Sue's Sports Starter by Sue_Thearle

Okay my friends, let me put my cards straight on the table. Two spinning classes in three days - I think it’s safe to say that I am back on the fitness horse. The only trouble is I am actually walking like John Wayne. My legs hurt. A lot. And it was so hard core, I actually swallowed sick in my second class, as I pushed for the summit of our second 8-minute hill. Joy. Mind you, I can at least take some comfort from the fact that I am not alone in this sea of fitness pain. One of the mums at school said she had returned to a body pump class for the first time in 3 weeks and actually felt like she had the flu the next day – everything ached that much. I know that feeling.

Having said all that, I am feeling so much better; less lethargic and more energetic than I have in around a month, so I think it’s working. And I am also squeezing in the odd run on the running machine too. Nothing too frenzied, but last weekend I did a half hour step session and then a mile run, followed by about 200 sit ups. Admittedly I was in a state of near collapse at the end of it, but hey, it’s all money in the calorie-burning bank. Hubby has also been pounding the streets and predictably after about two runs is already looking like he is back at his fighting weight. Grrrr. Sometimes life is soooo not fair.

But we have both noticed the sudden increase of lycra-clad souls hurtling up and down the highways and byways. You can tell that Virgin London Marathon time is on its way. As always I felt a pang of regret that it wasn’t me, swiftly followed by another pang in my achilles, calf, knee and back. I think it’s for the best I'm not doing it again, she added hastily before having a sit down in a comfy chair. But in terms of other activities there has been no let up in the healthy regime here I can tell you. I also took the children swimming at the weekend. My daughter has a swimming trial this week and wanted to swim a few lengths to see if she could remember how to do it.

Bless her heart, she shot off like an exorcet on her first attempt and I’m not entirely sure if she actually breathed all the way down the 25 metres. I was running alongside her in the pool shouting words of gentle encouragement like “breathe!” I have no doubt she couldn’t hear any of it. But the look of excitement on her face as she gasped for air at the end, was worth its weight in gold. I'm not sure Rebecca Adlington has anything to worry about just yet, but I think it’s fair to say that the passion hubby and I have for sport is certainly rubbing off on the children. Holly is also doing hockey and netball club at school, while my son is doing tag rugby as well as football and tennis. I am chuffed to bits that they just enjoy it and that it’s helping them grow up fit and healthy.

It also means I get to relive my youth in the garden with my daughter. She has a new hockey stick, while I still have an antique that I used to play with. Oh but it’s seen some action. It really has. In fact, have I ever told you about the time I........hello. Hello? Is anybody there?