Segway, Sweat and Socialising

What adventures have been had in the last seven days? Well last Saturday morning I took my friends 13 year old son  to Dinton Pastures for an off road segway experience as a belated birthday present. The weather forecast had not been favourable and no sooner did we step onto the segways than the rain started and just got heavier over the course of the hour. There were just six of us in the group so we got plenty of help if we needed it. Kiddo took to it like a duck to water (though thankfully didn't drive the thing INTO the water... there path was largely on the banks of the lake) and despite the cold and the rain he had a whale of a time so it was all worthwhile. He ended up at the front of the group right behind the instructor who seemed to take a shine to him and answer all his questions. We may go back in the summer and try it again.

Sunday was ice hockey night again! I could see myself becoming a bit of a regular at the Bracknell Bees games. This time I went with my fella and sat upstairs which meant we could hear the commentator more clearly but I didn't feel quite so close to the action. Although we didn't win the shirt-off-their-back raffle nor the duck/puck game the Bees did win so that's what matters.

My certificates came through for my Gym Instructor qualification and I've and booked my PT module up. It's a long module and by starting in March I'm looking at a June 2014 finish. At that point I'll still have a few modules to complete for the diploma but I will be REPs level 3 PT qualified so I could start taking clients, which is really exciting.

I managed to force myself through a gym session on Monday, doing my intervals and strength routine and seeing small steps towards improvements there, and I've got my PT session tonight for more of the same... My PT runs a circuits class twice a week so I tried it out on Tuesday and followed it up with Body Balance. The circuit was ok, the squat thrusts followed by burpees were killer, but I did pretty well. I'm not sure if I'll make it a regular thing. Staying to do Body Balance afterwards was well worth doing though. I've not been out for a run for ages and I'm missing it a bit so maybe I'll make the effort to get out on Sunday (giving myself a day to recover from PT).

I'm missing parkrun tomorrow as I'm heading up to London for the very first Run Mummy Run social. I know I'm not a mum but they're very inclusive. There'll be speakers and lunch and a chance to just have a natter to other like-minded women. Can't go wrong with that now can you? Continuing with the social theme I met up with Anita for dinner at her gym last night. It's pretty swanky and I got momentary envy but honestly couldn't justify spending that sort of money on a membership. The food was great though and I even had a glass of wine. At the gym!

What have you been up to this week? Lamenting not having achieved something you intended to or celebrating having done something new and exciting?

These are a few of my favourite things...

This week has been utterly brilliant and full of all my favourite things. If only I could find a way to make a living from learning, watching films, seeing my friends, cooking and going to the gym I think I'd be truly happy forever.

I got my exam results from the weekend (97% for my Core Training) and started the e-learning for my Nutrition and Weight Management course. I also started another online course through FutureLearn, in conjunction with the Open University and the University of Warwick, called "The Mind is Flat: the shocking shallowness of human psychology". I thought it might be a good thing to do alongside my PT course to get a bit more insight into the human psychology which might help me with positioning myself as a trainer further down the line. I've completed the material for week one and it's hugely interesting, regardless of whether or not I'll be to apply it.

I've managed to do some sort of exercise almost every day, walking the dogs, PT session, Body Balance, gym sessions and more treadmill walking for FitFlop testing. My abs finally stopped aching round about Wednesday and the arms took over. I'm finally feeling like I'm making some progress on the speed and strength front; I've added an extra interval to my speed session and finally increased the weights on part of my strength routine.

Alcoholic yogurt... mmmm yes please!

In foodie news I got a delivery from TheProteinWorks of some of their new Cherry and Almond flapjacks, which were on offer and are absolutely delicious. I also tracked down some of the new Raspberry and Amaretto yogurt from The Collective on offer at Waitrose... also amazingly scrummy. I had to be very controlled and not buy every yogurt flavour I fancied trying. I think I'm the only person on earth who gets more seduced by the yogurt aisle than the cake aisle in the supermarket. I'm not convinced it's a much healthier habit to have sometimes. My tomato plants finally got ripped out and stripped of the remaining fruits which lead to a batch of green tomato soup to see me through the weeks lunches; another success which I'll share soon.

Segway-ing in Chicago. Love that skyline. I miss it. I'm booking a flight right now...

This weekend I'm skipping parkrun again and taking my friend's eldest lad on a segway adventure. I'm not sure who's more excited. I've been on a segway before in Chicago but I think this is going to be a bit more rugged. On Sunday I'm going to the ice hockey again but this time I'm taking my fella. We're seeing the Bracknell Bees play the Telford Tigers. We have upstairs seats this time so it'll be a very different experience for me. 

So it's been a very full week, and that's without mentioning the cinema trip and socialising! I'm holding out hope that next week will continue the trend. What's been your highlight this week? Have you done any of the things that make you truly happy?

Incidentally if you fancy trying some of those fancy new flapjacks, or indeed the brand new porridge pots from The Protein Works, not only do they have both on offer but if you order via this link you will get 250g of their premium Whey Protein 80 in whichever flavour you prefer absolutely FREE if it's your first order.

Sluggishness and Nerves

Last weekend got off to a brilliant start as I made it to parkrun and ran a very satisfying 27:47 - 20 seconds away from my PB! I couldn't go this week as I had my Gym Instructor assessment (more on that in a minute) but I also couldn't fit in my PT session or go through my program more than once by myself so I doubt I'd have seen any improvement. I am so keen to see my speeds drop I'm prepared to put the effort in, it's just a question of available time. How long before I'm seeing parkrun times starting with a 26 I wonder?

The rest of the weekend was equally fab involved food and friends more that exercise. I treated myself to lunch on Saturday, went to wedding reception on Saturday evening, was treated to brunch with my fella on Sunday and ended it by travelling up to see my lovely friend Alex in Ipswich on Sunday afternoon. She's just started her training for the Brighton Marathon next year and is embarking on a low carb diet and having an hours PT session once a week to keep her on the straight and narrow. It'll be the second time she's taken part in the marathon and I'm so proud of her. I wish I could do it with her but I can't face the fundraising I'd have to commit to for a place so I'm just looking forward to the training run we're doing together in February in the form of the 10 Miles Carnival du Nice. Oh and I'll be going along to support her in Brighton of course. Can't wait!

I didn't get back from Ipswich until Tuesday and had intended to do a Group Kick class that evening. Unfortunately a tummy bug and all the driving wiped me out so I cried off. I regret that now as I'm starting to really feel the sluggishness of a more sedentary lifestyle kicking in and getting frustrated by it. I'm not bemoaning my social calendar or commitments but when I felt so much better for finally getting to Body Balance on Thursday evening and doing something. I made the effort to get up early this morning and work out to a DVD. I used to find it fairly tough but it's testament to my training this year that I felt very strong in class last night and this morning.

Tomorrow morning I take my Gym Instructor assessment. I'm a bit nervous but the things I'm worried about (stumbling over my words, getting things in the wrong order) aren't the end of the world. I do know my stuff and I've informally taught most of it to friends before, even before I started the course so it should go ok.

I'd love to get up to my allotment in the afternoon but the weather forecast predicts storms which gives me the perfect excuse to hole up in the gym a while and attack some intervals and weights. In the evening I'm going to my first ever ice hockey game with some friends. Pretty darn excited about that!! My fella has suggested going for a run together on Sunday which I'm unduly nervous about. I expect to be grumpy for most of it as I'm sure I'll be dragged out rain or shine and there's bound to be hills involved. On the other hand I know I'll feel better for it and there'll be tea when we finish. Can't argue with tea.

Is anyone else struggling to get into an autumn workout routine? Ever been to watch ice hockey? What's it like?