Web Affiliate Marketing Blog

Who’s idea was it to make the last 1km of a 10km “fun run” a constant uphill struggle? I’m runner 6070 in the picture, just in case you didn’t recognise my contorted features.

Anyway, thanks to everyone who sponsored me, I managed to raise £590 online, £78 offline, and with the addition of £158 gift-aid, it brought my total to over £820 for @DiabetesUK smashing my £500 target.

Sadly with a finishing time of 1hr 10mins 46secs, I was nowhere near beating my Manchester 2008 target, but having said that Manchester is FLAT! At the 2km mark I felt my left quad screaming out, which I managed to run off by the 4km point.

At 7km my right knee kindly decided it was carrying more weight than what it was designed to carry and buckled sending me stumbling diagonally towards McDonald’s (I’m sure it looked like I was trying to go via their drive-thru!).

After running up a very steep hill I was so happy to see 2 mascots giving everyone High-5′s. Thinking I’d battled and won the uphill finish and expecting the finish line to be round the next corner, I gave each a hefty High-5 feeling very proud of myself. I then passed a sign saying 9km! Still 1km of uphill running to go… the little misleading bstards!

Afterward the run, I headed to Zizzi’s with Jane (she came with me as moral support, driver and chief medical advisor) and we met up with Shane for some grub – he was a little late arriving because of road diversions due to “damm runners”. No more than 2 minutes had passed from my ass hitting the seat to having a chilled Peroni in my hand and ordering fatty food in large portions. Well worth it!

Although I enjoyed it, I found this a real grueller and therefore won’t be taking part again. Got the medal now! Not sure which one to do next year….

Oh… Sorry to the small child I hit when throwing my water bottle!

At the weekend, while out at the Trafford Centre, I found myself in Thorntons although I am not quite sure how it happened.

Anyway, whilst looking around I noticed Thorntons have only gone and taken taken two of the most individually beautiful tasting products and lashed them together in a pan thinking it would be a good idea. Chocolate and Balsamic Vinegar! What on earth were they thinking?

Some people know that after experiencing Willies (not the male variety!) I’ve got a tad snobby when it comes to Chocolate. I’m no longer a fan of the standard milk chocolate bar as I find it doesn’t actually have any taste. It’s just sweet, smooth, fatty textured brown stuff and it’s unhealthy! Don’t get me wrong, I will still eat it if it’s being offered!

Good, dark chocolate with a high Cocoa count however, not only taste lovely, but has been scientifically proven to be good for helping burn fat while exercising. Therefore my training regime for the Sheffield 10k (in aid of Diabetes… now there’s a contradiction!) will see me gain 3 stone in weight whilst I try out the many different slabs of Chocolate available from Thorntons. At the same time, my being able to run at a faster pace for the same feelings of effort as running at slower speeds without the chocolate drink. Makes sense to me!

So back to Thorntons and their Balsamic Vinegar Chocolate. Believe it or not, it’s actually extremely nice. The 75% high cocoa content gives you the slightly bitter taste that’s found with proper chocolate. This is quickly followed and overcome by the sweet tang of the balsamic vinegar that lingers a little longer. For me personally, I think maybe just a hint more vinegar would make it even better.

The box says “Best Before March 2010“……….. Yeah right! Next is their Chilli version I think!

Definitely worth giving a try if you’re already a dark chocolate fan and they’re on the Buy.At network as a merchant too!

These are just nuts!

GymCompany, a merchant on the Webgains affiliate network, sent out an email the other day introducing 5Fingers, or Gloves For Your Feet as their alternatively known.

Apparently the typical human foot has 26 bones, 33 joints, and more than 100 muscles, tendons and ligaments – I never was any good at Biology! Anyway, with all these bits and pieces making up a foot, no wonder some “experts” say putting a shoe on is like putting a cast on. I suspect it doesn’t really allow movement as nature intended especially steel toe capped boots!

So the people at Primal Lifestyle (who also make Bamboo tshirts… erm… righty!), developed this footware as an alternative, and a freaky looking one at that! There are different types of the shoes trainers footwear available for regular everyday wear to proper exercising version. The one above, Sprint, as the name suggests, is actually designed for Running among other things.

Imagine the looks you would get from people, while out running in these! Completely crazy to look at, but I guess the theory kind of makes sense and more importantly I want a pair and may even do the London 10k in them!

My London 10k Run (for Diabetes UK) is getting closer and closer and the so called exercise regime has really kicked in. I’m now down to only 3 cakes, 2 pies and only 1 Big Mac per day :)

OK, seriously the running and cycling are now a daily habit and going well, however I have a very serious problem. It’s not my knee, that will be strapped up on the day, but more important than that – my iPod chooooons!

I’ve almost finalised my playlist and have arranged a really crap song at the 1 hour mark – so I MUST finish before that kicks in. The problem I have is with the earphones!

The standard earphones that come with the iPod are now falling out every 30 seconds which is frustrating and distracting as hell especially when you’re running for close to an hour. I much prefer ‘in the ear’ type of things rather than the big over the head style.

When deciding on a pair of headphones I’ve got to remember that although a set of Etymotic ER6 Isolator iPod earphones would be nice, at over £100 it’s a bit expensive for something that will be covered in sweat, dropped and dragged along roads within a matter of days!

I also don’t want to be carrying any unnecessary weight with me, as I have enough of my own to lug around. Therefore the Soundlab A073 headphones, weighing it at a whopping 300g are out of the question… thats the equivalent of a bag of 10 doughnuts hanging off your ears!

If you still haven’t sponsored me but wish to do so, you can online with JustGiving. Please, at the very least, have a read of my sponsorship page. I promise it will open your eyes to the suffering endured by those with the disease. The truth is that even a donation of £1 will make a difference, so skip your Skinny Latte today and donate!

Does anyone have any suggestions on a cheapish, reliable set of earphones that will stay in my ear during a 10k run?

Suggestions thus far:

• Michelle has suggested Coosh which look ideal, but don’t seem to be stocked in the UK!
• Jason & Scott both recommended the alien looking Sennheiser MX75 Sport Line

Firstly, it’s not EXACTLY free but you won’t be paying me a penny, instead you will be helping my nominated chairty :)

As many of you know, over the past couple of years, I’ve taken part (and completed) a number of 10k races and with thanks to family, friends and affiliate contacts I’ve managed to raise;

• £2521 in 2006 for Cancer Research
• £903 in 2007 for MacMillan Nurses
• £0 in 2008 (although I did run, just didn’t fund raise but helped Helen @ DGM around ;) )

For 2009, while many of you put your feet up, I’ll be spending my May Bank Holiday (25th May) in running shoes, pounding the streets, taking part in the London Bupa 10,000, this time raising money for Diabetes UK.

I have family, friends and work colleagues (in and out of Affiliate Marketing) affected by Diabetes and it’s one of those diseases where people accept and get on with their lives without complaining or muttering a word. I have total respect for those that have to inject themselves on a daily basis, as giving blood once every 4 months, is the maximum I can handle!

So Whats On Offer?

I’m willing to give any merchant or network extra exposure in return for a couple of pounds sponsorship. There is no limit, you decided how much you wish to donate, just add it to my dedicated sponsorship page here.

Sponsorship availability is as follows;

• 120 x 300 banner in my bi-weekly newsletter to circa 30,000 members.
  • Maximum of 3 merchants in each edition.
  • Sent out on Thursdays (incase you want to tie in a particular promotion)
• 2 weeks Page Peel exposure on site that attracts circa 100,000 uniques per month
  • Runs Friday to Friday. Teaser image | Reveal image
• 250 x 250 banner exposure on site that attracts circa 100,000 uniques per month
  • Runs Friday to Friday

Take a look at my Google online calendar, decide what advertising option you want and select a date. Once you are happy, drop me a line with the details and I will book you in… at which point you can then make a donation :)

I hope to raise £1000, but for time being I’ve set the target at £500… I can always bump it up later.