What major hurdles have I overcome?

I tried to give this blog a festive theme, but only really because circumstances exactly 5 years ago are my most major hurdle really.
I was out running the coastpath with a friend, training for an epic 103 mile run for charity. It was touch and go as to whether we should go because the conditions were awful. Ice everywhere, hard to imagine that now.

We set off from Dartmouth and about 3 miles in I skidded on an icy tree root, turning my ankle over and face-planting on the bank. My lovely friend (he's a bit hardcore) didn't accept that I had actually really hurt myself and made me run a few more miles until I was almost crying in pain. He finally agreed to head back and headed straight for the pub, where I took off my sock to find a football-sized ankle.
The run was only in May and training at this stage was vitally important, but I had to rest and recover, which set me back around 6 weeks.

To be honest, for that to be my biggest hurdle I think I've done alright really, but I have seen others struggle, more mentally than physically.
Women who can't go into the gym for fear of embarrassment, or they won't go into an exercise class for the same reason. Us women are difficult creatures and our fears and tensions often seem unreasonable to others, but I understand.

Is your biggest hurdle like this? Do you really want to get motivated but cannot find the right class or gym to train in?
Here's my suggestion - bring a friend! Then we get 2 new women exercising instead of 1. Have a look around at different venues, try a few out. There are even some 'women only' gyms, my Mum attends one and she loves it.

Whatever your hurdle is, there are people out there (me) who can help advise you. No excuses, let's all get moving in 2016.

What are the worst bits about being active?

I have loved 'being active' my whole life, right from when I was 3 years old, doing Ballet.
I do though remember my first negative thought about exercise, and it was way back in middle school and cross-country in the rain.
I loved cross-country running club, but, one winter I found it hard to be enthusiastic about going out in the cold, dark and wet weather.
Once out though, it was fine, it was that initial push out into the cold that was so hard.You run faster in those conditions to keep warm, and get back faster to get dry!

I think a lot of people find it hard to be motivated to get out and exercise outside in the winter. I think the same applies for them getting back out in the evening to go to the gym, when they have been safely tucked up in their warm houses.
Of course, the opposite applies in the summer, when (occasionally) it's too hot to go for a run.

Losing motivation for exercise is definitely one of the worst bits. I always find that if I get bored with something, mainly for me, going to the gym can become tiresome, I simply stop, do something different and find a new sport or exercise to be motivated in.
Plus, mixing it up is better for your body, repetition doesn't always get results, keep your exercise interesting. If you hate running, don't do it, find something that you can really work hard at that suits you.
Keep changing, finding new ways to keep active and you will never lose momentum and motivation.

How does my activity make me feel?

 For this blog, I am changing activity!

Last time I spoke about Kickboxing and Martial Arts, and, to be honest, I covered some of the above in that blog, although from a more personal and mental level.

So, I shall speak of the physical, mostly this time, and with that, there can be only one activity I do, to talk about.
Insanity Live!

In the summer of 2014 I qualified as an Insanity Instructor. I was told beforehand that the class would, 'suit my personality' and other than feeling 'slightly hurt' about being called 'Insane', I did a little research and booked myself onto the course.

So, how did 'Insanity' make me feel that day?
The following words I find the most prominent looking back to that day.
In no particular order....sick, sweaty, sick, hot, nauseous, tired, pained, flushed, sick, excited, rush, sick, hyper........Insane!

You may see that there was a little repetition , but it's necessary to describe the feelings you go through when doing that class.

We were a room full of fitness instructors, all working hard to be our best, but I will be honest, I didn't like anyone else going faster, higher or further than me. My competitive spirit made me push much further.
I guess this is how people feel when they come to my class, except that I'm there encouraging (some may say shouting) from the front of the class, to get the best from them.

The final feelings that Insanity gives you, these are pride, achievement, adrenalin high, buzzing, wired and fit. And no matter how tough it was, you cannot wait until the next time to feel it all over again.
And the best thing? It's a class for most levels and abilities. It's only as Insane as you make it. Work at your own pace and level and get the most from it.

What are the 'best bits' of my chosen activity?

Another interesting and thought-provoking blog title for this week.
I may have to pick just one activity though for this, and because I am focusing mainly on Kickboxing for my own training at the moment I shall choose that.

When you take on a martial art, you don't just take on a physical activity, and so on the very top of the 'best bits' has to be friendship.
Whether it's at Tora, where I train, or one of my own 2 clubs, we have a close-knit and supportive Kickboxing family. You will never feel alone and have like-minded friends.

This is a big thing when wanting to get active, and for a lot of people they are scared to go somewhere on their own for the first time, but you will find that a lot of martial arts clubs are full of friendly and genuine people. Therefore I would recommend a martial art to someone who wants to make friends and get fit. There are many styles and types out there so you will need to find one that suits you, so maybe go and try a few? A lot of clubs will give you one or two sessions free so why not find a club and have a go?

After the 'friendship' side of the best bits, there comes fitness, muscle strength and toning, and at the same time, punching and kicking is a massive stress-buster!
You learn respect, discipline, and of course, learning to fight.
You don't have to be a violent person to practice martial arts, in many ways the people who do it are very calm and friendly, quite the opposite of what you may think.

So why not give it a go?