But it's got to a point where I just no longer have that same passion for my gym, it's nothing to do with Virgin Active, I think it's a phenomenal gym. I just don't enjoy weight training anymore and I feel core strength, ply-metric and body weight exercises benefit my running and football more than loads of weight training like I used to do. The gym costs £49 a month money which I can save and I can do plenty of good strength exercises at home or outdoor.
Despite leg pressing 250kg in the gym over the last few years and regularly doing 50 reps of 100cm box jumps, I feel my intense hill training sessions I do outside on my intensity runs give me just as much if not more explosiveness, speed and power as lifting weights on my legs or doing any kind of squats (which I've dabbled with in the past).
THINGS I WILL MISS AT THE GYM:
Don't get me wrong, I will definitely miss some aspects of the gym such as the buzz I get from all the core strength fitness stuff I do, which sometimes draws attention, especially when I do my 100cm explosive box jumps. I'll miss the gym atmosphere, the positivity it creates, the euphoria of training alongside like minded people, people that push me to train harder. If I see someone else putting in 100% - it makes me put in 110%.
I'll miss the feel good feeling that the gym gives me and the energy it gives me. I live a hectic lifestyle, a very active lifestyle and work different shift patterns so there are times when I go in the gym and I really don't feel up for it but when I come out of the gym I feel energised and recharged, ready for whatever else the day is going to offer me. I'm not going to lie, I will definitely miss the jacuzzi hydro pool, it not only relaxes my muscles to help aid muscle recovery but it relaxes my mind and I like to have 'thinking time' while I am in the hydro pool - it's very nice in winter too when it's cold outside. Also, the social factor I will miss a bit, having little chats with other members about fitness training and the instructors are helpful and always up for giving out sound training advice too.
Another thing I know I will probably miss is that my physique won't look as muscular or as ripped as it would if I kept doing what I was doing in the gym and I will probably miss that physique, but I'm happy with the slender toned look to be honest and I can get that from running and football. I'll still be doing home workouts and I may even join the odd pay as you go circuit training sessions here and there too. Watch it, I'll probably be writing another blog in two months that I have joined the gym again, haha.
Over the last couple of months, probably longer, I have had a good rest from running, I have been on the odd run out here and there but nothing major. I think I needed that rest to be honest. Since I joined Kirkstall Harriers running club in November 2011, I have done so much running, mainly all year round, I would have a couple of short two or three weeks rest (usually early summer after the marathon season and Christmas / December / New Year time) but nothing longer than that, so for four years I've been really active and consistently pushing my body and at times of the year when in my running peak periods I have maybe pushed my body to my limits.
After this years spring marathon season, after all I put into it and failing to beat my PB at the London Marathon by a minute, I just think I lost a bit of desire and I felt tired and jaded, my legs have felt tired for a while now, and before you say it, no I am not declining (watch itttt) I was just burned out a bit.
So I have had my good long rest and time out from intense running and I now have that burning desire back. I haven't got any major races planned this year but I want to get back into a good regular training programme and really build my running back up to where it belongs. I will probably enter the odd local race here or there on the day maybe, the Abbey Dash 10K is unlikely due to my cousins 21st birthday night being the night before.
One event I have got coming up and what I am really looking forward to is the Kirkstall Abbey 7 Trail Race (KA7) on September 27th. The local race is organised by my running club Kirkstall Harriers and this year is set to have a record full capacity 400 runners entering. For the past three years I have ran the race dressed as a Mad Monk, in what is called the 'Beat The Mad Monk Challenge' where competitors have to try and beat my time. I was asked just last week by our club and committee member Adam Moger if I wanted to run the senior race as the Mad Monk again and I jumped at the chance.
See photo below of my running the race dressed as the Mad Monk in 2013, where I had a viscous sprint finish with two Valley Striders runners (I won the sprint finish by the way haha - had to get that in there).
On Tuesday I went on a really good intensity run which included hill training, six steep hills, I wore my wrist weights and wore a coat to make it even harder, there were times my desire was tested and I feel I passed it with flying colours, it was a tough run and I feel I smashed it, I'm back in the running game and it was a great feeling. My second run was yesterday, I went on a longer run for endurance, also wearing my wrist weights and a jacket. It was a great run, tough at times and I had to dig in but I feel I am getting there, I felt great once the pain had worn off. Today I have had a rest day and I will be back out tomorrow night on a run, but I may not wear wrist weights as I want to see what level my running is at in pure form.
Really looking forward to the KA7 Mad Monk Run and getting back into my running properly and taking it seriously again is another reason I decided to quit the gym, I now have more time to go out running and also just have relaxing time too and rejuvenate my body.
After having a while to reflect on my last three or four years of running, I have decided that the half marathon and marathon distances are my main focus and priorities. I feel I enjoy them the most, for the whole experience and sense of achievement, not only the personal benefits but also for the money I can raise for different charities.
Several months ago I wrote in one of my blogs that I intend to get to 10 marathons and then probably quit full marathon running and stick to the half marathon. However, I have had a full on change of heart. The London Marathon is the highlight of the year for me personally, I absolutely love the experience, even if it does involve plenty of painful training runs, build up races and cold winter runs, it is all worth it for that special weekend experience in London. Next year will be my fifth London Marathon in five years. I feel that I am a pretty good marathon runner, at my best achieving a top 3% finish in UK marathon running. I do want to beat my PB of 2:57:29 over the next few years while I am still in my physical prime, but my long term ambition is probably even tougher.
I have been thinking about it and I just want to become a London Marathon Legend. I want to keep running and qualifying for the race with 'Good For Age' times every year, or for as long as I am capable of and I want to run it for years and years, every year if I can. I want to be one of those runners who get in the local paper at 60 years old who has ran 30 London Marathons, I really do want to be a legend and I want to raise as much money as I can along the way too.
Same with the Leeds Half Marathon, I have ran nine so far in nine years and I plan to run 20 before I stop then, although I will probably carry on. I want to be remembered.
Through my running, with the help of all my friends and people who have sponsored me we have raised £3,367.87 for different charities. I am so grateful to everyone who has sponsored me, helped me fundraise and just supported me and wished me well when running the marathon and without your support this amount of fundraising would never have been possible. I don't want to stop there and every year when I run the London Marathon, basically for the whole marathon season I will be choosing different charities to help. At the moment for 2016 I am thinking Help The Aged, I'm pretty sure of that charity, although I am open to suggestions, it won't be till just after Christmas and New Year that I will confirm my chosen charity.
Thank-you for reading my blog this week and I will bring you my next blog after the Kirkstall Abbey 7 Race.
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