AAAARRRGGHHH!!!! The Zombie Apocalypse Is Coming!!!!

Last Christmas my brother got me a ps3 game called 'The Last of Us'. For anyone that hasn't heard of it before, it's a game based on the story of a zombie apocalypse. I don't know what it is but I've always loved the zombie genre. For the last 3 months I've been playing this game on the edge of my seat, often shaking with fear as I found myself cornered in a room filled with the undead, and shouting obscenities as a zombie ripped my head off.

Anyway, last night I finally managed to complete the game - and I have loved every terrifying moment of it. Without giving away any spoilers, the graphics and storyline have made this the best game I have ever played. At times I felt as if I were part of the game, often finding myself leaning in my seat to try to peek around the corner. Sometimes I even had a lump in my throat during some of the more emotional scenes. But how does this fit in with my quest?

Well...now I have completed the game, how can I get my zombie fix? The only answer can be:

Huddersfield Zombie Run!

Yes that's right, I've entered myself into a local charity zombie fun run! For 5km, I'm going to have to run/scream/panic my way around Beaumont Park in Huddersfield while zombies attempt to eat me alive! The course will have contrasting terrain including sharp inclines, wooded areas, looming cliffs, bridges, tunnels, water features, open parkland, disused railway track and a dismantled Victorian Railway station. Along the way there will be obstacles such as cars, barricades and oil drums...so there will be plenty of hiding places for zombie ambushes to take place. While I know it will only be volunteers in costume, it will be so scary to have "real life" zombies chasing after me...I can't wait!

As I have mentioned in a previous post, I used to play football every weekend, and mid-week during lunchtimes at school. I was always playing, even when I picked up minor injuries. The problem there was that I never let my injuries fully heal. Every Monday morning I would be limping from a fresh knock, or muscle strain. By the age of 15 I decided that I had had enough of injuries so packed in playing football to concentrate on my exams. Since my early twenties though I decided I'd try to get my fitness back to where it was, but I would always get minor injuries every few weeks after some time on a treadmill. Now every time I do regular exercise I get minor twinges where my previous injuries occurred. 

Having these minor injury niggles is demoralising at times, and this puts me off doing any regular exercise. Before I found out about this charity fun run event, I began going on short runs to help build up my fitness. After a few weeks I was feeling good, with no injury worries. This led me to a false sense of security, and one day I pushed myself a bit too hard and injured my knee. For around 6 weeks I had sharp pains in my knee while going up and down stairs, even while just walking, so I yet again I stopped exercising. It's been around a month since the pains stopped, but those 6 weeks had knocked the enthusiasm to start running again out of me.

For my quest I had originally intended to do a 5k/10k and eventually a marathon. However, knowing how much trouble I have with injuries I know I will struggle to attempt a 10k or marathon, which is why I have set a goal of just a 5k run. This charity fun run, in aid of the Forget Me Not Children's Hospice, is a perfect way for me to not only get back into exercising, but to also complete task #86. I can guarantee that I will be stiff, and may even have a few twinges afterwards, but it's all in the aid of charity...and I get to experience being chased by zombies (without the inevitable brain eating outcome).

So that's this Sunday's plans, I'll let you know how it goes next week...if I survive!!!!!!!

Task #70 - Own A Pet

I was going to write a happy story about another task success, but events over the weekend have changed things. It is with sadness that I am reporting the death of my first pet, Harold Arthur.
 

Harry dozing on the sofa.

 

Harry was a cute little Dumbo Rat. We got Harry in October 2012 not long after I moved into a house with my girlfriend. Rach has had pets most of her life, so when she moved in with me she had withdrawal symptoms of not having something to look after. After a few weeks of pestering me, I cracked and we went down to the local pet shop just to have a look at what was on offer. This was a dangerous move, for as soon as I saw the cage of rats I knew we would be getting one that day. There were about 4 rats in the cage, each of them just sitting there nibbling on a cheese biscuit...but there was one active little chap darting around that caught my eye, and I thought to myself "I like his spirit!". Less than half an hour later we were loading the car up with a cage, toys and treats for him.

 

Harry was an adventurous little chap. For the first few days he was wary of his new home, but it wasn't long before he would be scampering around the living room like a nutter! We didn't let him roam free all of the time of course, just for an hour or so each evening. One of his favourite treats were Monkey Nuts, and whenever we gave him one he would scurry off to eat it behind one of the armchairs that he made his little den. He was also a sod for stealing crisps right out of your fingers! He became a cocky little thing and I loved him for it. It wasn't long before that spirit we loved got him into mischief though and we noticed that the laptop charger had a few gnaw marks in it. We didn't want to restrict him to only his cage so after that it became my mission to rat-proof the room by putting up little barriers to keep him away from trouble. With extra vigilance he caused no further bother.

 

Before long though further pet broodiness was brewing from Rach, this time in the form of a dog. I would therefore like to introduce you to Franklin Theodore.

 

 

We got Frank in May 2013 from a rescue centre in Sheffield and he instantly fit into the household perfectly. We got him from a rescue centre when he was approximately 2 years old. He is another spirited little guy, and loves nothing more than to snuggle down in front of the fire place to fall asleep. He is such a loving and caring dog, and is also a mischievous scamp when he wants to be.

 

Anyway, when Frank joined the house it was clear that Harry could no longer have the freedom that he used to have due to the threat that Frank may eat him, so for the last 10 months he has been largely restricted to his cage. We got a second cage so he could spend some time downstairs with us, but our regret is that he wasn't brought down often enough. He was loved though, and he loved the interaction he had with anyone that would allow him to perch on their shoulder while he "whispered" in their ear and tickled them with his whiskers. Another thing he loved to do was snuggle up to you and fall asleep. I remember one day where I was off work sick, and he spent the entire day curled up next to me on the sofa keeping me company.
 

Although he was only a small animal, he had a big personality and will be greatly missed. Anyway, looking at the positives, I can tick off this Thing To Do!
 

Harold Arthur (August 2012 - 2nd March 2014)