Jog on

Ever since I can remember, running has been one of my least favourite things to do. Along with tomatoes, small yappy dogs and Geography GCSE, pounding the streets is up there on my hate list.

My mum remembers how, during my nursery obstacle race, I ran as far as the plastic tunnel and never came out, thus letting my team (the blue squares) down in a big way.  In primary school, I remember dreading sports day, knowing I would come last in the compulsory running race.

So, it is with great surprise that I find myself writing this after going for a jog for possibly the first time ever.
What triggered this massive change of heart was going to see my friend's dance show yesterday. Watching so many sleek, toned and elegant girls backflip and pirouette around the stage made me feel like a blob. There were probably seven year olds there who were fitter and more flexible than me!

I decided that I really should do some exercise.

I dusted off my trainers, last used in school P.E. circa 2009, pocketed my iPod, and set off down my road. 'This is great!', I thought as I whizzed down the hill. 'I feel so free! Why didn't I do this befo-aaaarrgh stich." Needless to say, when the hill ran out it wasn't quite so great. But I carried on.

I was so pleased with myself that I manged to run for the length of two whole songs. Only later did I discover that said songs are possibly the shortest in my library, and total about 4 minutes 50. However, this is about 3 minutes 50 more than I thought I could do.

Inevitably, I did not run the whole circuit and had to slow to a fast-ish walk pretty quickly. Nevertheless, I arrived back home sweaty, disgusting and probably more out of breath than I should have been, but happy and proud of myself.

I'm not sure if this will become a part of my summer shape-up routine (I'd go for no), but I have definitely learnt three things from my brief foray into the world of running.
1) I should have waited longer after my dinner because I now have the worst case of hiccups known to man.
2) I need to invest in some better exercise gear. Some teenage girls stared at me for just a bit too long as I stagggered past them in an ancient T shirt and greying tracksuit bottoms. Look the part,  feel the part afterall!
3) A jogging playlist is an essential. My usual mellow mix of indie, laid back pop and folk was not condusive to running. I found myself listening to songs that I hate, in an attempt to find a beat which I could run to.I may have to grit my teeth and venture into the world of dance music.

Free as a bird

I am back! Exams are over, summer is here and I am generally free!

The past month or so has NOT been fun:

Having made my bedroom far too messy, the power couple of revision and I took over the dining room, which is spacious-but also dark and gloomy and cold. Locked away in my study cave sporting my compulsory uniform of pyjamas or a hoodie and with my hair piled up precariously on top of my head, I came to resemble the most terrifying of beasts: the revision goblin. (Read more on this phenomenon here) This reached scary extremes when I managed to cripple my important writing hand with some sort of R.S.I. from furious scribbling, and developed back ache from being hunched over copious books.

But, six and half hours of fierce concentration later, A levels are over, seemingly as quickly as they arrived. I could technically never do an exam ever again-a wonderful prospect!

But now, what to do with my new-found freedom? I have 93 sunny, fun-filled days until university to fill with...whatver I like!

Of course, I've made a to-do list. From the mundane, (student finance applications), to the vague (watch old films); from my plans for day trips (Broadstairs, Brighton, London) to my personal aspirations (drive on a motoway, read about feminism), this list will be the basis of my diary for the next few months.

I am going to mercilessly exploit my 100 Days of Summer for blog material, so keep your eyes peeled.