the donate now button to link to my fundraising page! Thanks again for everyone who's keeping me motivated! Stay warm and safe guys, lots of love Charlotte xxxx

Baby it's cold outside

Ok so perhaps I'm a bit out of season with the title now but it's blooming true ce soir! So my wonderful housemate Katie and I have been hitting the gym as often as we can - she's not training for a marathon but maybe I'll just give her my place as she actually manages to work out harder than I do..... Ah come on I am trying, pretty hard actually - I'll never be a runner so just taking part is an achievement for me! Today's gym session was particularly entertaining as not only did we both get a magical moment seeing the fitness instructor we have affectionately nicknamed Merlin but we also got an unexpected treat. Upon approaching the treadmills we noted that they were all occupied apart from away from an older man on the end. Upon climbing onto them it became immediately apparent why - the man on the end clearly has never discovered the wonder that is deodorant and quite clearly also hasn't washed his clothes since his last gym session which was probably 10 years ago.... Ah well beggars can't be choosers so on with the work out! Debated all day whether to go for a run this evening too then reminded myself I'm running the marathon so I really ought to. So after dinner I went to choir then had the option of joining everyone at the curry house for a drink but NOOOOOO not the is Charlotte! Not this time! Back to 26 South Road - on with the sweat bands and ipod armband. Went for a run up to Virginia Water and then back down Egham hill - in retrospect a stupid idea - if you run down a hill you must remember that you're going to have to get back up it somehow.... silly arse. So although I ache a bit now I do feel a lot better for having accomplished that and being so cold outside and late in the evening it was nice to have the pavements pretty much to myself apart from a few other runners who looked like they were enjoying themselves a lot more than me. I also heard that someone got mugged at knifepoint really close to here and a ferrari was stolen from the dealership so if that doesn't serve as motivation to move quicker when I'm out at night I don't know what will! Anyways still on £324 so come on guys dig deep especially all students whose loan has just come in - quickly before you hit the SU and it's gone again! :) Thanks for continued support love you all! xxxx

A kick up the arse!

Happy New Year folks! Waaaaaahey so 2013 is finally here and I have to stop making excuses about waiting for a renewed motivation now.Call it a resolution or whatever but now is the time to really give myself that kick up the arse in terms of training. Today was my first run of the new year - not fantastic in terms of distance only a short one but much better than I had expected having binged on chocolate and all guilty things over the festive season. I also invested in a new pair of jeans which are really nice but could probably benefit from me losing a couple of pounds so I guess that's a good reason to run too! Back to Royal Holloway this weekend so gym training recommences on Monday and I have to say I'm actually quite looking forward to it - yeah I know it's weird I've actually developed a fondness for the gym?! That just goes to show how bored I am of attempting coursework I guess! Well that's my aim for this year anyway to try and balance a good amount of training with a good amount of coursework.... oh and then there's work too of course. So this year is certainly going to be tricky especially seeing as uni has guaranteed that even with a job I will have next to no money this year :( apologies to the world for becoming a social recluse - it's unlikely I'll have much time, money or energy to spare but I'll do my best! Once this marathon is out the way I'll probably think of something else crazy to do but I'm hoping to have a bit more social contact as I am beginning to miss my friends! You are all however absolutely fantastic and my heros thankyou so much again to my latest sponsors  - my incredible sister Sophie, wonderful next door neighbours the Goodwins and fab housemate Flozza and to all the previous legends. I am currently at £324 so just a bit more to make it to that £1750 for Cardiac Risk in the Young! If you haven't donated and want to click on the button on this page! Thanks again :D xxxxxxxxxxx

Hello

So my dear fellow bloggers, all those of you experienced people who know how to work these things but also those like myself who rely on their housemate to explain step by step, welcome to my first ever blog! Awhile back I had this crazy idea to run the marathon and seeing as I've got a place I figure now should be about the time to give my fundraising and training a huge kick up the arse! I feel that today I've made fairly good progress with this - I did hit the gym earlier and run 5 miles on the cross trainer in 30 minutes. So there. Ha. Yeah ok so it's only like a 5th of what I'll actually be running and granted it was inside a nice cosy gym but hey for me that's still pretty good. 

I was really enthusiastic at first but as with all things the concept got boring pretty quickly - don't get me wrong I think it's a great cause and I want to do it so badly but keeping myself motivated is quite difficult when I'd much rather just stay in my warm snuggly house with lots of chocolate, diet cokes and a box set of Merlin (that's a joke my house is actually freezing...). This is where you guys come in, you guys and only you guys have the power. The power to make me get up off my fat bum and run like the wind (well actually more like a snail) but you get my point. Every person that has sponsored me so far, I am so grateful to you and thank you so much. Those of you who haven't please donate even just £1 every little helps - not only to make me reach the target set by the charity but also to keep me going and prove that it is worthwhile - which of course it definitely is. So I am running for Cardiac Risk in the Young as many of you already know and there is a link somewhere on here (I hope!)  for you to get on and check out my fundraising page if you are a super duper nice fantastically generous person whom I will love forever - which of course you are. 

Progress has varied so far I thought colder temperatures would make it more difficult but actually it seems to have the opposite effect on me - I'm that desperate for warmth I'm almost happy to do some exercise - something I never thought I'd say.....Only trouble is I have been a bit ill recently just a rotten old cold but with my asthmatic lungs a cough takes its toll - mostly on my poor housemates and family to be fair but also on my ability to even walk to the front door so that set me back a bit with training last week. However the show must go on and I'm back on the horse and eager to charge on over the Christmas break! 

I'll try and find the ability to update posts on here to keep you in the loop and provide some light entertainment and no doubt for all you students out there another form of procrastination because if you're that bored you're reading this you almost certainly have an essay due some time soon! Cheers guys :) xxx 

Charlotte Cogsworth

P.S in the meantime something to keep you all amused... me in a video of Gangnam style unfortunately I could only printscreen it!