I AM AFRAID!..........VERY AFRAID!!!!

I signed up and went to the pre-trek meeting Sunday 23 May. The meeting gave all, who have signed up the the Sahara Acorns Children's Hospice Trek, an opportunity to visit the Worcestershire hospice, meet and greet, discuss the kit required and test our fitness levels.



I ,seriously after only 5 minutes in, wanted to cry and quit. I thought "do I have enough money in my bank account to pay back my sponsors and get out of this!"...I can't believe how hard I've been training and yet was hit with weakness physically and mentally only 5 minutes in. Our trek advisor challenged us immediately with a steep, uneven terrain from hell. Everyone in the group seemed to take this all in an easy stride, no pressure or concern shown in facial expressions and most never even broke into a sweat. My breathing was shallow, thank God I quit smoking a month ago (the regret of ever smoking at all haunted me the entire trek). My legs burnt, my brain went into complete negative overdrive and felt like it was going to burst with the pressure headache.



I am freaked out and bricking it!

Third Training Session with my Personal Trainer (PT) - Adrian :o$

I was looking forward to my PT appointment all day, even though I knew when it came to the "crunch" (pun intended), I'd be calling my PT all the names under the sun in my mind during the session. A variety of 4 cradio workouts which wasn't too bad, the treadmill being the worst after plenty of leg work, the numbness mixed with lower leg burn increased by the 9incline I had to do at a fast paced stride, I was not at all used too.

I was given plenty of arm and upper body work, this identifying I have a long way to go using just my own body weight to train eg press ups without bended knee, chin ups (at least 1) or reverse body weight press. I remember a little voice in my head saying" DO NOT! book another session it will destroy youuuuuuu!" The advise from the "giving in" character was quickly forgotten, as I immediately booked for my next session in June.

My drive home that night felt like the power steering had gone to my car, every turn of the steering wheel hurt my arms. OMG! I still have more mega training to do, the trek and this all in heat!!!! Will someone please tell who ever it is that keeps saying "Told you so I knew you would regret signing for the trek" TO SHUT UP :o( ggrrrrrrr

Recommended extras to help with my training routine

Work has introduced the GCC - Global Corporate Challenge, basically it's an initiative to encourage employee's to literally take more steps towards a healthier life. Organising a team of seven you sign up to achieve at least 10000 steps a day per member. Over a 16 week period each team member enters their daily steps counted by the GCC pedometer. I wanted to sign up for this to help me further with my training. Monitoring and recording towards a different challenge will certainly keep me on my toes and can only benefit towards my general health and the Sahara trek due in September. Luckily 6 other people at work also wanted to sign up to the GCC. As we all enter our counts from 20 May 2010 we begin our virtual journey around the world :o)....Little rewards of achievement are acknowledge with a history and culture lesson from each country we arrive at, and the opportunity to email from each destination a GCC postcard to a friend. Fortunately I'm a member of a team either inspired to improve their own training routine, or already extremely dedicated to their favoured sport.

A coworker, and member of the GCC team I'm in, who is a seriously addicted and committed to extreme marthon challenges, recommended the Go Faster Food book. It's an interesting read advising the right foods to raise energy and get the best out of your training. Packed full of tips and recipes it's an easy to read and user friendly guide. The only difficulty I have is really taking on board advise from the book by following the carbs recommended. I've always tried to cut back on carbs, now going against my own made up rules, breaking the old restrictions to at least see if I notice and feel a difference.

:oO Naughty, naughty......I haven't updated my training journal for ages!!

Right catch up time! and including the truth over the past few weeks I have missed. The training, rest, healthy diet and NO wine or cigarettes was going extremely well. Week commencing 26 April I experienced a blip(s!!) and allowed various negative events to beat my hard work and short lived discipline. Yes I confess after a not so good week I chatted over a bottle of wine, which then resulted to two, with a pal sharing the stories. Socialising with a vino wouldn't be so bad, but it's the smokes that I gave into which I regretted the next day and decided all my good work so far was now void.

My new training programme commenced Saturday 1st May. I decided to continue to increase cardio over the weekend and follow with weights, and various floor exercise my trainer Adrian has shown me. I started to talk and ask questions of others who train regularly for marthons to get tips and ideas. One tip to get the most out of my training, common sense to some but an area I hadn't really researched, was fuelling up on the correct super foods. After reading various guides and recommendations kindly introduced from people who had time to share their knowledge, I discovered some of the foods I avoid, would be top fuel to help me achieve extra time and kms during my training. Another tip was to buy an MP3 player and record some pumping, trance music to further motivate.

Tuesday 4th May I had my second training session with Adrian, my Fitness First trainer. I was greeted with "we are going to step your session up today." FANTASTIC!!! :o$ If you've ever seen the film Bridget Jones Diary, you may recall a scene when Bridget is determind to get fit and in shape after being dumped by Daniel Cleaver (Hugh Grant). She frantically works out on the gym bike, to the extent her legs give way underneath her when she steps of the bike. After various exercises to work on strenghtening my legs I warned Adrian there was a great possibility I would be re-acting this scene. If the squats, lunges, weight pushes weren't enough I was then instructed to complete 3kms in 6minutes or else there would a forfeit. Now 3kms in the 6min time scale may be a breeze for some, but for me at my current level this was not easy. I think I made it by 1second!!!!! After this my legs no longer felt attached to my body and I was dreading the after affects the next morning.

I'd trained alternative days from my session with Adrian, and overall fairly pleased with my efforts. Sunday 16th May was my best training day so far :o) loved it! After a weekend of trying the super food routine, drinking more water, good rest and treating myself to an MP3 player, I decided to try and push myself further on the cardio machine I dislike the most, the boring horrible treadmill. I keep trying to repeat a mantra to change the dislike of this cardio workout to like. Fast tempo music playing and feeling full of energy I achieved 6kms in 45mins. Again this may be easy for some but I normally just set the timer for 3ominutes and take no notice of the distance completed. I didn't sprint but managed to up my pace each 5 minutes and add an incline upto 3. It was certainly an improvement from the previous Sunday which was 5kms in 42mins with no incline added. I also managed to complete 45mins on alternative cardio machines. I absolutely loved this training session, feeling on top of the world and a spring in my step.

Apart from the change to diet I think an additonal motivator was recording from the old memory bank the good luck wishes and sponsorship received to date. Thanks to all of you who have either financially and or quoted supported, or given time or other forms of help during preparation.

Oh by the way - 3weeks now of not even a sip of wine or one cigarette Yippeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee....can I say I'm a non-smoker yet!?

Week 3 - General

The trainings going ok and the diet not too bad. Throughout the week I did the usual training routine of a variety of cardio split in to three groups at least 12mins, on each machine. I've continued to increase the levels in interval stages. Friday I managed an additional rep on the SONR Ph2 'steps of hell.' I completed 9reps. I thought all the sub-contractors had completed work, I like to do the reps at the end of the working day when only office staff are on site. On my first rep I discovered subbies still carrying out piling works. Being stubborn I decided to carry on, focusing on the steps as a training tool, and not the fact that these guys would see a woman keep appearing at the top of the steps 9 times! Wearing PPE (high visability vest, hard hat) it was difficult to go unnoticed and as expected I eventually attracted attention and asked what I was doing!

I worked for a few hours at the hospice Friday as a befriender. I remember always feeling a little nervous when I worked with the children, but at the moment I feel out of touch after missing a few months. The visits and working one to one do continue to motivate me when I need that extra push at the gym, or ignore the crisp, wine or cigarette monster trying to encourage me to give in and"treat yourself!" The smoking habit shouldn't be too difficult to conquer. I associate the wine and cigarette together. Continuing this healthy diet, I will eventually break that final habit, and enjoy a sensible glass of wine with dinner and NO nicotine. Funny how I can go all day and a few days without smoking then crave just when I have a sociable drink.

Sunday 18 April - I decided Sunday's will be the day I do an extra special train. I added wearing a backpack weighted with a medicine ball while on the treadmill increasing the incline to a maximum of 15. I was happy with my first attempt of 40mins, still carrying out 12 mins on the bike and cross trainer.

Tuesday 20 April - I have the meeting with Adrain, my trainer at Fitness First. A endurance test to help work out a programme. Will add how that goes.....I'm wishing myself luck eeeekkkkk

Week 2 - Muffin Top!

It's true what this magazine article suggested when putting together a training programme. If you post a belly front and side photo for all to see, it really helps you resist and stop, during those moments of temptation to scoff that extra chocolate, or in my case, the ritual glass of red wine (or two!!!) after work:o)...Actually I'm feeling much better and getting used to not having that daily habit, re-conditioning slowly and exchanging for healthier options......(She say's and then will probably have one big mega celebration and pig out after the trek).

The training is ok at the moment. I've been to the gym daily following a sensible routine of various cardio, interval increase for endurance, hoping to build and improve strength and stamina. I missed the evening reps of the 'steps of hell' on the SONR site for 1 week, rushing off to the gym. Yesterday I attempted the steps again managing only 8 reps :o$...oh well one extra rep at least. I've already lost 1/2inch from the hips, waist and chest.

I've met Adrian, my trainer from Fitness First, to discuss a new programme. I've a basic fitness test booked with him next Tuesday, to help put a new plan together.

Helping at Acorns Hospice

I've missed working one to one with children, helping as a volunteer at Acorns. I managed to befriend for a couple of hours today. Nerves and worries soon disolved after spending time with a beautiful, bubbly little girl. From the time we chatted and spent together it reinforced the importance of charities like Acorns. Although I'll publish my moans and complaints in my diary, at heart the children teach me to have gratitude for some of the simplist things in life. The smiles and laughs shared during befriending can be visually reviewed from memory for additional guide and determination during the not so good days.

My consultation is booked with Adrian, trainer at Fitness First, to discuss an appropriate action plan and routine. Since signing up for the trek I've had one day off from exercise. Onwards and upwards :o)