Put downs to pick you up and other self centred sentiments

I go to the gym, I go and I lift weights, I do it partly as a form of cross training to my running, and partly to try and put a bit of muscle on my waif like body... My gym has instructors who hold the full complement of Les Mills classes, I've done them, and have enjoyed them. They're a great way to workout without the need to think about what you're going to do in your latest workout.

However, a new Les Mills promotional poster has appeared in the gym; it reads: "Alone we're weak, together we're strong"

Photo credit: All the Les Mills

I'm sure this phrase has gone through all the usual marketing channels and was voted as the newest-and-bestest phrase to make you want to participate in a Les Mills class. However, I think it smacks of self righteousness and today's more and more apparent view of needing to put one group/person/thing down in order to make yourself feel superior....

It's like the phrases "real women have curves" and "real men grow beards" - as if being anything different makes you less than everyone else. It (to use a possibly scouse phrase) does my head in; why feel that in order to make yourself feel better you have to put others down? I'm pretty sure Arnold (checks google for correct spelling) Schwarzenegger didn't regularly complete group classes on his way to becoming Mr. Universe at the age of 20, and then Mr. Olympia 7 times, but I'm sure the folks at Les Mills wouldn't call him weak!

Similarly with the whole curves/skinny/beard/clean shaven 'thang, if you're happy with how & who you are, or take satisfaction in doing something which you believes makes you a better you, take your satisfaction from that, not from thinking you're better for doing something someone else hasn't,  because,  there will always, always, be someone who has done something more than what you have done or are doing...

That was the week that was...

Every Monday morning when I was in primary school my classmates and I had to write a short summary of what we did over the last week, it was dubbed that was the week that was (or TW3 as the teacher liked to scrawl on the blackboard). So, for nostalgia's sake I thought I'd give a round up of my last 7 days of  exercise - definitely my most demanding and varied on comeback from injury:

Monday - Suspension rope workout at gym followed by 20 min swim
Tuesday - General gym workout followed by 6km run
Wednesday - 30 min swim
Thursday - General gym workout followed by 4km run,  rock climbing in the evening
Friday - General gym workout followed by 30 min swim
Saturday - Suspension rope workout at gym followed by 6km run
Sunday - Light gym workout, plus 2 hours of gardening (I'm counting this as a workout as I filled my recycling wheelie bin!)

So, quite a packed week, and whilst not running heavy, I'm definitly happy with the miles I covered and the general toil I put my body through. I plan on upping the miles over the next 4-6 weeks as I've got an early 2015 target in mind that I'm aiming for.

End note, I feel I should clarify that when I mention 'when I was in primary school' this wasn't just like last week or anything, it was when my age was in the single figures and I should have been there...

Sometimes finishing last is ok...

I'm panting. 'This is is hard work, I want to stop, I want it to be over... Oh well, at least I'm not last...'

I look over my shoulder; 'oh god, I'm last... But... I wasn't earlier; there were at least 3 behind me before...'

They'd dropped out, quit; why? Because they couldn't carry on, or didn't like where they were in the field?

I wouldn't quit, no, I couldn't quit; my dad was in the crowd, how could I live with myself if I quit in front of him?

I was 15, running for the school in the cross country team - the 'weakest link'. It wasn't always like that, but it seemed in the last 6 months to a year the other boys had all had a growth spurt - I hadn't.

On I plodded, and approached the finish line, a cold, clear last in the pack. My dad decided to run next to me for the last 50 metres or so. 'A sprint finish isn't going to save me this humiliation, or running with my dad next to me' I thought.

I crossed the finish line, I didn't run for the school ever again after that experience... I didn't draw from it the lessons I perhaps should have.

That day will forever be etched in my memory - I should have used it as a confidence boost to will myself to keep with it because I didn't quit; I had the guts to see it through even though I knew I was the 'slowest' and 'worst' runner that day. Instead I walked away from running, and exercise in general until my university days in my twenties, which I'll forever regret.

My school actually finished second that year in the cross country; despite my last place finish, or because I managed to finish and provide a full compliment for team numbers? -I'll never know, but sometimes, finishing last doesn't always make you the worst, sometimes finishing last is ok...

Song lyrics and running...

Its been a little while since my 'come back' post- slightly longer than I'd hoped / planned, and for one simple reason,  I've had/having a little setback. Nothing major, but enough to make me ease back on my running. As ever, it's my own fault; trying to do too much too soon... It went something like this:

"Hey body"
"Yeah?"
"Now I know you've spent the last number of months healing and getting betterand all,  but I think its time we do an inordinate amount of exericse, how's that sound?"
"Um, I'm not sure..."
"It'll be fine, I mean, we've been for a few runs but we're pretty much indestructible now aren't you?"
"I really don't think that's the case..."
"Nonsense!"

Well, it turns out it wasn't nonsense: runner in shocker of not listening to their body!!

So anyway, whilst I kick myself for my stupidity (ok, my greater than usual stupidity) I realised that all, or at least most, songs are written about running. I know, most of them are written about love you're thinking,  uh no... Take Paloma Faith's latest hit; 'Only Love Can Hurt Like This'. On the face of it, it's about love, but don't let the song title mislead you, I proffer:

"I tell myself, it don't mean a thing... But when you're not there I just crumble"

And how about "But it's the sweetest pain, burning hot through my veins"

Running I tell ya! Although I think Paloma missed out burning lungs in that last line.

...And just for conclusive proof, Ed Sheeran's 'Thinking Out Loud', the very opening lyric gives it away:

"When your legs don't work like they used to before"

...Post marathon feeling yeah?

"When my hands don't play the strings the same way"

By strings, Ed is clearly referring to his Garmin watch (other brands are available)

And don't get me started on Bryan Adams' 'Run to To You'

So there you have it... The next time you're listening to your favourite song on the radio/mp3 player/music playing device, have a little smile that it's all about running...

<insert deep and meaningful title here>

Well, hello! Its been a little while, such a little while that I'm not quite sure how to go about this first-post-back, so I'll keep it simple...

I've been running again for around 6 weeks now, easing back in to it to build up my stamina and getting my body used to running (I have never felt so unfit in my entire life!). So far, so good, but about damn time if you ask me! I have plenty of targets in my mind but for now, it is amazing to feel like a runner!

I'll give a more detailed update over the next few weeks, right now my fingers are getting tired from not having blogged for so long ;) in the mean time, I hope anyone who previously read my blog is happy and healthy, and anyone who may not have, welcome!

Btw, I have a new job, which I've had for around 6 months now and it is fantabulistic!!

Bye for now

The last 8 months have been a very long 8 months for me, mainly due to my running injury, but also because of my job.

My injury continues to cause me pain,  and stop me from running. For that reason, I am taking a break from this blog, and all things social media.

I am not doing this for sympathy or attention, but because reading about other runners and their adventures only adds to the despondency, frustration and frankly, despair that I feel.

I hope to be back one day, I don't even care about being back stronger, just, to be back, pain free.

I wish anyone who reads my blog all the best for 2014, and I hope you stay happy and healthy.

David

All the rehab...

 ...and my inappropriate reference to Fifty Shades of Grey to my physio

My recovery from foot-gate continues, and, I think, it is finally feeling like it is properly on the mend. However I'm not even contemplating running, or thinking this is over by a long stretch, I'm just enjoying not being in constant pain when I'm sat at my desk all day, or relaxing on the couch at home.

I'm now using, as per the direction of the physio, an exercise resistance band - and a very dashing yellow colour it is too. It is the band that offers the least resistance, and suits my current foot strength, right down to the ground (way to ruin a guy's macho image).

When the physio originally presented the band to me, and then started wrapping it around my foot, I may have said something like 'this is all a bit Fifty Shades of Grey isn't it?!'... I don't think she was too enamoured with my comment, and after back tracking slightly by saying what an inappropriate thought for a Thursday morning (yes, it was a Thursday morning) and that I'd never read the books ('quite rightly too, and neither have I', was the reply) she went on to tell me that in her uni days, on a night out, one of her mates was tied up with an exercise band.

I didn't ask her to elaborate; I'd have been barred from physio forever, and knowing my made of glass body I'm pretty sure I'll be wanting to go back some day after all this is sorted.

So I'm merrily exercise band-ing away to strengthen the suspected ligament causing the issue... Below is a mid action shot of the 'swing' my foot must complete to really strengthen the aforementioned ligament.

Soon I plan to be able to pull a 4x4 car with the swing of my foot, and maybe run a bit too :)

Bye for now !

P.S Still can't do the splits...

P.P.S Does anyone else, when injured, get frustrated / annoyed at family / friends asking them are they running again yet? I've managed to resist retorting sarcastically 'if I was back running I think you'd know about it by now'