**Disclaimer: I’m writing this rants and raves post after discovering Wolves have just failed to win, again, and are now firmly stuck in the relegation zone. I’m aware that in the grand scheme of things football isn’t very important, but it’s frustrating watching a group of footballers who look like they’d rather be somewhere else. Although I suspect that this rants and raves post may turn out to be more ranty than usual, I know that writing this post will make me feel better. As always, all moans and groans and rants and raves represent my personal views. Other, far less negative running blogs are available**

I’d like to start by saying good morning, good afternoon, good evening, etc to whoever takes the time to read my latest selection of rants and raves. It’s been a few months since my last rants and raves post. I think it’s fair to say that my stress levels have been a little too high for quite some time now, so I’m hoping that having a moan on here will relieve some of my stress. I hope that you are all keeping well, staying safe, and looking forward to the weekend.

As always, I’ve waffled on too much, so here is my selection of rants and raves. I apologise in advance for the repeat rants and raves, and I hope that you enjoy this tiny insight into what’s been happening inside my brain and in my life recently.

Rave: The Couch to 5k

Although my knees have so far prevented me from starting week 6 of the training plan, I wanted to start this rants and raves post with a rave about The Couch to 5k. I’ve said it before, but the Couch to 5k really does work. The first few weeks are what I’d describe as beginner friendly, and the interval sessions are achievable and confidence-boosting. I only found the interval sessions difficult when I failed to run at a sensible and sustainable pace. The peaceful, early morning runs definitely helped to boost my mental health.

Following a two-week break from running due to illness, I managed to injure my knee while walking around parkrun. The irony. While I’m not completely convinced that running 5k at the end of week 5 of the Couch to 5k was the most sensible thing I’ve done, I don’t regret completing Beacon parkrun. If, for whatever reason, I don’t run again this year – I’m certain that I will be back running soon – I can tell myself I successfully completed a shortened version of the Couch to 5k.

Rant: The weather

I’ve ranted about the weather a few times before. As a hydrologist, I don’t think I’ll ever be completely happy about the weather, particularly when it comes to the amount of rain we’ve had, it’s either too dry or too wet. The weather has been so wet and miserable recently, the summer is already starting to feel like a distant memory. I don’t think I’ll ever forget seeing this Terra MODIS image of Britain and Ireland back in August.

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The summer of 2022 will be remembered as a dry and sunny three months. As for the heat, I’ll never forget finding it virtually impossible to work in my oven-like office at home. I’m not going to repeat information that’s readily available on the Met Office here, but summer 2022 was exceptional. Unfortunately, despite the recent rainfall, the lack of rainfall this summer is continuing to have impacts on water resources. If 2023 is dry, I have no idea what will happen.

Rave: Pete Bland Sports

With apologies for the repeat rave, but I’d like to give another shout-out to Pete Bland Sports. Like most runners, when I find a style of trainers that suits my running, I try to stockpile a few pairs.

Earlier this year, I was struggling to find a pair of reasonably priced Brooks Adrenaline GTS 22 trainers. I could have purchased a pair direct from Brooks, but I wasn’t willing to spend £130 on a pair of trainers. Call me stingy, but I refuse to spend more than £100 on a pair of ugly trainers, especially when it feels like Brooks are constantly handing out free pairs of trainers.

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I’d tried all the well-known online running stores and was about to give up when I received an email from Pete Bland Sports containing a 15% discount code. I looked on Pete Bland Sports and discovered they were selling the trainers I was looking for in my size for ‘only’ £90. I paid for the trainers, received a confirmation email, and my trainers were delivered the next day. I’m going to endeavour to use Pete Bland Sports for all my future trainer purchases.

Rant: Spam emails

I’m not sure what’s going on with my Outlook account, but I’ve been receiving a lot of spam emails recently. Most are quite blatantly spam emails; some actually look quite authentic and are more difficult to spot.

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I’ve been reporting the emails as phishing emails, but I’m not convinced this actually does very much. As for the regular unwanted text messages and marketing emails I’ve been receiving from the Bier Company, I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve asked to be removed from their mailing list.

Rave: The Commonwealth Games

I have a confession to make. As a slightly cynical Brummie, I thought the Commonwealth Games were going to be a huge failure. My expectations in the lead-up to the Games were low to non-existent. I was so concerned the triathlon in Sutton Park would be a failure, I actually gave the triathlon tickets I’d been allocated to a friend.

This was as close as I got to the triathlon in Sutton Park, not exactly an action photo.

I’m pleased to admit that I was wrong, completely wrong. I’m sure there were some issues, but from what people have said, the Commonwealth Games were generally perceived as a huge success. Well done, Birmingham. Could we have our park back, please?

Rant: Trolls on social media

This isn’t aimed at anyone who reads this blog, you are all lovely. This is aimed at the people who think it’s acceptable to send vile messages to complete strangers on social media. I doubt these people are even aware that I have a blog, but I feel better for having a quick grumble.

As my nan used to say, if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all. And as for Tattle Life, why is it allowed to exist? It’s time it was closed down.

Rave: Sweaty Betty Power 9” Cycling Shorts

Yesterday, I worked out how much I’ve spent on what I’ve described in the past as running-related purchases so far this year, spoiler slightly more than I did last year. I’m modelling one of my most expensive purchases in the photo below.

[Photo: Debbie Hele]

The Sweaty Betty Power cycling shorts should have cost £60 but I invested in a pair when they were on sale for a far more reasonable £30.  As I have quite long legs, I decided to buy the slightly longer length. Thanks, Sweaty Betty for catering for taller runners and for all of the discount codes.

Rant: My temperamental knees

I’ve said it before, but it wouldn’t be a rants and raves post if I didn’t have a grumble about either my right knee or my left knee. This time, I’m going to rant about both of my knees as they seem to be taking turns to cause me to delay my return to the Couch to 5k.

At the start of October, I twisted my left knee halfway around the Sutton Park parkrun course. I wish I’d known that the new parkwalker volunteer role was so hazardous. I also wish that I’d been paying slightly more attention to the ‘Hill of Doom’. The morning after parkrun my left knee was so niggly, I realised that I’d have to put the Couch to 5k on hold for a few weeks.

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More than five weeks after I twisted my left knee, the Couch to 5k is still on hold. The minute my left knee started to feel better, my right knee decided it was time to join the niggle party. I’m concerned that by the time I restart the Couch to 5k, my fitness levels will be back to square one. I’m also embarrassed that I’ve once again started and failed to complete the Couch to 5k.

And, until next time, I’ve reached the end of my rants. As I’m still trying to be more positive in 2022, I’ve decided to end this post with a selection of random raves.

Rave: With me now podcast

It’s time for another confession! Although I’d heard of the ‘With me now’ podcast, up until a couple of weeks ago, I hadn’t listened to a single episode of the podcast. So much for me loving parkrun. I remember seeing a parkrunner wearing a blue 500 milestone t-shirt come flying past my marshal point a few weeks ago. The parkrunner stuck in my mind because he was so friendly and also because we don’t get many 500 milestone t-shirts at Sutton Park parkrun.

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I unfortunately had to head home straight after parkrun that day, so I didn’t get to have a late breakfast at the Communitea Café in Boldmere. Had I headed to the café after parkrun, I would have discovered that the parkrunner in the 500 milestone t-shirt was Danny Norman. I would have also known Danny had interviewed Gary, the Event Director of Sutton Park parkrun for the ‘With me now’ podcast. Thanks, Maria for letting me know that Sutton Park parkrun was featured on the podcast. I’ve got some serious catching up to do!

Rave: Top 10 Running Blog

Apologies for yet another repeat rave and for bigging myself up, but I recently discovered that this blog had been included in Vuelio’s Top 10 UK Running Blogs ranking for the sixth year in a row.

I’ve fallen out of love with blogging this year to the extent that I wasn’t expecting to feature in any Top 10 lists. I was both shocked and flattered to receive the email from Vuelio informing me that my blog had made the Top 10.

Rave: LEGO Home Alone house

I love Home Alone, one of my annual Christmas traditions is watching Kevin torment the ‘Wet Bandits’ while I attempt to wrap awkwardly shaped Christmas presents. I also love LEGO and have been known to treat myself to overly complicated and incredibly stressful to complete LEGO sets.

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I first spotted the LEGO Home Alone set last year. Unfortunately, by the time I’d weighed up the pros and cons of buying myself a somewhat indulgent Christmas present, the set had sold out everywhere online. My family, unfortunately, ignored my not-very-subtle hints on Farcebook and I didn’t unwrap a LEGO Home Alone set on Christmas Day.

Fast forward 12 months and the Home Alone set is available to buy direct from LEGO again. I’ve promised myself that if I raise £259.99 through Prolific Academic studies and through eBay sales between now and December, I can treat myself.

If you made it to the end of this latest selection of rants and raves, thank you. I’m not sure I would have made it this far. As predicted, I feel much better for having a bit of a rant. And finally, I hope that my rants were reasonable and that I haven’t somehow managed to inadvertently offend anyone – if I did, that wasn’t my intention, so I apologise.

Do you have a limit on what you are willing to spend on a pair of trainers? I’m concerned that next year I’m going to have to break my rule of not spending more than £100 on a pair of trainers.

Do you have any podcast recommendations? I’ve discovered that my longer walks are a lot more enjoyable when I’ve got a podcast to listen to.

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