So I haven’t posted anything on here since November…life has been busy, but so far all is swell. I decided in the new year that running would be a big part of my exercise regime. One, because its free, and two because I find it a great stress reliever.
I’ve been working on running consistently throughout a week since the beginning of the year, and I’m hoping it pays off as I’ll be doing my first 10k in May, and last week I joined the masses to sign up to the Royal Parks Half Marathon in October. Despite the site going down (am still secretly convinced that MJ is joining the rest of us on the big day), I was successful in getting a place for my very first attempt of doing a half marathon.
Running around my local area is a very different thing to running around the parks of London, but I’m determined to stick to this, despite questioning my sanity!
An old colleague of mine was really into yoga and she’d told me 3 years ago about this class she’d been doing in North London known as Bikram yoga. At the time, I was a bit miffed as to why anyone would want to stay in a room set at 40 degree heat for 90 minutes, and just admired her for her perseverance, and that was it.
3 years later, here I am, having recently signed up for a £29 for 30 day trial and all I can say is I’m loving it. The first class was an absolute killer. Breathing in through my nose, I was convinced my nostrils would suffer from some kind of third degree burn…and I have to admit, I had to step out of the first class for a minute to catch my breathe, but out of the 3 newbies that started…I was the only one that stuck it out at the end…to the delight of the instructor.
I’ve tried yoga once before, but this class is something else. The postures themselves do not seem bad if you’re doing them in a standard class, but in the heat, it really tests you! In every class I’ve been to so far, I’ve had difficulty even gripping onto my legs due to the intense heat and sweat, but within the week that I’ve been doing this, I’m already seeing some improvements in my posture, skin, and body…its no surprise that its a popular activity, with almost every class I’ve been to, having been completely packed out.
I’m going to have to reevaluate what to do when the 30 day offer is up. Classes are quite pricey, but I really am enjoying it. I’ve been banging on about it so much to friends, that my current boss is considering doing it, and I’ve successfully converted a friend and her brother to join too!
So if you can stand the heat, don’t mind sweating, can ignore lying next to people that have nasty looking feet (I’ll save you the details on my experience!), and can deal with sitting next to the odd moaner/groaner that may make you lose your focus, then give it a go is what I say!!!
To all of you that took part in the london marathon yesterday, hats down to you. I was there yesterday supporting one of my friends, who ironically wasn’t into any fitness when I first met her 5 years ago, but she seems to have turned it around, so much so that she completed the course yesterday.
The crowds of people was pretty crazy, but the atmosphere was great, and standing around watching the likes of Elvis, Borat, and Fred Flintstone go running by, was enough to make you smile!
Someday I will enter into this, and do myself proud…but to you guys that ran for charity…WELL DONE!!!
Over the last few weeks, my dearest godsister and I have been hitting the local roads trying to do 5km every other day, with a combination of running and walking. I don’t know why I just didn’t train with someone in the first place…its so much easier and you can pace yourselves better! THANKS KAREN
Its funny how I get a mixed reaction to the distance. Some people say how 5km is nothing, others say its quite far…I guess it depends on whether you regularly exercise or not, but one thing is for sure…I’m loving it. I never used to be into running, and the most I would do is run for a bus, but just the thought of getting to Hyde Park next week with a whole group of women running for our chosen charities, that’s just awesome!
Needless to say, I’ve been ever so persistant with the hounding of people to support me, so much so that I’ve now raised the target to £500…so let’s hope I fulfil that.
Until then, the training shall continue…my race number has already arrived, as has my Christian Aid running shirt, so all I need to do for the next week is sort out the tunes on the old IPOD and not endulge for another week!
