Hard Walk

So glad tonight that I decided to stop using the Smith Machine, when doing bench presses. Might be using less weight but it sure is a better work out. I can feel all the smaller supporting muscles firing into action, and have to concentrate on a slower better form.

I did a range of other fixed weights machines and 20 minute max incline on the treadmill. Felt so good to have a good session after a busy day and am excited to start doing more free weights. I need to learn the correct techniques for dead lifts and squats.
These will be great for overall strength but the squats will especially help develop leg strength, which will be of great benefit when hill climbing. Even more important with the 3 peaks later in the year.

I am still buzzing from last nights Kung Fu lesson. The club is growing which is great to see, and now means that the instructor can do an extra half hour for those that wish to stay on.

Having new members means sometimes going back to basics, but the fundamental punches and blocks are important to practice over and again. Performing this drill in what must have been one of the hottest evenings of the year was a satisfying work out too.

Having an hour and a half obviously means more time to practice skills and learn new things. We started this time going over the patterns we already knew, then we learnt the first part of the White Crane Tai Chi (Suang Yang) pattern. This “soft” form is actually the 20th pattern in the system, and is made up of many many parts, so I am excited to start learning it. There is a weekend Tai Chi camp soon so hopefully I can go along and learn a whole lot more under the Chief Instructor.

streetbutterfly:

healthy-happy-veg:

I’ve never been much of a runner, perhaps mostly in the past due to fitness levels, but every now and again I get an urge to go for a run. Usually getting out of breath very quickly, and often feeling like I would develop shin splints if I went out for a run again soon.

I tried using the Get Running App which is great but never really stuck to it for the reasons mentioned above. Now a week after doing a 100km trek I had one the urges to run again. A lot of my walking clothes was actually for running, including Skins compression leggings so I would at least look the part.

After stretching and a fast 5 minute walk to warm up I set off, and immediately knew that it was different to before. Having lost a bit of weight and being more aware of my muscles it actually felt good to be running!

I ran much further than I can remember before stopping for a short walk then carrying on. In the middle I did some sprints to mix things up. Running a total of just over 3.5km was very pleasing and I hope to get up on the hills and try out my trail trainers cross country style, surely that has to be the best form if running!