Excuses Excuses

On Friday I "went over" on my ankle in my Friday morning Fat Attack session. If you haven't done Fat Attack its basically a hi impact, hi energy interval training aerobics class. Maybe I was getting carried away as I normally doubt apparently,according to some people, going over on you ankle is easily done. Although I must say that in all my teaching life I have never injured myself or twisted my ankle.

Anyway there I was enjoying the last 5 minute aerobic peak and I caught the edge of my ankle on the floor the next thing I see is the sole of my foot pointing the wrong way up!

I went over like a sack of spuds and felt like throwing up. apparently the colour drained from my face. It took a lot of self control and a lot of biting my bottom lip to encourage the class to finish the section.

What happens next is that the class want to stop so I can get treatment! Well thank you for your concern but I'm sorry you don't get out of doing your press ups that easily! So we finish the class and I apply ice immediately. Of course my foot swells up to twice its original size and is turning a nice shade of blue as I type this. Yes it was probably silly of me to continue but there is something inside me that compels me to deliver the service that you are paying for. Injured or not.

I'm not some type of masochist and quite frankly hate being injured or ill but I am dedicated to my job, if you can call it a job. I like to think of it as a lifestyle choice :-) so..

Why I'm I being told by some people " Oh dear you'll have to cancel your classes now"

Well quite frankly bollocks will I. What I'll do is find an option for me to do and you guys will do the hard work. Easy. After all Its YOUR WORKOUT not mine. I'm here to guide you safely through YOUR WORKOUT and to encourage you to find YOUR own option so YOU can achieve the goals YOU want.

What sort of trainer would I be if I found an excuse to cancel your workout? Its hard enough encouraging some people to partake in some regular exercise as it is. I must admit a twisted ankle is a reasonable excuse. I discovered that I can still swim and do upper body exercises without causing any further pain so I can do MY WORKOUT. It might not be the workout I want to do but its better than nothing.

Its my belief that my workout is non negotionable and neither is yours. Just incase you are still unclear all classes will be running this week :-)

Feel free to leave me a message or comment. See you in the Gym MM

A quick catch up

Forgive me father for I have sinned. Its been 7 months since my last blog!

7 months!!! My apologies I promise to be a little more regular from now on

So a brief recap over the last months since the London Marathon.

MAY

May saw the launch of the FIRST MM BOOTCAMP. and how great was that? Over 80 of you pounding the streets of Bodmin at 7am every morning for Six Weeks. We even had live coverage on Radio Cornwall. But the important thing was the results. Everyone who followed the program lost weight. The most being 18lbs !!!!!! That's not bad going for six weeks work. Look out for next years which is going to be even bigger. Me and Liv are working on it even now.

SEPTEMBER

The annual Dragon Boat Race in Falmouth and probably the only sunny day of the year. A crack elite of MM members take the Henderson party bus down tho Falmouth to take on 15 other teams in the best Dragon boat race of the year. With Stan and Luke on Holiday we draft in some non members to put up a valiant race against the formidable Cornish Pirates only to come 2nd.




I think that we need to introduce drug testing into this sport to ensure a level playing field. Still there is always next year.

Its great to meet new members and sad to see members leave but It is with great sadness that I have to report that Katrina, our little drummer girl and great gym member, died in a tragic accident in Slovakia soon after this picture was taken. Kat you were an inspiration and we all miss you.



We also think of Mike, her boyfriend who also sadly lost his sister in the same month. Chin up Mikey hope you come back soon mate.




OCTOBER


October saw some strange going ons in Bodmin with no carnival to attend this year, a few of us felt the need to dress up anyway and get out and about to promote the fitness lifestyle that embodies the MM FITNESS COMMUNITY.

Just what were Batman and Robin doing running around the Streets of Bodmin with MM fliers?





Who were the three beauties who were promoting health and fitness in the pubs around Bodmin?






And who says that parking is a problem at MM FITNESS STUDIO?











These are a few questions that, unfortunately will remain a mystery but with Christmas looming we can look forward to a great end of year party and refreshing our health and fitness goals in 2009

London Marathon 2008

THE LONDON MARATHON 2008

This was my first London Marathon. I had run the Paris marathon 20 years earlier in a time of 3hrs and 52 minutes. Of course I'm 20 years older and 5 stone heavier now.

The training had gone well and I had run 4 good 19 mile training distances as well as alternate 7 and 3 mile runs within the weeks leading up to the day. I must admit I felt good.

The sun was shining on race day and as I cued with the 34,999 other runners I must admit that I had no pre race nerves just some quiet excitement and within no time at all we were off. I past the start just 4 minutes after the hooter had marked the beginning of the race but was confident that the timing chip attached to my shoe would give me an accurate over all time.

Its hard to describe running with 35,000 people only to say that there always seemed to be someone in my way. It got worse when the people from the blue start merged with the people from the red start. You could hear a loud "booing" noise coming from both teams. It reminded me of the sound from the film Zulu when the tribe appears on the hill. Speaking of Zulu I passed the Masai tribe complete with shoes made out of tyres, sheathed spears and a British Commando escort at mile six.

I was surprised to note that I was running consistent 8 minute miles. I had not timed individual miles before and looked forward to seeing the green and yellow arches that marked every mile along the route. A glace at the pace guide strapped to my wrist indicated that I could possibly finish in 3hrs and 35 minutes! I took on some water from the many water stations around the route.

Mile twelve and Tower Bridge was in sight and so was an ominous black cloud. First two then three drops of rain splashed on my nose. Then the heavens opened. I soon became soaked and my feet splashed water up the inside of my legs. From having an enjoyable time I soon became cold and tetchy. There were still people in the way and I nearly lost my cool when accidentally nudging someone out of my way they pushed me in the back. A large BBC TV camera swung overhead so I just kept running. I could see the headlines now "Fight breaks out on Tower Bridge".

Just off Tower Bridge the course is such that the Elite runners could be seen on the other side of the road running back at me. The crowd burst into loud chants "LIZ LIZ LIZ" Liz Yelling the British Olympic hopeful passed me on the other side of the road!

The next few miles snaked around the Isle of Dogs and Canary Wharf. The sky scrappers seemed to funnel the wind and rain and I began to slow. A six foot bottle of Innocent Smoothly passed me. Just a pair of legs could be seen out of the bottom. I always said Id never be beaten by someone in silly fancy dress and I contemplated tripping them up.

Then another push in the back. "Right this time I'll ave ya. No cameras about this time"

"Oi Mundsy you git" It was my running / training partner Jeremy Hoskin. What were the odds at mile 19 amongst 35,000 people of us meeting. We ran together for a while. We were both feeling the pain now. Eventually I ran ahead and lost him in the crowd. The rain let up eventually and the sun re emerged. I seemed to find some more energy and picked up the pace. It was count down mile 21, 22, 23 ,24, 25 BIG BEN! " big ben. big ben. Big Ben Big Ben Big Ben" oh that's "Big Bob" (see Al Murray if you think Ive lost it here)

600 mtrs to go......200 mtrs to go. There is the Mall and the finish line. I catch a lady dressed as Wonder Woman and pass her. I will not be beaten by someone in a costume!! Finished 3hrs 45mins and 3 seconds. Jeremy is close behind 3hrs 52mins

The tag is snipped off my shoe and I'm handed my medal. I must admit I had a little cry. I must say that the organisation was brilliant and my kit bag was waiting for me amoungst all the others. The London Crowds were also fantastic throwing street parties and cheering every one on.

Although I enjoyed the day. I don't think I'll do it again but ...never say never.

Oh yeah and if you ever have the urge.... do it ...but dont do it in fancy dress!!!

MM