Spring Clean Yourself...
Yes ladies, spring has finally sprung and it is time to dust off the winter blues and bare all on the beach...I hear a collective of sighs and groans. Obviously one of the best ways to get yourself bikini / hot pant / skirt ready is to get out and do some exercise. I also realise how incredibly hard it can be to muster the motivation when all one wants to do is sup a nice cold glass of Pinot Grigio in a sun drenched pub garden. So what can one do to ensure this does not happen (or at least not quite so regularly)?
I have found that the ideal kickstart is to just go ahead and sign up for a race. It acts as a goal for you to achieve and can also motivate you in different ways; maybe you do it for a charity, with a group of friends, for the freebies or just so you train like a mad woman to ensure you still look glamourous when you cross the finish line. It is also harder on your conscience to back out of something once you have committed to it! Either way....Do it.
But first... what race / event? The thought of a race jostling next to lycra clad males is enough to scare most of us.....Lucky then that certain organisers have cottoned on to the fact that us females would like a more civilised event, one where we know we are in the safe haven of our fellow woman. I have hand picked some of the best events held around the country for you to choose from, many of which I have participated in and can therefore recommend. So go on....What are you waiting for, your motivation is right here....
Race for Life (dates throughout the summer)
We all know this one and probably a lot of you have already completed one or know of someone who has. I ran the Hyde Park race the last 2 years and was overwhelmed; what seemed like every woman in or around London was taking part - apparently over 16,000 females! The race is 5k long and they have also started some 10k races. These can be found throughout England and are held in aid of Cancer Research. It is such a friendly environment and you get a real sense of solidarity as you see just how many people have had their lives touched by this disease.
Shockabsorber Women-Only Triathlon (July, Dorney Lake)
Absolutely fantastic location and well organised event. I used this race as my first ever triathlon and will do it again. For first-time females, there is no better event to gently dip your toes into the waters of triathlon.
There are 3 different distances; novice, sprint and challenge. I did the novice as I really was not sure what to expect but it definitely left me wanting more and I ended up doing 3 further triathlons and am looking for my first Half Ironman race. So be warned, triathlon is extremely addictive!
Distances:
Novice Triathlon: 200m Swim, 5km Bike, 2.5km Run
Sprint Triathlon: 400m Swim, 20km Bike, 5km Run
Challenge Triathlon: 800m Swim, 30km Bike, 7.5km Run
'Health & Fitness' Challenge Relay Triathlon: 800m Swim, 30km Bike, 7.5km Run (get a group of you together)
Sprint Triathlon: 400m Swim, 20km Bike, 5km Run
Challenge Triathlon: 800m Swim, 30km Bike, 7.5km Run
'Health & Fitness' Challenge Relay Triathlon: 800m Swim, 30km Bike, 7.5km Run (get a group of you together)
It is held at Dorney Lake in Eton and the course is pancake flat so no mountains to climb. The swim is in Dorney Lake, used for rowing so there are no strong currents to contend with. Coupled together, you could not ask for a more beginner friendly race.
Oh, and of course, there are great freebies such as commemorative t-shirt, swimming hat, medal and goodie bag.
If you are really dreading your first triathlon they also organise a Triathlon training day a couple of weeks ahead of the triathlon. These provide you with tips and everything you need to know, including an open water swim session. Take my word for it; open swimming is not as bad as it sounds.
Boutique Run (July, Battersea Park)
Last year this race was organised on what felt like the hottest day in history....And not helped by the fact that everyone had to wear the race t-shirt, which of course was black. Disregarding this error, this turned out to be a very well organised event considering it was its first outing. Runners could choose between 2 distances; 5k or 10k - although many of the 10k runners ended up doing the 5k as it was just too hot to endure doing another 5k lap after the first.
This truly was a female only event....Topless male models were positioned at each kilometre mark, therefore I am surprised at those 10k runners! At the end of the race each finisher had a medal and goodie bag. There were also free manicures and pedicures, glass of champagne and sports massage for those who wanted it. I had a 10 minute sports massage that almost brought me to tears, which is generally what I desire from my masseuse! There was no need for massage oil as the sweat covering my body provided sufficient lubrication.
And the icing on the cake....Once every one had finished the race, there were dressing rooms where all the participants could change into their gladrags and apply their party face before heading to a big party....Now that is certainly rewarding yourself for all that hard training.
Adidas Women's 5k Challenge (September, Hyde Park)
By far and away, this is my favourite 5k run that I have done to date. It is set in Hyde Park and follows pretty much the same route as the Race for Life 5k. It is a good chance to run against top elite athletes although i did not exactly provide much (if any) competition to them. British athletes Steph Twell and Jo Pavey ran amongst others last year. It is a fast flat course and ideal if it is your first 5k or you are looking to smash a PB.
Absolutely excellent goodie bag at the end with commemorative bag, t-shirt, medal and numerous goodies.
As part of the race fee the organisers donate £10 of your fee to the charity of your choice. There is a massive selection to choose from so you can be safe in the knowledge that alongside having a great time at the race you are also performing a great deed for the day for your chosen charity.
She-Active Every Woman's Series (throughout the summer)
I have not participated in any of the She-Active events....But I am going to...
Events include duathlons throughout the country, an 11.5k trail run in Richmond Park and an Aquathlon in Hyde Park.
So there you have it, I have done the hard work of finding you ladies some women-only events to provide you with the motivation to achieve your fitness goals and get you into those eeny-weeny bikinis....The least you can do is sign up and get moving
Enjoy x
No comments:
Post a Comment