Another Literally show coming up soon: November 4.

Details are here: http://literallysellinglikehotcakes.eventbrite.com/

I’m still not sure how I found out about Ignite. I think someone sent me something on Twitter, but I don’t remember who what or when. But it is brilliant, and I’m so glad I discovered it and got involved. Ignite is a worldwide phenomenon with groups in cities all over the world and is very similar, and easier to say than Pecha Kucha. Ignite is doing short presentations of 20 slides which switch every 15 seconds. So each person gives a 5 minute presentation. Easy. there are hundreds of wonderfully diverse Ignite talks on subjects as diverse as How to do an Autopsy on a Whale, to sketch comedy, and now: to the word Literally.

So at Ignite Bristol #2, there was a very diverse group of talkers. I am now much more aware about toxins (phthalates) in sex toys, tobacco farming in Zambia, Bayesian Logic and how to do cryptic crosswords. The great thing about the talks is that they will all be online very shortly. So I can actually watch my 5 minutes on Literally, including the slides going wrong on Ignite’s Mac… and me getting slightly annoyed. But doing OK in the end. Bring on Ignite #3.

My brother and I are running a marathon in 157 days time. Just over 5 months. Not just any marathon, but the hardest road marathon in the UK - the Snowdonia marathon.

The course map looks rather pleasant - a scenic lap of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa to the locals). But Snowdon is the highest mountain of wales, and unlike Fuji, it’s not a lone mountain, so the whole course is up and down the surrounding mountains. It’s when you look at the helpfully provided profile that a little bit of wee comes out, and we wonder how ill-prepared I am thus far, and how much I need to train between now and then. I have run 3 marathons before, none since 2004, and they have all been a triumph of will on the day, rather than a predictably-executed run after a well-prepared training schedule. Looking at the massive uphill for miles 21 to 24, it’s going to take some proper training from now, as well as some serious mental strength on the day.

Last year’s winner managed it in 2 hours 36, and the last finisher exactly five hours later in 7 hours 36. I am aiming to split their times, and finish my fastest ever marathon, hitting 5 hours. So far it seems possible if implausible.

Possible because: 1) I live in Bristol, and it’s bloody full of hills. So if I run anywhere here pretty much - it’s hill training. 2) I have an iPod now - which makes marathon distance training much more interesting than a long cassette/Minidisc. 3) I enjoy doing painfully difficult things. 4) My brother is doing it, and he’s a runner’s build, and if he beats me by miles it will be annoying to have to kill him. (maybe I’ll just switch our numbers at the start. that could work).

Those previous marathons:

• Mid-Atlantic Marathon, June 2004 - WINNER - 5 hours 10 minutes. A peculiar affair, which I only considered after running a half marathon around the decks of the QM2 the day before (not ideal training). It seemed like a good idea at the time, and I was keen on keeping fit, whilst not pedalling, as I took the QM2 from Southampton to New York to continue on my way from A to B. I was joined for the last few laps by various other passengers who had seen me on QM2TV. Marvellous. It later turned out I had run over 28 miles, due to a rounded-down lap marker claiming that 3 laps was only 1.1 mile. Admittedly I may have only won because I was the only starter of this race, and the only person to have definitely run a mid-atlantic marathon.
• London Marathon 2003 - 5 hours 20 minutes. My first marathon.
• London Marathon 2004 - 6 hours 15 seconds. Am not sure how this happened. I took it easy as I was heading off from A to B on the bike a couple of weeks later. It was horrible. I sprinted the last mile to make sure I got in under 6 hours, but somehow failed.

I’m doing 5 gigs of THE LITERALLY SHOW this week in Bristol at the University of Bristol’s Wickham Theatre, Cantock’s Close, Bristol, BS8 1UP - 0117 928 7834 (Google Map). It’s just off Park Row, near the Triangle, up a little alley opposite Mack Daddy’s hair salon (check the map).

Because I am feeling generous - Thursday’s gig is going to be £4 per ticket for everyone. So see you there at 7pm.

When:

• Thursday 4 February at 7pm - on Facebook - £4 Entry for Everyone on Thursday!
• Friday 5 February 6:30pm
• Friday 5 February 8:30pm
• Saturday 6 February 6:30pm
• Saturday 6 February 8:30pm

All the Friday and Saturday gigs are £7 a head entry. £5 concessions.

Book tickets online here:

Frustrated by misuse of the word “literally”, Paul Parry is teaching everyone a lesson. He’s lost his marbles, gone to Hell and back, taught an old dog new tricks. Soon, he’ll be literally painting the town red.

THREE WEEKS – ★★★★★

“This is a show about the misuse of the word literally” says a deadpan but wonderfully affable Paul Parry… Parry has created a delightfully original show, He may literally be one of the best new comedians at this year’s Fringe.

THE LIST – ★★★★ His smart, dry humour and Viz-style subversive pedantry combine with his Gormanesque tales of an eccentric, unpredictable and far-flung journey just to prove a point.

THE SCOTSMAN ★★★★

All the gigs - http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Literally-Tsar/192443494117?v=app_2344061033

And here is a little article from this week’s Evening Post

Title: Gig - Hurling Fish
Location: The Walrus
Link out: Click here
Description: Stand-up Comedy in a room above a pub - £5 entry and £3.50 for Students.
Cheap but excellent.
Have a butchers at the Facebook Group for more details.
Start Time: 20:30
Date: 2009-01-20
End Time: 22:00