Minnie and Wagbi’s Weekend

A few snaps from Minnie and Wagbi’s sleep over at our house this weekend. An insight into having two doggies…we need a bigger house!

Who would think an 11 year old ands 7 month old would be such good friends!

Barefoot Running in London…

When reading the title, what ran through your mind? ‘It hurts to run in expensive trainers let alone without any‘, ‘this could work in the Spanish sand but not in a grubby London park’ or even ‘ow, ow, ow’ – well think again because none of the above apply!

A particularly autumnal Sunday morning whisked me to a West London boxing club to meet the smiley faces of Matt, Kristie and Lucy from the PuraVida team and eight other participants. With four hours booked out I must admit I was a little bit apprehensive at my ‘once maybe twice a week jog‘ fitness level. (note that there is no ‘jog’ defined in the barefoot dictionary but we’ll come to that later).

Director of new wellness company PuraVida, Matt Walker, is one of only a handful of qualified coaches to teach the VIVOBAREFOOT method in the UK. The VIVOBAREFOOT method is based on the applied barefoot science championed by Lee Saxby to promote injury-free running and walking. I’m going to make this clear now – this is not about running without shoes.

The Concept

There are two core messages behind barefoot running;

1. We have forgotten how to run
2. Movement is a skill and the foundation of skilled movement is proprioceptive feedback

The Workshop

After a quick introduction we ran through our individual injuries and sadly, all of the regular runners suffered with ankles, knees or backs (apparently along with 85% of the running population). My particular weak spot is a left knee twinge.

Before we had a chance to get settled we were out into the brisk morning for a few laps around a nearby park and to have our running style filmed. Back with bums on seats watching the running tape was fascinating. The majority of the group were heel striking with poor posture and one was forefoot striking. Strangely enough my heal strike was much more prominent on the left foot linking nicely to my poorly knee!

The actual theory behind the barefoot is focused around common sense and the down-to-earth delivery was excellent. I won’t spoil the fun but frequent references are made to thought-provoking facts such as;

• Humans have invented the ‘jog’ – a hybrid and injury-prone movement
• the ankle takes 1x body weight and for running it’s 2/3 times (ground reaction force)
• Heel striking or forefoot striking
• It’s not coincidence that babies learn to squat to build the foundations for movement

The design of the VIVOBAREFOOT shoes means that the 70 percent of sensory feedback isn’t shielded like it is in thick-heeled trainers. Meaning that your body can feel movement and pain straight away. In turn running the barefoot way means that your whole foot can absorb your body weight force (not just heel or ball of foot).

With the theory explained, it was on to the movement part of the workshop – firstly learning new exercises designed to stretch feet, hips and shoulders – the essential parts in barefoot running. If like me, you’d never stretched between your toes, you will certainly begin to challenge your conventional running warm up routine.

Unfortunately during our daily routine we are customising our body to slouch and sit much more than we are to walk or run. We went on to cover some postural and rhythm exercises that felt really great to fight this customisation including a touch of majorettes-type pole spinning to really open the shoulders and my personal favourite, a whole lot of deep squatting just like when we were babies…

Now we had posture and flexibility covered, we needed to work on the final part; rhythm. One of the hardest thing when running is finding the ideal pace and keeping it consistent so trying to jump to a specific rhythm while staying on the same spot was pretty difficult to master. This exercise did lead on nicely to the main event – trying out the barefoot technique.

When first trying the method there is so much to remember that it does feel a little odd and for me, very upright (feet should always remain under your body). However, after a few minutes on the treadmill and with the pacer clicking away again, it came naturally and felt as though I could maintain the pace for a long while. It was pure bliss to experience no knee pain!

I think all of the group would have loved to have tried barefoot running outdoors there and then, but Kristie and Matt were realistic in that the body must be re-trained over a period of time. Through wearing the VIVOBAREFOOT shoes when doing day-to-day activities to get your feet used to the wide sole and also practicing the strengthening and flexibility exercises daily to train the different parts of your body.

I’d class myself as a ‘consistent’ exerciser and although I may not be a marathon runner, on average I run 8 miles a week combined with a Pilates session. Even this couldn’t prepare me for the hip, quad and ankle (yes ankle) aches the day after.

The last part of the workshop was to be filmed running again to see the ‘post-training’ results. Everyone looked elegant and just seemed to be running like they were born to do it!

Not by any means to make the concept sound simple as I have the aches to prove, but it is amazing that the ‘natural’ skill we learn perfectly from birth can be lost in our constant need to improve and to make everything more efficient. Barefoot communities, I tip my hat.
Needless to say, I’ll be putting in my order for a pair.

Thank you to Hidden Dragon and PuraVida for the experience. These two fantastic companies have joined forces to offer the very best in wellness holidays. Offering a series of health packages throughout the 2011/12 ski and summer season alike, guests will receive 5-star training whilst enjoying the exclusive private accommodation, mouthwatering gastronomy and the beautiful world class location that is Les 4 Vallèes. Paradise! For more information contact frontdesk@hidden-dragon.com.   

Is the Social Media Press Release Alive and Kicking…or Alive and Weak?

A super quick blog as I’m being told off for having the light on! Just had to get this out there…

I sent a social media press release out last week for one of my clients and yesterday another press release for a different client but in the traditional style (paste all copy in email and attach word copy). I decided not to go the social route for various reasons but mainly because I wanted to conduct this experiment!

My question is – are we really ‘there’ yet with social media press releases? The way I make my decision on how to present it is through my personal view of the publication and past experience with the journo/blogger (if any).

I think it was a good two years ago the social media press release template graced our screens and I thought it was fantastic, still do. It’s so much more exciting and all those colours!

Don’t get me wrong, in the tradional press release I stll linked to the blog, the Twitter, the Facebook, the Flickr, etc, BUT (and this could get me into trouble) I do love the simplicity of the task. Good old writing on a blank document.

Posting releases was a fraction before my time but perhaps I’m not quite ready to give up the ‘tradition’ of all PR’s in this past decade.

So Journalists, do you groan at the sight of a press release with a summary, key points and a quote segmented and scattered around the page.

PRs, have you ventured to the social side or do you find the traditional style is more effective?

I’m half way through the post I promised about lying in the workplace so will publish that Friday.

ChapStick Thinks it can Beat Fury of Facebook Fans

It happened last week and since, we’ve all heard a what I would call ‘wobbly’ response from the Company – oh yes we are back in the loop of Social Media faux pas.

ChapStick released a new ad campaign on their Facebook page without much explanation. The advert was of a women bent over her sofa with the tag line….’where do lost ChapSticks go?’. If that wasn’t enough to stir the pot – you apparently can ‘be heard at Facebook.com/Chapstick’.

Although… you can only be heard if you like the advert because it seems the ChapStick team delete anything else! One blogger who didn’t think much of the new ad wrote a blog about it (as we do these days), then the blogger thought they’d also reply on Facebook, but ooops that’s weird, the post on Facebook disappears and…oooooooops it happens for a second time! It goes on with more comments being deleted and furthermore a wealth of posts on the ChapStick page about vanishing posts.

Our fellow PRs couldn’t even save the day with a statement – this saga was followed by a terrible (and late) response from the Head of Global Media Relations. It is just so cringe-worthy don’t you think?

I’m not sure if it is the uncertainty of the online marketing/PR stratosphere that scares traditional media types, the speed that you can circulate news or in this case that you can attempt to delete a crisis situation with the click of a button! Any of the above could be dealt with by relying on traditional principles.

Everyone knows that ‘no comment’ is not a constructive response for print… so why is deleting a range of comments from Facebook rather than dealing with them any different?

This black hole of ‘best practice’ isn’t news to me however, I have sat in a number of meetings with companies both large and small, with and without a press department, yet so many people think it is okay to react/respond like this.

The most shocking situation for me (and never fails to leave me a little speechless) is around forum engagement while acting on behalf of a Company. For me, Forum etiquette – and the same goes for all Social Media – should apply the same guidelines you would for any offline activity. You wouldn’t dream of calling up a journalist quoting to be a happy customer of your Company so why would you do this on a forum?

This seems clear as mud to some people – thinking they can happily scout the forums and plug good things about the Company. Why not?

a. You always get found out
b. This makes the situation worse than it originally was
c. You have to hear this mistake dragged up over and over

To quote a well-known phrase, honesty is the best policy people!

Next post is lightly linked as I want to discuss lying in the workplace…I don’t know about you but I can’t do it…

Sorry for Lack of Communication

I’m annoyed at myself for leaving it so long since my last post, especially as it irritates me when blogs that I subscribe to do the same so firstly, a huge apology.

You probably hear it often but the last few months have been the craziest of my life to date. Work has been mental with project back-to-back and a few other personal notes also.

A brief update (mostly off topic I’m afraid)…

June

A new family member arrived – my beautiful Miniature Dachshund, Minnie. If you have ever been to the Yardpartners offices you’ll know that we have a brood of dogs racing around and she is now the newest member.

Minnie at 11-weeks

July

Squeezing in amongst the client work, we managed to complete a refresh of the Yardpartners website. A quirky new style incorporating themes around the ‘Yard’ and from my point of view more to work with SEO and Social Media-wise.

What do you think of my new avatar courtesy of Matt C Stokes?

Teethy New Avatar!

I’ve also been working on my Wedding Stationery Shop in collaboration with Avenue Litho. I have commissioned two designers to create a set of templates that will be available to order online with options according to budget. Dipping my toe in the print market working on the design, development, copy writing and SEO of the Avenue Litho site; I felt there was a gap in the market for luxury print but without the hefty price tag. So for brides-to-be they will be able to order the template style (save the dates, day and evening invitations, RSVPs, envelopes) in fantastic stocks and luxury foiling either fully-personalised or with gaps for them to personalise at home as a more cost-effective alternative. Planning to launch this in early 2012 as will have some time over the Christmas period.

August

Minnie and Wagbi are now inseparable! …she definitely helps with my creative thinking – here she is joining in a meeting with Simon from Our Man on The Ground.

Minnie & Wags 

 Minnie joining in a meeting with OMOTG

September 

I had a cheeky holiday to Majorca with my other half and friends. Beautiful on the hilltops in Pollensa and lovely to speak a bit of espanol again.

October

So pleased to launch the new Ben & Jerry’s e-learning module this month – a piece with tons of personality as you can imagine. We were lucky to have the PR Director, Sean Greenwood and Social Media Director, Rob Michalak. You wouldn’t believe Rob meet Jerry while hitch-hiking in the same year he and pal Ben were starting up their business!

I can’t unfortunately share the e-module with you but can say it was the most enjoyable project I’ve worked on. The tubs of Ben & Jerry’s Fairly Nuts of course helped on those late nights.

Next blog post is on the way and will be about…the latest Social Media corporate upsets! ChapStick you naughty bunch.

PR Response from Cheryl Cole

Now before you think I’m dwelling on Cheryl Cole by writing two blogs in as many days – this post is more to gain your thoughts and create a PR discussion as the situation unfolds.

Just now I’ve read in the news that Cheryl’s PR has tweeted a thank you to all fans for their support.

Now as I’ve said previously – I’m certainly no celebrity PR myself but surely the standard rules we all know apply? (respond without accepting liability, never say no comment, etc etc – you know the drill). A whole day and a half later, we get…a tweet?

When my clients are faced with a crisis situation I’m writing a statement as fast as my fingers can bounce around the MacBook keypad…

As a PR or Marketeer, I’m really interested to know what you think on the topic and perhaps your suggested approach.

This whole saga may well be unveiled as something that was just staged for more column inches but we can certainly criticise/deliberate in the meantime!

Happy bank holiday

Is a Publicist’s Role the Hardest in all PR Industries?

I’m no publicist but the news that Cheryl Cole has been dropped from the American X Factor must of hit fairly hard.

As with any PRs or agencies that part ways with projects or clients, it can feel massively disappointing and tough. Especially when you’ve put hundreds of hours of hard work into a strategy that has essentially been a success. Nearly all of client/agency separation I’ve been involved in has stemmed from new employees coming in to companies with new contacts and ways of working – unfortunately external points out of our control.

But, publicists correct me if I’m wrong; it seems so much more cutthroat in the ‘celebrity’ environment than any other. How on earth after signing a contract and beginning the auditions can Cheryl Cole just be give the boot? More over what must her publicist be doing right now to try and salvage her relationship with her client? From the BBC this morning:

‘Cheryl’s publicist has declined to comment on the story’.

We all followed the ‘will she, won’t she’ scenario – ‘will her accent be accepted’ or ‘how much will her contract be worth’. But let us here, spare a moment for her publicist working on this deal! No doubt this will all be forgotten now and the blame will follow.

Business between a consultant and their client can be nurtured and maintained through good press results and a strong strategy – in most cases (but not all), we PRs can maintain a fairly professional relationship and go about our own lives.

Surely in publicist’s case their role is twice as hard (just from what I’ve read recently on Beyonce’s father and the story from Geri Halliwell’s ex-publicist) – they become a friend/PA/manager and basically end up going crazy in the process!

So in drawing to a close I ask the question: is a publicist’s role the hardest in all PR industries?

I’ve working across B2B, finance, B2C, consumer, FMCG, big brands and small alike, coupled with some pretty scary clients and I have never experienced so much turbulence in a relationship. Don’t get me wrong, our jobs are difficult with lots of ups and downs but it doesn’t compare to a publicist’s level of life-dedication.

Please share your thoughts for the sake of Cheryl’s publicist!