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Friday Jan 15, 2010
Running for YouthNet
Hi everyone, my name's Cat and I'm YouthNet's Corporate Development Officer, in charge of gently cajoling people into running marathons, competing in triathlons and jumping out of planes, all for the "greater good" which is YouthNet.
Nine months into my new role I thought it was time to get blogging and to start sharing with you some of our fantastic supporters' stories and successes. I'll post some of these over the coming weeks but first, let's turn back the clock a few months to last April.
One week into my role I thought it would be a good idea to immerse myself completely in the spirit of things and with the full-on enthusiasm of the "new staff member", signed myself up to take part in the British 10K London Run. Ten weeks of dragging my recalcitrant legs out of bed for early morning training runs, one shiny new pair of trainers, one fundraising pub quiz and an uncountable number of peanut butter sandwiches (protein's good for the muscles, you know) later, I was toned, fit and had raised £350 in sponsorship. I'd never taken part in a public run before and the atmosphere on the day absolutely blew me away. "I'll definitely keep this up" I thought to myself, high on the endorphins and the cheers of my adoring fans (read: my lovely friends and colleagues at YouthNet who stood for hours on the sidelines to cheer me on).
Fast forward to the present day. The effects of the 10K training have well and truly worn off (it appears you can't store up exercise points and have to keep up the running – who knew?) and with a whole new events programme lined up for YouthNet in 2010, my thoughts have turned once again to fundraising and fitness. So it's with great pleasure that I announce that I will be taking part in the Mazda London Triathlon next August and once again, raising money for YouthNet.
There, I've said it. On a public forum. No backing out now....
I'll keep you updated on my progress when my training starts but in the meantime, stay tuned for tales of other, far greater YouthNet supporters and what they've been putting themselves through in the name of YouthNet and all the young people we support.
Posted by Catherine Skakle ( 4:16 PM ) Link to this post Comments[0]
Tuesday Dec 01, 2009
Self-Harm: Recovery, Advice and Support
On 1 December 2009 we held our latest breakfast seminar. This was a joint event run by YouthNet, Depaul UK and 42nd Street to share our experiences of working together to provide an online service for young people: www.TheSite.org/selfharm.The seminar also covered insights from a programme of research we conducted to evaluate the service and explore key areas of concern for young people affected by self-harm.
A wide variety of charities, service providers and funding organisations attended. Our Founder and Chairman Martyn Lewis CBE hosted the event, with presentations given by Catherine McLoughlin CBE (Chair of the National Inquiry panel), Sarah McCoy (YouthNet’s Research Manager) and Paul Marriott (Chief Executive of Depaul UK).
You can see the presentation slides below, and please do contact us if you would like any more information about the self-harm project or the event.
Friday Oct 23, 2009
YouthNet launches LifeSupport Appeal
On WednesdayOctober 14, YouthNet launched its biggest ever fundraising and awareness-raising campaign, the LifeSupport Appeal.
The aim of the LifeSupport Appeal is to completely redevelop TheSite.org, allowing it to reach more young people with even better advice. We have big ambitions for the Appeal and want to raise £5mllion over three years to completely revolutionise our online support for young people.
Underpinning the Appeal is a fantastic piece of research commissioned by YouthNet and carried out by Professor Michael Hulme of Lancaster University. The report, Life Support: Young people's needs in a digital age, shows that young people now more than ever, lead hybrid lives and that the need help and advice online will be even greater for tomorrow's young people.
The Appeal got off to a great start at the House of Commons, where Right Hon. Tim Loughton MP, hosted an event for Professor Hulme to share his findings. This was then followed by a panel discussion with Professor Hulme, vlogger Charlie McDonnell and agony uncle Matt Whyman. The report and Charlie's description of how he interacts with the online world, sparked some interesting debate within the panel and the audience.
We then had a less formal event in the evening which was held at London's Living Room, which is above Boris' office in City Hall! As the room filled up, despite a few technical hitches, everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. After Prof. Hulme's presentation, Hannah a 17 year-old TheSite.org user spoke incredibly movingly about how TheSite.org had helped her during some very troubled times in her life.
It seemed to sum up the reason why TheSite.org is so special when she said:
"If I hadn't used the internet when I was being bullied and had depression, I'm not sure I would have got through. I was too scared to speak to a parent or teacher because that would have meant repercussions, and I was worried about how they would react. Online nothing else can happen, you're making the first step."
The evening ended on a high note, when one of YouthNet's biggest supporters and founder member of our Development Group, John Donaldson, urged people to get involved.
To round off a fantastic day, the Media and PR team got some fantastic coverage of Professor Hulme's report and the Appeal in a range of media, such as BBC Online and Sky News.
Added to this, one of our key supporters, Yahoo! Answers, have not only given us a month's sponsorship package free of charge to raise the profile of the Appeal but Martin Clark, Community Manager has blogged about us on Yahoo Answers!
Find out more about the appeal.
Posted by Julie Reynolds ( 1:07 PM ) Link to this post Comments[0]
Thursday Apr 16, 2009
Eating disorders and technology
A little while ago I attended the International Conference on Eating Disorders to find out about advances in internet technology and how they impact on treatment. We're no stranger to eating disorders through the content we have on TheSite.org, and discussions about them on the forums are reasonably regular, so it's interesting to find out what's out there to complement traditional face-to-face treatment and what impact it can have.
It was a long and information heavy workshop, but some key themes were drawn from the lecture. The speaker was Steve Wonderlich, Ph.D. Here are five key things that I learned:
1. Technology is primarily used to help people who experience Bulimia and compulsive eating. This is because there are clear ways that it's possible to monitor someone's progress and behaviours if they are binge eating. On the other hand, if someone is experiencing anorexia then it's much harder to use technology to help.
2. It seems that most of the technology is developed either in the US or Europe (mostly outside the UK). Although I'd happily have someone correct me on that!
The technologies discussed tended to take a stepped care approach. I have understood this to mean that treatment comes in steps with varying levels of intervention often starting with self-directed intervention and then more intensive intervention from experts as the treatment goes forward. Here is a breakdown of the programmes discussed:
- Interapy This includes no face-to-fact contact at all and is CBT based therapy online. The service is aimed at 16+ year-olds and excludes people who are experiencing problems in other areas of their life e.g they're feeling suicidal or abusing drugs. This is interesting for us working on TheSite.org where we're interested in the interconnected nature of problems and take a holistic approach to advice giving. Nevertheless, this programme was seen to be most impressive by the speaker.
- ES[S]PIRIT A German internet-based program for the prevention and early intervention of eating disorders. Its focus is on sub-clinical eating disorders. The most interesting part of this technology was the development of extremely impressive AKQUASI technology which is computer supported treatment of patient treatment response. They have used this technology to send text messages to patients based on their functional and dysfunctional eating behaviours.
- Student bodies which is "an online psycho-educational intervention designed to help women at risk for developing eating disorders develop healthier dietary practices and improve their body satisfaction." I think it would be interesting to trial this beyond the student arena.
- Hans Kordy's Internet bridge project. This includes weekly chat sessions and online self-help groups. We got to see some of the transcripts which were really interesting. We run online chat sessions for peer support on TheSite.org but the self-help angle may be worth exploring. Internet bridge was the project I could generally most identify with as it referred to techniques some of our askTheSite advisors recommend such as writing without disruption about emotionally difficult topics – otherwise known as journaling which patients send to therapists and receive feedback by email.
3. Digital exclusion is still a big issue for those attempting to provide online advice and treatments. Steve Wonderlich has experience of using technology such as PDAs for treatment of eating disorders where patients are contacted up to ten times a day – I imagine this kind of treatment could also transfer to mobile phones.
4. The way internet tools are used is just as important as deciding which tools to use. The ES[S]PRIT project for instance has the amazing AKQUASI technology I mentioned, but I don't think the automated approach is ever going to make a big impact. Perhaps there are better ways the technology could be used? It was interesting to see that trials of this programme got a better response in Germany than the UK.
5. The use of technology to help treat eating disorders tends to have a small, but significant impact. For instance, 14 out of the 80 students who were surveyed about their participation in the ES[S]PIRIT project said that it helped them a lot and 21 said that it helped them a bit.
At YouthNet we describe TheSite.org as a first-stop-shop for information and advice. This means that the website is mainly a first point of call where young people can find out where or how to get further help. Having said that, young people can get ongoing support through peer support on the discussion boards. What's striking about some of the programmes discussed in these talks though, particularly Interapy, is that this is taking technology to the next level where some patients can get everything they need online. Obviously this is quite a controversial concept and perhaps that's never going to be 100% possible or advisable, nor for the majority. Nevertheless, it's interesting to see that some of the formats we already use for support on TheSite.org such as askTheSite and chat sessions, in theory could grow in scope and provide a higher level of support.
Posted by Helen Williams ( 10:46 AM ) Link to this post Comments[0]
Monday Jan 26, 2009
What, face to face??! Relationships in a digital age...
This article was originally written for our Online Peer Advisor update but Patrick suggested that I post it on the blog as well.
The above quote was the response that a young person who I was speaking to in my previous job made when I suggested that he resolve a relationship worry he had by speaking to his girlfriend. He was younger than our remit - a lot of our users don't conduct their relationships entirely online. However, it is interesting to think about how the growth of computer based communication such as instant messaging, social networking sites and text messaging has changed the way we start and conduct relationships, and how it has affected the sort of questions we get asked.
I noticed that over the last few weeks there were a lot of questions that touched or focussed on this subject in one way or another. Concerns can include worries that, after a period of intense messaging, a potential boyfriend stops replying, ex partners using facebook status updates to provoke jealousy or trying to work out how, after a long period of getting to know a guy online, one should take a relationship to the next level.
All these issues are ones that wouldn't have come up ten years ago, when the question would tend to be 'Why hasn't he called?', rather than 'Why is she taking longer than usual to reply to my text message', or 'Why is he leaving messages on his ex girlfriend's facebook wall?'.
It is a particularly interesting issue for us to think about as Online Peer Advisors. We ourselves are using similar technologies to enable us to advise, and getting to grips with the different issues that that causes. Our users are more likely to approach us because they can ask anonymous questions that they may be too embarrassed to speak about face to face, but this very anonymity that the internet provides means it can be harder for advisors to know enough about the user to get the emotional tone and content of the support we give quite right.
In many ways, the kind of issues we meet when advising online, reflect the issues that users may face in conducting relationships online. The users can preserve a sense of anonymity on a social networking site or messaging service and can carefully manage the impression of themselves that they give to others. This can enable people to be more forward, flirty, or open than they find themselves able to be in a face to face situation. This has been called the Online Disinhibition Effect and you can read about it in this interesting psychological analysis.
The same goes for text messages. They feel less 'committed' and more lighthearted than a phone call, but any change in 'texting behaviour' – he's texting less, she's taking longer to reply, should I text him again or wait for his reply? – can lead to all manner of analysis, doubt and distress, which just didn't happen when you didn't ever expect to be in contact with someone every hour of every day.
Now someone has their mobile on them all the time, a lack of immediate response can easily be interpreted as a conscious decision on someone else's part not to reply. On top of this, different people have different attitudes to technology; meeting someone who is rarely online, or who doesn't leap to reply to every text message can cause users to decide that someone isn't interested when in fact they may be very interested but just don't show their interest through digital communication in the same way.
Digital messaging is another phenomenon that has changed the way relationships work. The ability to copy and paste from message box to message box means that what someone is saying in what they thought was a private space, could actually be shared with other users, sometimes while the initial conversation is still continuing. And once you've typed it, your words are out there to be passed around, analysed by future partners and future partners' friends and often taken completely out of context.
It's no wonder we get a lot of questions surrounding these issues. There is an interesting study on 'Digital Relationships in the MySpace Generation' on this link below if you would like to read more.
You can also download a study on 'Young People, Wellbeing and Communication Technologies' on this link.
The writer of this article has a lot of time for online relationships, while some users don't like social networking sites at all.
Sometimes, just helping a user to recognise that communicating digitally is quite different from communicating face to face, and the problems it can cause, is enough to help them look at their issues from a fresh perspective. In other cases, encouraging them to talk to a partner face to face and giving them information about the best way to do this – we have all seen TheSite.org article on Communicating as a Couple. There's also a good section in BBC Relationships.
For some questions, the fact that they can communicate online will help the user to solve their worry. Sometimes the issues are complicated or difficult for the user to speak about face to face. In these cases, suggesting they write things down in an email for their partner, friend or family can sometimes help them to put across what they want to say clearly, ready for a follow up discussion later on.
An interesting looking book I found on Amazon called Cyberspace Romance: The Psychology of Online Relationships.. wonder if the YouthNet budget would stretch to it....
Posted by Clare Foster ( 4:21 PM ) Link to this post Comments[1]
Tuesday Dec 16, 2008
Hopes, Fears and Aspirations in the UK Today
Last month, YouthNet staff, supporters and a panel of young people gathered together on the 29th floor of Millbank Tower, in the aptly named venue, 'Altitude'.
The aim of the evening was to showcase our latest piece of research, 'Fear and Hoping in the UK'. This report provides a fascinating insight into the hopes, fears and aspirations of young people in the UK.
From housing and knife crime to terrorism to global warming, respondents let us into their views of the world today.
In order to discuss the results further, a panel of six 16 to 24-year olds, hosted by our Chair and Founder, Martyn Lewis CBE, joined us. As well as allowing the audience to really get to know them, their enthusiastic approach challenged the negative stereotype of young people that is so often portrayed in the media.
Guests from the public and private sectors enjoyed stunning views of London at night, in what was a very enjoyable and enlightening evening.
We'd love to hear what your hopes, fears and aspirations are, so do feel free to post your comments.
If you would like to view a summary of the report, please click here.
Alternatively, if you'd like to receive a hard copy of the report, please contact us
Thursday Nov 27, 2008
My new favourite video...
Every so often something comes along and "blindsides you on a some lazy Tuesday afternoon" (as I believe Baz Lurhmann once said). Anyway, this dropped into my inbox, and I have to say it's totally changed my perception of one charity as a result. It's a bit long, but worth it for the pay-off and the simple message at the end.
Thursday Nov 20, 2008
Skills London
The team's just come back from the first day of Skills London, a careers fair for 14 to 19-year-olds at the ExCeL centre. This is our third Skills event since September – and we've had stands for TheSite.org and the Life Choices consortium at each of them.On TheSite.org stand, we've got a laptop with the website on show. We're handing out postcards and taking orders from schools and colleges. We're telling young people about the Respect? campaign and getting them to sign our pledge. With each event I'm getting better at describing what TheSite.org in a couple of sentences. Forget 15 minutes of fame – here we've got 15 seconds to attract someone's attention or they'll move onto the next stand.
The Life Choices consortium stand allows us to get young people's thoughts on this exciting new project, which has been funded by The Vodafone Foundation and v. We've got two panels on the back wall. One says, 'What life choices do you need to make this year?'; the other says 'What would make these choices easier?' Visitors write their answers on post-it notes and stick them on the wall. They can also use do-it.org.uk to sign up to be a volunteer as a website or marketing adviser or a content creator for the new website.
Fiona, Rosie and Kuljeet on the Life Choices consortium stand this morning
With each event, I'm getting better at judging how many bags of sweets we'll need for a day, how many pens we'll lose, how long it'll take me to set up the laptops. You'd think after a while I'd get a bit blasé. But the great thing about a live event is speaking to so many different people – some of whom have heard about us before, some of whom are learning about TheSite.org and YouthNet for the first time. It's totally exhausting, but somehow it's also energising and inspiring as well.
We'll be on stand E54 at Skills London from 9.30am-3.00pm tomorrow and 10.00am-4.00pm on Saturday if anyone out there in the blogosphere wants to come by and say hello.
Posted by Natasha Judd ( 5:33 PM ) Link to this post Comments[0]
Thursday Nov 13, 2008
Newsflash: young people speak out
Even the most tough-nut, savvy Press Officer will tell you how difficult it is to influence the media. Imagine how powerless a young person with no industry experience feels to change what's in the news.
And yet quite a lot of what's in the news affects us. Reports swing between demands for tougher sentences on young criminals and polemic about the latest government policy to protect the young from themselves. Constantly discussed but rarely consulted, we're developing an image that we just don't recognise at all, and it's completely outside of our control.
Or is it?
YouthNet and the British Youth Council believe in helping young people to take control of their lives. That's why we started the Respect? Campaign, which has been seeking to end unfair representation of young people for over three years. This was our thinking:
Just like racism or homophobia, the current trend for youth-bashing is a form of prejudice. And like any other prejudice, it's not going to go away without a struggle. Of course those young people that go about their lives quietly doing good are not going to get the recognition they deserve, because at the moment they're not the ones writing the news.
The third phase of the Respect? Campaign is about admitting that it's really up to us to tackle misrepresentation actively. For some people, getting their opinion printed or published or even posted online would be like flying up to the clouds in an aeroplane and asking them not to rain. But it doesn't have to be like that. The campaign is providing information, guidance and suggestions about what we can do; here are some of them:
1) Tackle the mainstream media: writing a letter to the editor or posting a comment on internet news portals reaches a surprising number of people and can be quite a buzz.
2) Comment on blogs or start your own. The internet is a network of opinions where one person's views are as valid as the next. It's the news agenda, but not as we know it – open and democratic.
3) Volunteer: do-it.org has thousands of opportunities listed under 'Marketing, PR and Media'. By volunteering as a media assistant or doing shifts on your local hospital radio, you'll be getting yourself heard and gaining experience at the same time. Two birds, one stone, and no good excuses not to!
4) Sign our pledge to do some of these things: we're hoping 1000 people will join us. Join the Respect? Facebook group to find out more.
The big launch
After some practices (girls in front? Boys in front? People at the side? People holding it up?) we were joined by Martyn Lewis, the famous ex BBC broadcaster, to do his thing with the microphone. Once we'd all stopped messing about, we think the five or six photographers managed to get some nice, striking photos, while some of us stood on the street handing out flyers to young passers by, asking them to sign our pledge and get their voice heard too.
Getting noticed as a committed young person, and being at the centre of the media's attention for once, felt really good. Ok, maybe the front page was a bit ambitious...but a little effort could help other young people understand that it's our news too!
Posted by Sophie Manning ( 12:29 PM ) Link to this post Comments[1]
Wednesday Nov 05, 2008
Engaging the digital natives
For the purposes of this piece, the digital natives are young people who have grown up not knowing a time when the internet and other digital technology hasn't been around. Let's focus on the opportunities that the internet is opening up. In particular:
- The evolution of this new kind of online virtual reality
- The step change in information and advice provision that the internet has enabled in a new more open society
- The internet's social effects and how getting together in groups has got easier
- It's persists (our lives lived in this virtual digital reality can stick around for a lot longer than we ever imagined)
- It's searchable (not only does it stick around- we are getting cleverer at opening up this reality to new search technologies)
- And it's coming to a home near you (anyone with online access can reach this information)
- Google Sites - allows you to create web pages and then control who can view and edit them. We've used Google Sites to set up a secure space online to help support peer advisors who answer relationships questions on advice service askTheSite
- Vox - is blogging software that gives you the ability to set privacy controls for every post - let your friends see some, your colleagues others. You don't have to share everything with the world
- Drop.io - allows you to fileshare simply, upload the files to a URL you create and then set an access password as necessary
- Delicious.com - we've used Delicious to help manage the online resources we've collected whilst looking for support for our users to askTheSite, such as articles, videos, organisations and services
- Advanced Google - may be pointing out that Google is a great way of finding needles in haystacks of info on the web is a bit like getting gran to suck eggs. However, many overlook a bunch of advanced Google features like restricting your search to a single domain or using related pages to pull up clean lists of similar organisations
- Local advice finder - we offer access to UK Advice Finder (UKAF) for free on TheSite.org. UKAF is a database of advice services that the professionals use to identify support for their users
- Socialmedian.com - is a brand new site just out of private beta that offers a fresh approach to collating and organising news information according to the topics and subjects that interest you
Finally, the most important place to look for new web tools is of course from the young people themselves that we, as organisations, are hoping to engage. Sounds obvious - but in the new digital age whose social effects are only just being felt and understood, being driven by the needs and lives of young people is not just a question of good practice, it's about remaining relevant and being able to justify our existence.
Posted by Patrick Daniels ( 1:39 PM ) Link to this post Comments[0]
Friday Oct 10, 2008
Only two more sleeps to go...
...until the big run. I haven't had a minute to myself this week to be able to create an interesting and newsworthy blog about what I've been up to in these last couple of weeks before the Royal Parks Half Marathon.
Instead as the dreaded day looms I’d just like to wish my fellow runners a huge good luck and a massive you should be very proud of yourselves, now run for your lives.
Finally a very special good luck to Dan and Sarah and if you are reading this and haven’t sponsored us yet please do so at www.justgiving.com/royalrun THANK YOU!
Posted by Felicity Jones ( 11:46 AM ) Link to this post Comments[0]
Wednesday Sep 24, 2008
Yay for us
Excuse the self-congratulatory tone of this post, but we've won awards a-plenty recently and we're really pleased about it!
First of all we won Fundraising Charity of the Year at the 2008 Professional Fundraising Awards, followed by the Open Internet Award at the Nominet 2008 Best Practice Challenge.
Then guess what happened? Yes, we won another one - this time Best Charity to Work For at the 2008 Charity Times Awards.
Pretty awesome huh?
Posted by Sam Thomas ( 12:54 PM ) Link to this post Comments[0]
Friday Sep 19, 2008
You only hear what you want to...
...the above phrase is something I have heard (mainly) the women in my life say many times in a number of different variations, 'you only see what you want to see' and so on. I think this is otherwise known as selective hearing, perhaps you only hear certain bits or in the case of the males in my life they only hear what they want to hear. This selective hearing thing is something I have really taken to heart when it comes to my training schedule for the Royal Parks Half Marathon. In particular I've found I'm pretty good at selective reading. So the 'manual' says the following:
The book says, 'eat a balanced diet' I read, eat anything you want, you are in training so why not, actually the more chocolate and chips the better.
The website told me to, 'run at a steady pace and speed up slowly'. I interpret this to mean run slowly, it's more important to get through it than to do it in a distant time.
My friend told me to, 'make sure you rest in between runs to eliminate chances of injury', surely their saying not to train very much.
The guidelines say, 'make sure you drink plenty of water', I prefer just drink plenty.
My point is despite all the advice I've heard and my training plans best efforts I've had to ditch it all as I'm simply not taking it in. With only three weeks to go panic is beginning to set in...
Posted by Felicity Jones ( 4:05 PM ) Link to this post Comments[0]
Tuesday Aug 19, 2008
What's love got to do with it?
My other half has agreed to 'run' the first ever Royal Parks Half Marathon with me in October in a bid to raise some money for YouthNet.
Now neither of us is especially athletic nor have we ever committed to anything like this before, so it will certainly be a challenge for both of us. But hey we've been together a very long time so it will be a new learning experience, something we can do together and a great way for us to spend time together over these summer months. That's what I thought before we started anyhow!
In fact there are a few things I haven't mentioned, to begin with he is much taller and fitter than I am this means naturally his stride is far greater making him much faster, so for him to jog slowly is for me to sprint. This is a problem because he is always ahead of me, so whilst I try to play catch up (so that we can begin spending that time together bit I talked about earlier) my confidence is being kicked away by the backs of his heels. Note this is the first obstacle.
Secondly motivation was always going to be a challenge with this kind of thing, and believe me when it is hard enough to motivate yourself to go for a run the last thing you want to do is have to inspire your 'training buddy' to accompany you, particularly one that leaves you lagging behind!
Finally this running malarkey seems to be taking more time up than I had hoped (maybe because my miles are quite slow) so its fairly difficult to fit a 'run' in let alone fit it in both our diaries at the same time.
Despite all this we have now actually been training together for over a week (yes I am sticking to a sort of plan since my last blog) and I'm beginning to realise that maybe love has a lot to do with it. We need to be devoted to the plan if we are ever going to finish the course, we need to compromise with one another if we want to do it together, if we want to avoid any injuries we are going to have to start caring better for our bodies and finally on the day its going to be one another that will get us through to the finish line.
(Ahhh that was a very syrupy blog wasn't it, don't get me wrong next time we are out 'running' together I will be humming in my head 'here I go again on my own' grrrr)
Posted by Felicity Jones ( 1:56 PM ) Link to this post Comments[0]
Friday Aug 01, 2008
There is not just a first time for everything
This is the first time I have ever written a blog and I feel quite anxious about the whole experience, what if I'm judged on my poor grammar and shoddy spelling? What if what I write doesn't make sense? But actually that is the least of my worries as this is also the first time I have ever 'run' a Half Marathon and that holds many more questions for me!
Despite all these concerns you'll be impressed to hear that I started training for this half marathon about two months ago now, you'll be less impressed to know though that I have now 'started' training at least four times in the last two months. So far the pattern has been to start training and go for regular runs for one week, then take two weeks off. That suits me quite well. But now as the big cloud that surrounds the month of October (which is when the run takes place) gets ever closer I realise I simply have to stop starting to train and just get on with it and train.
This sounds fairly easy but its not, motivation is very low, the weather has been very hot and it's simply too hard to inspire myself to go for a run when Eastenders is on. Yes enthusiasm is that low!
Alas I'm going to give this starting to train malarkey one more go, I'm officially going to start training next Monday and for real this time, that's it I've said it on a blog so it must be true! So here is to a weekend of over indulgence and relaxation before the training really starts. Wish me luck, I'm going to need it!
Posted by Felicity Jones ( 9:11 AM ) Link to this post Comments[0]
Monday Jul 21, 2008
Half marathon training: What NOT to do
About three months ago, having recently returned from a holiday in Australia, full of energy and enthusiasm, and evidently have lost the power of rational thought, I agreed to run a half marathon to raise money for YouthNet. At the time, October seemed soooo far away, and I was in the depths of a health-kick, ready to (literally) hit the ground running. The feeling was...ummm...short lived.
Don't get me wrong, I'm still up for the challenge and am really pleased to be representing one of the best charities in the world (with one of the best softball teams I might add), and raising much-needed funds for a well-deserved cause. I just wish it had dawned on me before last week how much hard work it's going to be.
Having realised last week that I really need to get myself into gear and get training, I put together a training plan (a somewhat condensed training plan, owing to the fact I should have started a few weeks ago). I went for a couple of runs last week, which went well. Dragging yourself out of bed at 6am to run around Streatham Common isn't the easiest thing to do, but it's very satisfying when you manage it.
My first 'big' run was scheduled for yesterday. I was going to tackle a 7 miler, having managed 5 miles quite easily the previous week. Now, at about 5 o'clock yesterday, I kitted myself in my best running outfit, complete with water bottle and iPod and headed for the hills. All seemed well for the first...umm...mile and a bit.
I could say it was too hot, but it really wasn't. I could say it was raining, but that would also be lie. I could say I haven't been well lately, but that would again be utter rubbish. I learnt something yesterday...
White wine, double chocolate cheesecake and marathon training REALLY don't mix.
Please learn from my mistakes folks.
Good luck!
Posted by Sarah McCoy ( 4:07 PM ) Link to this post Comments[0]
Tuesday Jul 08, 2008
Pick me! Pick me!
When I was about 10 or 11 all I ever hoped for was a Blue Peter badge. They were the holy grail of children's television and I wanted one more than anything. Every time the show ran a competition I was positive that my painting, poem or photograph would be deemed worthy of a badge. I used to scream at Anthea Turner and Tim Vincent to "Say my name", but they never did.
I had to wait until I was 12 until I received a letter that contained what I'd always wanted. I'd entered a Blue Peter poster competition for the London Underground and had drawn a Beefeater with a tube sign in the background. It wasn't anything special but I thought I might as well send it in; they'd probably reward me for my persistency if not for my artistic talents.
Twelve years on and my hopes are slightly more demanding; a house, a car, a £10 million pound lottery win. Who knows, maybe if I scream loud enough I'll get these send in the post as well.
In TheSite.org's latest survey we want to know your hopes and fears. Let us know and you'll get your own prize, a £5 Amazon gift voucher.
Posted by Chris Denholm ( 10:56 AM ) Link to this post Comments[0]
Monday Apr 23, 2007
The Last One
Well this is my final blog (for the time being anyway – god knows what Kuljeet and YouthNet will get me roped into next!).
You will all be pleased, if amazed, to know that I completed the Flora London Marathon yesterday. It wasn't easy, at all, and at least 5 times I thought 'I can't do this, I don't seem to be getting anywhere, I'll never finish', but I did. It took me 6 hours approx although after 5 and a half, I stopped caring and just wanted to finish. I couldn't feel my feet, felt sick from all the Lucozade, and the heat was ridiculous (it's April for heaven sake!). You may think from this paragraph that I hated every moment, but you'll be wrong.
It was an amazing, amazing day. The crowds, the runners, the Rhinos and gorillas, the water people and my friend who was also running, Michael Baines, made it a fantastic day. If I didn't feel so exhausted, I would be a lot happier I think and as the week goes on, I know that I'll get smugger and prouder of myself.
It seemed a lot longer than 26.2 miles. Especially when I saw the first mile mark, surely they have got it wrong! However, a friend told me (thanks Howard) to take it one mile at a time and even after ½ way I kept that in mind. Sounds simple but it really worked. The last 600m was a killer, and there was nothing left for a sprint at the end but I did it all, I didn't stop jogging at all, I didn't walk at all, and I finished.
I think the only down side for me was the Cutty Sark. I watch the race every year, and every year the Cutty Sark, at the 6 mile mark, is a huge event, and looks amazing on TV. It wasn't quite the same. But running down past the Houses of Parliament and Buck House, that was something. I used to cycle round London and past those sights every day but yesterday seemed more important somehow.
The highlight, without a doubt, was the finish line – never, ever, ever, have I ever been so pleased to see a finish line in my life. I felt very proud.
Many things kept me going. A cliché but the crowds are amazing, all the way along – they say it gets a bit quiet sometimes, but I didn't notice that, they were all the way. The bands, kids doing high fives all the way round, having your name shouted is amazing.
My friends - I have discovered since my mum died how important friends are, and again this has proved that ten fold – I have had people pick me up from random places, run me home, take me to car boots, donate stuff, put me up for the weekend, ensure I eat right, everything. And the amount of text messages and phone calls I have received have been overwhelming.
The same can be said for my colleagues (doesn't this sound like an Oscars speech!)? I've only worked for Vodafone since September and since that time I have worked with the nicest, most genuine, caring, loveliest people I've ever known. I know Youthnet is a Vodafone charity, but the support I've had from my team has been awesome. Thank you all. A special thank you has to go to Michael, my fellow runner. It was a good send having someone to share the aches, pains and talks about miles and miles with. I know we bored our friends and colleagues senseless, but without each other, I know it would have been a lot different. Thanks mate.
All of the above and everyone else who sponsored me – I know a lot would have sponsored me for what ever charity I did, but they did sponsor YouthNet. It is a relatively new charity that needs exposure such as this, and at least half the people who sponsored me are unknown to me, so thank you to them. I can thank friends and colleagues personally but not the ANONs and the names I don't know. You have all been amazingly generous and I'm so pleased that I exceeded my total by quite a lot (and I think money is still coming in).
And finally to Kuljeet. Thank you. This was unknown territory for both of us. I didn't know how much support I needed and neither did you, but you surpassed anything I was expecting. You have got it just right. You have become a friend and have proved to be a great support. YouthNet is a charity to be proud to work and run for.
Thanks again to everyone. And bring on next April – lets do it all again!!!!!!
With matching from the Vodafone UK Foundation, Donna raised an incredible £2,840 for YouthNet!
If you haven't sponsored her already you can here: http://www.justgiving.com/donnashaylerrunsthemarathon
Thursday Apr 05, 2007
Does anyone read these things?
Does anyone read these things? Be nice to hear from anyone, especially those ANON who sponsor me and I don't know who they are.
Well two and a half weeks to go and getting very excited. Have upped the ante with regard to the training and am now running nearly every day – albeit only 4 mileish (and a biggy at the weekend).
I did 17 miles on Sunday – it was a beautiful day, if a bit windy, but the run started off terribly, with both shins ceasing up. Got to 1.5 miles and was convinced I could never run again. However, I had a stretch and then all was good. It was a hard run, a lot of hills (yes even in Lincolnshire!) but I did it. Felt very proud, if worn out. I've found that every time I run a long way I learn something new. Sunday I learnt that running 17 miles on three Weetabix (other cereals are available!) is not a good idea. I also realised why they say don't do a big run the week before the race. Wiped out Monday and very stiff yesterday but absolutely fine today so raring to go.
I'm planning on 21 miles on Saturday and then that will be me done until the 22nd April. I actually get nervous before the big weekend runs so god knows what I'm going to be like on the day.
Anyway, probably last blog next time until after the day so will let you all know how I get on at the weekend.
Help Donna raise her fundraising target for YouthNet - sponsor her here: www.justgiving.com/donnashaylerrunsthemarathon
Posted by Sam Thomas ( 3:41 PM ) Link to this post Comments[1]
Tuesday Mar 20, 2007
ohmygod 6 weeks to go!!!!!
Well it has been a nearly two weeks since my last blog so I thought I should update, as we only have 6 (ohmygod!!!!!) weeks to go. Training going well and is now more regular. Big runs on Sundays and regular runs in the week. Ankle seems to have strengthened so that is going well. Next plan is getting proper trainers broken in for the big day.
I think I have to say thanks here to my friends who have helped in my pursuit of long distance. Lyn and Penny, you know who you are. These are the girls who pick me up from random places, or arrange plates of pasta for incentive after a 10 miler. I don't know what I would have done without you both.
Anyway, as I said 6 weeks to go and am getting very nervous, but I do believe it is a lot about state of mind. When I go out for a 4 mile run, when I'm nearly home I've had enough and am glad to be home, however when I did a 12 mile run last week, I felt euphoric at the end and wanted to continue (although the lorries and trucks that were swerving to avoid me on the A46 may disagree with me!). The weather is helping and a colleague at work and I get very disheartened when the sun is shining and we are stuck in the office – we should be running somewhere. I certainly don't feel the same way as I did at the beginning of January when it was a chore. It is now an easier and more enjoyable experience.
Fundraising is going well, up to £690 even before the dress down day (in two weeks time). Also have a car boot planned, so if anyone out there wants to contribute by getting rid of any stuff for charity, please send to me at Vodafone in Newark. I was also in the local paper last week with a picture of me with Solo. Hopefully this will raise some awareness. Am running in town a lot more so if anyone out there is in Newark, please cheer me on when you see me and my dog.
Anyway not much else to say – going to go a 16 miler on Sunday - furthest yet - which means I have two more weeks to go before I do 20.
Will blog you all soon.
Help Donna raise her fundraising target for YouthNet - sponsor her here: www.justgiving.com/donnashaylerrunsthemarathon
Friday Feb 23, 2007
Donna's 14 miler
Well things are going well. I'm running a regular 4 –5 miles every other day and actually enjoying it.A talk and lunch was arranged for all the runners at work last week and Bud Baldaro was inspirational – really helped.
Work kindly bought me an MP3 player this week and although it sounds rather overdramatic, it has changed my life. Obviously Rocky is still on there but now have the Flashdance album and a bit of Pink. Also downloaded the Chris Moyles podcast and looked like an idiot last night running with Solo and laughing my head off!!! However, it takes my mind off distance and getting tired so all good.
Tomorrow, Saturday is my biggest run yet. 14.25 miles. Scared to death – the worst thing is that although it is a ruddy long way, I'd still have 12 miles on top of that on the day – oh my god.
However, am looking forward to the challenge – am downloading the Grease soundtrack today so I can have a bit of karaoke all the way. If I can walk on Monday I'll update in the next blog.
You can support Donna's run for YouthNet here: www.justgiving.com/donnashaylerrunsthemarathon Posted by Sam Thomas ( 3:18 PM ) Link to this post Comments[1]
Monday Feb 12, 2007
Fartlek Training here I come...
Here's the latest update from YouthNet marathon runner Donna:Well, things are going well. The run on Sunday went better than planned, ended up doing 11 miles in 2 hours so very pleased (although Monday was a very stiff day!). I also did a 6 mile run on Saturday so back on target. The weather helped considerably, it has to be said.
Talking of the weather, the freezing cold really got to me this week. Tuesday did a good 2 mile at the gym at lunch, and then only managed 3 miles on Tuesday night but I think that was partly due to the 11 miles on Sunday and my legs feeling like lead.
Thursday, again very good at the gym but after walking the dogs after work, it was looking very dangerous to actually run on the streets of Newark. Therefore it was decided I wouldn't (and reviewing the London Marathon website, the editor even said it was a bad idea). Friday I hit the treadmill again.
The weekend went ok. Lot of home stuff to deal with this week so mind not really on it, but feeling a lot more positive today (Monday). Started to do 8 miles quite comfortably and did a very good run on the treadmill yesterday, but the temperature is up again so it is back to the streets with Solo this evening.
Have great hopes for this week, with 9 weeks to go have to get some Fartlek training in. Here is to good weather, good running and a dog that doesn't want to pee too much!
Support Donna and YouthNet through her fundraising page.
Donna has raised £375 of her target.
Posted by Sam Thomas ( 1:30 PM ) Link to this post Comments[0]
Friday Jan 26, 2007
'Bits of lung were coughed up'
Here's the latest update from YouthNet marathon runner Donna:
Well this week started very promising. Good run on Sunday, and Monday. Tuesday I started coughing quite hard and was told 'kindly' that it sounded like what friends had and I'd be on my back for weeks. This was not going to happen so I promptly went for a four mile run. On my return I started coughing uncontrollably and realised the person could possibly be right as bits of lung and chest cavity were being coughed up all over the house.
Wednesday hit me like a tonne of bricks and for the first time I believe since I was a kid, I was taken to my bed by 3pm, partly because I was annoying half of Vodafone with my sneezing and coughing. Thursday, however although v wheezy, (and Runners World are very clear on if you are wheezy and chesty, don't run) I felt a lot better.
Friday a new woman, and although I cycled to work and started coughing again, I started feeling confident for the weekend. However Saturday came and I was still coughing up guts etc, so realised there was no use fighting it and gave myself till Monday. Went long walks with the dogs, which didn't seem to cause much trouble but anything over a brisk walk wasn't good.
Monday 22nd, three months till D Day, had an inspirational watching of Rocky II and IV the night before so am raring to go. Cough still there, although a lot looser (I think that is supposed to be a good thing) so hopefully going to do a good run.
9pm came, and on came the fleece. Lead in hand, Solo and I ventured out – it was bloody cold, so actually being frozen took away the feeling of wheezing and coughing, and you will all be pleased to hear that I ran further than I have before. Even did a Rocky tribute by running up some steps near the end. Feel much more positive and yes, a little smugness is venturing in. I can do this, I can.
Support Donna and YouthNet thorugh her fundraising page
Donna has raised £195 of her target
Posted by Jim Valentine ( 1:46 PM ) Link to this post Comments[0]
Thursday Jan 18, 2007
Rain, rain, go away...
Here's Donna's update on her Marathon training for YouthNet:
Hi, day four of the training has now been completed.
I have to say once I committed, I started having panic attacks as I realised what I was taking on and what a challenge I had ahead of me. However on Monday, after watching the first episode of Corrie, and after my dinner had gone down, I pulled on my woolly hat, grabbed Solo's lead and headed out in the dark and drizzle. I've always been able to run 5 miles quite comfortably on a treadmill but getting out on the actual pavement I've always found harder. I can't say I was looking forward to the run. However after 5 minutes and Solo getting used to the fact that he was expected to lead me, we started going very well. I got lots of leaps in avoiding huge puddles and avoiding a 'peeing' Solo or a 'sniffing' Solo but managed to get round my circuit in ½ hour. Not greatly impressed but blamed the dog as he had lots more new places to smell.
Tuesday came around and thought I'd better walk both dogs first (I've got two German Shepherds) so Suzie wouldn't get too upset and I could let my tea go down. However coming back in the rain with Solo, slipped on some mud and nearly broke my knee. Got home covered in mud and blood and a hole in my trousers adamant that I'm never going out in rain again. However, by 8.30 guilt was getting to me, the rain had turned to drizzle so I thought sod this, let's get out there. I did the same run 8 minutes quicker. So pleased with myself.
By the time the weekend came around I have to say my body was starting to wonder what had happened. I've always messed around with this running lark, but not to this degree. However as it was extremely windy, didn't want to venture outside so headed off to the gym. Thought I could run for an hour and see how I got on. 10k in an hour and 15, better than any of the 10ks I've ever done so feeling rather confident, even swam 30 lengths afterwards. Got home and collapsed. Felt euphoric but body was screaming.
Yesterday I thought I should take it easy but still ended up doing 7k. Don't know if it was first week enthusiasm but feel much more confident. Am aiming for 10 miles by the end of January and if I can do that, I think I can realistically do this.
Therefore everyone who reads this please sponsor me. I'm very enthusiastic, working very hard and sadly letting this running take over my life. YouthNet is a great cause and deserves all the support it can get.
Go on – log on to http://www.justgiving.com/donnashaylerrunsthemarathon
today and support me.
Thanks
Donna's currently raised £150 of her £2,500 target
Posted by Jim Valentine ( 4:08 PM ) Link to this post Comments[0]
Tuesday Jan 09, 2007
First steps
Donna Shayler will be running the London Marathon in support of YouthNet this year - here's the first of her regular updates on how things are going:
Hi,
My name is Donna Shayler and I work at Vodafone Enterprise. The Vodafone UK Foundation is one of YouthNet’s partners – you can read more about the partnership in the case study section of this website. I’m very excited to be running the Flora London Marathon 2007 on behalf of YouthNet!
Well, new year, new resolutions eh. Everyone does them and everyone breaks them. So to stop falling into the same rut as I have for the last 3 years: ‘I am going to run a marathon, I am I am!’ and then I don’t, I decided to commit to a charity to stop myself backing out.
There are a lot of reasons that I want to run a marathon. I’ve done a few 10ks and kept feeling I could go further, I was signed up for the Great North Run but did my back in and was out of action for the whole summer. It always looks so amazing on the TV and I say every year I would love to do it and finally, and perhaps the main reason, my mum died last year and she always had faith in me doing one. So these 108 days of torture ahead of me are for you mum!
Running for YouthNet is also a very good reason. I am a great animal lover and also feel very strongly about Cancer Research, but not being glib, so do a lot of other people, and there are plenty of other races in aid of these good causes. YouthNet is a young charity, not so well known and it is charities like this that need the exposure of events like the London Marathon, perhaps even more than the charities that we all know. It is a good cause, does important work and I believe the money raised will make a big difference.
So although I run 2-3 miles every couple of days on the treadmill, suddenly setting off to the gym in a force 5 gale on Sunday morning felt very different. I had to double the distance almost immediately if I’ve got any chance of running 26.2 miles on 22 April. But I did it. Put my Rocky Soundtrack on my headphones and set off (only thing I ever run to – still inspires me to speed up after 5 years). And to be honest and not sounding too big headed, I found the 5.5 miles quite easy. And after walking 4 miles with my dogs and a two mile walk into my local town, I felt I started my training quite well. Of course it is early days, I have my plan, I have my clothes ready for all weathers, and I have spoken to my youngest German Shepherd, Solo about becoming my training partner. He seemed quite happy about this, especially with the ‘walk’ thrown into the conversation every few words, his head cocking side to side seemed to show he was all for it! Problem with a male dog is that they like to ensure they have pee’d on everything that they pass, so a lot of running on the spot may be in order. I’ll be there on BBC1 being the only person running on the spot every 2 minutes. However, hopefully we will see plenty of rabbits, so I’ll get some sprints thrown in as well.
Well first blog done, not much to tell but will update everyone next week after my first full week of training. Hope you enjoy reading this and please support anyway you can and wish me luck.
Posted by Jim Valentine ( 3:58 PM ) Link to this post Comments[1]
