**Disclaimer: I’m writing this rants and raves post after spending most of the day staring at my laptop screen. Most sensible people would probably give their eyes a break, but I’m not sensible!  I’ve also had to spend the afternoon listening to my neighbour playing his piano, why do modern houses have such thin walls? As a result, this blog is likely to be more grumbly than usual. As always, all moans groans, and rants and raves represent my own views. Other, far less negative running blogs are available**

I’d like to start by saying good morning, afternoon, etc to whoever takes the time to read my latest selection of rants and raves. I hope that you are all continuing to cope with the current situation. Although I had got used to and had adapted to the new ‘normal’, I’ve been finding the last few weeks quite difficult. The increase in Covid-19 cases locally and the resulting local restrictions have been slightly unsettling.

As always, I’ve already waffled on too much, so here is my latest selection of rants and raves. I hope that you enjoy this tiny insight into how my mind has been functioning recently.

Rave: Top 10 UK Running Blog

With apologies for blowing my own trumpet, I was thrilled when I discovered this blog had been included in Vuelios Top 10 UK Running Blogs for the fourth year in a row.

I’ve been neglecting my blog a little as my blogging mojo had gone AWOL. To be honest, after spending eight hours a day Monday to Friday working at a computer, I didn’t really feel like spending even more time staring at a different computer screen in the evenings.

I’ve also had a few not quite so positive experiences recently.

Rant: The not so positive aspects of blogging

I estimate that 75 per cent of the emails I receive aren’t relevant to my blog, that’s fine. I’ll delete the clearly spammy emails and respond to the rest. I’m not sure if this is the norm, but I’ve always responded to emails. It may take me a few days, but I’ll respond.  I also always try to be polite, so I wasn’t overly impressed when a freelance PR included me in an email I clearly wasn’t meant to see. The content of the email wasn’t complimentary and left me wondering if discussing bloggers in this way is normal.

I recently published a guest post provided by a PR representing what I’d describe as a reasonably high-end brand. The fact that I subsequently found the same guest post on several other sites irritated me a little, the fact the PR didn’t promote the guest post I’d published on my blog as promised irritated me more. A week later, I was contacted by the same PR to see if I’d like another guest post containing links to a second high-end brand. I asked if there was any budget available, this was part of the response I received:

“If you feel the topic is of interest to your readers then we’re happy to send it over, but if payment is required, then I’m afraid it’s not for us”

That was me told! Although there are a few scenarios when working for nothing is an option – I didn’t charge my mum for the two hours I spent getting to the bottom of her massive water bill as she ‘paid’ me with an epic roast dinner – this wasn’t one of those scenarios. I love this flowchart ‘Should I Work For Free’ by Jessica Hische.

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I know that the PR wasn’t working for free as I checked out the company she works for. Despite this, I was expected to promote a second high-end brand and to spend my time formatting and then publishing the guest post on my blog for zero return. I wasn’t even asking for monetary compensation, I simply asked if I could have a product to review and keep as some form of compensation as it was something I would have found useful.

So, if any PRs are reading this – I very much doubt it – please don’t expect bloggers to work for free. Although I may ‘only’ be a part-time blogger as I have a full-time job, I value my time as I’m sure you value yours.

Rave: Olive and Mabel

I know that Olive and Mabel were featured in a recent rants and raves post, but I thought I’d highlight a couple of their more recent YouTube masterpieces. Hopefully if you click on the screenshots, you’ll end up on Youtube.

Watching Olive and Mabel definitely helps me to forget about the real-world for a few minutes. I can’t wait for their book to arrive later this month.

Rant: The weather

I know that it’s October, but what on earth has happened to the weather? Right now, it’s raining, windy, and quite frankly, it’s miserable outside. I don’t fancy heading out on my usual lunchtime walk, but I know that if I don’t, I’ll regret it. Fingers crossed the weather improves soon. If it doesn’t, I’ll be testing out all my incident role training.

Weekend:
SAT: Wet & windy for many, with rain sweeping NWwards. Turning drier & brighter in SE later. N Ireland largely dry until evening.
SUN: Unsettled for many; patchy rain lingering and blustery on some coastlines. Drier towards SE, but staying overcast. pic.twitter.com/6FyPieIxSL

— BBC Weather (@bbcweather) October 2, 2020

I could blame my failure to complete 26.2 miles on the terrible weather last Sunday morning but I won’t. Yes, the wet conditions clearly contributed to my blisters, however, I clearly didn’t train enough and didn’t respect the marathon distance. If I ever mention entering another marathon, please remind me that the half marathon distance is my absolute limit.

And that’s my final rant as in a slight change from what I normally do, I’ve decided to end this post with a selection of raves.

Rave: ELEMIS Beauty advent calendar

Even by my low standards, this is a rather random rave but please bear with me. I’m sure that most families have what I’d describe as Christmas traditions. I’ve always bought mum The Archers calendar, some perfume, and, more recently, the M&S beauty advent calendar for Christmas. Last month, I contacted M&S to see if they would be producing a beauty advent calendar this year. A couple of days later I received a response, they wouldn’t be producing a beauty advent calendar this year. I blame the Percy Pigs.

I then spent an hour or so researching alternatives. The price of some of the beauty advent calendars I found kind of blew my mind. I just wanted to find something not ridiculously priced that contained products my mum was likely to use. I also wanted something I could order now. In the end, I opted for the ELEMIS beauty advent calendar.

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It was expensive, but I got some money back by using TopCashBack and the calendar came with some amazing freebies which I’ve kept. At 41 I think it’s time I started to introduce some sort of skincare routine into my life so I’m hoping that mum passes any ‘rejects’ onto me. At least I’ve got one Christmas present sorted.

While M&S won’t be producing a beauty advent calendar this year, they have already redeemed themselves.

Rave: Percy Pigs

I do enjoy the occasional(?) Percy Pig treat. I blame the time I spent working at M&S, after spending the day looking at boxes of Percy Pigs – I worked in the warehouse – I’d end up making the most of my staff discount to treat myself. When I’m eating Percy Pigs, my self-control goes out of the window and I’ll finish the bag and end up feeling a bit iffy. A couple of weeks ago, I spotted a photo of a giant Percy Pig stuffed toy and a Percy Pig moneybox. I looked online, saw that only a limited selection of M&S stores would be getting stock, saw how much they were already selling for on eBay, and accepted I wouldn’t be getting my own Percy Pig stuffed toy and moneybox. I mean, I’m 41 so this wasn’t the end of the world.

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Last Tuesday, my mobile phone rang during our weekly MS Teams team meeting. Slightly unfortunate but not a disaster. I sneakily checked my phone and saw a missed call and text message from mum. Mum was in the local M&S, had spotted a giant Percy Pig, and was asking if I wanted one for Christmas. Let’s just say trying to discreetly reply to a text message during a team meeting was tricky. So, I now have a Percy Pig stuffed toy, moneybox, and advent calendar to look forward to. One day I’ll grow up but I think in these shitty times we all need a bit of fun.

Rave: Passion Planner and Stress Less Journal

I think I first discovered Passion Planners when I read this post last year. As someone who is constantly writing things do (not!) do lists and who loves stationery, the concept of a goal-based planner with a mixture of weekly and monthly spreads sounded perfect. After spending a bit of time checking out all the different Passion Planners, I ended up buying myself a weekly undated elite planner and also some pens. I haven’t christened my Passion Planner as I’m saving it for 2021 – next year has to be better, doesn’t it!? – so I’ve included a photo from the Passion Planner website.

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The Stress Less Journal is a bit of a mystery as I have no idea who bought it for me. Rather ironically, not knowing who to thank is adding to my stress. As it’s someone who clearly knows me well, I’ve asked my family, I’ve asked my friends, and I’ve asked my colleagues. Everyone I’ve asked has denied knowing anything about the Journal.

I haven’t used the Stress Less Journal yet as I’m a little concerned it was sent to me by mistake. I’ve decided that if I haven’t heard anything by the start of December, I’ll start to use it. It does sound great; the Stress Less Journal is here to help you stay calm in stressful situations. With seven chapters of cognitive exercises, daily habit and mood trackers, advice, and journal pages, you can learn how to stay calm in stressful situations, strategies for managing your stress, and tips for managing stress and anxiety symptoms. Perfect for me!

If you made it to the end of this latest random selection of rants and raves, thank-you. Spending the time writing this post was definitely worthwhile as I feel better for having a good old rant. As always, I hope that my rants were reasonable and that I haven’t inadvertently offended anybody.

Have you spotted any really random advent calendars this year? When I was researching beauty advent calendars I spotted advent calendars containing socks, gourmet popcorn, candles, bottles of wine, bottles of gin, tea, coffee, and luxury chocolate. I’m looking forward to opening my Percy Pig advent calendar.

What do you think about virtual races? I’ve seen a range of opinions online. Some runners think they are great; other runners have openly mocked participants on social media. I personally couldn’t understand why some runners were getting so worked up about the virtual London Marathon. Perhaps I’d have a different opinion if I was a faster runner, I don’t know. I do know that some smaller races will probably only survive thanks to runners entering their virtual runs.

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