Last year I signed up to do the North Tyneside 10K. I was supposed to do it with my sister and Dad, however I was attending a bootcamp at the time and injured my shoulder so much that I wasn’t able to take part. I went along anyway to support my sister and Dad, see them cross the finish line! I felt so proud of them both.
This year, the North Tyneside 10K is happening again… And I’ve signed up to it! The last time I went for a run, I struggled, I felt really unfit and pretty much out of breath with no energy to move myself forward.
18 weeks before Christmas I was strength training. I managed to drop my body fat by 7%, which I was over the moon with. However, strength training means using your muscles and growing your strength. I started out on an 8kg kettlebell and ended the programme training with a 16kg kettlebell. The feeling of being strong and healthy is amazing, there is no better feeling! However, carrying a lot of muscle means it’s harder to run.
I used to be a great runner when I was in my teens and I was a member of my local Harriers group in Morpeth. I gave it up when it came to my GCSEs. I wanted to concentrate on getting good grades.
So, why have I signed up for this years 10K race? Well, I have determination on my side. I have nearly finished doing a Diploma in Personal Nutrition and I’ve learnt all sorts of new information. I’ve even devised my own nutrition plan to follow. Another element of my determination is since gaining a lot of muscle, I now weigh the heaviest I’ve ever weighed, and I don’t particularly like it. So, I’m looking to lose weight. Speaking to a personal trainer last week about my fitness journey up until now, he said some really interesting things.
So with this in mind, I’ve got my nutrition plan all set up, which I will change every two weeks and I’m using the Coach on the Nike Running app to get me up to 10K in 8 weeks… The race is in 9 weeks so it works out perfectly.
Yesterday was Day 2 of the training programme – to run 3 miles. It was a slow 3 miles, a mixture of running and walking and I took my dog with me. But I got out there and I did it. I’m happy to admit I walked for parts of it… I got home, the endorphins had kicked in and I was feeling great. I felt as though I’d achieved something good. I became grateful for my health.
Doing the 10K, doing the 8 weeks of training – it all amounts to one thing: going outside my comfort zone. I’m not the best runner anymore, I am carrying more muscle than ever before and I’m going to have to really work hard.
Everyday people struggle with one or two things which all require them to get outside their comfort zone. Some will talk themselves out of it, some will just go out and do it, but doesn’t it feel amazing when you do. You need the determination to go outside your comfort zone. I know what mine is… Do you know what yours is? What comfort zone are you trying to get out of? It could be anything from eating foods you’ve never tried before, taking up a hobby you know nothing about, offering a new service from your business… Determination and your own positivity will guide you through it all.
I’ll keep you updated on how I do on my training. Oh, and here’s some pics of my running view yesterday… I love highland cows!!
