Training, Training, Training

Not going to get very far along the Thames Path without training. I'm building up gradually, but thanks to work and other time sinks, getting around to actually get outside and walk for a few hours can be tricky. So rather than walk I am training myself up to run, the idea being that I will be able to go further and get fitter in less time.

Running isn't something I've ever felt a need to do, but with help from an app called 'Zombies Run 5k trainer', I can already feel myself improving with every training session. The hot weather means I'm often not out until around 7:30pm, which is actually quite good as the golf course and meadows I go through are usually empty. (Although the cows are usually around somewhere, but I prefer them to golfers)

The app itself has done a great job so far of keeping me motivated, it has characters voiced quite well that act as your trainer and progress a story, basically to do with living during a zombie apocalypse. The talking isn't too much though so it isn't distracting and there is music (taken from your playlist) that fills the gaps in between. But the real reason I got that app was the data it stores online. Once synced I can see times and distances, the route I took and which songs played. It also shows the pace you had during each song, so I now know that Meansteed's 'Weekend Warrior' and Heaven's Basement's 'I Am Electric' are two songs that I move a bit faster to.

 

Can't beat a bit of Heaven's Basement

It all seems to be going well, my donation total is getting a little closer to my goal and I should be past the half way point after this weekend thanks to a beer festival at The Onley Arms. They will be donating through the sales of commemorative pint glasses (50p to Save the Children and 50p to British Lung Foundation, the Skanking Werewolves' chosen charities, per glass). Really looking forward to that!

Well I'm going to get back to 'work' (sitting down at a desk for 9 hours) and do a bit more training later on, if you want to see how my training is going you can have a look at my Zombies Run profile page by clicking here, zombiesrungame.com/RyanTL85

Until next time, Keep on Skanking!
-Ryan

You can donate to the Skanking Werewolves by clicking here!

They Called Him Ryan...

A quick introduction about who I am and what all this Skanking Werewolf stuff is. Firstly, I'm Ryan and I will be taking part in the Thames Path Challenge 2013 to raise a little bit of money for Save The Children. I'll get onto why I chose that charity but first, Skanking Werewolves.

The Skanking Werewolves are the team myself and a friend (only one so far (cheers Faye), but it's early days) have made as an incentive to train properly and actually turn up to the event! The idea for a team was a good one, but the name grew from an organic Facebook conversation that I will copy paste here...

RW: OI! When are you signing up to the 50km walk thing? I'm raising money for Save the Children but I won't be signing up until I get paid next month.

FB: Next month pay day as well, I'm doing the British lung foundation lol ooo I'm excited!x

RW: It's ages away. Might ask if anybody else wants to do it so I can kick more asses.

FB: Haha! Do it. X

RW:Fine, but if nobody else is up for it then I'll blame you.

FB: Haha blame me all you like, we're way cooler then anyone else anyway x

RW:Need a team name though.

FB: Faye's team has a nice ring to it

RW:Nope. I like 'Werewolves of London'

Or 'Walk and Skank'

FB: Hmmm werewolves skank?

RW: Deal

FB: Haha love it! X

RW: Or Skanking Werewolves

FB: Yer that sounds better! Haha

RW: Righto, Skanking Werewolves it is.


Gripping stuff </sarcasm>, but it is a cool name all the same.

So, Save The Children are a charity I have known for a little while but really got to know when I was travelling Australia and happened to do a few weeks 'chugging' in Sydney. The charity I was raising funds on the street for was... yep, Save The Children! During my short time trying and often failing to get some money for StC I realised that some of the programs were really good. They gave the option to donate to specific plans so if anybody disliked the idea of sending their donation abroad, there was a program for Australian kids, but the real kicker (and possible donation killer) for me was that they are not affiliated to any religion (unlike the likes of Plan or Christian Aid) so they help out anyone that needs help.

Another point was the lack of child sponsorship, which always sounded weird to me, how can you sponsor one child suffering from the effects of a bloody civil war and not help the child sitting next to him? StC go for the 'community support' style, improving the lives of all those around the children so they have a better chance of continuing to improve their lives.

I'll update more later, but if you want to start donating you can click here http://www.justgiving.com/RyanWhitwell or text RYTL85 and your donation of £1, £2, £3, £4, £5 or £10 to 70070 (if you're in the UK).

I will ask Faye to write an introduction too so our supporters can get to know who is representing their donations a bit better!

Thanks in advance and I'll try to keep the blog going with all sorts of updates about training and what Save the Children are up to and all that stuff! Be excellent to each other!