It is nearly a year since I summitted Mount Kilimanjaro. The trip is something I will never forget. Not only did I climb the world’s tallest freestanding mountain, but I also was able to meet people in the local community. You can read all about my trip here, including how we sat down and talked to Maasai women and visited two local primary schools.
One of the schools (which lacks electricity and running water) had a special needs classroom. Unfortunately, the students have to sit on the floor as there are no tables and chairs. I committed to raise £420 and am currently at £250. I have held bake sales, sold crafts and solicited donations from friends and family to reach this point. With a month to go until International Women’s Day, I am having one more push to hit £420 (£1 for every kilometer to the top of Kilimanjaro). The head teacher estimated it would cost £95 for a desk and chair set. With your help, we can make a difference in the lives of the children.
Here is a link to donate through PayPal. To be clear, this is not through an official charity. I will be sending the money to Eco-Africa Climbing, with whom I traveled with last year. They focus on sustainable tourism and supporting the local community (for example, part of our fees for our trip went towards buying cement to complete the installation of toilets at the primary school).
Thanks from myself and the children for your support! I will post again when the school has purchased the desks and chairs so we can see the difference this small gesture has made.
You may have noticed that my Events tab to the right is looking a bit full. This year I have lots of exciting things happening and I would love for you to join me on some of them.
February To celebrate my 40th birthday, I am taking part in the Run Through Queen Elizabeth Park Half Marathon* on Sunday 10 February. We are away for my actual birthday this weekend (off to Norway to see the Northern Lights!), so this is the best way for me to celebrate with my London friends. Many of my running buddies from Advent Running will be there too. You can still register for the race here. Afterwards, we will head over to Crate Brewery for pizza and cake baked by yours truly. I would love to see you running, cheering or eating at some point that day.
March Although my big goal is to run a Boston Qualifying time, I decided to focus on half marathons for the start of 2019. I am trying to run one a month. In March, I will be running the Croydon Half * on Sunday 31 March. It is a small local race and we will be visiting friends who live near by as we rarely make it south of the river these days.
April This month, I am travelling abroad to run the Budapest Half marathon on 14 April by travelling with Run Hungary**. They are a new company of locals who want to show off their country through running events. The trip is just a long weekend and includes a pasta party and free beer post-race. I always try to run a race when I travel. So far, I have medals from France, Germany, Czech Republic, South Africa, Ireland, and many of the states in the USA. I am very excited to be adding Hungary to the list! Please check here for all of the info, including hotel options (accommodation and breakfast is included in package price). Non-runners are also welcome to join us.
May I am still researching options for half marathons this month. Hackney Half is very appealing due to the proximity to home. I did it the first year so maybe it would be a chance for a new course PB.
There is also the Ragnar Relay Sweden event in May, which I totally want to do. Ultra X is putting together a team but I need to look at if I can get off work and then at how much the flights cost. I loved the UK Ragnar Relay White Cliffs and think the first ever Swedish one (where the Ragnars originally hailed from) would be epic.
June This will be my last half marathon for the year. A good friend lives in Italy so I am looking for a race close to her to mix a visit with a run. She isn’t a keen runner so I will have to accompany her to the beach during my stay too. Oh darn.
July I am super excited to announce I am an ambassador for Run Bulgaria**. This summer, they have a five day camp in Bansko which includes:
Accommodation (1 Bedroom, 2 sharing)
Airport Transfers
Breakfast and Lunches
Guided Run 2-3 Times Per Day (Mixture of Trails, Road, Long, Short, Intervals, Mountains, all optional)
Seminars and Talks (Running, Stretching, Nutrition )
Films Shown Each Evening in The Bar
Spa Facilities Available (For Free or For a Very Small Charge)
Swimming day at the mineral hot springs.
Mountain Hike including lunch, Enjoy the most beautiful views in the mountains.
Mountain Bike (MTB) Tour along beautiful trails including bike hire.
Basically, if you love the outdoors, this trip will be ace (the poster also mentioned wine tasting. No idea if this is an extra fee though). Spots are going quickly, so I encourage you to sign up today to enjoy mountains, sunshine, and more. Get £75 discount on your registration to their five day run camp at the end of July using my code AMB19MOL. Note, you will need to purchase your own flights.
December Still in planning phase, but Valencia marathon is a top contender to keep me in shape during the autumn. Price goes up 30 June, so I have time to decide. In an ideal world, I will be running Tokyo Marathon in March 2020 which means Valencia would get me fitter and faster. I then just need to keep it up until March 2020. Easy, right?
Please let me know if you have any races you would recommend, no matter there they are. I am always looking to explore the world in different ways.
*Thanks the organizers for a complimentary race entry. #gifted ** These are affiliate relationships which cost you nothing additional for using my referral codes. More info about these partnerships will be detailed in my blog post on Thursday.
It is so important to incorporate stretching into your fitness routine. My physio keeps reminding me that I need to stretch after every run and I am doing my best to do that. I thought it would be good to share my routine with you too. It is only 8 minutes long, so pop it on your phone or tablet after your next run and have a go.
One of my goals this year is to share more videos on my YouTube channel. Normally, I am a techno-phobe so I am really stepping out of my comfort zone in terms of learning new software and video editing skills. If you have any workout requests or would like a ‘how to do this move’ tutorial, leave a comment below and I will add it to my list.
Today is Blue Monday, calculated to be the saddest day of the year based on amount of daylight, cold temperatures, lack of progress on New Year resolutions, and those Christmas bills coming in. No one likes to start the week off a little bit blue, so here are my five tips on how to beat Blue Monday.
Treat yourself. Order flowers to be delivered to work, book a massage or manicure for Monday night, or arrange a night out with the lads. Making plans will help you look forward to ‘Blue Monday’ and ride it out with a smile on your face.
Cheer up the office. Bring in a basket of fruit, homemade cakes, biscuits or doughnuts to help everyone at work feel a bit happier. It’s not just the sugar that’ll cheer them up – it’s the kind gesture on your part.
Sweat it out. Book into an intense workout to sweat away any sadness. Try a new boutique gym class, head out for a quick run or follow a YouTube exercise video at home. Dancing (like no-one’s watching!) to your favourite tunes is also a great way to boost your mood.
Download a funny podcast. Listen on your way to work if you walk or take public transport to set you up for the day. My favourites are “My Dad Wrote a Porno” and recordings of Danny Baker’s Saturday morning show. “This Paranormal Life” and “2 Dope Queens” are also popular choices.
Dress up! If you’re feeling sad, putting on your best outfit, doing your hair, and making yourself look fabulous is a great way to boost your mood. Be ready for the compliments and be sure to say thank you with a big smile.
These are just a few easy ways to turn around Blue Monday to make it more colourful. These ideas can work on any day when you are feeling a bit down. If all else fails, book a spa weekend or holiday away to refresh and recharge.
I love having teeth but I hate going to the dentist. When I was younger, I had so many cavities filled I still have minor panic attacks when the hygienist finds a ‘sticky spot’. My SimplyHealth Active plan covers routine teeth cleaning, which was perfect as I was due for one in December. For those who haven’t been to the dental hygienist in a while or are curious about what happens during an appointment, read on to learn about my experience. I have also included a some information that I learned during my appointment. Enjoy!
How much does it cost to have your teeth cleaned?
Coming to London, I was a bit surprised to find out that I had to pay to visit a dental hygienist to have my teeth cleaned.In the USA, teeth cleaning is part of your dental insurance plan (if you have it as not every employer will offer it as a benefit) and you may only need to pay a co-pay at your appointment (which is similar to an excess fee in the UK) depending on what insurance policy you have.Again, it depends on what insurance policy you have, but usually the cost in less than $20 as the rest is covered by your insurance company.Here in the UK, I have found that it costs about £50-60 in London for a 30 minute appointment.In both countries, it is recommended to have your teeth cleaned twice a year.Luckily, my Simplyheath Active plan covers routine dental appointments and emergency procedures (after a qualifying period).
What does a hygienist do to your teeth?
I had an appointment booked in early December, which was between marathon madness and the holiday party season. I was warmly greeted by my hygienist, Cheryl, who quickly reviewed my records on her computer.She probably noticed that I am missing four teeth that were pulled to make room for the rest when I was younger (small jaw/big teeth problems).After I sat in the reclining chair, she gave me safety glasses and placed a disposable cloth across my chest.These are to help protect my eyes and clothes from water, spit, and any others types of splash.
Cheryl then placed a suction stick in at the back of my mouth under tongue so I didn’t have to swallow as often. This means I can leave my mouth open so she can work. She started on my bottom teeth, scraping off tartar and plaque.Luckily, it didn’t hurt!Since my last appointment, where I was told I had the start of gum disease (lovely, huh?), I have been adamant about flossing in the evenings and using an interdental brush each time I brush.Although I don’t have large noticeable gaps in my teeth, I do have a slight space at the bottom of my teeth, where food can get stuck or my electric toothbrush can’t reach.I am now one of the converted as I want to keep my teeth for as long as possible.
Methodically, Cheryl made her way around my lower jaw and then up to the top.There were a few times where I needed to swallow and that is fine.
Does it hurt when you visit the hygienist?
Cheryl also checked in with me to see if I was comfortable or in pain.She told me at the start of the appointment to raise my hand if I needed her to stop.I am happy to say that I did not.
Does snacking cause cavities?
After she has had a close look, Cheryl let me know I was the best patient of the day as my teeth were easy to clean.She also asked if I snack throughout the day or just eat at mealtime.I know that she knows the truth (my teeth don’t lie) so I sheepishly admitted I basically eat all day (7am, 10am, 1pm, 3pm, 6pm).Her suggestion was to l try to only eat a few big meals and avoid fizzy drinks. This will help me protect the enamel on my teeth.The fermentable dietary sugars from food stays in the mouth for about 30 minutes after eating.It takes those 30 minutes for saliva to remove most the sugars from your mouth which protect the enamel.Every time you put food to your lips you start the cycle again.Therefore, leaving longer time between eating protects your teeth.If you are continuously snacking, there isn’t any time for saliva to combat the sugars.
What is the difference between tartar and plaque?
Tartar is the mineralized form of plague.You will usually have it in hard to reach places, such as the inside surfaces of your lower front teeth and outer surfaces of upper molars. This is also because of where two of the three major salivary ducts openings are located.The minerals in saliva, calcium in particular, mix with the plague already on your teeth and mineralise them into tartar. Once these harden, they form tartar and very hard to remove without the special instruments your dental hygienist has available. There is strong evidence linking presence of tartar beneath the gum level with gum disease, which is why it is so important to remove.
I am very grateful that my Simplyhealth Active plan covered this appointment and then my next one in six month’s time. I would like to keep my natural teeth for as long as possible because if I have to loose them, there might be some expensive and painful procedures required.
Next week, I will give you a step by step on how to claim back an appointment fee via the Simplyhealth website.It was much easier that I thought it would be.
How often do you get your teeth cleaned?Do you floss regularly?
Thanks to dental student Premal Patel for his help on explaining the science behind oral hygiene. This post contains affiliate links which cost you, the buyer, nothing additional but helps maintain the costs associated with running this site.
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