Another train journey, another blog. This time I'd like to talk about those who didn't. Initially I was going to write about those who couldn't, but then i figured, seeing as we all can it would be about those who chose to do. "What is she waffling on about?" I hear you ask. My friends and work colleagues who chose not to be active for a long time, and then decided to change that. These are the people who inspire me the most on a daily basis.
STEVE
Another recent addition to the exercise team is Steve Hunter. He read my blog about Katherine and decided that it was time for him to get active. Here's what he has to say about his journey, which started with the Couch to 5K and has recently taken him to ride his first ever 100-mile sportive and run 10K in under an hour. Phenomenal!
"The trigger point was needing new trousers and realising that I needed a 38 inch waist. I didn't buy new trousers, I bought a pair of shorts and some trainers. I was generally unfit, and never had any energy, too many years of smoking and drinking. I hadn't done any exercise at all for 15 years. I don't smoke any more, I gave up about 6 years ago properly but relapsed occasionally while working away from home, now it would be silly as I need all the oxygen I can squeeze into my lungs when running. I drink a lot less, part of the trying to lose weight bit, and I don't need to as I generally feel more relaxed and less stressed. I have much more energy generally now, and more motivation to do stuff, even if that is the decorating that Julie has been nagging me to do for years.
I started off running, but shin splints soon became a problem even sticking to the C25K, so I needed another plan so dug my old bike out of the back of the spider infested shed. A full suspension MTB on flat Essex roads wasn't the best fit, although it would have coped with the pot holes better, so being based in a hotel next to Sigma Sport in Kingston the temptation for a nice shiny bike was too much. Bike bought and many laps of Richmond Park followed after work, feeling very inadequate as everyone, and I mean everyone, was going quicker than me.
Obviously the answer to my slowness was to upgrade bits of the bike.
I went back to running gradually as my general fitness improved and although the shin splints have crept back a couple of times, with some rest I have kept them under control. Next target, 10k in under an hour. Cycling is going great, getting quicker, that's down to more upgrades obviously...
I only considered giving up in the first week; after my first run I really didn't believe I would ever be able to run 5K, it seemed an impossible ask. Logging everything on Strava really helped me, I could see the improvements really happening. If it wasn't for Strava, or similar, I think I would have given up.
My reason (excuse) for not being active were that I didn't have time. I seem to have found time, I just watch less rubbish on telly.
It's definitely been worth it, even though it has cost a fortune in bikes and stuff. For me exercising is more about me time, time to escape from life for a bit and just enjoy myself, if you can enjoy running. I feel better, not just because my body works better and is a better shape, but my head feels better too, it's like nature's own happy pill. I most enjoy being out on the bike on a cold Sunday morning in winter when there is no one else about.
Oh, and I need new trousers, all mine are too big for me as I am down to a 32 inch waist."
RACHAEL
Another story I'd like to share with you is that of Rachael Brooke's. Rachael is a good friend of mine who, as a child, was in a horrific car accident that left her missing a large chunk of muscle off one of her legs just above the knee. As a result, she hasn't really done that much exercise and was worried that doing any would cause problems. After quite some pestering by me, Rachael agreed to give it a try and embarked on the Couch to 5K running plan.
A gentle, structured, running plan like this one is excellent for building stamina and strength gradually, and it builds confidence as with each session you see you're getting better. Although Rachael did experience some pain initially, she kept going and now runs 5K (and more!) on a regular basis. I'm hoping she'll sign up for a 10K sometime soon... (And no photo of Rachael running yet)
NAOMI
Naomi Mills (nee McKay) - chiropractor extraordinaire and soon-to-be mother - was overweight when I met her - by how much I'm not really sure. She loved to drink and eat and enjoy life. But it turns out that she didn't feel she was enjoying life as much as she thought she was. When we met in 2011 at a business networking social do, we hit it off straight away and started hanging out on a regular basis. When I asked her if she wanted to climb Kilimanjaro with me she agreed and in August 2012 we scaled Africa's highest peak. Naomi's mum, Moira, had sadly passed away just a couple of months earlier and maybe it was a combination of that and achieving a huge task like climbing a mountain that resulted in Naomi's decision to lose weight.
As it turns out, when Naomi decides to do something, it gets done. She joined Slimming World and stuck to it 100%. She became slimmer of the week/month/year (or something - I lost track after a while) and the weight just dropped her. Simultaneously she spent time in the gym, lifting weights and doing cardio, getting fitter and fitter. She posted a video of her squatting with a 120 kg weight! When I invited her round for dinner and promised to cook something healthy, she turned up with her own salad and said "no offence" - none taken!
Naomi has also taken huge steps in other areas of her life. She quit working as a chiropractor for someone else and started her own practice. She has won multiple awards for her marketing company aimed at chiropractors, and she has gotten married and is now pregnant. I'm not saying that all this is to do with her weight loss and feeling better about herself but she once said to me; "if I can lose 4 and a half stone in 8 months then I can achieve anything." She wasn't wrong.
AGGELIKI
One of the most common things I hear when I suggest someone start running is "I'll die!". Although this is quite clearly an exaggeration, it does give an indication of the fear of trying to do this seemingly impossible task. So many of us think about how out of breath we are when running for the bus, and then apply this feeling to 'going for a run'. Thank goodness it's nothing like that, because I feel knackered running for the bus and I can swim, cycle and run for 14 hours straight!
Aggeliki was one of those "I'll die" people. She liked the thought of being able to run and her physique suggested she'd be good at it - she already looked like a runner - but she was unfit and scared of being out on her own in the cold English countryside (she had recently moved over from Greece). As is true of so many, if not all, of those starting the Couch to 5K, Aggeliki didn't die. In fact, after a slow start she made it through the C25K and recently completed a 10K. She has hinted that she might give the Half Marathon a go next year! And all this while also looking after her toddler and holding down a full time job.
LISA
I work with Lisa Gapp's husband, Mat, and I've often spoken to Lisa about my ridiculous triathlon antics, which she typically responds "I could never do that" to. Both Mat and Lisa are cyclists, they've both done the Nottingham Cycle Live 100-miler, so is one is not a case of "didn't". What inspires me about Lisa is her attitude to running, which she started this year. Here is what she has to say about her fitness journey:
"As you know I did the Couch to 5k as I wanted to get fit and lose weight. I really, really enjoyed it and through support and encouragement I aimed to do Parkrun. I also did a 5k muddy run which was great fun. I loved the buzz I got from running and also liked to swim & cycle. The East Leake triathlon seemed the obvious choice to push myself to train and work towards an achievable goal. I've become quite competitive with myself and loved beating my previous times until I stupidly walked into a door frame and broke my toe. Running is still off the cards and that is really annoying me but it has helped me get out on my bike more. I'm not sure how I'll do at the triathlon but my aim is to complete it and hopefully have fun too!"
Lisa has gone from no running to a sub-29-min 5K in less than 5 months, and she loves it! I'm pretty sure she'll love triathlon just as much.
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There are many others who inspire me, and I will get to those in future blogs, as the numbers are ever increasing! Until then, get active!
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