I ran this waaaaaay before we cracked open the first box of Quality Streets but, in my defence, the gym closed on Christmas Eve and doesn’t open until Monday when I will be the first person through the door*.
Workout: 5 min warm up, 5 min jog, 3 min walk, 5 min jog, 3 min walk, 5 min jog, 5 min cool down (simples).
Gym atmosphere: Very good. Just a few people but all very friendly. I’m hoping one day I might venture out of cardio and into the weights section…one day.
Motivational tip: The secret of getting ahead is getting started.
I was actually really looking forward to this session – and believe me, no one was more shocked than me by that revelation. I think I was so revved up at having accidentally run almost 10 minutes last time that I felt I could probably run a marathon without breaking into a sweat (you know, if I wasn’t already committed to the C25K programme at this point, obviously).
A funny thing happened just after I arrived. I was standing over the rowing machine pretending to do some arm stretches, while actually checking to see if my t-shirt looked too tight in the bank of mirrors on the far wall, when a lady just appeared next to me in the mirror. This made me jump so much that I almost fell over the machine. The mirror-ghost, who I hadn’t heard walk up to me because I was listening to music, turned out to be a new instructor who wanted to introduce herself.
After I had got over my embarrassment we had a nice chat and it turns out, while she is a fully qualified gym instructor, she actually prefers running and is hoping to start a running group. Isn’t that strange? I’ve joined a gym and found an outdoor running group. I think I need to complete the 5K training before I think of starting that but I was pretty excited by it.
Anyway, week 5, day 1, which I was beginning to think I would never reach, was a good one. I must admit by the final run I was thinking to myself “please don’t let there be another one” because I had lost count of which section I was at but I managed it. I’m enjoying having people running next to me on the treadmills even though they are not running with me. It’s like company but without the pressure to have to try and talk when just breathing is such a chore.
Of course, all of my good work has been undone by the Christmas break. I might try week 5, day 2 and if it’s too hard I will just repeat week 4 again.
*When I say “first person” I mean probably 50th.
#ThisGirlCan make a fool of herself in any location.
After The Rain 