fetcheveryone

You were going like a train postieboy

It's these sorts of gestures that make fetcheveryone so amazing. Great job Fetch and Katie.

Well done all of you

Sounds like a great day out, well done all the fetchpointers!

Yeah! Brilliant.

I wasn't running or anywhere near it, but it gave me such a thrill to see you all on the TV coverage and more importantly to know that you were there dishing out hugs, oranges, jelly babies and whatever else Fetchies needed.

I love Fetch point. Such an awesome day. Will come back and do it one day! Well done all.

Fab! As well as spotting you a couple of times on the highlights one of my club mates was stationed just past you and I can see your balloons in his pics!

Not the same without you all!

Love Fetchpoint so much - it's become one of my favourite days of the year! Well done awesome Fetchies, on both sides of the fence! Runners rock

Well done. Such a good job

I'll be at MK but in the finish area as a marshall, so do come and say hello if you recognise me. I think they will make us wear event t shirts or similar but I'll try to flash a Fetch buff or similar.

Well done all the fetchies running yesterday!
Never knew handing out oranges could be such fun!
If I'm still standing after the MK Half, I may come over and do a bit of fetchpoint cheering afterwards

I have bruises all up my arms from leaning on the barriers, I fell asleep on the sofa halfway through my first glass of wine - but I wouldn't miss it for anything other than being on the road side of the fence. Fetchpoint rules, Fetcheveryone rules - Ian, you rock

Totally appreciated the cheer when I ran past waving on the other side of the road, and the High5s, orange and encouragement when I walked past forlornly the second time. It was a massive lift, thanks!

London's my favourite race and the fetchpoint has always inspired me twice along the way. Really enjoyed being on the other side of the fence and meeting or re-meeting fellow interweb runners - update: *still alive* 💔!

Dedication to the cause, frienship and support - that's why you should have won first prize in last weeks award show:-)

Love Fetchpoint. One of my fave memories of my two VLMs and very grateful for the support to me when I was running and to my family when they were supporting. You are all superstars! G

I enjoyed 2 things about VLM. Mile 13 and mile 22. Hated the rest. Can't think how that worked

Sounds like yet another fabulous day. Must try to get there next there. I've only done one and really want to do it again. Fetcheveryone is just wonderful

Brillopads, all of yez xxx

You all did a great job. I will always remember Fetchpoint from when I did London in 2008, it was awesome !

You guys were awesome and perfectly positioned for optimum encouragement. Thanks. x

Thanks for all the support! Loved seeing you all and thanks for looking after Husbando of me

Thanks Ian & all the Fetchies. You did an awesome job of giving us a lift through the fog of pain!

Thanks for the support everyone, I really enjoyed your support. I reckon you had a tougher job than rmthose of us running

I raise your string and tripods. I currently have 6 haybales in the back of my car to lug up to central london on the tube, to protect our stretch of footpath for our running club cheer point!

Premier Inn "bedroom art" (for want of a better description) is of an "interesting" style.
I'm glad that you mentioned string. At first glance I thought that there was a rather large eyeball in the box with the oranges!
Have a great day tomorrow. I know all the Fetchies running will appreciate your, and the other point's support.

Oh that reminds me I have some truly special hotel art to post

Happy Fetchpointing

That has reminded me to put out the old Fetch banner to bring tomorrow! Two banners should help us stake out our patch.
See you at 7.30

I was just thinking that McG is the expert on hotel art Good luck tomorrow, have fun!

Is that just for team 5??

Have fun!

See you tomorrow

See you tomorrow

I'll be coming down a "bit" late - so if there's anything you need (although looking at that suitcase it's unlikely) drop me an fmail

Have a great time everyone at Fetchpoint!

Have a great day at Fetchpoint, I'll look out for you on the telly.

Looking forward to meeting you tomorrow. Will be there as soon as GWR replacement bus service allows!

I'm still fidgeting to align.

Runners and supporters; I hope you have a wonderful day tomorrow.

Have a great time

Have a great day tomorrow. It is a brilliant thing you are doing, Fetchpoint and runners!

Have a great time guys. Well done. I'll be trying to zip around London on the tube. from 9 miles to 20 to 25 to after, looking out for PJH92.

You guys ruck. One day in the future I will join you all.

Top fetchpointing guys. Well done. It's the most inspiring place in the world for a tired runner. Fetchpoint! G

Thank you for the most excellent support today x

So well deserved

definitely well deserved. :):)

Thoroughly well deserved (well actually you deserve more)

Next year gold!

❤️👍👏

Next year you can get a campaign manager and Win This Thing! Big congrats though and you both look lovely

Excellent, well deserved

well done, onward and up ward

Congratulations! Best bling of the year

Chuffed to bits

Very well deserved.

Excellent and well-deserved

Congratulations Next year we are going to beat Run Mummy Run

Awesome

Brilliant!

Many congratulations. Very well deserved. G

Everyone knows bronze is the new gold!! Well done

Wonderful, wonderful news

👍 👌 😀

Toot tooty toot

Ace ! We love Fetch ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Fantastic. Loads of required xx

Congratulations!

Well done and well deserved! Next year, I reckon you should make a Fetchie sticker that peeps can only get when they have voted for you :D

Nice one!

*love* Fetch
*love* Fetchies

Sorry that was meant to be *hearts*s

Run Mummy Run are mercilessly markety, next year let's go for silver!

Great result - well deserved.

Whoop whoops!

I think you are better than bronze too!!

I'm still not sure who could have been better than Fetch but huge congrats anyway!!

yay

Lovely photo, &!as LD said, what could be better than fetch. Next year..

I find it hard to believe that there are two better online communities than this one

Well done xxx

Fabulous xx

Yay, well done!

Congratulations!!! 😃😃😃

*applauds*

I don't believe that the pic of you and Katie B is 3rd. Katie is your real prize. Well batted that man.

Well done!

Excellent, well done ☺

👍

... ...

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

🖑🖐

COME ON!

At a quiet moment, yell 'Praise Jesus!' That always stirs a crowd.

Or 'Get in there!!'

According to the website the awards ceremony ends at 11, so not long to wait.....

What's happening?!

Fingers crossed

I think Fetch's heart rate is 'slightly' raised......

Ooooh exciting.

There are alot of awards, they've dine shoes and are on to books now

How do you know B?

Bronze for best on-line community Well done Fetch

She's hiding inside a cake...

I searched for Running awards twotter and they are posting them on there (I'm not on twotter, you can see it without being)

Whoop Whoop Bronze (never heard of the ones that took Gold and Silver myself though... )

Well done Fetch - silver or gold would have been too showy

Only bronze???? Seriously though, well done!

Gold in all our heads and hearts, though

Exciting!!!!

Fantastic, congratulations!

Nice one. Bronze is good as it means fetch is still avant garden rather than totally mainstream. Next year though...

Good result!

Yay, well done Fetch we love you.

Ya beauty!!! Podium finish!!

Well done on the bronze. We were the loud ones upstairs (with Ealing half marathon)

:-):-)

Well done! Hope you enjoyed your evening Loved the photos I saw on Twitter

Brill

Fabulous

well done!

Congratulations that's fantastic well done xx

Awesome - it's great you've got public recognition for all your work and innovation.

It's on the podium ! Great stuff Fetch and thanks for a unique and tremendous place.

I expect it will be gold in ten years when the improvements in drug testing lead to the disqualification of the two above you.

Have a good evening.

I'm glad you're going and hope you have a fantastic time and network like demons
There is no site like this one. There are other running sites, and goodness knows I've sniffed at the edges of a few of them, but none of them have what we have here.

Best of luck and if nothing else it should be a good opportunity to tap up some new potential advertisers.... let's hope that means its a win-win (literally)

Have a great time. I, and I think many others will, agree that this is the best place to be regardless of the outcome of the awards. Well done on getting shortlisted

If you need any more proof, here is an article that proves that social media helps runners to improve: nature.com

Have a fabulous evening, both of you. You've more than earned it. If countries could be run like this site, the world would be a far nicer, more caring place

What V'rap and everyone else said! I'm also very glad you decided to go hope that you have a lovely evening and the networking is useful.
Looking forward to the Twitter updates

Have a fab evening That's a tax deductible expense, right?

I'm more excited than I can say!! I don't have access to birdie sounds, please can you put something on fb or I wont be able to sleep

D2 - any pics will have the #fetchgallery hashtag, so they should show up in the gallery. But I will try to squeeze in some micro-blogs too

Even if it's not the full sit-down, I hope there are nibbles and a glass of plonk included at that price. Good luck .

Good luck, Fetch.

Of course you should both be there! Have a great time, this is an amazing place you have created. xx

Best of luck. I'm sure I've voted at least six times. That ought to do it, right? I'll be waiting in Twitterland.

Good luck, and enjoy!

Yes of course you both should be there. Have fun if you can, and as you're with the lovely Katie (in posh frock) how can you not? - that's you!

Good luck - fingers crossed for you! 😀

PS if they give the award to someone else please tell them from us that they have got it wrong

What they've all said, especially B ^ - this site is to be treasured. Hope you have a good time

I am welling up at your 'speech' already. Have a brilliant night. I'll be watching on Twitter (but I bet you'll be up way beyond my bedtime).

FTW! Or For The Fun?! *penguin* Enjoy either way. You guys are tops! Thanks as ever for FE. G

Doh, I meant of course. That's the whole point, as in best bib and tucker! ! G

Good luck, enjoy it and your place on the shortlist is very well deserved! Personally, I think you should win outright! I wouldn't go anywhere else.

good luck, looking forward to seeing Katie's frock. And yours, obviously

for tonight

Good luck, bet it's more fun than the fruit and veg awards

Enjoy and good luck.

Best of luck! Have a fab time xx

We love you! I may not be much of a runner just now but fetch is my home from home and I couldn't be without it

So pleased you're going. Will cross everything... have a great night. I love fetch even though I no longer run. Good luck!

Fingers crossed. Say hello to 401's Ben and Kyle (hopefully not award competitors).

Good luck - this site is 'kinda' special, and it's your guiding hand that keeps it so.

Have fun; we love you guys - if you don't win, we want a recount x

It only right and proper that you should be there and spend company money on doing so. And wouldn't it be deductible, like membership of a professional body?

oohh exciting, enjoy your night oot and I've got everything crossed

good luck and if there is any justice you will win!!!

I hope you both have a lovely evening, make some new friends, and network like crazy.

Have fun, you deserve it. I'd be really interested to see what difference it makes to site traffic when you win. If that is, yes I mean if.........if you can tell there is a difference in site traffic. Of course you'll win! If not you have a moral victory as the site is great

Good luck Come on Fetch !!!

Go Fetch

Have a great time and with the award. I feel sorry for runners who haven't yet discovered FE

If you win be sure to say hello to Prague in your acceptance speech

enjoy.

Good luck and have a great time!:)

Good luck and enjoy it...the first of many independant FE nominations no doubt!

Ian you blog brought a tear to my eyes. You deserve every success with your fantastic informative website and tonight will highlight your work even more.

You two are two very special people and I wish you every success tonight

Keep up the good work. Mobot 😘

enjoy and good luck

Good luck!

Good luck.

I'm at the running awards tonight too! Good luck x

Good luck and enjoy yourselves.

Hope you are having a great night. You deserve it. My FE subscription is probably the best value for money of any of my outgoings xx

I'd like to know if it's morally acceptable to take more than one snack from the table afterwards.

I donate because my brother needed transfusions regularly and because I wasn't able to help more directly.
My December donation went to his local hospital.

I'm having visions of the old advert with Noel Edmonds
(I'm a donor. Started because I found myself on St Vincent Street in Glasgow without the price of a one day just after my 18th birthday, and once I'd donated they dropped the bombshell that I wasn't allowed a hot drink until after my second donation, so I had to go back, and then I couldn't break the streak. That was 35 years ago.)

I have friends and family who have needed significant volumes of transfusions. I have donated over 50 times now, paying back what they required.

I did donate before this and will continue to do so - it is a fantastic way to help people in need!

I used to donate regularly but stopped after having physio acupuncture, but now they allow acupuncture by medical professionals I have my first donation in ages next Monday

I started donting when I was 18 because my employer at the time (Redrow Homes in North Wales) used to host a blood transfusion wagon in their car park once in a while. Carried on donating since then when circumstances allow. Have always been "slow", and always the "wrong arm", have fainted a couple of times (fine while giving, go a bit lightheaded once I'm done though, not scared of needles so no idea why) and do feel wiped out for a day or so afterwards, but having known a fair few people, including my mum, who've needed transfusions the minor inconveniences are massively outweighed by the benefits. Did consider trying to give plasma but find blood donation easier to arrange. I'm very amused by Vrap's reason for first donating

I used to donate as a young adult, then took a hiatus of 25 years, and have recently started again. I am donating this Friday. I donate because the NHS has looked after me really well over the years, and I want to give something back for those who need it. It doesn't cost me anything other than time.

I donate and like to spot the changes the service brings in each year. Particularly looking forward to them stopping the pin pricking of the finger that should be there when i next donate after VLM. In terms of impacting on running I have never run the same day. Although I find my club run on the following day a bit harder. I am in my 30s in terms of donations. I have donated since being talked into at work but it has brought home the importance after my wife needed three units after giving birth after my first child. Worse bit is getting the plaster off my hairy arm. My top tip is to have a shower and peel it off when its soaked. Make sure you stay hydrated through the day of donation. I the post donation snacks.

I donated once, while at University. I was sitting down, having my cup of juice and biscuit when I began to feel unwell. I called a nurse over and promptly slumped against her skirt. I was put on a bed and covered with a blanket. I got a feeling of pins and needles over my whole body and remember not being able to move my hands at all. About an hour later, I had recovered enough to walk back to my room. I haven't tried giving blood again since.

2 attempts in my early 20's were slow, and then one where I was unwell like HowFar? Recent attempts thwarted by low iron, not finding veins, and doing so many tests that there were no unpunctured arms... I'd like to be able to but it's not quite happening.

Ex Cardiac PICU nurse and so experienced first hand just how important blood and blood products are.
It's a no brainer for me in terms of donating while I can. The process is relatively quick and easy. For a while (when we lived near a centre that could do it) I was a Plasma donor because my uncommon blood group is the universal donor group for plasma, and I used to donate every 4 weeks.
Back to 3 monthly(ish) whole blood donation now though

I grew up in East Africa so they don't want my blood, apparently.

You know there's a thread for it (of course!) don't you? http://www.fetcheveryone.com/viewtopic.php?id=23103 Enjoy. Think my last one was my 40th. Tend to do 3 times a year now (squeezed in 4 last year! ) Scotland doesn't have online booking nor the nifty thing where you get a text that says where your blood was used. But our phone and email booking works well. And we have Tunnocks Teacakes and Caramel Wafers. What more need I say?! G

I used to give blood regularly, when you could just turn up at the advertised session after they'd sent you a reminder and you've made me guilty enough to resume but it's so much more complicated these days - you have to register online, pick a date and venue (no free slots in the next session at the place closest to me at their next session which is not for 6 weeks (1), book an appointment at a specific time etc - they don't make it easy, do they?

Would love to, but unless they've changed their rules, I don't think they'll have mine as I enjoy the delights of a lovely condition, ulcerative colitis. I did manage to donate a couple of pints in my youth before the UC was identified.

I've been donating for about 6 years after reading comments on the thread. After years of thinking about it, I finally got round to doing it. I used to dislike the bit where you had to sit up after doning as I just don't have the core strength, but this was eased with the introduction of the swing chairs

They have orange club biscuits - how much more temptation do you need? Just one thing though - I can't race for about a week afterwards. Just joggin along is fine but any significant effort and I feel bit ropey. I just organise my donations avoiding races.

I do, but would like to do so more regularly: it's their restrictions on donating when you've travelled somewhere in the last 6/12/whatever months that get in the way. My sister lives in Kenya, so if I'm there once every couple of years of years I seem to be barred more often than I'm accepted. I don't think (reading back) that this is anything to do with what you might be covering in your v-log though

I would suggest folk schedule a donation far away from any race, and also at a time when they don't need to be 'hard' training in the following few days.

I just never find time, which is an excuse covering a whole load of feeble reasons. I did give blood once a long time ago. Very slow donator. Felt a bit feint. Need someone to drag me along.

Medically disqualified from giving. I feel a bit gulty about that, which is daft.

I try to donate regularly too. I used to work next door to the Blood Service HQ in Newcastle and so we would encourage each other to go. Then they had a regular session at my other workplace, so nipping out for a lie down and a biscuit on work tie was always appealing. I have found that it's getting a bit trickier as my most local session gets booked up very quickly and they don't take walk-ins. I have also been unable to donate for 6 months after travelling, but thanks to your reminder today, I think I can get booked into a session soon. I've never had any problems feeling weak or dizzy, but I did say no to donating two days before a half marathon.

I'm not allowed to. Would if I could. Without people who do donate I probably wouldn't be here.

Donated three times over a long period, one recently, none of which went particularly well. Found training and parkrun in about 4-14 days after donation noticeably underpowered. Parkrun two days after donation was affected, but not as badly. (An area doc has explained to me why such may be.) Interested to read what effects you experience.

I can't donate due to meds I'm on when I queried it they said it was because it would reduce the level of drug in my system and put me at risk. I have tried 3 times but answer is always no the same as bone marrow register 🙁

I finally started in more recent years but find that I lack puff while running for a couple of weeks after so try to plan around races.

I do wish there was a way to screen and approve the bloods which are readily dismissed, such as those who ever lived abroad, recent(ish) tattoos, sexual proclivities, medical history etc etc.

Even if it involved a visit for testing and screening then a second follow up visit to donate. So many prohibitions must make donated levels lower than they realistically need to.....

I've donated quite a few times, but knocked off timing by ear piercing or tattoos and then iron levels sometimes.

I donated 3 times but each time they removed the needle I sweated and needed fresh air so they stopped me donating. The same has happened twice at blood tests but not every time. It's a great thing to do and wish I could have continued and put up with a few minutes discomfort but it wasn't my choice.

I started donating as soon as I turned 18, used to go with my Mum. Then I had a break for a bit, generally due to body piercings and just being a student.
I was also excluded through acupuncture at one point, but this is now OK.
I try to donate as often as possible. I find the whole process relatively painless and for me it is quite quick.
It normally takes me a good week to get back to normal fitness levels for training.
I do love a mint club biscuit afterwards.
I am currently looking at platelet donation, but nowhere really local that does this.

I was about to start donating back in 2011, but then was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis and put on drugs which precluded me donating. I've actually been off those drugs for nearly 12 months now, I ought to find out how long I have to be off medication before they would allow me to donate. My guess is that they will never want to take my blood after being on anti-rheumatic drugs.

I've donated in the mid teens and never had any issues (other than there not being any purple clubs after) but you definitely can't train as hard for a week or so afterwards.

That and the restrictions for having been tattoo'd are annoying.

I have a rare blood group and would be happy to donate. However, sessions are usually when I'm at work or on the rare occasion there is an evening session, fully booked in seconds and I am turned away if I show up on the fly. What annoys even more is the evening session is booked by people who could quite clearly have attended earlier in the day (but that's not the fault of the Blood Service)

It seems to me that the Blood Service do little to encourage working people (at least where I live) to donate.

I don't donate any longer for a number of reasons, low HB or borderline HB nothing more frustrating than attending waiting ages then being sent home. The other reason being that I like exotic holidays and they don't want blood if you have been anywhere vaguely malarial. So Thailand last year, Vietnam year before rules me out As above I wish they could screen rather than stopping people donating.

I used to give regularly,started when at uni. I think i have given about 25 pints. I had to receive 2 pints after child birth went a little wrong and can no longer donate because I have received. I don't understand that so if you can vlog the reasoning I would be interested.

I started donating once I'd had children - as it was only then that I discovered I was O neg and therefore quite useful. I am lucky in that I can do it in Manchester now so I can fit around the working day - and my hours are flexible so I can make the time up. I'm a sucker for an orange club biscuit! I find it does affect my ability to train well afterwards - for about a week - the best recovery I ever had was when I had no choice but to lead a Couch to 5k session of walk/run that same evening - I have always meant to repeat the experiment!

They don't want my blood as I have Crohn's disease.

I donated regularly whenever I was permitted to, which was every four months because of the iron filings in it. I've had malaria so my blood was taken for research into tropical diseases. Then it was decided it was good enough for real people, then that it wasn't, then that it was. Now I've been told that as an ABpos mother, my blood might kill real people (nothing to do with tropical disease!) so I've been temporarily disqualified (but they might come back and ask for more if they get really desperate - which seems unlikely). I'm guessing they took my name off the bone marrow list too.

I've got the genes for haemochromatosis and am encouraged by my consulatant to dontate to help keep my iron levels down. Am due to donate next week so must make an appointment:)

I donate 3-4 times a year, but always spend a bit of time trying to work out when the next planned race is before committing! I am okay with cycling home after, but the even relatively small hill on my route is a struggle for the next 2 or 3 days on my bike. I don't run for about 48 hours after, and that same hill isn't good for about a week. Of course, I don't run that fast anyway! My heart rate tends to be a bit higher for a few days too.

I used to donate regularly but they wouldn't let me continue when I began to get lighted headed and woozy after the donations. My medical history since precludes me now sadly.

Would like to, but did around 5 donations and ended up not at all well with anaemia despite being cleared each time to donate. Went along after I was supposedly back to normal, on ferrous sulphate, and failed the haemoglobin test. Never seemed to recover between donations (my 5k time would get 5 mins slower, then only recover 3 mins before it was time to donate again), so I've come to the conclusion that I just don't have enough spare. I tried.

I'm another former blood donor, now medically disqualified. Towards the end of my donating "career", it was getting increasingly difficult to donate due to the administration (booking, inconvenient times, etc.) and it seems from what others have written it has become more frustrating.

Every time I donated, I told the staff I bled easily after donation and therefore needed something more substantial than an elastoplast, every time they said I didn't need anything, each time I bled and needed a wound dressing :-o!

Donating didn't have any effect on my exercise afterwards (although sensibly I didn't try long or intense runs).

My blood group is uncommon, plus I was CMV negative (uncommon) and I was asked to donate monthly (?) for neonates, but my employer (NHS) refused to allow me to attend :-(.

I used to donate on a regular basis, then due to dentistry treatment/holidays in India/being unwell there were several years when I couldn't donate, I got out of the habit and before I knew it was too old to be able to donate, it's a shame really as I am sure my blood is still good and could help someone. I would certainly recommend blood donating.

Bet he wishes he hadn't asked!!

Actually I have just checked the website and it appears I am not too old!! Did they extended the age range?

They are always changing things, MrsJigs!
I've been knocked back a few times for low iron, but you've reminded me I should book an appointment. It's much easier now I don't have to take the kids along and use the power of my voice alone to stop them from either fighting or eating 8 packets of biscuits in a sitting (and that was just ds2!) Whenever I go to Lake Garda I have to take a few months off donating, they ask where in Italy I've been and show me a map with a teeny tiny square where you can't donate, and that's where I've just been!

Regular donor here. Have a appt next week which will be 47 I think. I'm v proud of it

I didn't start giving blood until 2013 (the year I was 50) but have donated 8 times since then. I'm not sure why I'd never done it before other than my slight and irrational fear of needles in veins (which I seem to have overcome), and a lack of convenient opportunities to do so because of living out in the sticks. I can't remember being actively encourage to donate in my 20s or 30s though - maybe that's a local rather than a national thing?
I started when a donation van began turning up in the car park of my office which was so convenient that it would have been rude not to. Unfortunately, that service was stopped but I go as regularly as I can now to a local community centre. I've been refused a couple of times for low iron levels but have taken iron supplements since then and not had a problem.
I wouldn't run on the day of a donation and have noticed previously that running a day or two afterwards is a bit more difficult than usual.

I've donated. Started after I had my son and needed a transfusion to give back. When I investigated as a student I didn't weigh enough! Then they brought the rule that if you had received a transfusion you couldn't donate so had to stop. Now I am iron deficient so couldn't even if they would take it

It's lucky I have common blood, as I am excluded on - uh - lifestyle grounds. I'm needlephobic anyway, I'd probably just pass out if they started syphoning out of me!

I have donated a lot over 25 started when in the Army and did not have much choice. Have not been recently one reason the massive queues after a change in the way it worked and believe it since I have been doing marathons. I got shown the door the last time I went as I had run earlier. Years ago they used to come to the local leisure centre and would give blood after a work out the nurses would always joke how quick we filled the bag. It had proved almost impossible around and training to fit in when they come and I no longer get any notifications when they are in the area

I used to be a regular doner until I developed kidney disease, at which point my Hb level was becoming quite low. Subsequently I've had a kidney transplant and unfortunately I'm not allowed to donate any more.

I've only donated once so far but plan to aim for twice a year fitting around races. I run ultras so figure I should give my blood a chance to get back to normal and also not too close to races.

First started donating in my late teens through work stopped when changed Jobs, have been donating regularly for the past 5 years or so. Always find anything over 5-6 miles hard work for a week or two after donating, so plan donation around races. Am dur=e to donate 2 weeks after VMLM

First started when a temp as work allowed you to go off for an hour and do it - plus there were biscuits.

40+ donations later, never had a health issue, and only once turned around after going in as there were 30+ people in the queue (traffic hold ups meant that the session started late)

I used to love donating blood. Something I could do three or four times a year that made me feel good about myself and allowed me to contribute to society and all that good stuff. Then one time I went along and I found out that they couldn't take my donations any more because I'd had brain surgery before a certain date and there was a risk that my donation might be contaminated. I would love to be able to donate again but that's not going to be possible. Thank you to everyone who does donate. I'm someone who benefited from the donations of others and it really means a lot to me.

Are you ok, Fetch? You didn't keel over and get sent to hospital or anything? It's just been a bit quiet from you since you went.

I'm good, thanks Will share the vlog in a couple of weeks.

My reasons for donating are as follows:
1. You never know when you might need some
2. I have a reasonably unusual blood group so there will be less of mine around anyway
3. It's probably the last genuinely altruistic act available to us, in this country at least
4. As the list of exclusions grows longer, it seems important that those of us who can donate do so.

My main concern about the process is that in common with almost everything that has been "systemised" in recent years, the donation service is now discouraging/excluding groups of people - BigLeggy gives an example of this further up. I'm not convinced of the effectiveness of the appointments system and I think it can give people the idea that they are "customers", which leads to complaints and flounces, neither of which does the donation rate any good.

I gave last week. It took 7 minutes + 15 for tea and biscuits.

Love my hoodie, but don't need another yet 😍

I like it!

I still think the graph should be a line graph showing all types of training completed, ie running, cycling and swimming. I think the bar chart is to clunky. Personal opinion only

Nice.

I noticed that the units for mins per km have gone a bit haywire in the bar graphs for note (7) training types. I am definitely not doing my long runs at 2:54/km:

Hmmph, linky no worky: http://www.fetcheveryone.com/gallery-showphoto.php?id=87926

Love the weight tracker

I like, thank you

Like it no 7 sounds like a fab addition

A couple of colour changes maybe required to make things readable :-
The text in the lifetime/annual/monthly mileage boxes is OK for the numbers, but the words, eg Run not very readable, maybe better if white or yellow ?
The Go button on the new weight tracker is grey, on a grey backround - maybe red ?

Gus - the Go button should change to green as soon as you've changed any of the values. Not sure if it's working for the comment.

Ahh, apologies, had not tried to actually change the weight numbers - yep, that works well that way

any chance the sliver of blue/green/black/red against type of activity could be bigger... i.e. my swim was a general, but i didn't know it was a swim, and my run is a general too....

Made it twice as thick.

That looks good - better, neater.

I like it

Like the changes to the "lifetime total" thingy at the top of the page.

Lifetime position TBC?

I don't like the project joker link sitting in the middle of the page. Feels too much like an advert encroaching on my personal data.

Lifetime boxes - red/run, green/bike & blue/swim - what is the other light blue one?

Cross training.

Looks good

Much better :). Although I think you could improve the white text on pale blue background for XT totals - it's hard to read and very glares on the eyes. If you could keep the box positioning the same between clicks I think it'd be nicer aesthetically too.

Also agree about the project joker; I can see why you're doing it but as it's not going to be relevant to most people the size and colours of the ad are very off-putting.

The cross-training box shouldn't be there.

Its gone now!

As if by magic

I clicked on the "All graphs" link on the graph and thought it was great to see all the graphs on one page. (If you could do this before I didn't realise it.)

Yes, that's been there ages.