JogBlog

I’d only had the vague notion of going to the parkrun this morning but, after being awake from 4am to 5:30am (luckily then falling into a sleep deep enough for me to sleep through the 6am kitty-puke-o’clock), I didn’t wake up until 8:50. That was that vague notion unvagued then. But, as the parkrun organisers still haven’t sorted out my time from last week – they’ve got me 90 seconds faster than I actually was, which I wouldn’t mind so much but it’s flagged up as a PB and I’d prefer my PB to actually be my PB – I don’t want to go back until my time is corrected anyway.

So, where to run? As it was a beautiful morning, I decided I needed to see some greenery and water, so I told Shaun I was going to do my six mile route up to the lake and back. He said ‘you can’t do six miles, you’ll break, you’ve only been doing three miles’ but I reminded him I wasn’t famous for overdoing things and most of it would be walking.

When I got to the lake, I decided to carry on and continue through the park then go back past the local-ish shops. When I got round the park though, I changed my mind and went back past the lake and back the way I came. This turned out to be a 7.63 mile run.

Yay.

I have blisters now though.

Bah.

And because tomorrow’s supposed to be another beautiful, sunny day, tomorrow I’m cycling to the beach and back – a twenty mile round trip.

If you’re thinking about joining the gym this year, (or in fact any year), choosing the right one for you is important. You don’t want to pay for a membership and then not go back again after about visit number four. Look at all the ones that are on offer in the area that you live in and see which one suits you best. Here are some things that you might want to consider:

Think about the kind of gym that you want to go to, and what you want to use it for

While it can be tempting to simply sign yourself up at the facility that is closest to your house, but that shouldn’t be all that you take into account before you sign your membership forms. Think about the kind of workout that you want to use the gym to get. Do you want to go purely for weightlifting or cardio, or would you rather go to a gym that also offers loads of classes and facilities for all kinds of exercise?

Look at what equipment they offer

When you’re having a look around the gym; pay attention to the equipment that they have there. If you’re not really sure what these might be, or what they can be used for, make sure that you ask. You could also do your research beforehand by looking at websites like Fitness Warehouse to get an idea of the things that a gym might have in it before you go.

The staff

Ask if the staff have any qualifications and take into account how approachable and friendly you would find them if you needed to ask them for help or advice.

Choose the gym that works best for you

When choosing your gym, try and avoid just choosing the one that offers the best prices. Look at the types of classes that they offer throughout the day, and check what times they are open so that you know if you will be able to easily fit gym visits into your existing schedule.

What other things does it offer?

Have a look at the other things that the gym might be able to offer you. If it doesn’t have a pool, does your membership include free or discounted access to your local pool as part of your fee so that you can add swimming to your work out?

As a general rule, us Brits are not the best at keeping our New Years’ resolutions.

Part of the reason for this is a fundamental lack of motivation, which can occur even on occasions where you are passionate to succeed and have already invested money into the endeavour. Sometimes your struggles are simply a matter of timing, however, as the so-called ‘winter blues’ and cold weather prevents you from achieving your goals. If your resolution this New Year was to get fit and embrace the art of jogging, for example, you may have found the freezing conditions and continuous rainfall too much to bear.

Retaining Motivation When Jogging

With this in mind, how can you overcome this feeling and retain your motivation to get fit? Consider the following: –

Invest More in Quality Accessories and Clothing

If you work for your money, you are no doubt cautious about how you spend it. If this is the case, this sense of fiscal responsibility can be used as additional motivation, as spending more on high quality clothing and keep-fit accessories can force you to get good value for this investment. Consider purchasing comfortable and branded garments from retailers such as the Regatta Outlet, for example, and ensure that you keep all costs in mind when questioning whether or not to run in the cold light of day.

Visualise your Goals

There are many reasons why you may wish to get fit or take up jogging. Whether you are looking to boost your ailing health or develop a more toned and muscular physique, however, the ability to visualise your end goals may well make the difference between success and failure. By imagining your ideal body and the benefits that it will introduce to your life, you can increase your levels of motivation and push beyond both physical and mental barriers to success.

Set Viable Goals and Schedules

While on the subject of your goals, it is important to note that they must be realistic and achievable within a predetermined period of time. The same principle applies to your exercise regime, as you must be able to set a schedule that is flexible and boasts room for manoeuvre. It is hard enough getting fit without constantly feeling as though you are swimming against the tide, so strive to develop a schedule that fits in with your other priorities and those of your friends and family.