If anyone is having trouble staying motivated, and is bored of slogging away on their own in the gym, why not join a group training session?

There are a number of fitness sessions which take place in South West London (Wandsworth Common, Battersea Park, Wimbledon Park, soon to be extended to Putney and Tooting Common) - exercises and equipment are provided by the instructors. Circuits, boxing, agility equipment - it won't be easy, but will provide amazing fat-burning results, the old-fashioned way. Go to www.one-element.co.uk.

If anyone else has any outdoor fitness sessions to recommend in your area, post them here.

I exercise in the back garden regularly - does that count?

Goodness know what the neighbour think though. However I certainly aren't going to ask them!

JENNIFER

HI Jennifer
So I am not the only one to walk in my back garden then ? ! So what are you doing? As a 47 year old I know just what you mean about motivation but I have taken up cycling and did 6+ miles this morning which took 50 mins so I feel virtuous!

Outside my front door is a large green that I could run on if I could just pluck up the courage to embarass myself infront of my new neighbours
Any thoughts on the difference between running on a treadmill and grass?
Words of encouragement anyone?

I have always found treadmills horrible to run on, they just do not feel natural from a stride pattern etc. In the days of being slim and running regularly, the outdoors was so much easier and nicer (even the rain if the company is good). don't worry about the neighbours, just go for it, maybe they will join you

Try walking to start with and build it up, do any of them have a dog that you could borrow. I sometimes go for a run but its all over rough ground, better than the street which is all up hill. All comments I have had have been positive- even from people I don't know.

Thanks Stuart and Jackie. I've decided to give the run/walk thing a go tomorrow morning. Loading up my ipod now...

Running on grass is fantastic, one of my friends says that you should always run a circular route, then you are always on the way home. Not only is it cheaper than the treadmill, but it is much less boring. Be patient though, it takes a while to get to running for 30 minutes (8 weeks in my case!)

Good luck

I did it
Circular idea sounds like a good one. Today like a swimmer I did breadths - walk across, run back - I'll work up to lengths and then to laps.
It felt tougher than running on the treadmill so I'm extra proud of myself.

I train people in Southampton Common! Hardly ever see any other trainers out there, which is such a shame... All that fresh air and vitamin D....

Caroline

www.perfectfitforlife.com
http://findyourperfectfit.blogspot.com

Sue Skinnier

Hi Sue, I agree with you as I am about 10 weeks into running now and managing to do just under 4 miles in 40 odd mins. My training consisted of 7 weeks walking running mixed and starting with walk for one min run for 2min. I laugh now when I thought I might bust a vessel when running for just 3 mins.
The key is definitely follow a training program!!!

(I'M HOOKED)

Carol

Hi Everyone

I'm running in the BritishLondon10K this sunday 6th July. On behalf of my workplace. (we are a charity)

This is my first ever race so I hope I make it to the end.

Hi Mother Nature Knows Best

You will make it to the end. I did my first race last month - it was only 5 miles, but as everyone said at the time, the adrenalin will keep you going - I was way down the running order, despite each mile being a whole minute faster than my training runs, but I felt on top of the world.

Very addictive!

Very well done Carol! Will be rooting for you...

Is that the British Open 10K? I did it a few years ago now, and it was awesome! I don't think it's going to be too hot this weekend, so you should be OK...

I'm going to make a note in my training diary of what you have achieved so that I can remind myself real people can achieve it (not just personal trainers ) Best of luck with the 10k!

Congrats Sue & Julia on your past races, have you got any planned for this summer?

Hello Julia
It's called the British 10K London Run and sponsored by Oasics.

It starts at Hyde Park Corner, along Piccadily, embankment upto Tower Bridge then back and over Wesminster Bridge and finishing at Whitehall.

I shall be running of behalf of my company:- Calibre Audio Library.
We provide on Digital and Cassette, unabridged audio books for Blind and Print Disabled people. (eg. dyslexia) (ALL FOR FREE)

So I have the incentive to complete the course as friends, work colleagues and relatives are going to give their hard earned cash!

Carol

Sue You are so right. LET ME TELL YOU A STORY. (you may laugh)

Adrenalin:- While on Holiday a couple of weeks ago. (Italy). We were running an old mountain road one morning which takes you into the local town. It's a long windy road. 2.5km each way. On route back Hubby and I were walking for a short part to recover when along came a white Van. (window down) the two men looked slightly dodgy and were waving their arms and babbling on in Italian of course. my Italian is ok but this was non kabeesh!!! My husband looked worried and said move on and they just drove of saying Ingleeesh!!

At this point looking at my Husband I got slightly worried all thoughts running through my mind so we started running and the Adrenalin was pumping all right.

We rounded a corner and OH MY GOD my worse nightmare. About 100 bullocks, cows and calf's. White Van Man did try to tell us!
The choice for me was sheer drop one side and rocky mountain wall the other. Panic set in, I was terrified (stupid me).

But as luck would have it and much to my shame. As with most of these roads there was a lovely shrine of The Madonna cut out into the rock a few yards back with candles alight.
Anyway I clambered over the Madonna (sorry) and clung to the shrine screaming at my husband to get the hell up here. The bullocks by the way had long pointed horns.

I stood there thinking OH MY GOD is there a snake in here. Great now I'm going to be bitten by a snake and die on this road.

The cattle all this time were stood a few yards back and terrified of us.
eventually they moved forward. I shouted at them and they shat themselves and legged it.

The point of telling you all this is, that after they moved passed I said to Francis I going to run now and by god I ran for 2.5K at top speed without stopping all the way home.

It was all fear that pumped adrenalin into me. So Have your worst fear behind you and you will run well.

My work colleagues are threatening to dress as cows and come to the race on Sunday

Carol

Carol, I'm sure, under the circumstances, Our Lady will forgive you!