The athletics/running thread

[Gary the Enfield]

Did a 5k yesterday and was delighted with a time of 21.50 which means my fitness cant be too far off.

Sat on couch full of a ruddy cold now though

Good running there HG! What kind of terrain?

Cheers GtE - wish you hadn't asked me that though! Started and finished on a race track, with rough paths inbetween. A big down hill and a big uphill which we had to do twice. Not quite as firm and flat as a canal towpath but not far off

Don't worry, my 10k on Sunday WAS a canal towpath and I STILL didn't beat my PB!

[Gooner Girl]

am desperately needing to tone up my tummy and am aware that just running or any of the other sports i play will probably not do this, i might actually have to hit the gym! I haven't been to the gym since i was a teenager. Any tips on how to find a good one?

[Gary the Enfield]

am desperately needing to tone up my tummy and am aware that just running or any of the other sports i play will probably not do this, i might actually have to hit the gym! I haven't been to the gym since i was a teenager. Any tips on how to find a good one?

My advice? Don't. First of all you don't need to lose any weight and secondly you can tone with core exercises. Thirdly it's bloody expensive. Fourthly you have to make time to go when THEY'RE open and not what fits your routine.

Swimming is a fantastic all round workout. Do more of that, faster. Throw in some ab crunches, planks, sit ups and press ups and you'll be fine.

[mummywhycantieatcrayons]

am desperately needing to tone up my tummy and am aware that just running or any of the other sports i play will probably not do this, i might actually have to hit the gym! I haven't been to the gym since i was a teenager. Any tips on how to find a good one?

My advice? Don't. First of all you don't need to lose any weight and secondly you can tone with core exercises. Thirdly it's bloody expensive. Fourthly you have to make time to go when THEY'RE open and not what fits your routine.

Swimming is a fantastic all round workout. Do more of that, faster. Throw in some ab crunches, planks, sit ups and press ups and you'll be fine.

She didn't mention losing weight, you creep!

Almost all gyms will give you at least one session free to try them out these days. Go round them all and tell them you're in the market - it's a competitive sell at the moment!

[Gooner Girl]

Hmmm, well i do have a few baby related pounds to lose still, but am hoping that will fall off with running and when i stop feeding the twins.

It is mostly toning but Gary has convinced me the gym is not the route to go down...

[thebish]

Hmmm, well i do have a few baby related pounds to lose still, but am hoping that will fall off with running and when i stop feeding the twins.

It is mostly toning but Gary has convinced me the gym is not the route to go down...

can't you cadge gymn-equipment time from people at the leisure centre where you teach swimming?? (Gary is right though - you can do it all at home given the right motivation..) I know what I am talking about - you should see my 6-pack...

[Gooner Girl]

Hmmm, well i do have a few baby related pounds to lose still, but am hoping that will fall off with running and when i stop feeding the twins.

It is mostly toning but Gary has convinced me the gym is not the route to go down...

can't you cadge gymn-equipment time from people at the leisure centre where you teach swimming?? (Gary is right though - you can do it all at home given the right motivation..) I know what I am talking about - you should see my 6-pack...

You keep it hidden well hun

Good point though, maybe i would get a staff discount - though i doubt it given i already swim for free and i only work there about 2 hours a week!

[thebish]

Hmmm, well i do have a few baby related pounds to lose still, but am hoping that will fall off with running and when i stop feeding the twins.

It is mostly toning but Gary has convinced me the gym is not the route to go down...

can't you cadge gymn-equipment time from people at the leisure centre where you teach swimming?? (Gary is right though - you can do it all at home given the right motivation..) I know what I am talking about - you should see my 6-pack...

You keep it hidden well hun

Good point though, maybe i would get a staff discount - though i doubt it given i already swim for free and i only work there about 2 hours a week!

just bat your eyes at Nigel the gym assistant - you'll get in free and as you exercise, his glasses will steam up...

my 6-pack is concealed cleverly under layers of protective fat...

[Gary the Enfield]

am desperately needing to tone up my tummy and am aware that just running or any of the other sports i play will probably not do this, i might actually have to hit the gym! I haven't been to the gym since i was a teenager. Any tips on how to find a good one?

My advice? Don't. First of all you don't need to lose any weight and secondly you can tone with core exercises. Thirdly it's bloody expensive. Fourthly you have to make time to go when THEY'RE open and not what fits your routine.

Swimming is a fantastic all round workout. Do more of that, faster. Throw in some ab crunches, planks, sit ups and press ups and you'll be fine.

She didn't mention losing weight, you creep!

Almost all gyms will give you at least one session free to try them out these days. Go round them all and tell them you're in the market - it's a competitive sell at the moment!

I knew that didn't look right as soon as I typed it. But I stand by what I said. If GG is tied to the house with the kids there are plenty of things she can do throughout the day as mini workouts. Even taking the kids for a walk in a buggy could be a mini jogging session!

It doesn't have to cost £50 per month and then you have to force yourself to change and go to the gym a certain amount of times per week otherwise you feel you aren't getting you're money's worth.

[Gooner Girl]

I didn't mention losing weight but I'm bigger then before I had the twins so could probably stand to lose a few more pounds. Pushing 2 one year olds up the hill in a buggy is a workout in itself, Gary, correct!

[TANGODANCER]

I'm with Gary on this. Push-ups, sit-ups and slow squats can all be done at home with no equipment. Add some stretching and swivelling excercises ( a golf club held behind your neck whilst swivelling is a a real help for keeping the waist supple) and even walking up stairs on your toes and the same thing backwards coming down are all excellent ways to stay fit.

That said, you have to be disciplined with yourself and do it as a daily programme even if only for half-an-hour a day .............. Or you could take up dancing..

[thebish]

GG knows all this - she is a highly trained and qualified athletics coach, football coach and swimming coach..

physician - heal thyself!!

[Gooner Girl]

I've always kept relatively fit in the past playing football, triple jumping and doing a bit of running, but i don't have time to triple jump or play competitive sports now, though i have started footy training on wednesdays again. The coach is rubbish however and doesn't work us hard at all.

I used to doze off during the exercise science lectures at uni and my teaching work is far more 'games/skills' orientated with the kids then 'fitness' orientated... Still, we do a bit of circuit training at Harriers, perhaps i'll just adapt that, the discipline to do it could be a problem though...

Tango, perhaps i'd better come up north so you can teach me to dance?! Not sure "lets all move like a tiger to the music" with Year 1 at work is gonna help me much here though? Am presuming you would have something more advanced in mind?

[Gooner Girl]

GG knows all this - she is a highly trained and qualified athletics coach, football coach and swimming coach..

physician - heal thyself!!

I have a fair few ideas of what i can do at home but i know sod all about gym stuff having not really stepped inside one for 10 years!

[TANGODANCER]

GG knows all this - she is a highly trained and qualified athletics coach, football coach and swimming coach..physician - heal thyself!!

She's also perfectly able to reply for herself, and it was well meant. Oh,and I did run weight training classes for three years at one time, but thanks anyway for putting me straight..

ps: My waist at 72 years old is 35", what's yours?

[Wandering Willy]

You tell him TD.

[Gooner Girl]

I know it was well meant Tango, no probs. Bish won't be measuring his waist just yet though, he's in the west country for the weekend.

[Bruce Rioja]

My waist at 72 years old is 35", what's yours?

Well yeah, but you're only 3 foot odd.

[TANGODANCER]

My waist at 72 years old is 35", what's yours?

Well yeah, but you're only 3 foot odd.

I'm almost four foot thank you.

[Gooner Girl]

My waist at 72 years old is 35", what's yours?

Well yeah, but you're only 3 foot odd.

I'm almost four foot thank you.

Wanna join my short-arse club?!