This is my first ever attempt at writing a Blog so I
apologise now and ask that you all be gentle with me!
Due to unforeseen circumstances I have recently taken a
couple of months away from the gym. My main worry throughout this time was what
I would do without my RWL team of merry members and coaches, how will I keep
motivated, inspired, fit?
So I went back to running!
And I enjoyed it again……… I felt a desire to finish what I
started a few years ago, when I took the plunge from a 5K to do a half
marathon! To beat my time! To complete a half marathon in less than two hours –
my best out of three attempts (the last being in 2010) was 2hrs 06mins.
So, I blew the dust of my Saucony running trainers, my
running vest and shorts and I hit the road!
After a slow start I began to increase my running and
completed a 10k just last month in under an hour – which was ok but not great!
So, I thought, how can I improve on this, how do I get faster, improve stamina,
get my nutrition right?
Which brings me to our wonderful Coaching team at RWL -
during my time away, I still received input which was invaluable and Joe Hanney
was very understanding, helping me realise that “Me” time is important and fitness
is where I belong!
It has been refreshing to have people behind me telling me
“I can Do It” - Throughout my younger years I was always told I couldn’t!
I suffer from Asthma you see – something that I don’t
usually talk about – probably because I got sick of it taking over my life when
I was young – I wanted to dance, but was told I couldn’t, gymnastics, the same
and eventually I hardly did PE as I had been conditioned to saying “I can’t do
it” In actual fact – with hindsight and research – any sport would have
probably done me the world of good – which it now does! (Although I am still a
repressed dancer!)
Yes, I have the odd bad day but it doesn’t stop me – it only
makes me stronger!
The first time I entered a 5k Race for Life, I remember the
feeling at the finish line, I was so proud of myself for getting round and most
of all seeing that I was in the top quarter of the field.
Then came my first half at the Robin Hood festival in Nottingham – 13.2 miles and I did it!! And when I held my
finishers medal - I felt like a winner. I wanted to shout from the rooftops to
all the people that knew me at school “This is what I can Do! “
So, my first challenge was the taking part – my next is the
sub 2hrs!
I have entered the Leicester Half Marathon in October and
now I am back at RWL, I have a cunning plan devised by none other than Jeff.
Now, for all the members that are thinking that RWL is not
for runners – think again!
Every runner needs a good strong core, legs and stamina,
which is where my resistance work will come in.
Jeff has prepared a plan for me which includes two strength
sessions, two sprint/interval training days and one run day.
On top of this I need to get my nutrition right to fuel my
training and be race ready!
Over the next few weeks I will update you with my progress
and what I have learnt as this will be the first time I have completed a proper
training programme leading up to a race so I am very interested to see the
difference. And what’s more – looking forward to the challenge – because it
doesn’t stop there, watch out Paula Radcliffe ……..London Marathon is next!
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