One of the hardest things about training or doing any sort of exercise is finding the time to do it. We're all busy, we've got jobs, college,school,kids to take care of, hangovers to nurse.. and we've all always got a million things to do, right? Last thing any of us want on a chilly March evening is to go out and walk. Even just making to the the gym is a strenuous task!!(how often have we all made it as far as the car park and thought that was enough for one night!! hands up who's turned around and gone home without even setting foot inside the gym!!)
We all know exercise is really important, and yet we tend to put it on the long finger a lot of the time, because basically we want to try avoid it! I'm writing this blog on training, but I'm no saint, I try to avoid it as much as anyone else. Its late when I get in from the office, all I want is food & TV. But there's this little nagging voice (which sounds remarkably like me!!) So I've gotta go do it... not just cause I have a weekly blog & 10k run I've committed to, but because i made a commitment to myself to get fit.
Lots of people have said to me this week, 'Av i just cant find the time to get out'. I used to be the same...and you know what I've realised, its not the time we don't have, its mostly a lack of motivation. We're all guilty. So we look for motivation, and don't find it and sit infront of the TV instead. So here's your motivation, GET UP, GET OUT & DO IT!!!! Seriously though, we can all find the time to exercise, 20mins is enough. I know myself, training for this run is hard, I ache after it, I'm using muscles my body never knew existed. I dread the thoughts of going out some evenings/mornings - whenever I choose. But I do 3 one-hour dance classes a week, which I love, the classes are great fun, and if I they ran the class 5 times a week I bet you I would 'find' the extra hour in my busy schedule to fit it in, because I love it. Think about the things you wouldn't let yourself miss.. start thinking about exercise in the same light! In terms of priority, its gotta be right up there with brushing your teeth - important as hell, and you'd never just skip it because you couldn't be bothered!!
I mentioned how much I can dread sometimes just leaving the house for a run. We've all been there right? Another place we've all been is post exercise. How good do you feel after a work out/walk/exercise DVD/whatever ? OK so you might ache a little, have a face as red as a tomato, but I bet you all feel good. You feel proud of yourself for doing the workout, if you've been outdoors you'll have taken in so much fresh air you're practically high on it. Corny as it sounds, hold onto that feeling, because it can be your motivation to keep pushing and getting out, knowing that once you get your work out out of the way, you're gonna feel great, and almost like you've completed a duty to yourself , which I guess it is really. Think of the rewards when those jeans fit you better, or your new shirt is a smaller size!!
So now we've all got it, we've got our motivation and 20mins, trainers on and we're off and running :) (doesn't literally have to be running!) If 5 people come and tell me this week they got up and worked out for 20mins, ill be thrilled!! Come on guys, make Av happy!! :)
Back to me now, how the week go? Good! Last week I ordered myself a new jacket for running, you know the sort, lightweight, rainproof, handy pockets for keys etc. Well, you've got to look the part don't you!! Only problem was, its pink, and not just any shade of pink, but fluorescent pink. So bright it could hurt your eyes if you look at it too long. On the upside,as Georgina pointed out, there's no chance of me being knocked down!! Downside? You are very easy to spot whilst running up the Greenhills road in a fluorescent pink jacket, as I found out several times this week - with texts such as 'did I just pass by you running in a pink jacket??' Yes,yes you did! I ran my ass off this week, Monday,Tuesday and Wednesday, then I hit Thursday and every muscle and bone in my body refused to move & the nagging voice seemed to be on mute! Luckily on Friday the nagging voice was back in full volume, and I was back on track. I am literally improving with every step - I know this because everyday I make sure there is an extra step!! The running buzz has definitely filtered its way through every part of me!!
Saturday I took a little track up the mountains with the girls Lyn & Char, something I'd not done in years. We weren't silly enough to attempt to run something as steep as that on our first attempt (remember, little steps and all that!) but we certainly walked our asses off. Up and up we went, concentrating on trying to breathe took over conversation on the really steep hills. But how worth it was it? So much.. when you're rewarded with a view like this!!
Day after I ached in more new places,seriously, how many more new muscles can there be!! But Sunday is the start of my training week, so after plenty of stretching, in went the ear phones and off I went. 8K covered in just over an hour... trilled with myself... with 12 weeks to go, I think I am surely on track to get to that 10k /60min goal. This week I am going to concentrate on stepping up the actual fitness levels, so that I'm ready in a few weeks to tackle running up hills. The ground cant stay flat forever!!
And that's me for this week...happy as Larry, and getting closer and closer to that starting line.
Remember, GET UP, GET OUT & DO IT!! Oh and if you do happen to see the girl in the pink jacket, give me a wave, or better still, come join me! Just don't knock me down, that would defeat the purpose of the fluorescent jacket :)
Thanks once again to everyone for your support, and to those of you posting the link on your own pages, please keep doing so :) Enjoy your exercise & speak in a week :)
Av xx
oh and thanks to Graham who made me a cup of tea this week..shame it ended at one cup, but hey who am I to complain, a cup of tea handed to you is just whats needed after a run :)
Running Track of the Week;
3) - Rui da Silva.. Touch me - (yep, spawell days anyone!!??)
2) - Boney M - Gotta Go Home (you may feel the urge to do a little dance whilst running to this one!)
1) - Energy 52 - Cafe Del Mar
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