As my month of Bikram Yoga comes close to an end, I feel sure that my January detox has got off to a flying start. I’ve been attending my yoga classes 2 to 3 times a week, and can really feel the difference it has made to my body. (more…)
Yoga
New Year’s Resolutions : The Follow Up
Tuesday, March 8th, 2011London to Brighton Bike Ride
Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010London to Brighton Bike-ride- done!
Okay, so I can now cross the London to Brighton Bike-ride off my list. Only 54 miles and 9 hours of sheer agony… Lets just say, as I crossed the finish line at 6pm, I thought I may never cycle again!. Leading up to the ride, I had expressed my concerns to a few friends about my lack of training, the fact that I was using a borrowed bike, my incomprehension about the function of gears, and the famously epic uphill climb that is Ditchling Beacon. To which everyone’s response seemed to be the same- if you can run a marathon, you’ll breeze through this!
Of course, I chose to believe this. And yes, if we were just talking about a matter of fitness here, they were probably right. The thing is, in all my running around trying to sort out borrowing a half-decent bike (my own got stolen a few weeks back), I completely overlooked the issue of practical clothing. As it turns out, cycling gloves shouldn’t only be reserved for the professionals… Lesson learned- gloves= no blisters!
Thinking back over the experience now, from the comfort of an amply cushioned office chair, I’m finding the good bits definitely out-weighed the bad… The scenery was b-e-a-utiful. The down-hills definitely made up for the up-hills. There were at least 20 bacon roll stop points. And the atmosphere was great too. Overall, a really good experience and I’d recommend it to anyone!
Walk Tall
Tuesday, May 25th, 2010Walk tall, walk straight and look the world right in the eye
My approach to running from the outset was a somewhat haphazard affair. You put on the trainers from the back of the wardrobe, you drag on the tracksuit you’ve had knocking around since forever, you go out and run, you come home, eat something, have a cup of coffee, maybe have a shower (or do the gardening/cook dinner/clear up the kitchen/housework….) and then do the same later in the week.
I took a similar approach to my kit, using whatever was to hand.
Gradually my tracksuit was replaced by decent Lycra® trousers/cropped tights, ‘technical’ tops that really do work, wicking the sweat away from your body and keeping you warm when you decide that running in the pouring rain is a good idea.
But shoes, not so much.
Footwear remained something akin to the Dunlop Green Flash trainers of my youth with the accompanying shin splints, knee pain and strained muscles. Of course, it was the road surface, the weather, the socks, the meal I just ate. And then I invested in my first pair of Mizuno’s.
By sheer good fortune they were great and I ran in them for over a year. Eventually I had to concede that they were well beyond their sell-by date and, being a good consumer, was totally taken in by the hype and bought a pair of the latest, guaranteed to make things better, scientifically designed running shoes.
For me a bad, terrible mistake. Maybe not for you or for any number of other runners who swear by them. But a bad bad mistake for me.
What I had failed to take into account was the importance of a good fitting.
This weekend I gave into the hype and good advice and had a proper gait analysis session. I was put on a treadmill by Gail, not at all treated like a blithering fool and made to run (note; remember to wear appropriate socks and a supportive bra, which I didn’t!).
I ran first in ‘neutral’ shoes to give a baseline, which made me wonder how I ever actually run in a straight line when my legs and feet do ‘that’. I over-pronate on both feet but especially on my right foot, so should probably run round in circles.
Then Gail pulled out a selection of different models and brands and hid the price, which was scary but gave me the opportunity to choose on comfort and fit rather than style, colour or price.
So, it cost me 30 minutes and £100 (which included the socks I had to buy) but having been on the injury bench for another week, I can now run in a straight line, without pain and with the satisfaction in knowing that if they don’t work out, I have 30 days to take them back and try again.
