Parkrun – Town of Seaside 1st anniversary
Parkrun has a strong presence in this area, and one that I hadn’t been to has just completed it’s first year of operation. Along with my companions Ms T and Mr J, we travelled a little ways up the road to check out course.
Having previously been spotted by photographers at other Parkrun events, we chuckled to ourselves as once more the local press ‘shot’ us and we ended up in the local paper as part of the article.
As part of the celebrations of the day, cake was provided and a number of raffle prizes, donated by local businesses. Luck would have that my number was drawn, and I won a prize that I really had no idea what to do with… a protein drink mixture for hydration. Not considering my level of activity ‘serious’ enough to warrant anything such as supplements, I’ve never looked into them. There’s also that health conscience voice asking ‘What is in those drinks anyway?’
Maybe one day I will find myself at a level that warrants such a drink mixture, and now I have one on hand for that day.
There must be more to exercise than running
Sure, running is great, but wouldn’t it be even better to add in some other forms of exercise?
Use some different muscles, in different ways?
The thought at the back of my mind for several months keeps popping up with a squeaky voice ‘Hey you! Stretch those muscles! Join a pilates or yoga class! Or a gym!’. While I never overtly disagree with that voice, I also haven’t been proactive in taking steps towards making it happen.
Fortunately, other people in my life have a more tangible, audible voice and it’s harder to dismiss their requests.
‘Hey, I’m going to a yoga class after work today, do you want to join me?’
That’s an offer I can’t refuse, an opportunity just waiting to be taken up. Now where is that yoga mat… Though it’s been at least a couple years since I did a yoga class, and with a different teacher and style, I readily get into the rhythm. Great strength and flexibility work on the core, sides and neck/shoulders. Now to make it back again next time.
‘Hey, I’m going to boot camp tomorrow instead of running, do you want to join me?’
Now that’s not something I would go out of my way to seek out, but again, an opportunity to mix it up a bit. Having never done anything like that, I went in with an open mind and with an expectation to work hard and come out sore. Planks. Squats. Lunges. Even the pick up a old tyre and run with it above your head.
Which is more difficult: 10km run in an hour, or 45 minutes of boot camp?
Certainly I never thought I would consider a 10km run as easy, but indeed, everything is relative. I have discovered muscle groups that have not had much challenge recently until now. Abs. Glutes. Thighs. Shoulders. They have now been challenged… Looking forward to that next ‘easy’ run…
The official training schedule doesn’t make mention of such cross-training activities, but other than the once a week group session, I haven’t made much effort to adhere to the regime.
It hangs nicely on my fridge. Perhaps it’s time to revisit the recommendations for training.
AmyAdelante 