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Posts tagged Training
A few shots from last weekends training walks. The sun finally shone and we covered 20 miles, including the seven sisters. Only 7 days till the exciting trek of Hadrian’s wall from Newcastle to Carlisle. Can’t wait!
As the challenge of walking Hadrian’s wall rapidly approaches I need to up the distance on my training walks. So, this weekend I planned to follow the route of one of my first charity walks from Hastings Pier to Eastbourne Pier. But in reverse. I knew it was around 18 miles, 3 miles further than my last big walk.
The weather was against me as it was supposed to be rather wet late afternoon, and to hit Eastbourne pier would mean doubling back on myself. I headed to the seafront the quickest way and headed towards the marina. This is a fairly easy walk as it is mainly very flat. There are some hard going sections, which you can avoid, but I like the change of terrain and chose the route that takes you across about 2 miles of shingly beach. Around 6 miles in started raining lightly and as I wasn’t yet halfway I knew I was in for a soaking.
Another 2 miles and it was time for the waterproof jacket. It looked like the rain was here to stay, and having stupidly not packed my waterproof trousers, the walk turned into more of a mental challenge. On the last 6-8 miles I would pass quite close to 2-3 train stations that could easily tempt me. As my legs got wetter, and I could feel the cold affecting my muscles, it was hard to keep up the pace and make it to the end. My lunch stop in a beach shelter fortified me as did the words of encouragement from friends online and I forfeited my reward of a pint to jump on the first train home. I had lost a mile or so at the beginning but I was very pleased with my pace and completed 16.5 miles in 4 hours 20 minutes. Next week I hope to break 20 miles cross country with some tough hills thrown in.
Top 3 movements any athlete should perform:
1. Squat.
High bar, narrow stance, one that would emulate an athletic position, and ass to grass. A narrower stance increases range of motion and get allows the athlete to get lower easer. High bar ass to grass squats also help with…
Great advice. The more I lift the more I see the benefits!
First Boot Camp Session – A few photos
A few pics of yesterdays Boot Camp, pinched from Sue, and taken by Chris the instructor on her camera.
The first shows the mega hill we warmed up on (I’m the one half way down in the hat) and then a few of the interval training with weights, before the 3 mile rope run, thankfully on the home straight! Bring on the next session!
After recently getting into Cross Fit, i found out that the trainers also run a monthly boot camp session. I wasn’t too sure what to expect and at 2.5 hours I wondered whether if it would be too intense and too much.
Those from Eastbourne will know how steep the hill is at the foot of Beachy Head. Well running halfway up this, followed by squats 3 times was our warm up! We then headed over the hills to the St Bedes School Rugby fields, between us carrying an assortment of weights and kettle bells etc which in itself was quite tough.
So today I took the plunge and attended my first Cross Fit class, and it was awesome! I was a little apprehensive about being too intense, but I felt like I was ready to up my training.
Today’s session was to be based around dead lifts, and having never been shown the proper technique for these, I was really glad of the white board instructions on what muscle chains should be used, and demonstrations of the safe techniques. Here’s the Workout of the Day:
Rounds of 15,12,9,6 and 3 dead lifts. I used 40kg.
In between each dead lift round, a set of 12 crunches, 12 burpees, and 12 5kg wall ball throws.
I was a little unsure how I would do when I saw this being put up on the white board but I surprised myself, and even though very intense I finished in 12 minutes 29 seconds.
We finished off with stretches chosen to counter act what the workout had done to our muscles which again gave me reassurance about the instructor. I’ll be back!
…slightly nervous. Ready to get serious with the training though. Bring it on 2013!!!
Every now and again I get motivated to go and run, but I am not a natural runner and find it hard especially with previously suffering with shin splints that stopped me continuing.
Feeling fitter from walking and other training I kept wanting to run again but Winter is not the best time to try and get motivated to do more, especially when it keeps raining!
After a lazy sunday, monday found me with that I must run feeling again. Plus it was a clear crisp evening. So with some new trainers and running socks to help with the shin splints I set off.
I’m so glad I did! I reckon it was my best run ever. I ram further without stopping and when I did stop the breaks were Shorter too. I also think I was faster. I ran around 3km in 15-20mins which is very pleasing.
This was just what I needed and great motivation to keep it up and I sort out my 2013 training plan. I am going to sign up to Park Run (5km) and do it monthly and then perhaps enter the Firle Trail run in September at either 5km or 10km distances. Watch this space for my other endurance/long distance challenges for 2013.
After completing the last 100km trek, you would think that a good rest would be the main thing on your mind, but it is strange how quickly the mental and physical pain is forgotten, and the “never agains” turn into “what nexts?”
I’m slowly easing myself back into training with a couple of sessions each week, mostly on upper body work, but also with lots of stretching and it’s great to feel the strength coming back into my legs.
The main focus has been my Kung Fu, as this weekend I have my fourth grading. This will focus on combinations of techniques, but the main aspect is the patterns. I have to show improvement on the first three that I have already graded on as well as showing that I have learnt the fourth. These patterns hold the essence of the White Crane Form and the more patterns I learn it is exciting to see what secrets they hold. I have entered the clubs competition in a month for this fourth pattern as it is my favourite, so watch this space to see how I do. If I pass the grading I will be competing against higher levels too.
As my fitness is greatly increased after all the walking I am starting to run more and hope to run a 5k event towards the end of the year, perhaps working up to a 10k or even half marathon next year! There are so many challenges out there and am starting to look out for the next big one. Will it be another 100k, or will it be further! But in the meantime, next week it’s time for a holiday. Very lucky to have friends in Jordan, so expect photo posts of deserts and other amazing places to come….
