Skipping A Training Session Does Not Equal Failure

The mentality around training can be a tricky thing. I'm all for planning, putting sessions in the diary like any other appointment, and coming up with alternatives when circumstances change. I'm comfortable with the idea of resting when sick and not trying to play catch-up afterwards. One thing I rarely do, and wouldn't go so far as to advocate, is purposefully skipping a session. Yet last weekend, over the Bank Holiday, that's exactly what I did.

In my diary, on Sunday, I had written in a 2.5hr training run. And I chose not to do it. It wasn't because I didn't feel up to it, or that plans had changed, but that I chose to spend my time differently. And that's fine. For at last two months it had been arranged that my mum would come to visit for the weekend. We had no fixed plans as such and I'd set the expectation that on Saturday I would need to work for an hour and that I had some training to do. I did my work, and we did parkrun together but for the majority of the weekend I decided to prioritise relaxation over my training. Juggling the last weeks of my day job with training and ramping up my PT business means I'm usually always in work mode, thinking about what else I can do towards building my business and so being able to disconnect and be frivolous was a true joy. It felt as though I'd had a holiday!

We had fizz and chips by the lake, went to the cinema and ate breakfast al fresco each day. We made use of our National Trust memberships by visiting Mottisfont, Greys Court and Cliveden, wandered around the grounds, took a boat trip on the Thames and indulged in cakes and ice creams. I bought an early Jamie Oliver cook book in one of the second hand shops and cooked from it that same night. We took a picnic to Virginia Water and walked around the lake afterwards. Frankly, it was delightful.

And it's not as though I've been sitting around. I've run 13 miles this week including the parkrun with mum. The Virgina Water walk was 4 miles and we covered several more miles in purposeful walks and finding our way through mazes. I took part in a circuits class with Barnes Fitness on Monday and got in a bike set before work on Wednesday. Apart from Sunday I've hit every training session this week.

So I'm still taking it seriously but "training the soul", as someone put it, is also important. Constantly thinking about work and training can be exhausting and counter productive and there's truth in the adage "everything in moderation". Sure I agonised a bit over skipping the run but ultimately I'm glad I did. It's not a regular occurrence and does not equal failure. I just picked up from the next session.

One of the pieces of advice I've been given as I move further into the PT world is that just as you would block out time for appointments and work, block out time for relaxation, because it's very easy for things to take over. Taking that advice I made time to go to the UK Fitness Bloggers meet up on Wednesday night (such a fun evening) and watched a film with a friend over skype last night. Ain't technology great?

Was your Bank Holiday weekend more training or relaxation? Do you find it hard to get real downtime?

Vik's Picks : May 2015

I've done much in the way of product of kit reviews of late but that doesn't mean that there haven't been things that I think are worthy of a mention. So without further ado, here's a round up of products that I've been enjoying this month.

1. USA Pro Leggings
One of my RunFitUK group sported a fantastically loud pair of leggings to a session some weeks ago and as someone with a bit of a thing for a funky legging, I immediately asked her where they were from and was delighted to find them in the Sports Direct sale. I bought two different pairs and have been mightily impressed with them. They have decent sized zip pockets, don't ride up nor fall down despite lack of drawstring, and don't go thin when you bend over.

2. Gym Boss miniMax
I won this little device some time ago and it's become invaluable. I use it at RunFitUK, on my classes, during my PT sessions and also used it to time my team mate's miles during 2Swim4Life. That's around 6 hours of timing in one day alone! It's easy to use (once you get the hang of the menu), stores multiple interval programmes and stays put when clipped to clothing.

3. Nakd Nibbles
These have been promoted on twitter quote a bit recently and as I'm such a fan of the bars I ordered a selection box pronto. Even smaller than the Nakd Bits, these little nuggets of deliciousness are far more versatile than the other products. Sprinkle them on cereal, add them to trail mix or devour as they are. The coconut ones are my favourites so far, but I've been restrained and not tried all seven flavours yet.

4. MyProtein Nut Butters
I never thought I'd be someone who would eat spoonfuls of nut butter straight from the tub but it appears that is what I have become. To be fair I use these in lots of other ways too, in porridge, on toast, in soups, smoothies and salad dressings. I've even added them to hot chocolate once or twice. There are plenty of other brands who offer these varieties and more but these are the ones I've been using and I'm soon going to be putting in a repeat order.

5. Cocofina Macaroon Bars
I was delighted to win a box of coconut macaroon bars from Cocofina recently and they've been a constant in my handbag and desk drawer as a snack. They're not the lowest calorie snack around but I'm a fan of the texture and flavour. Think a slightly gooier bounty bar but without the chocolate coating.

Have you tried any of these products? What's your verdict? Any alternatives you think I should check out?

I Quit!

At the end of April I made a Big Decision. I resigned from my day job. I have quit my steady, well paid office job to become a full time Personal Trainer and Fitness Instructor. And it's scary as hell.

I fretted over this for months, telling myself I'd do it after appraisals, after performance ratings were out, when I had X amount in savings, after this race or that. Eventually I realised I was making excuses not to act. I've been working towards this for a long time and there was never going to be a perfect time to make the change. So I confirmed a "safety net" of regular classes at the training centre I've been working at, arranged a call with my boss at 5pm on a Wednesday and handed in my notice. I think it's fair to say she was a little shocked.

One or two people who only know me through the fitness side of things were surprised I wasn't already a full time PT, which I took as a compliment, and the colleagues I'm close to understand that this is a passion for me and have been hugely supportive. As have my friends and family, despite any worries they may have.

I have a three month notice period so I've still got a while to go but it's spurred me into action. I've polished up my website, made greater efforts with promoting myself and looked at more revenue stream possibilities. I'll be teaching classes and continuing my involvement with RunFitUK and BarnesFitness for as long as they'll have me but I'll also have time to offer more in the way of 1-2-1 sessions and personalised training plans. Full details are available on my website and I welcome questions and enquiries via email. If you could mention me to any interested parties I'd be very grateful.

This isn't going to be an easy move to make. I know there will be some tougher times ahead and days when I'll wonder what on earth I've done. If it doesn't work out, so be it, but it won't be for lack of trying. There have been days when I've left the office feeling drained and demoralised only to come out of the other side of teaching feeling uplifted and enthused. That's how I know I'm doing the right thing. So expect to see a few more posts about this particular phase of my life and the things I learn along the way in addition to the usual training updates, event reviews and so on.

If you've got a similar story to share, please do get in touch, it would be great to hear from you.

A Christening, Eye Candy and Character Building

Last weekend should have been the weekend that I attempted a PB and the Royal Berkshire 10k. Or maybe even gone out for my own 10k virtual race. However in the end neither of these things happened. Instead I became Godmother to this beautiful and happy little girl and ate far more sandwiches, spring rolls and cupcakes than I reasonably should have. It was marvelous. And my friend Debbie smashed out a new PB for herself at the Royal Berks 10k which is fantastic.

In fact, I didn't run at all at the weekend. I spent Friday and Saturday in London with a good friend of mine. There was wine, late night chit chat, brunch, a restorative stomp across Hampstead Heath and an indulgent couple of hours in an art house cinema. I met my mum at the Peacock theatre on Saturday evening to see Titanium - a modern mix of Hip Hop, Breakdancing and Flamenco with a real wow factor (and some serious eye candy).

The running I have done has been surprisingly enjoyable. The weather gods may smile on us for the RunFitUK sessions but they certainly took their wrath out on me before hand as I squeezed in a 4 miler. I was soaked and battered with rain and hail the moment I stepped out of the front door. It would let up, I'd almost dry out, and then it would start again. Character building, I think it's called... On Wednesday evening I met up with some of the Box Bell Fit Endure24 team runners for another training run. We ran our usual 4.5 mile route through the woods taking in some hills and I ran there and back too, giving me a nice 8 miles in the bank. I'm pants at uphill running but give me a downhill and I'm away, something that was commented on more than once! 

It was a Good Post week with the arrival of new trail shoes, my Team Bear tri suit and a stack of laces and samples (plans afoot!) A pre-work off-road run with another Endure24 team member through dewy fields was the perfect opportunity to test them out. I was wrecked by the end but my toes were dry and my ankles unsprained. It was a hard run but I'd expected it to be and that was part of the point. My running partner, despite having already tackled a kettlebells class, is much speedier and I was running on empty after the 8 miles the night before. Without her I would have quit after one lap but I couldn't face dropping out so 4 miles it was! Excellent practice for Endure24 in terms of levels of tiredness and terrain, and a reminder that my usual fueling strategies do work. It was also a lesson in pacing for us both!

In addition to the running I went to a new class and tackled the latest Metafit release. I've got a fairly heft session to tackle over the Bank Holiday weekend but there'll be plenty of relaxation too. A day trip to one of my favourite National Trust properties, Mottisfont, and a local beer and wine festival are planned. Should be a good one!

What types of running do you find hardest? What fun plans do you have for the Bank Holiday weekend?

Berkshire Fitness Scene : Just Jhoom!

It's been some time since I've tried a new activity locally but Just Jhoom! has been on my list for some time. Just Jhoom! (meaning "just dance" in Hindi) is a Bollywood-inspired dance fitness class, which brings together aerobics and mindful movement, drawing on a range of dance styles from Indian classical dance to Bhangra. I would say that it is to Indian dance what Zumba is to Latin styles - a fun and friendly class that makes a dance style accessible.

I love the dance scenes in Bollywood movies and have even had a go at dancing at the wedding celebrations of a friend of mine in India. I certainly felt the part on that occasion in my bangles and henna. On this occasion though, I dusted off my dance trainers and took myself to Yateley School for a Just Jhoom! taster session.

Been a while since I got to wear these!

Annabel, our teacher, gave us a little background info on the class and what to expect before showing us some of the hand positions that we would use in the routines. Arm and hand movements are part of what give the Bollywood dancing it's elegance and help to tell the story, so we were encouraged to try to incorporate these if we felt we could.

After a gentle warm up we started to learn some routines. We covered around seven routines during the class, each set to a different Bollywood track and none too complicated. Annabel would show us the movements we'd be using before each one and gave us the opportunity to practice before we put moves to music for real. The most memorable track and routine was probably a sort of Indian version of the Macarena! It's very hard not to smile when you're dancing to the music, even if you're mixing up "lotus" and "bee" hands, it's so uplifting!

The class was friendly, low impact and a lot of fun. You certainly don't need to have any dance experience to get involved, just some comfy clothes and footwear that you can move about in. I could have put a bit more effort in if I'd wanted to but I just enjoyed moving my body and trying a new dance style.

The Jhoomers demonstrating "bee" hands

Annabel runs the classes as courses of six, other instructors run them as blocks of ten and some locations offer pay as you go. There are plenty around so if this is something you would like to try then just head to the Class Finder section of the Just Jhoom website to find your nearest class.

Get My Mojo Working : Run Or Dye

In the interests of disclosure, in return for sharing a discount code and writing this post to promote the event I will be given a free place in a Run or Dye event this year. Thank you.

I've been looking over my race calendar for the remainder of the year and I've realised that I've got four fairly significant events in as many weekends in September. I never intended for that but Things Happened. Don't get me wrong, I'm looking forward to each and every one but I know that I'll need to be something fun and relaxed afterwards to get my mojo working again.

Which is exactly why I've got my eye on the Run or Dye series. Back in 2013 (no way! really?) I took part in The Colour Run and LOVED it but this year I'm going to sign up for Run or Dye instead. In essence the events are very similar; you run/walk/dance around the 5k course, get covered in eco-friendly, plant-based powdered dye every kilometer and get to party on down at the Finish Festival.

I know from experience that these events are not races, not really even runs, they are experiences and very inclusive ones at that. It's all about having fun so it's a great event to do with friends or family regardless of fitness level. There are numerous events across the UK throughout the year so there's bound to be one near you. Visit http://www.runordye.co.uk/ to see where the parties are! Entry is £27.50 (kids 6 and under are FREE!), but you can get £3 off your entry fee by using the code KISDISCOUNT.

You could argue that this is pricey for a 5k but consider the organisation involved and that Run or Dye is also an event with a heart. The organisers have been inviting the public to nominate worthwhile causes that are in need of some colour; whether that’s repainting the local playground, creating a bright and exciting mural for a community space or simply arranging for a bunch of blooms to be delivered to someone in need. Unfortunately, nominations are now closed but Run or Dye will be selecting a number of those in need close to the UK Run or Dye event locations so keep a look out for extra colour in your locality.

If you're still not sure just how much fun these events can be, check out the video below! Maybe I'll see you there...

All I Can Remember Is Running And Lunching

I'm writing this at 10:30pm on Thursday night. I'm both tired and mildly hyped up on hot chocolate and mochas. Last weekend feels like a very long time ago!

But what a great weekend it was. I spent Saturday marshalling the Uber Swim at Dinton Pastures and then having a long lunch with a friend. The day was rounded off with a lovely late evening run in the sunshine and then staying up far too late looking at race entries. I was half hoping that Bracknell Half Marathon had on-the-day entries but thankfully they didn't. I'd have been a mess and I wouldn't have been able to have cheered everyone on in the final mile. There were so many people I knew! Several people from BoxBellFit where I teach and also Dean, my nearest Team Bear member, who I'd never met before. I gave him a big cheer and an unintentionally stinging high five. I got quite a lot of race envy, not least because the medal was wonderful.

Cheering duties done I met my ex-housemate, Anita, for a run followed by lunch and then headed out for a second run around the woods near home, sussing out a route with a view to leading a group around there later in the week.

Sunday Lunch

Wednesday and Thursday have been my longest days by far, up at 5:30 both mornings and busy until late in the evening. Wednesday started with teaching and finished with the woodland run in the evening. A hilly route made manageable with good company and some lovely warm sunshine. By contrast I was joined by no one on the 6:30am run I'd arranged on Thursday, possibly because it clashed with a kettle bell class rather than the time in general. Still, I ran anyway, to practice running on tired legs, and was at my desk by 7:30am. After a day in the office I spent the evening marshalling for the first in the Dinton 5 & 10k series. It was a rather rainy evening but there was still a huge turn out and lots of on-the-day entrants. I've enjoyed taking part in these in previous years and it's a joy to be involved whether I'm running or not. It was a busy sort of evening though hence making it through until 10pm on coffee and chocolate.

Somehow I've managed to clock up just shy of 25 miles of running this week including some very purposeful sessions. It's not been exactly what I was meant to do, according to my coach's prescription, but as my plan to attempt a 10k PB at a race this weekend has changed I suppose it doesn't matter. I will try and attempt the distance on my own and see what I can manage. No swimming for me this week as my course of lessons finished and I've not gone of my own accord but I'm planning to go back to the Tri Club sessions next Friday, other plans permitting.

I may not be awake when this post goes live... forgive me, but I'm going to take the opportunity to have a lie in!

Event Review : Dinton Uber Swim

It's half past six on a somewhat blustery Saturday morning and I'm stomping around in wellies attempting to put up a gazebo near the shore of Black Swan Lake at Dinton Pastures Country Park. It feels rather early to be doing battle like this but the organisers have been onsite for at least an hour already putting up signs and inflating buoys that mark the course for the Dinton Uber Swim. This event is unlike any other I've come across because to get to that finish line you must first swim around 3,000 metres in two lakes and tackle three separate entry and exit points.

The gazebo is wrestled into position and pegged down just as the first competitors start arriving to register. They're a keen bunch, these swimmers. Around 60 had signed up in advance with a handful of  on the day entrants too; soon the lake side was buzzing with people in wetsuits and red swimcaps asking about the water temperature (14 degrees). A collective gasp goes up as the gazebo makes a break for it. The hot chocolate flasks will just have to brave the elements today.

By 7:55am all swimmers and supporting kayakers are in the water waiting for the off. There's a count down, an air horn blast and a flurry of arms head off towards the first buoy. I'm sited at the second exit point on the course, where people have a short distance on foot to the smaller lake. The bank gets a bit slippy and helping hands are offered. The last two swimmers are accompanied by their own personal escorts. The very last swimmer decides that it's a bit too much for her today and decides to drop out so I walk her back. I'm pleased she's in good spirits, having realised she was asking a lot of herself that day.

"I think I'm hallucinating, Terry Pratchett is in a kayak beside me"

As we arrive back at the start some swimmers have already finished but we get to see the majority come over the line to claim goody bags and hot drinks. As I glance at my watch I am staggered that it's only around 9:30am. All these people have swum 3km before breakfast and have the whole day ahead of them still. Now that's really something.

The Dinton Uber Swim, or indeed any similar event, is a great way to keep your swim training on track over the winter and a great way to start the open water season (if you're not one of these hardy souls who swims all winter anyway). Consider adding this to your race calendar next year or look out for something similar in your local area.

Choosing Swimming Lessons

For a month now I've been getting automated emails to remind me that I'm almost out of pre-paid swimming lessons and I should buy some more. In January I took advantage of a members deal with my local council-run leisure centre and signed up for a set of 10 minute sessions. Although it's helped, I started to wonder if I'd progressed beyond what they could offer.

I've enjoyed the lessons, even if I've had three different teachers. All of them have brought something different to the table. Courtney taught me tumble turns, Cathy introduced me to pull buoys and Lynn gave me the confidence to pay the local tri club a visit. The lessons were very inexpensive and I got a little personal guidance each time but they were also short and somewhat unstructured. So I started to investigate alternatives. There are several options but the main ones seem to be as follows.

Council-run / Leisure Centre sessions
Pros: Cheap, local and run by qualified swim instructors.
Cons: Potentially short classes. Groups can mean little 1-2-1 assistance. Need to understand current ability.

Swim or Tri club
Pros: Could be very cheap with the first session sometimes free. Like-minded people. Structured, progressive sessions. Often have access to open water locations.
Cons: Can be intimidating and may require a certain level of ability or confidence.

Private lessons
Pros: 1-2-1 or small groups with focused coaching. Very structured and tailored to your goals. Often held in private pools.
Cons: Expensive!

Guildford Lido

When you're choosing the swimming lessons it's worth spending some time thinking about what your ultimate goals are, how far you're willing to travel, and your budget. That's the fairly easy part. The more difficult thing can be deciding what level you need to start at. I've noticed that leisure centres or council-run sessions have a sometimes bewildering array of adult classes at different ability levels. What's the difference between Improver and Pre-Advanced? What if I can swim 200m breast stroke but only 25m front crawl? If in doubt, call the centre, ask questions, take advantage of any trial sessions. It's well worth it.

Go with an open mind and a student mindset. No I don't mean planning to go to the pub straight after, but be willing to learn and take on board feedback graciously. You have paid your money to learn. You are not the expert. As adults it can sometimes be hard to rediscover that mindset. Being a beginner doesn't come easy and we can be impatient.

I've decided that the best next step for me is to join the local triathlon club. I mentioned Lynn earlier, one of my instructors at the leisure centre. She also coaches at the tri club and was adamant that I was strong enough to join in. This was a HUGE confidence boost as I still have little idea of how I compare to other swimmers. Although I'm a member of Team Bear, because we're so dispersed we just don't have these sorts of meets (yet...) so it's a good option for me. I'll get coaching that's a step up from what I've had so far and I'll have the opportunity to meet more like-minded people. I'm looking forward to it!

What are the swimming facilities like near you? Have you "out grown" your swimming lessons? What was your next step?

That Friday Feeling... On Thursday?

A Bank Holiday weekend throws me at the best of times. That Monday feeling on a Tuesday? Wait, it's Friday already? What? But this weekend was even more confusing than usual.

Last Friday was fine. I'd done a full week in the office and headed to Guildford to meet fellow Team Bear member, Patrick, for the first time ahead of his 2Swim4Life event at which I was supporting; I've met very few people on the team and sometimes it feels a bit like Pokemon (gotta catch 'em all!). Saturday and Sunday melded together a bit as I alternated 4 hour shifts poolside to help ensure Patrick was warm, rested, watered and fed between miles for 24 hours. It was a brilliant event to be part of and gave me an introduction into the swimming community, which is very different to the running community. I felt out of place without a bobble hat or a dry robe and concluded that they are all a little bit bonkers, in the nicest possible way. That said there's a very strong possibility I'll be persuaded into some swimming events in the next year or so.

Proper old-school towelling robe!

So I headed home from Guildford lido not entirely sure if it was Saturday or Sunday (goodness only knows what day it felt like to Patrick) only to discover that the sniffle and itchy throat I'd been trying to keep at bay with copious amounts of ginger tea was fast developing into a full blow cold which tethered me to the sofa and required a sick day on Tuesday. But I did watch a heck of a lot of House of Cards and got ahead on my session planning.

Guildford Lido at night

I worked from my sofa on Wednesday and by the afternoon felt up to tackling my training run. Thursday was business as usual. At least I think it was Thursday. My entire schedule was off track! I had to skip two runs this week but still managed to clock up 13 miles and a swim so I'm happy with that, especially as 4 of those miles were decent paced trail miles.

This weekend I'm helping out at another swimming event, the Uber Swim at Dinton, and socialising with some friends I've not seen in far too long. Bring on the brunch!

Have you ever found yourself immersed in a very different sporting community on occasion? Did the Bank Holiday help or hinder your training?

Join In by Volunteering

Much as I love taking part in events I know that they're really only made possible by the kind hearts of hundreds of volunteers. In the past I would only volunteer if I wasn't able to participate myself, which is all well and good but I've been doing a lot more working behind the scenes, volunteering and supporting this year and have found it very rewarding.

Perhaps you watched coverage of the London or Brighton Marathons this year and got itchy feet to get involved. Maybe you remember an occasion when marshals and cheerleaders lifted you when things got tough, put that medal around your neck or pointed you to the start line in the first place? It's likely that all of these people gave up their time to help you. But it's not just about races. There are many sports clubs that rely on volunteers too.

Join In pulls together hundreds of volunteer roles that you could get involved in and allows you to search by area, sport or skillset. I was surprised at just how many opportunities there were within just 5 miles of my front door, from marshalling to event organisation, general maintenance to marketing.

Of course supporting your friends and families in their events is wonderful but if you want to do a little more than that then there are plenty of opportunities to be had. Not only could you develop new skills but you'll be enabling people to take part in the sports they love. And who knows, you might just find a new activity to try yourself.

Running as Part of a Team

I'm taking part in two team events this year; Endure24 and Equinox24. I've found myself as captain of one of four teams that BoxBellFit have entered into Endure24 which means I need to rally the troops and get us prepped for the day.

I have only taken part in one team running event before, Equinox24 in 2014, but learnt a lot of lessons from that which I will be applying to my preparations this time around.

Agree Your Approach

It's a good idea to have a chat with your team mates before the day, quite some time before the day really, to get a feel for how you're going to approach it. Are you all aiming for a goal (most laps, fastest time) or are you just doing it for fun? Are you all of a similar ability or is there a marked difference between your speeds? Knowing this in advance will help to shape your training and avoid and niggly doubts about whether you'll be letting the side down if you're not a 45-minute 10k runner, for instance.

If you're all in it for the same reasons then that's great, just agree that you'll all train to the best of your abilities and get stuck in on the day. If not though, you might want to agree on some different goals. Perhaps Meg and Mike will aim to run their laps as fast as they can and Simon and Sue will take it easier in between. The team won't be gunning for any prizes perhaps but those with a more competitive edge can still have something to aim for. If you're of different abilities it can still be possible to make it work for everyone. Perhaps arrange your running order so that the speedier members could do a couple of extra laps.

Training
being clear on the aims of the team will help you to mentally prepare for the event and set your expectations appropriately. Arguments and fall outs can be avoided. This is especially key if you're running with people you don't know too well.

It will also help to plan your training. If at all possible, arrange a couple of training runs together, so that you are all comfortable that you can cover the lap distance. It's not essential, of course, but it will help you to bond as a team and learn how to encourage each other. Someone not so good on hills? You'll know to try and make it over to that point on the course to cheer them on. Someone got a niggly knee? Maybe you arrange your running order so they get a bit more rest between laps or suggest some strengthening exercises (if appropriate).

Other Prep
Just as important to think about is the logistics of the event. When are you all turning up, On the morning, the night or even afternoon before? Will someone save a camping spot? Have you got enough tents between you? Who's willing to share? Are you making use of onsite catering or bringing stoves? Are you each in charge of your own food and drink or are you going to club together and split the costs. Who's bringing the cake and who's bringing the beers? This is all important stuff to think about. Put your heads together, exchange packing lists, make it as easy for each other as you can. Try not to end up with three camping stoves but no lighters or fuel.

On The Day
Whatever your team strategy, be supportive to each other on the day. Think about what your runner might need after his or her lap, meet them with their warm layer and some water. Be generous with your cheers and encouragement. Create a team vibe somehow, perhaps matching t-shirts or all agree to wear the same colour. Come up with a team name. Make it fun, even if you're aiming high on the day, it doesn't have to be all slog.

Are there any other points you would include as advice to prepping for a team event? Are you taking part in any this year?

Forgetting How To Eat Elephants

This has been an especially loooong week. My day job has had me commuting to Newbury every day and having to make some quick get aways in order to make classes leaving precious little time to train. I've managed to squeeze a few things in though.

Banoffee Cupcakes

Saturday was a great day. Double run! I did parkrun in the morning then dashed home to make cupcakes for mum's birthday before taking her for a gliding lesson and then to Glow In The Park in the evening. On Monday I took part in the HIIT class that follows the metafit session I teach then I had a really nice 5 mile trot. Last night I had a bit of a play with kettle bells before leading the first training run with some of the team for Endure24. It was a pretty easy pace but around fields and my feet feel a teeny bit bruised now but I loved it all the same. I will confess I had little inclination to swim so I skipped it. I also skipped one of my training runs due to time but in totally I've run 15 miles and done some S&C work so it's not bad.

Optimistic for her first gliding lesson...

I had a real wobble mid week due to tiredness and feeling overwhelmed. I was putting too much pressure on myself to achieve things when I knew I really just needed to relax in the odd bits of time I had available. Instead of being kind to myself I did a few things half heartedly and felt horrible for it. But a bit of journalling, some texts to a friend and a glass or fizz and I felt a bit better.  It's hard to eat well when you're tired. I've been craving jam donuts and chocolate but instead of succumbing, have just eaten more in general.

Work will settle down next week and my teaching timetable changes, which makes my weeks a little easier for a while, although it's been the teaching that's really helped me through the last few days. I always leave feeling happy and energised. The next three months are going to be a little strange, some of you already know why, but also very exciting. More on that in due course, but I will sometimes need the odd nudge to look after myself and take things a step at a time to avoid feeling overwhelmed. I'm looking at you!

Whenever I feel down, I shall look at this

This weekend I'm supporting Patrick in his 2swim4life efforts and then catching up on some runs and rest. I'm really looking forward to Sunday and Monday being kind of free of plans. Hurrah for Bank Holidays! 

How do you cope when you're overwhelmed? Got any active plans for the Bank Holiday weekend?