Here’s the thing. I’m sort of contractually obliged to write blog posts about my training progress for the Standard Chartered 10k run in January. So here’s my progress since the last update… Nada! I’m actually running 100% less than I was last time I wrote anything. I would say I’d fallen off the wagon but that would involve actual movement to propel myself off the wagon in the first place and I can promise you one thing… I haven’t moved an awful lot lately.
That’s not to say I haven’t done anything towards the 10k Challenge. I’ve replied to several emails from Evil Sarah (the woman who sweet-talked me into doing this in the first place), so my fingers have certainly exercised. I’ve picked-up the October issue of Men’s Fitness several times to gawp at my page through blinking eyes, in the hope that sooner or later I’ll wake up and it’ll all be a dream.
I’ve also been to Intersport in Festival Centre to be kitted-out for training and the actual run. I had my feet tested by the fabulous staff. I call them fabulous because not once did any of them break into a giggle at the sight of me sweating just to tie my shoelaces. I had to walk up and down on a sensor mat which assessed the roll of my step and guess what? Turns out I’m totally normal, or at least my feet are. I didn’t need extra heel-support, arch support or anything. The Intersport team recommended Adidas running shoes, which was nice because they also decked me out head-to-toe in Adidas Climacool running gear. Now rather than looking like a fat, sweaty idiot when I run, I can look like a fat, sweaty, fashionable idiot instead.
The next step is going to be heading over to Fitness First in Mirdif to pick up our memberships and sort out a personal trainer. I’m dreading it but basically I’ve decided to throw myself headfirst into it. Hopefully I can get the trainer three mornings a week, so we can head over straight after the show, get knocked about and then hobble home to the sofa.
Over the coming weeks we’re going to be speaking to many specialists on Thursday mornings on the Catboy & Geordiebird Breakfast Show (personal trainers, nutritionists, sports psychologists, medics, funeral directors, etc) and we’ll be posting AudioBoo podcasts of our progress.
We’re also looking to build a team of people to join us. Both men and women can get involved and obviously your current physical condition is not a factor. If I can do it, you can do it. The amount of people I’ve met in my time in Dubai who moan about the ‘Dubai Stone’, closely followed by half-hearted dedications to do some exercise. Now is the time to step up. Get onto the registration page and give yourself a target. Right now I’m looking at walking most of the 10k, so (again) don’t worry about making a fool of yourself or anything like that. At the very most it’ll be a couple of hours out of your life and you’ll be proud of yourself.
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