After a morning texting Julia, willing it to be cancelled, it was time to set off. I arrived at Julia's to find the carnage one comes to expect from her! So after a frantic 10 minutes of shoving things in bags & putting clothes on wriggling small people we were ready. We went to her car, which you would expect to be a boring part of the day, but no...
The alarm went off on her car and wouldn't switch off, until I suggested starting the engine. Kids safely strapped in the back, I tried to get in the car. Ten minutes later, having removed a yoga mat, rucksack, swimming woggle, various other useless items and countless acorns from the front seat, we were ready to hit the road!!
Arriving at the park, after a few wrong turns & wrong destinations, we launched the car onto the grass verge in true 'gangsta' style. Spying through the trees a man setting up camera equipment, we knew we had reached the right place. I almost ran in the opposite direction as a nervous mouthful of bile rose in my throat. I tentatively followed julia through the trees to meet the man with the camera. Simon. What a lovely guy, patience of a saint is the best way to describe him! Then the personal trainer arrived, Mark, quite possibly the nicest guy on the planet. I immediately felt more at ease.
Whilst Simon was busy doing some scripted filming with Mark, take after take, after take (Think out-take tv, you get the picture) I was trying to contain my nervous laughter. But watching him keep messing up succeeded in taking my mind off of the impending doom I was about to face!
And so the training began. It wasn't quite what I had imagined. Think I thought brutal boot camp style, work until you puke type thing. To start, Mark just filmed Julia & I running on his iPad. (Not actually running on his iPad) But lengths of the field. Basically, what I was doing was not "proper" running! Although he described it more like " Ineffective use of energy" or words to that effect. This was then all done again to Camera. I had no idea where to look when that was pointing at me, but looking at Julia was a big no, no as she cracked me up! Next up, Mark began teaching us some basic drills to practise to "learn to run properly". Who knew running could be so technical?
First up, how to start off running. Apparently, both Julia and I "sat back" when running. So he taught us the correct way. I am calling it "The Face Plant" technique. For entirely self explanatory reasons. You literally fall forwards, as if about to face plant the floor, into your first running stride. I did in-fact come very close to actually face planting doing this. It certainly took some getting used to! I am sure once it becomes second nature, you don't even notice it, but as a novice it is the weirdest feeling!
First up, how to start off running. Apparently, both Julia and I "sat back" when running. So he taught us the correct way. I am calling it "The Face Plant" technique. For entirely self explanatory reasons. You literally fall forwards, as if about to face plant the floor, into your first running stride. I did in-fact come very close to actually face planting doing this. It certainly took some getting used to! I am sure once it becomes second nature, you don't even notice it, but as a novice it is the weirdest feeling!
Drill 1. 'High knees' running in short sharp bursts bringing your knees up really high. This was relatively easy. Although after about the sixth time I was feeling it in my thighs a little. This was then done for camera, so repeated another 4/5 times for various angled shots!
Drill 2. 'High heels' (and no that didn't mean swapping my trainers for a pair of Jimmy Choos). This time it was shuttle runs of bringing your heels up to you bottom when running. Sounds fairly simple? I almost fell flat on my face the first time. My legs just wouldn't do what my brain was telling it to. Again, it was all repeated for camera. By now, I had totally got used to a camera being there and was almost indifferent to it.
Drill 3. 'Hopping' Oh my goodness. Think Morecombe & Wise singing "Bring me Sunshine". Yes, that about covers it! High knee skipping with high arms too. It was hilarious, but harder than it sounds. Julia and I crashed into each over a couple of times doing this, so definitely took more than one take. My arms felt like lead weights by the end of doing this, but my belly hurt more from laughing so much. We must have looked a ridiculous sight!
That done, we than had to do everything all over again, for low down camera shots of our feet! By now my bladder felt like it was going to burst, I was beginning to wish I had a 'shewee' or even a Tena lady! I even contemplated going behind a bush. Thankfully, there was a pause in recording, so Julia and I legged it to the pub to use their toilets, and I can tell you that it wasn't a moment too soon!
Next up were some circuits of running, putting into practise everything we had learnt. I was so shocked to find that running was easier!! A few simple tricks made such a huge difference. Everything felt so much more coordinated and seemed to flow much easier. I actually really enjoyed this bit, even though I was beginning to ache, I felt fantastic! (did I seriously just say that?) With a few more bits to camera, it was finally declared a wrap.
I absolutely loved it. I really wish I could afford to have him as a personal trainer 3 times a week for 12 weeks. I reckon I would be ready for Rio 2016 after that! He really was amazing, and so good at what he did.
Julia took us to McDonald's on the way home and I impressed myself by ordering a salad and coffee. What on earth is happening to me? Exercise and healthy eating? I hardly recognise the person I am becoming!
When I got home I dived straight into the hottest, bubbliest bath I think I have ever had. I was really beginning to feel muscles that I have never before. Now I am not usually a bath girl, but that was quite possibly the nicest bath I have ever had! I promptly dozed off on the bed, still wrapped in towel, afterwards. I had no intentions of moving either. That is, until my friend Jenny text to ask if I fancied going out for a drink and long overdue catch up. As tired and exhausted as I was, I decided to go, otherwise I would have slept the evening away and then been up all night! As it turns out a few G&T's were exactly what I needed. We, drank, laughed and chatted the night away.
I slept like a log.
Actually looking forward to running this week and trying out what I have learnt, so until next time...."Bring me Sunshine, bring me rain."
That done, we than had to do everything all over again, for low down camera shots of our feet! By now my bladder felt like it was going to burst, I was beginning to wish I had a 'shewee' or even a Tena lady! I even contemplated going behind a bush. Thankfully, there was a pause in recording, so Julia and I legged it to the pub to use their toilets, and I can tell you that it wasn't a moment too soon!
Next up were some circuits of running, putting into practise everything we had learnt. I was so shocked to find that running was easier!! A few simple tricks made such a huge difference. Everything felt so much more coordinated and seemed to flow much easier. I actually really enjoyed this bit, even though I was beginning to ache, I felt fantastic! (did I seriously just say that?) With a few more bits to camera, it was finally declared a wrap.
I absolutely loved it. I really wish I could afford to have him as a personal trainer 3 times a week for 12 weeks. I reckon I would be ready for Rio 2016 after that! He really was amazing, and so good at what he did.
Julia took us to McDonald's on the way home and I impressed myself by ordering a salad and coffee. What on earth is happening to me? Exercise and healthy eating? I hardly recognise the person I am becoming!
When I got home I dived straight into the hottest, bubbliest bath I think I have ever had. I was really beginning to feel muscles that I have never before. Now I am not usually a bath girl, but that was quite possibly the nicest bath I have ever had! I promptly dozed off on the bed, still wrapped in towel, afterwards. I had no intentions of moving either. That is, until my friend Jenny text to ask if I fancied going out for a drink and long overdue catch up. As tired and exhausted as I was, I decided to go, otherwise I would have slept the evening away and then been up all night! As it turns out a few G&T's were exactly what I needed. We, drank, laughed and chatted the night away.
I slept like a log.
Actually looking forward to running this week and trying out what I have learnt, so until next time...."Bring me Sunshine, bring me rain."
Well done Jo, you're doing a fab job xxxxx
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