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.