#gymgroup

Hey hey,

I’m going to tell you about my gym time. Whoop! I am becoming one of those people I hate! It’s great. Don’t worry I’m not going to start posting my fitness map and where I went. You don’t care for this (If you do go read a pro persons blog, what are you doing here my friend?!) and besides I’m stationery training.

But I will tell you this.

After my epic fail of 20 mins and dying on my bike and then improving to 40 mins with the virtual coach I have been twice since and am already seeing an improvement.

I have a month exactly until I head out to Cambodia (bricking iiiiit!) and had a mini panic attack culminating in my making up a training plan and work plan and social plan - that section is now quite empty as it reads mostly. Gym, gym, gym, yoga on a Thursday…gym in the evening, gym.

Who the hell am I? Don’t worry kids, I’m not going to be pulling up my top and showing you my rock hard abs selfies just yet. Def don’t have those.

3rd time on the bike I sweated a ridiculous amount. You think this is normal of course, as a normal person who exercises from time to time. But for me, a person who had only ever been useful in sport in a sprint, short bursts of energy way this is something hella new.

I used to love sports, played hockey, did athletics, played on the wing in rugby. But all of these I enjoyed being pretty fast. I would injure myself constantly and if I hit a wall, get short of breath and could feel my chest tightening I would stop. I don’t have endurance. This for 80/100km of cycling a day for 6 days is a bit of an ish.

So I am training up my cardio and my strength. Breaking into a sweat, with sweat on my shoulders and chest for me shows I am working. I was tired and I hit my wall at 20 minutes and told myself I’d stop in 5 but I kept going and that’s huge for me.

Next time I upped the resistance and added .7 of a mile to my previous 10 in 40 minutes. I have no idea if that is good or bad but the only person I’m pitching myself against is me…and I was pretty damn pleased.

For those of you who know me well, you might have to sit down for this next revelation. At the end of my 40 minutes….I caught my reflection in the screen…smiling!! W to the T to the actual Eff?! I know. I don’t believe me either.

This morning - Saturday - I met up with Mr Stefano my Italian trainer. Who told me that we would not be cycling today but doing some core training in the park. Ah balls.

Actually it was good, hard and sore but I felt the burn and I kinda liked it. After we had a nifty Cappuccino I actually went to the gym! This time in my lovely new padded @saddledrunk shorts. Representing! Another cycle and 11 mile in 40 minutes and I’m going to be sore in the morning.

Proud. But sore.