Sweetie Does The XRunner Water Wipeout Challenge!

Hey Sweeties,

I completed the 10k XRunner Water Wipeout Challenge! Yippee!

XRunner Water Wipeout

On Friday afternoon three of us drove up to Nottingham to stay overnight at a nearby hotel before early Saturday morning heading to the National Water Sports Centre to do the XRunner Water Wipeout! We were all really nervous and slept very lightly the night before and I was feeling almost sick as we parked the car.

But…

I had so much fun! I ache like crazy and have one gigantic purple coloured bruise on my thigh and several other little ones on my arms, hands and legs but it was well worth it and I would totally do it again!

Here’s what happened:

On arrival to the event, you sign in, drop your bags off and get given a wrist band before making your way to the start line/enclosure (assuming you haven’t arrived more than an hour before your ‘wave’). I think there were about 200-300 people per wave and ours was at 10:30am. Everyone participates in a quick warm up before the countdown begins and a couple of large bangs mark the start of the race. Then you’re off!

In total, there are 30 obstacles within a 5k lap. You begin with some hay bale hurdles before having to swim 100 metres in open water –fortunately it was a warm day so the water was more refreshing than cold! This ‘obstacle’ was actually quite scary for me, trying to swim in your clothes and with trainers on is quite challenging especially with reeds and people getting all tangled and in your way didn’t make for a great experience. But hey ho! The rest of the course is a mixture of commando crawls under nets, climbing nets, walls –I identified I have little upper body strength so needed a leg up on a few, I also remembered once I had reached the tops of these walls that I am actually quite scared of heights! There were a good 4 or more water based obstacles, 3 with slides that plunged you into the pools/rivers and required you to swim across to the other side… even though the water wasn’t freezing, upon entering the body still shocks slightly with the change of temperature. You also have to be careful you don’t swallow any of the water otherwise you stand a chance of getting (as they so politely put it) “a runny bum!” There were also some balance beams, some under-over obstacles etc. My favourite was the commando crawl through mud underneath barbed wire. It sounds quite brutal but getting muddy was all part of the fun!

XRunner Water Wipeout

Just out of the lake

XRunner Water Wipeout

Lovely & muddy!

XRunner Water Wipeout

2nd lap: Just out of another of the water obstacles…

My two Water Wipeout buddies stopped at 5k/1 lap of the course but I carried on for a second lap to complete the 10k which I was so chuffed I did. On the way round the first time, although some of the obstacles I wasn’t keen to repeat, I felt it wouldn’t have been a challenge if I hadn’t pushed myself to overcome those fears and anxieties therefore I felt I just had to go round again. I had also psyched myself up all week to complete the 10k and much of my sponsorship was on the assumption that was what I was going to do so there were many additional contributing factors to my decision.

On doing the second lap alone, I feel I gained so much from it. I am used to training by myself so in some ways it was nice to complete a lap alone too and when I saw the finish line I got a bit teary at my achievement. Fortunately the girls didn’t mind waiting for me to complete the course so I really am grateful to them for that!

Only 2 mins 57 seconds slower on my 2nd lap! Good effort I think!

Only 2 mins 57 seconds slower on my 2nd lap! Good effort I think!

 

So far I have raised £85 for Yateley Hockey Club to fund a new pitch, if you wanted to donate please do as there is still time! (Apologies, I hated adding that bit but do you blame me?).

JustGiving - Sponsor me now!

 

Anywho, it’s now all systems go for training for the Yorkshire 3 Peaks next month!

Until next time x

XRunner Water Wipeout

Summer Challenges: Raising Money & Getting Fit Update

Hey Sweeties,

Back in April I posted about my summer challenges -my bid to get fit and raise money for two very worthwhile causes. Now, a month on, I felt it time to share an update on how things are going.

The core aspect I have been focussing on lately in my fitness is stamina. I am not so bothered about how quickly I can complete a route but it is important that I can jog/run for long stretches of the route without needing to stop and walk before picking up the pace again. Although this is fine and interval training is definitely how I prefer to conduct my sessions, the aim is still to build stamina in order to run for longer and walk for less. Well today Sweeties, I did fantastically well… I completed a 7.84km route running the first 6km without stopping! So utterly chuffed with achieving this! The last couple of weeks I have found that I can go for longer without needing to walk for a bit and when I do walk it’s for a mere 1-2 minutes before I begin running again so I have really noticed a change in my progress and overall fitness. I wouldn’t say I’ve gone through the wall as runners say they do, my problem is that although I love being outside and active, I actually get bored with the running so in my mind I am constantly thinking about what I am doing rather than finding things to distract myself with. I also leave the house telling myself that there is no pressure to run, just getting out and completing 4 miles is still exercise and doing good.

Today's session

Today’s session

It’s a shame to be honest that I wasn’t doing the running while the hockey season was underway, the two together would have been great training and my fitness would really have excelled in that time but hey ho. If I didn’t have the two summer challenges to train for, it’s unlikely I would have found reason to go out for runs a couple of times a week. The need to get fit is good motivation and there is a purpose to it at the moment. I will be gutted when we (Ian and I) move out of the area in a couple of months, unless I can find a new route I’ll have to swap country lanes for the treadmill which doesn’t particularly excite me.

So, why am I doing these summer challenges and motivating myself to get fit? Well guys Yateley Hockey Club needs a new pitch and the British Heart Foundation need money to continue their research and save lives, both of which are heavily relying on fundraisers to achieve their individual missions. In June three of us hockey ladies are participating in the XRunner Water Wipeout challenge and in July with work, I am climbing the three highest peaks in Yorkshire. I am the world’s worst person for asking for money and support, but I need to up my game and get people to sponsor me so I have more than just my personal fitness to motivate me.

It’s important to note that the new hockey pitch doesn’t just benefit Yateley Hockey club, it benefits the whole local community and will hopefully encourage more, particularly juniors, to the game. The British Heart Foundation of course needs no explanation, it’s a fantastic cause and one I know is important to many.

To support me in my two summer challenges, please follow the links to make a donation. Every penny spared will be much appreciated and your support is highly valued. Thank you!

XRunner Water Wipeout Challenge

JustGiving - Sponsor me now!

Yorshire 3 Peaks Challenge

JustGiving - Sponsor me now!

If you don’t know me I am not expecting you to donate (although you will be my most favourite people like, ever!) but for those that do know me I would hope that by this post and my regular Mapmyrun updates on Facebook (even though I know they are incredibly annoying to people), you can see how I am progressing in my training and how serious about it I am. I have always supported friends in their individual missions so now I would hope those people do the same for me.

Anyway, enough grovelling, it’s awkward!

Until next time x

Summer Challenges: Raising Money & Getting Fit

Hi Sweeties,

At the beginning of the year (4 months ago now guys, how time flies eh?!) one of my New Year resolutions was to “continue with hockey and continue to work on my personal health and fitness” so I have an update for you…

Hockey has now finished for the season, resuming again in September although I hope to participate in some summer hockey games should any get organised. It was a good season, my first since last playing hockey over 10 years ago in secondary school so although a bit rusty, the skills were still there (ish) although I still have much to perfect. I was pleased that as a forward and despite my rustiness, I still scored 3 goals for the team over the season!

At the time of making the resolution, the hockey aside I assumed my pledge would involve going to the gym or just making more effort to be active, particularly in the spring-summer months when the evenings get lighter. Now the evenings are lighter, I am going for a powerwalk-jog-run 2-3 times a week covering 4 miles each time and I can feel my strength improving which is great. However, there is now a purpose behind the fitness mission as I have signed up for two summer events both requiring a high level of fitness and stamina!

The first event taking place in June is with a couple of my fellow Yateley Hockey Club ladies in a bid to raise some much needed funds for a new astro pitch. So what are we doing? Well, quite crazily we’re participating in the XRunner Water Wipeout challenge –a 5k run with obstacles through mud and water… it’ll be filthy! Although I have no doubt adrenaline on the day will keep us going, it is still going to be quite a demand physically and we’ll want to complete the course in a decent time so training prior to the event is essential!

The second event I am doing is with work raising money for the British Heart Foundation (BHF) and we’ll be climbing the three peaks… in Yorkshire! This event really appealed to me as again, many years ago while at secondary school I participated in the Ten Tors expedition which takes place across Dartmoor every year around May. Walkers can either do the 35, 45 or 55 mile challenge over two days. I only managed to complete the 35 mile route as during training, Foot and Mouth struck so when I should have originally done the event, it got cancelled so following a second year of training, I finally got to do it. I began training for a third year to complete the 45 mile route but unfortunately by that time I was struggling in my personal life and I was just not in the right frame of mind or mentally strong enough to continue which was a shame. But I still have really fond memories of the event as it’s something participants just never forget!

So yes, the Yorkshire three peaks! It is about 24 miles in total so all done in a day and I am really looking forward to it. Although the climbing of the peaks I have no doubt will be hard work, it should ultimately be really fun and as long as I am walking with a good crowd it’ll make for a fantastic day and experience!

I’ll keep you all posted and updated on progress and outcomes of the events!

Until next time x

 

To support me in my two summer challenges, please follow the links to make a donation. Every penny spared will be much appreciated and your support is highly valued. Thank you!

XRunner Water Wipeout Challenge

JustGiving - Sponsor me now!

Yorkshire Three Peaks

JustGiving - Sponsor me now!

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