6 weeks to go and I’ve done it. I’ve hit my 20 mile goal – further than I ran in training for my first marathon. Yes, it was hard and at points painful as my back started aching around the 15km mark and didn’t let up.
I also ran it on an odd day. The last week has been busy to put it mildly and knowing I had a wedding to go to on Friday night, closely followed by a very food and drink heavy night involving four chefs, pork and gin, I took the sensible decision to take the Friday off and run then.
I have though, had a bit of a set back. In between starting this post and having my lunch I did some housework. One part of which involved me carrying laundry up stairs. Cue the muscle in my back rippling in a very strange way and me dropping said washing. I had to get Mr GFB to come rescue it. As you’re reading this, I’m hopefully in the physio getting fixed.
I certainly hope so as next week is my section of the baton relay for Sport Relief. And I need people to run with me from Sale Water Park to Deansgate!
I’m thankful for the support I’ve had over the last 5 months since the training began. Support, encouragement and to be honest, just company has been fantastic. I couldn’t have done it without any of you – from those of you shouting encouragement via twitter, to my friend Lisa coming to classes with me, to my trainer making me do stuff I hate (if I hate it, I won’t talk during it, I think that’s his reasoning anyway) to my physio.
This kind of support is incredible, whether you’re doing something a bit bonkers like me, or just going to a weekly class. It can’t be overrated. Which brings me to this fantastic project with Sport England and the ladies of Bury.
Ever fancied getting out there to exercise, but a bit, well, scared? It’s ok, we all do it. I’m very nervous every time I try a new class. I don’t know what to expect, whether I’ll be able to do it, if it’s any good. Having a friend with you to keep you company makes that first step seem so much smaller.
And it’s this sort of support that keeps us going when it comes to exercise too. Being able to meet one of your best friends, wiggle your hips to Zumba, or get aggressive with the kicks in Body Attack, means that you’re more likely to do it again in a week’s time.
I Will if You Will is Bury’s answer to getting more ladies out there doing things for fitness. You don’t need to be fit, you don’t even need to do a class – going for a walk with a friend, or a jog around the park, it’s all about making it easier, more enjoyable.
It’s easy to join in and find out what events are going on. Pop on their Facebook page, register your email address on the website or follow them on Twitter and they will keep you updated on events going on. You can even drop them a line if there’s something you fancy trying out.
And organisations or community groups can apply for funding to join in the fun – helping spread the idea far and wide.
Now that Bury has been conquered, the people behind this project are looking at moving it across Manchester – getting more of us up off the sofa and out doing something – whether you want to lose weight and get fit, or just get that stress release and meet new friends, this could be the way for you.
So, I’m going to invoke IWIYW. I want to learn Lindy Hop and I know that it’s Manchester Lindy’s 5th birthday on 22 March. So I hereby state that I will go to this and have a go.
What are you going to do?