The long road to recovery....

As we have a gap between events I thought it was time to update you all on things from the other side of our team. The side that has spent the last two months either lying down or in a physio room or doing odd stretches on the floor. Fun fun fun!

When the physio predicted a 3 month recovery time I was sceptical. Surely I would recover faster – I'm young(ish) and fit(ish) and have never had an injury like this before. 3 months, pah, I'll be running before you know it. It seems, he knew his stuff. Having compressed nerves is not like having a pulled muscle. Nerves are tricky little things and are somewhat unpredictable. One wrong move and the recovery is set back. So, 9 weeks on since then and I'm 85% better... apparently...

6 weeks of sick leave left me with far too much time to think and watch horrific daytime TV. I started to feel sad on Friday when I realised it was Eamon and Ruth instead of Philip and Holly on This Morning. It was horrific. Have you ever had to watch Eamon Holmes for 2 hours... blurgh... it was even worse when Phil had a week off and Eamon was allowed to flirt (harass?) Holly... But I digress...

Yes, I was over the moon when, a few weeks in, I was allowed to go for a walk in a swimming pool! Then I progressed to swimming with just my arms. It was a sight to brighten anyone's day. I really wanted to make a sign that said “I can swim really, I'm injured” so no one jumped in to save my flailing body. But it would get wet... Today I am able to swim properly (or as properly as I ever could) for 14 whole lengths of a rather small pool. It's all progress and I am just delighted to be allowed to do some exercise again. It is scary how unfit I felt the first time I swam a full length but day by day the fitness is coming back.

I can now also walk without hobbling and I'm back at work nearly full time. Sitting is still tricky for long periods of time but all in all life is good. Yesterday the physio gave me the go ahead to try to jog. For 5 minutes. Gently. And if it hurts I must stop immediately. But WAYHEY... this was the news I've been desperate for. He also cleared me to take part in Challenge 3 (The Bradford 10K at the end of March). I might be slow and be walking large chunks but I will be there.

So thank you to all of you for your support during these difficult weeks. I can't believe how many lovely messages, offers of help and visitors I've had. It really has helped... as has watching our sponsorship increase generously. Bri has carried on regardless and didn't kill me when he had to do the gym challenge from hell (my idea and the one I was really keen to do) without me. Thanks to Zoe for stepping in and having the energy of a Duracell bunny! Thanks again to my wonderful Mum who not only came over to look after me and keep me entertained but completed the 5k January challenge too. I'm looking forward to running an event together later in the year.

Now, onwards and upwards... Bradford here we come!

Roz x

Gym'll Fix it!

Okay, so our last blog update was for the January challenge of a wintry and hilly 5k run. February took us to a whole new level. I have climbed the odd mountain, done several half-marathons and taken on a few all you can eat buffets but the Gym Challenge was the hardest physical thing I think I have ever done - worth it for keeping up our 12-in-12-in-2012 fundraising drive:
http://www.justgiving.com/Bri-Taylor-2012-Challenge

Roz is continuing her convalescence after being struck down by sciatica and Zoe Nisbet, friend and legend, stepped into the fray for the Rozster. We also had a hardy group of folk for the various classes that joined the FCF team! It all started last Friday (Feb 3), a frosty morning at Fitness First gym in Glasgow; arriving before the gym opened at 06:15 to be greeted by a gym enthusiast doing a hula warm-up in the car park.

The Friday schedule is the really long one, two from the bottom!

The challenge for the day was originally 7 classes: 3 spin classes, 2 body combat classes, a core class and a session of yoga. The gym's timetable provided grim reading.

 



We now had 8 classes ahead of us (all the main group classes on the day barring clashing floor sessions). Instead of the 2 body combat classes we had 1 body combat class and 2 metafit classes. 'What's metafit?', we asked in mild bemusement. Turns out it was created by a former Royal Marine Commando and a gymnast to combine traditional bodyweight exercises with interval training to result in a high energy workout that continues to burn body fat for 24hrs after each session. We had 2 of them! So, all in all, 5 and a half hours of gym classes and the destruction of awful lot of calories lay ahead...

Hour 1

Zoe and I were joined in our first spin class at 06:45 by Roz's sister Pam. I had been telling myself that I would ease off a little in each session, so I could last the distance. Not so easy now when you are being shouted at by an enthusiastic instructor that appeared hell-bent on getting us to go at full pelt! My false moustache proved a hindrance to breathing and the spinning machine was a hindrance to resting. An hour later we said goodbye to Pam as she headed off to work and said hello to a core class. Ow, my sides.

Hour 2

After a breather we were into our first metafit experience, along with Simon Harding who had been hoodwinked into this and the following spin class. We were doing squats, press-ups, star-jumps, burpees and assorted other exercises in 30 second bursts followed by 10 second rests. Repeated for half an hour. I was sweating more at the end of this than I had at the start of my last University exam. What to do after a high intensity workout? Go into a spin class. This was much the same as the first session but the instructor was less intense, thankfully, and the music was more rock based which was uplifting - though no Eye of the Tiger.

Hour 3

Yoga. My first time trying it and it must have been providence because it was just what Zoe and I needed. We were put into positions such as the Exultant God and Superman and our muscles breathed a long hard sigh of relief.

Hour 4



Zoe, wins! Now then, now then...



After the second break of the day we headed into the final, continuous session in good spirits and altered costumes. Zoe, in a fit of bravery and/or folly, decided that we needed wigs to brighten us up and bring more attention to the cause. A wig on your head during intense exercise. Fine, if you resemble a character from a manga-esque beat-em-up computer game. Not so much if you end up looking like a twisted version of a 1970s Jimmy Saville!

Into the final 135 minutes, joined by Pam for metafit, spin and body combat - valiantly rushing back form work - plus partner Aileen for combat. At least we knew what to expect from metafit this time and pacing yourself was much easier. It still had to be followed by a third spin class of the day and our 3rd instructor - the most energetic of the lot! We climbed hills, settled into sprints and my legs have never felt heavier. I was actually depressed to hear The Prodigy come on the sound system, what's wrong with a bit of Enya?

Hour 5

Body combat was a welcome relief from cycling and we entered the final straight with little energy but plenty of enthusiasm. I was almost coordinated, while Zoe, an experienced body combat class goer, was on auto-pilot and in sync with all the kicks, punches and general jigging. The last section on core body and stretching nearly finished me off but we were there till the bitter end to complete the challenge and bask in a fantastic collective effort.



Pam, Aileen, me and Zoe at the end of a very long day!



So massive thanks to Anders (for putting us up), Simon (for general support and class going), Pam for being hardcore, Aileen for being part of the team and Fitness First for allowing us to unsettle its usual membership. Most of all, a gigantic thank-you to Zoe for being an all-round fantastic egg and challenge killer. If we could harness her energy and positivity then our reliance on fossil fuels would diminish greatly.

On to March, the Bradford 10k and some much needed rest in between!

A big thank you to everyone for their ongoing support. Bri.