I should be sleeping right now. Not because I'm partial to an afternoon nap, but because I, along with Sarah, am covering the election tonight. We start work at 11pm and don't know what time we'll finish. The mini bus leaves for Scotland at 8.30am tomorrow and we have to be at the CPC Centre to meet the others at 8am so we might have to go straight from the office. Eek! We are praying there won't have to be a re-count! If there is, our boss has kindly offered to step in - to cover the election result, not climb the 3 peaks (she was quick to point this out when she made the offer earlier this week!)
The final day before our challenge started badly for me. I woke up at 8.18am - I'm meant to start work at 8am! And it was deadline day. So after a frantic call to the office, I managed to wash, dress and drive to work in 20 minutes flat, not bad going really but not exactly the best way to start the day.
Sarah and I finished work at noon and both went our separate ways to do some last minute shopping - Sarah, with Keyan in tow, to buy food and a wick away t-shirt, me to get some very attractive thermal leggings.
Our personal trainer Demian left a very thoughtful message for us this morning telling us we all need to 'carb-up' today. So I took his advice and had pasta for lunch before heading off to bed. But after several hours of being tucked up under the duvet in an eye mask, trying to ignore the traffic noise and constantly checking off a mental list of things to pack, I have given up.
So when you climbing into bed tonight, please spare a thought for Sarah and I who will be spending our night waiting for the election results to come in, then trying to beat off journalists from Sky and the BBC to get interviews with the winners/losers, before heading back to the office to type them up, all the while trying not to worry about our challenge ahead.
Oh and finally, please spare a thought for Keyan, who might have the toughest job of all. He may not be up all night covering the election but he will have to deal with two very grumpy, sleep deprived women who will be blaming him for making them sign up to climb three mountains in the first place!
Jenni
Thursday, 6 May 2010
Monday, 26 April 2010
Cheating
So this is what happens when I take a holiday, it all goes to pot.
Well I'm back now and so's the blog after a week's holiday in which I 'cheated' by tackling Snowdon with a friend of mine.
Without wanting to jinx the entire thing, it wasn't tooo bad. I didn't scream once and the hacksaw I'd packed in case I was forced to take my legs off, stayed firmly in my backpack.
Now I just have to do it in the dark. After another two mountains. At 1am in the morning...
...yes, perhaps I'll stay quiet until I've finished.
What I did learn was that I need new socks after a blister appeared on my left foot, and to work in the gym more on my thighs and calves.
The views, as expected, were stunning but it wasn't until you reached the top when you really appreciated them. Whether I'll appreciate them quite as much the next time I'm at the top of Snowdon is quite another matter.
In (slightly) other news, we (read: the girls) raised more than £500 through the charity quiz with the help of about 65 generous and kind-hearted egg heads.
The quiz was held on April 15 at the CPC centre in View Road, Cliffe Woods and went down an absolute treat. A big thank you to everyone who came along and donated to the cause with their hard earned cash.
If you've been on the moon (the only excuse allowed) and not yet sponsored us, but have been dying to, then log on to www.justgiving.co.uk/messengerclimb
Well I'm back now and so's the blog after a week's holiday in which I 'cheated' by tackling Snowdon with a friend of mine.
Without wanting to jinx the entire thing, it wasn't tooo bad. I didn't scream once and the hacksaw I'd packed in case I was forced to take my legs off, stayed firmly in my backpack.
Now I just have to do it in the dark. After another two mountains. At 1am in the morning...
...yes, perhaps I'll stay quiet until I've finished.
What I did learn was that I need new socks after a blister appeared on my left foot, and to work in the gym more on my thighs and calves.
The views, as expected, were stunning but it wasn't until you reached the top when you really appreciated them. Whether I'll appreciate them quite as much the next time I'm at the top of Snowdon is quite another matter.
In (slightly) other news, we (read: the girls) raised more than £500 through the charity quiz with the help of about 65 generous and kind-hearted egg heads.
The quiz was held on April 15 at the CPC centre in View Road, Cliffe Woods and went down an absolute treat. A big thank you to everyone who came along and donated to the cause with their hard earned cash.
If you've been on the moon (the only excuse allowed) and not yet sponsored us, but have been dying to, then log on to www.justgiving.co.uk/messengerclimb
Tuesday, 13 April 2010
Another week, another torture session (sorry, personal training session) at Virgin Active gym. My training has been going well over the last few weeks. In between going to the gym, I have been going for brisk 5k walks, so I was feeling quite good about my fitness levels. That was until yesterday.
Demian introduced me to the ViPR. You may have read about Sarah’s experience with this innocent looking rubber tube last month, but just to reiterate what she said – it’s mean!
After 10 minutes on the treadmill I had to do squats with this thing- holding it in front of me, letting it swing between my legs as I crouched down and then swinging it back into the air and above my head as I stood up.
Then I had to lay the ViPR on the floor and flip it over several times until I reached the end of the gym matt. Sounds simple enough I know but it’s not and it hurts! You had to squat down to pick it up, take a couple of steps sidewards, swap hands and then squat to put it back down again. And when that was all over you had to take a couple of steps back the other way to pick it up again. Demian kept telling me if I wanted a toned bum and thighs I had to do the squats properly (maybe I like having a wobbly bum!!) and for any squats I didn’t do properly (there were a few) I was punished by having to do squat thrusts. See what I mean about torture?!
About half way through the session I started to feel dizzy and my ears popped so I couldn’t here Demian’s latest lecture about working harder, although maybe that wasn’t such a bad thing (only joking Demian). He noticed I had gone very pale so walked me around the gym to get my heart rate to slow down a bit.
But then my rest was over and it was five minutes on the cross trainer before doing weird crab-like things across the gym mat. I had to get in a push-up position and then move sidewards to the end of the mat and run back again. After several of these I felt like my legs were going to fall off and I was praying my hour with Demian was up. But no, then I had to get in the push-up position and crawl across the matt again; forwards and backwards this time. I must have looked like a right plonker but by that time, I hurt so much I didn’t care.
Today, pretty much every muscle in my body aches, so I have given myself a day of rest. There is no way I could go for a walk or go to the gym, even if I wanted to; tackling the stairs in my house is painful enough!
Jenni
Demian introduced me to the ViPR. You may have read about Sarah’s experience with this innocent looking rubber tube last month, but just to reiterate what she said – it’s mean!
After 10 minutes on the treadmill I had to do squats with this thing- holding it in front of me, letting it swing between my legs as I crouched down and then swinging it back into the air and above my head as I stood up.
Then I had to lay the ViPR on the floor and flip it over several times until I reached the end of the gym matt. Sounds simple enough I know but it’s not and it hurts! You had to squat down to pick it up, take a couple of steps sidewards, swap hands and then squat to put it back down again. And when that was all over you had to take a couple of steps back the other way to pick it up again. Demian kept telling me if I wanted a toned bum and thighs I had to do the squats properly (maybe I like having a wobbly bum!!) and for any squats I didn’t do properly (there were a few) I was punished by having to do squat thrusts. See what I mean about torture?!
About half way through the session I started to feel dizzy and my ears popped so I couldn’t here Demian’s latest lecture about working harder, although maybe that wasn’t such a bad thing (only joking Demian). He noticed I had gone very pale so walked me around the gym to get my heart rate to slow down a bit.
But then my rest was over and it was five minutes on the cross trainer before doing weird crab-like things across the gym mat. I had to get in a push-up position and then move sidewards to the end of the mat and run back again. After several of these I felt like my legs were going to fall off and I was praying my hour with Demian was up. But no, then I had to get in the push-up position and crawl across the matt again; forwards and backwards this time. I must have looked like a right plonker but by that time, I hurt so much I didn’t care.
Today, pretty much every muscle in my body aches, so I have given myself a day of rest. There is no way I could go for a walk or go to the gym, even if I wanted to; tackling the stairs in my house is painful enough!
Jenni
Monday, 12 April 2010
Accidental exercise
So the girls have been whinging at me to write something for a while now so I thought I'd pop in.
On Saturday I accidentally did some exercise after a 'friend' suggested we meet up for the Spurs Portsmouth FA Cup semi final.
After a flurry of text messages on Friday night he went very quiet. After a couple from me suggesting I called him when I got to the station I had no reply.
So, on Saturday afternoon, in beautiful sunshine I called him from just outside London Bridge tube station, where we arranged to meet.
"You're kidding?"
"Erm, no, what do you mean?"
"You're kidding?"
"No, why?"
"It's on Sunday."
Ah.
Good.
Excellent. And so, as my girlfriend and I were booked into a hotel for the evening, I walked from London Bridge to Marble Arch. About four miles I discovered later. Mitch would be pleased.
Actually, it was a lovely walk, beautiful weather and relatively quiet for central London, until I hit Oxford Street where I had to weave round the inevitable tourists. Even that proved good practise for the goats, boulders and the occasional falling Jenni/Sarah that I will probably meet on Snowdon/Scarfell/Nevis.
In other news, a bomb has been dropped.
My Mum, yes, Mother Keyan, has pledged to join the two girls and I on our challenge. CPC Kent, of course, is delighted. I am not so much. Generally, my mother is not the competitive type. But it seems when she gets in the gym with me she turns into a monster, capable of making Jose Mourinho and Alex Ferguson look like good losers. If I'm about she'll have to make me look like the weakling I am.
And I was so looking forward to 6am on Saturday, May 8.
The Medway Messenger Three Peaks Challenge team is still looking for teams to take part in our charity quiz this Thursday.
The top prize is tips and lunch with a Michelin starred chef, Richard Phillips.
Call 01634 227803 for more information or check the Medway Messenger website at www.medwaymessenger.co.uk
Keyan
On Saturday I accidentally did some exercise after a 'friend' suggested we meet up for the Spurs Portsmouth FA Cup semi final.
After a flurry of text messages on Friday night he went very quiet. After a couple from me suggesting I called him when I got to the station I had no reply.
So, on Saturday afternoon, in beautiful sunshine I called him from just outside London Bridge tube station, where we arranged to meet.
"You're kidding?"
"Erm, no, what do you mean?"
"You're kidding?"
"No, why?"
"It's on Sunday."
Ah.
Good.
Excellent. And so, as my girlfriend and I were booked into a hotel for the evening, I walked from London Bridge to Marble Arch. About four miles I discovered later. Mitch would be pleased.
Actually, it was a lovely walk, beautiful weather and relatively quiet for central London, until I hit Oxford Street where I had to weave round the inevitable tourists. Even that proved good practise for the goats, boulders and the occasional falling Jenni/Sarah that I will probably meet on Snowdon/Scarfell/Nevis.
In other news, a bomb has been dropped.
My Mum, yes, Mother Keyan, has pledged to join the two girls and I on our challenge. CPC Kent, of course, is delighted. I am not so much. Generally, my mother is not the competitive type. But it seems when she gets in the gym with me she turns into a monster, capable of making Jose Mourinho and Alex Ferguson look like good losers. If I'm about she'll have to make me look like the weakling I am.
And I was so looking forward to 6am on Saturday, May 8.
The Medway Messenger Three Peaks Challenge team is still looking for teams to take part in our charity quiz this Thursday.
The top prize is tips and lunch with a Michelin starred chef, Richard Phillips.
Call 01634 227803 for more information or check the Medway Messenger website at www.medwaymessenger.co.uk
Keyan
Wednesday, 7 April 2010
Retail therapy
In between all the training, aching muscles and watching what I eat, one good thing has come of my preparations for the Three Peaks – an excuse to go shopping.
The Bank Holiday weekend seemed like the perfect time to start checking off the long list of things we need to take with us for the challenge. And believe me it is a long list – including some things I would rather not talk about (like large sandwich bags – I’ll leave you to figure out what we need those for).
So, armed with my list, some advice from a friend of mine who is a hill walking expert (thanks Gordon!), and a very whingey boyfriend, I made my way to the shops on Good Friday for some Three Peaks retail therapy.
First and foremost on the list was a good pair of walking boots – yay, shoe shopping! But rather than worrying about whether I can walk in four inch heels or if gold platforms actually go with anything in my wardrobe, I had rather more important things to worry about on this shopping trip - like whether the boots would support my ankles on the rocky climbs and get me through 13 hours of walking or if they were more likely to give me blisters and leave me limping up the mountains.
I managed to find some great Karrimor KSB boots (Gordon and other outdoor types will know what I’m talking about) at 70% off – I do like a bargain! Next on the list was a warm fleece – check, back pack – check, and a waterproof jacket bright enough so that I can be found if I get caught in a snow blizzard – check. And all before lunch time – phew!
So with the rest of Good Friday free it was a chance to test my new outfit (sorry climbing gear) and break in my boots, so we headed off in search of a hill to climb. We were staying in Yorkshire with family over Easter so the no-longer whingey boyfriend and I set off to the Dales.
We found a five and a half mile walk in a guide book which was described as relatively easy with one steep muddy climb – perfect. After getting a little lost and having a debate over whether a bridge was a stone bridge or a wooden bridge(why can’t they make these instructions simpler?), not to mention an encounter with a rather mean looking horse, it was time for the steep climb.
After wheezing my way up the very slippery path (the guide book wasn’t kidding when it said it was muddy), I was very proud of myself when I reached the top of the ridge. But then I realised I had only climbed 330 metres – just a third of the height of Scarfell Pike – the smallest mountain of the Three Peaks!
My little adventure on the Yorkshire Dales may have helped me break in my walking boots but it also made me realise I need to get a lot fitter - and I have just one month to do it. Eek!
Jenni
The Bank Holiday weekend seemed like the perfect time to start checking off the long list of things we need to take with us for the challenge. And believe me it is a long list – including some things I would rather not talk about (like large sandwich bags – I’ll leave you to figure out what we need those for).
So, armed with my list, some advice from a friend of mine who is a hill walking expert (thanks Gordon!), and a very whingey boyfriend, I made my way to the shops on Good Friday for some Three Peaks retail therapy.
First and foremost on the list was a good pair of walking boots – yay, shoe shopping! But rather than worrying about whether I can walk in four inch heels or if gold platforms actually go with anything in my wardrobe, I had rather more important things to worry about on this shopping trip - like whether the boots would support my ankles on the rocky climbs and get me through 13 hours of walking or if they were more likely to give me blisters and leave me limping up the mountains.
I managed to find some great Karrimor KSB boots (Gordon and other outdoor types will know what I’m talking about) at 70% off – I do like a bargain! Next on the list was a warm fleece – check, back pack – check, and a waterproof jacket bright enough so that I can be found if I get caught in a snow blizzard – check. And all before lunch time – phew!
So with the rest of Good Friday free it was a chance to test my new outfit (sorry climbing gear) and break in my boots, so we headed off in search of a hill to climb. We were staying in Yorkshire with family over Easter so the no-longer whingey boyfriend and I set off to the Dales.
We found a five and a half mile walk in a guide book which was described as relatively easy with one steep muddy climb – perfect. After getting a little lost and having a debate over whether a bridge was a stone bridge or a wooden bridge(why can’t they make these instructions simpler?), not to mention an encounter with a rather mean looking horse, it was time for the steep climb.
After wheezing my way up the very slippery path (the guide book wasn’t kidding when it said it was muddy), I was very proud of myself when I reached the top of the ridge. But then I realised I had only climbed 330 metres – just a third of the height of Scarfell Pike – the smallest mountain of the Three Peaks!
My little adventure on the Yorkshire Dales may have helped me break in my walking boots but it also made me realise I need to get a lot fitter - and I have just one month to do it. Eek!
Jenni
Tuesday, 6 April 2010
Race to the finish
So the race has begun.
Gordon Brown has announced an election is to be held on May 6. That leaves the three of us with one month left to cover the election trail, and one month and one day to do our training for Three Peaks.
It's going to be a busy month. Medway features three of the most marginal seats in the country, with one among the top four being targeted by Labour (Rochester and Strood). We'll be following the candidates as they try to gather as many votes as possible, and we'll be talking to people to find out what matters to them in the upcoming election.
And we'll be running on treadmills, talking practice walks around Kent and just hoping we'll make it through to the end.
The countdown begins here.
Sarah
Gordon Brown has announced an election is to be held on May 6. That leaves the three of us with one month left to cover the election trail, and one month and one day to do our training for Three Peaks.
It's going to be a busy month. Medway features three of the most marginal seats in the country, with one among the top four being targeted by Labour (Rochester and Strood). We'll be following the candidates as they try to gather as many votes as possible, and we'll be talking to people to find out what matters to them in the upcoming election.
And we'll be running on treadmills, talking practice walks around Kent and just hoping we'll make it through to the end.
The countdown begins here.
Sarah
Saturday, 3 April 2010
Still here, still training (just about)
So it's been a few days since anyone's updated, but I can assure you we're still working hard and have not just given up.
Keyan is back from a skiing trip, thankfully uninjured apart from a case of facial sunburn. Perhaps the threats of making him do Three Peaks regardless of any skiing accidents made him be more cautious than he usually would have been.
We've also been organising our quiz night on April 15, and have landed some fabulous prizes. Richard Phillips, who has a Michelin star for one of his restaurants, is offering a free cookery lesson and lunch for up to eight people. It's a great chance to get tips from someone at the top of their game, so we're really grateful to him.
If you want to come along to the quiz, places are £4 each and it's at the CPC Kent centre in View Road, Cliffe Woods. It starts at 7.30pm and teams can be of up to eight people.
Jenni and I are planning to go climbing on Monday. It'll be our first proper training outside of slogging away on a treadmill at Virgin Active, so it'll be interesting to say the least. We'll also have to motivate ourselves, instead of relying on personal trainer Demian to shout at us. We'll let you know how it goes.
Sarah
Keyan is back from a skiing trip, thankfully uninjured apart from a case of facial sunburn. Perhaps the threats of making him do Three Peaks regardless of any skiing accidents made him be more cautious than he usually would have been.
We've also been organising our quiz night on April 15, and have landed some fabulous prizes. Richard Phillips, who has a Michelin star for one of his restaurants, is offering a free cookery lesson and lunch for up to eight people. It's a great chance to get tips from someone at the top of their game, so we're really grateful to him.
If you want to come along to the quiz, places are £4 each and it's at the CPC Kent centre in View Road, Cliffe Woods. It starts at 7.30pm and teams can be of up to eight people.
Jenni and I are planning to go climbing on Monday. It'll be our first proper training outside of slogging away on a treadmill at Virgin Active, so it'll be interesting to say the least. We'll also have to motivate ourselves, instead of relying on personal trainer Demian to shout at us. We'll let you know how it goes.
Sarah
Wednesday, 24 March 2010
Sweat and tears
They say women glow and men sweat. Well, last night, I think I was doing both. At the same time.
So appallingly knackered was I that, forget men and women, I was struggling with weights a four-year-old girl could probably handle.
In fact I'm sure I saw Mitch, my personal trainer at Virgin Active, writing 'little girl' on the little clipboard he carries around with him like an evil secretary.
Mitch, it seems, is a masochist.
In image terms he drove me to the edge of hell. Then, when we arrived, he said 'Yay, let's go sightseeing!'.
Yes, last night was a struggle. The biggest struggle I have had so far.
First up, and I think what did me for the rest of the hour-long session (it seemed like much, MUCH longer), was a run.
Now, I am no runner. My team mates on Real Papparazzi will vouch for that. In fact, I would prefer to take blunt spoons to my own eyeballs than run for more than two minutes. But Mitch, dear evil Mitch, had me on the treadmill for 15 entire minutes.
Not only that, but we did incriments of 1 minute at 8.5 kmph and then another minute at 12.5 kmph.
I did not last. At about 11 minutes I pleaded for mercy. I was allowed to walk for two minutes, before the speed was cranked up again.
Later we did a few weights and some more core work. Remember, nothing whatsoever to do with apples, or pears, or any other fruit for that matter. Apparently.
I was thoroughly exhausted by the end and I don't think I've sweated so much, certainly not in a gym, my entire life.
It's a good thing we reporters just make up quotes (we don't really!) because I've hardly been able to lift a pen all day.
Keyan
So appallingly knackered was I that, forget men and women, I was struggling with weights a four-year-old girl could probably handle.
In fact I'm sure I saw Mitch, my personal trainer at Virgin Active, writing 'little girl' on the little clipboard he carries around with him like an evil secretary.
Mitch, it seems, is a masochist.
In image terms he drove me to the edge of hell. Then, when we arrived, he said 'Yay, let's go sightseeing!'.
Yes, last night was a struggle. The biggest struggle I have had so far.
First up, and I think what did me for the rest of the hour-long session (it seemed like much, MUCH longer), was a run.
Now, I am no runner. My team mates on Real Papparazzi will vouch for that. In fact, I would prefer to take blunt spoons to my own eyeballs than run for more than two minutes. But Mitch, dear evil Mitch, had me on the treadmill for 15 entire minutes.
Not only that, but we did incriments of 1 minute at 8.5 kmph and then another minute at 12.5 kmph.
I did not last. At about 11 minutes I pleaded for mercy. I was allowed to walk for two minutes, before the speed was cranked up again.
Later we did a few weights and some more core work. Remember, nothing whatsoever to do with apples, or pears, or any other fruit for that matter. Apparently.
I was thoroughly exhausted by the end and I don't think I've sweated so much, certainly not in a gym, my entire life.
It's a good thing we reporters just make up quotes (we don't really!) because I've hardly been able to lift a pen all day.
Keyan
Tuesday, 23 March 2010
Success
I had a personal training session at Virgin Active this morning with Demian, and I think we've had a breakthrough.
Sure, the first 15 minutes were torture. There was ten minutes on the strange cross-trainer type machine, which sends shivers of fear through me when I just look at it. While on that I made the mistake of asking what the funny looking machine behind me was, which resulted in me having to spend five minutes on it cycling with my arms, if that makes sense.
But the other 45 minutes of my session were good, because I got to try out boxing. And it turns out it's a form of exercise I like, that works out all my body, and that I'm not completely terrible at (read: I'm just more than a little bit bad at it).
But it was fun and got me laughing, which is probably the first time my laughter at the gym hasn't been the hysterical-about-to-burst-into-tears kind.
After I had to do some exercises to strengthen my core muscles, of which there are none at the moment. First up was an exercise which required me to roll from a sitting position onto my shoulders and then back again, a bit like a turtle would. Only I couldn't, so we gave that up after two goes.
Then there was the exercise which required me to keep my feet in the air and move my arms from side to side touching the floor each time, which hurt.
The final one was probably the most painful but I had a very tiny bit of success at that (very tiny).
I shall be practising all the moves over the next week in the hopes that if I have to do the same ones again I won't be quite so pathetic.
Overall though, I would call this morning's gym visit a success.
Sarah
Sure, the first 15 minutes were torture. There was ten minutes on the strange cross-trainer type machine, which sends shivers of fear through me when I just look at it. While on that I made the mistake of asking what the funny looking machine behind me was, which resulted in me having to spend five minutes on it cycling with my arms, if that makes sense.
But the other 45 minutes of my session were good, because I got to try out boxing. And it turns out it's a form of exercise I like, that works out all my body, and that I'm not completely terrible at (read: I'm just more than a little bit bad at it).
But it was fun and got me laughing, which is probably the first time my laughter at the gym hasn't been the hysterical-about-to-burst-into-tears kind.
After I had to do some exercises to strengthen my core muscles, of which there are none at the moment. First up was an exercise which required me to roll from a sitting position onto my shoulders and then back again, a bit like a turtle would. Only I couldn't, so we gave that up after two goes.
Then there was the exercise which required me to keep my feet in the air and move my arms from side to side touching the floor each time, which hurt.
The final one was probably the most painful but I had a very tiny bit of success at that (very tiny).
I shall be practising all the moves over the next week in the hopes that if I have to do the same ones again I won't be quite so pathetic.
Overall though, I would call this morning's gym visit a success.
Sarah
Monday, 22 March 2010
Guilt
I have always suffered from an over sensitive guilt gland. It can strike at any time. I feel guilty for the most stupid reasons.
I have a very vague recollection of stealing a penny sweet once. I felt so guilty I blurted my confession to my Mum who made me go back to the shop with her to perform my penance, sobbing into the owner's chewing gum stand.
It's a bit like my over sensitive nature, I can cry at adverts and songs. Secret Millionaire is a killer. I blame my mother for both. She burst into tears over a baked bean advert once. You probably know the one; where a man comes back from working, puts a tin of beans on the hob and kisses his children goodnight.
She was in bits.
Anyway, I'm getting carried away. My point was I haven't been to the gym since Friday and I'm feeling guilty.
After reading Jenni's post I don't feel quite so bad. Although I have not been swinging hammers, visiting her garden or even climbing worms. Or whatever it was.
Besides, I'm seeing Mitch tomorrow so he's bound to make me feel awful for another few days.
On another note, we (read Jenni and Sarah - I couldn't organise a drink at a brewery!) have organised a charity quiz night to raise further funds for our appeal.
Tickets are £6 each for the event which will be held at the University of Kent at Medway on Thursday, April 15.
Call the newsdesk on 01634 227803 to book your tickets.
Keyan
I have a very vague recollection of stealing a penny sweet once. I felt so guilty I blurted my confession to my Mum who made me go back to the shop with her to perform my penance, sobbing into the owner's chewing gum stand.
It's a bit like my over sensitive nature, I can cry at adverts and songs. Secret Millionaire is a killer. I blame my mother for both. She burst into tears over a baked bean advert once. You probably know the one; where a man comes back from working, puts a tin of beans on the hob and kisses his children goodnight.
She was in bits.
Anyway, I'm getting carried away. My point was I haven't been to the gym since Friday and I'm feeling guilty.
After reading Jenni's post I don't feel quite so bad. Although I have not been swinging hammers, visiting her garden or even climbing worms. Or whatever it was.
Besides, I'm seeing Mitch tomorrow so he's bound to make me feel awful for another few days.
On another note, we (read Jenni and Sarah - I couldn't organise a drink at a brewery!) have organised a charity quiz night to raise further funds for our appeal.
Tickets are £6 each for the event which will be held at the University of Kent at Medway on Thursday, April 15.
Call the newsdesk on 01634 227803 to book your tickets.
Keyan
Sunday, 21 March 2010
Climbing lighthouses and avoiding worms
When I woke up this morning I was already starting to dread the training session I have at the gym at 9am tomorrow. It’s not that I’m not grateful Virgin Active personal trainer Demian is giving up his time to help me get fit for the Three Peaks, but I know he is going to tell me off because I haven’t been to the gym since my last training session with him on Tuesday.
This session was such hard work that I ached for two days afterwards. It began on the treadmill with what Demian called a warm-up, but after 10 minutes I couldn’t breathe and thought I was going to pass out. Not a good start.
I then spent the next 45 minutes doing all sorts of painful exercises to build my core muscle strength. At one point Demian said I could have a break but instead of sitting down like I had planned – he made me go on the cross trainer for 5 minutes. Not my idea of a breather.
My excuse for not training this week is that I have been enjoying a staycation. For those of you not familiar with this 21st century lingo, it’s a holiday for people who can’t afford to go away. I have been busy enjoying a visit to Lincoln, a day trip to France, a short stay in Southampton and a day out at Leeds Castle, so I’ve not had time to get down the gym.
My other excuse is that all these days out have included lots of walking (including climbing 271 steps to the top of Calais lighthouse), so I have been getting exercise of some sort.
Not to mention the fact that I have just done the equivalent of a gym session in my back garden – by taking a sledge hammer to our garden path. After four hours breaking up concrete and avoiding worms, my back aches, I’ve pulled a muscle in my side and I have a big bruise where a piece of stone hit my leg, so going to the gym doesn’t seem quite so bad. I sure I will have changed my mind again by about 9.15 tomorrow morning.
Jenni
This session was such hard work that I ached for two days afterwards. It began on the treadmill with what Demian called a warm-up, but after 10 minutes I couldn’t breathe and thought I was going to pass out. Not a good start.
I then spent the next 45 minutes doing all sorts of painful exercises to build my core muscle strength. At one point Demian said I could have a break but instead of sitting down like I had planned – he made me go on the cross trainer for 5 minutes. Not my idea of a breather.
My excuse for not training this week is that I have been enjoying a staycation. For those of you not familiar with this 21st century lingo, it’s a holiday for people who can’t afford to go away. I have been busy enjoying a visit to Lincoln, a day trip to France, a short stay in Southampton and a day out at Leeds Castle, so I’ve not had time to get down the gym.
My other excuse is that all these days out have included lots of walking (including climbing 271 steps to the top of Calais lighthouse), so I have been getting exercise of some sort.
Not to mention the fact that I have just done the equivalent of a gym session in my back garden – by taking a sledge hammer to our garden path. After four hours breaking up concrete and avoiding worms, my back aches, I’ve pulled a muscle in my side and I have a big bruise where a piece of stone hit my leg, so going to the gym doesn’t seem quite so bad. I sure I will have changed my mind again by about 9.15 tomorrow morning.
Jenni
Monday, 15 March 2010
ViPR - deadlier than its (sort of) namesake
A few hours ago the ViPR - standing for Vitality, Performance and Reconditioning - looked like a harmless tube with a few holes in it.
After using it for half an hour (and not even continuously) I discovered it was anything but.
In fact, if a real viper had come snapping at my heels I'd probably have fallen down and asked it to put me out of my misery.
The ViPR provides a full-body workout, as my muscles and my Virgin Active personal trainer Demian kept telling me.
Demian put me through a variety of exercises which involved picking up, throwing and balancing the ViPR while doing squats.
It was painful. In fact it was more than painful. Every muscle in my body was protesting, my heart was beating a million miles a minute and all I wanted to do was curl up in a ball and cry.
But I couldn't, because Demian was encouraging me to do better, and if I don't get fit then I won't be able to climb three mountains in 24 hours and then CPC Kent won't get the money we're trying to raise.
But still, if next week's personal training session involves the ViPR I might sneak a snake in and tempt it to bite me so I can have a moment's respite.
Sarah
After using it for half an hour (and not even continuously) I discovered it was anything but.
In fact, if a real viper had come snapping at my heels I'd probably have fallen down and asked it to put me out of my misery.
The ViPR provides a full-body workout, as my muscles and my Virgin Active personal trainer Demian kept telling me.
Demian put me through a variety of exercises which involved picking up, throwing and balancing the ViPR while doing squats.
It was painful. In fact it was more than painful. Every muscle in my body was protesting, my heart was beating a million miles a minute and all I wanted to do was curl up in a ball and cry.
But I couldn't, because Demian was encouraging me to do better, and if I don't get fit then I won't be able to climb three mountains in 24 hours and then CPC Kent won't get the money we're trying to raise.
But still, if next week's personal training session involves the ViPR I might sneak a snake in and tempt it to bite me so I can have a moment's respite.
Sarah
Boot Camp
So here I am at boot camp in a secret location in Yorkshire, sometimes called the in-laws. In Hepworth. Ya know, where they film Last of the Summer Wine.
This weekend I have promised myself that I will drink my last pint before the three peaks in May. An entire (nearly) two months. Maybe promised is too strong a word. I have suggested it. That, for me, might be more difficult than walking the 25 miles in 24 hours we are completing for charity.
On Saturday I went with my girlfriend and her family to a very good ale house. It felt like the last supper. In a pint glass.
Then, yesterday, we embarked on a little walk around the village. If the peaks of Hepworth are anything to go by I could be in serious trouble. At one stage we walked past a pile of sand beside a construction site and, me having been to the gym twice already, I challenged myself to climb it. By the top (about two and a half feet) I was breathless and sweating. What have I done.
Back to the gym on Thursday. I fear I might have to train a bit harder.
Don't forget to sponsor us here...
www.justgiving.com/messengerclimb
Keyan
This weekend I have promised myself that I will drink my last pint before the three peaks in May. An entire (nearly) two months. Maybe promised is too strong a word. I have suggested it. That, for me, might be more difficult than walking the 25 miles in 24 hours we are completing for charity.
On Saturday I went with my girlfriend and her family to a very good ale house. It felt like the last supper. In a pint glass.
Then, yesterday, we embarked on a little walk around the village. If the peaks of Hepworth are anything to go by I could be in serious trouble. At one stage we walked past a pile of sand beside a construction site and, me having been to the gym twice already, I challenged myself to climb it. By the top (about two and a half feet) I was breathless and sweating. What have I done.
Back to the gym on Thursday. I fear I might have to train a bit harder.
Don't forget to sponsor us here...
www.justgiving.com/messengerclimb
Keyan
Friday, 12 March 2010
Oh, the pain
I have sustained my first injury.
No, I didn't slide backwards off the treadmill, drop a weight on my foot or come to blows with my personal trainer.
Instead, on my way out to cover a story, I twisted my ankle.
It was fine at the gym yesterday but this morning it's aching. Tonight I will have to elevate my foot, find a bag of peas to rest on my ankle and hope for the best, as I have another gym trip planned tomorrow.
Away from the doom and gloom, things are going well in the fundraising department. In two weeks we've raised £615 of our £1,500 target. Included in that is a fantastic £250 donation from the Rochester Coffee Co, a local business which is keen on supporting good causes like CPC Kent.
While our main hope is to get to £1,500, in an ideal world we'd like to smash that target to smithereens and raise lots more for the charity, which does a great job helping adults and children with cerebral palsy.
The pain is worth it if we can help the charity.
Sarah
No, I didn't slide backwards off the treadmill, drop a weight on my foot or come to blows with my personal trainer.
Instead, on my way out to cover a story, I twisted my ankle.
It was fine at the gym yesterday but this morning it's aching. Tonight I will have to elevate my foot, find a bag of peas to rest on my ankle and hope for the best, as I have another gym trip planned tomorrow.
Away from the doom and gloom, things are going well in the fundraising department. In two weeks we've raised £615 of our £1,500 target. Included in that is a fantastic £250 donation from the Rochester Coffee Co, a local business which is keen on supporting good causes like CPC Kent.
While our main hope is to get to £1,500, in an ideal world we'd like to smash that target to smithereens and raise lots more for the charity, which does a great job helping adults and children with cerebral palsy.
The pain is worth it if we can help the charity.
Sarah
Wednesday, 10 March 2010
Rabbit food
Anyone who has been to our office knows it is a haven for all things that are bad for you. You are never more than an arm’s length away from a chocolate biscuit and we need little excuse to buy cakes – birthdays, last days or a day with a Y in it. But as part of our training, Keyan, Sarah and I have banished junk food and are attempting to eat healthily.
Jelly babies and donuts have been replaced by carrot sticks, salad and other unappetising snacks which resemble rabbit food. Our friends at Virgin Active gym in Rochester have told us to have five small meals a day and if we ever need advice on what to eat, we can always consult the Medway Messenger nutritionist (aka assistant news editor, gym addict and all-round healthy person Nathan).
Yesterday I started the day with porridge, followed by some fruit, a pasta salad for lunch and an afternoon snack of cardboard (low fat rice cakes). So far so good. The real test will come on Friday – otherwise known as breakfast-from-the-café-down-the-road day in our office. Will we be able to resist the temptation of a bacon sandwich?
Tonight , Sarah and I are off to the gym to see if we can put into practice what we were told by our personal trainer Demian on Monday. While Keyan is going to run around a five-a-side pitch with the rest of the boys from the office (I would say play football but going by the team’s previous form, you can’t really call it that).
We’ll let you know how we get on.
Jenni
Jelly babies and donuts have been replaced by carrot sticks, salad and other unappetising snacks which resemble rabbit food. Our friends at Virgin Active gym in Rochester have told us to have five small meals a day and if we ever need advice on what to eat, we can always consult the Medway Messenger nutritionist (aka assistant news editor, gym addict and all-round healthy person Nathan).
Yesterday I started the day with porridge, followed by some fruit, a pasta salad for lunch and an afternoon snack of cardboard (low fat rice cakes). So far so good. The real test will come on Friday – otherwise known as breakfast-from-the-café-down-the-road day in our office. Will we be able to resist the temptation of a bacon sandwich?
Tonight , Sarah and I are off to the gym to see if we can put into practice what we were told by our personal trainer Demian on Monday. While Keyan is going to run around a five-a-side pitch with the rest of the boys from the office (I would say play football but going by the team’s previous form, you can’t really call it that).
We’ll let you know how we get on.
Jenni
Tuesday, 9 March 2010
The morning after the night before...
I'm relatively pain free today. Very unexpected.
This morning, I didn't even need my girlfriend to pull me out of bed and I've already fed myself with a bowl of porridge, although I admit my porridge-wallah helped a little with the microwave. But there were no jelly babies or even one eclair. Progress!
So last night was my first session with Mitch at Virgin Active in Rochester and I was pretty pathetic by the end, hardly able to lift my legs from the floor. I had a few funny looks as I grunted and panted trying to lift my legs inches from the ground as men with wrist circumferences bigger than my head watched on.
Other body builders waddled around looking as though I could have been a light snack had they fancied it.
I kept a distance. That weight lifting looks like hungry work.
We worked mostly on 'core' strength which, I found, has nothing to do with apples. I've also been reliably informed by female colleagues that some of the exercises were girly yoga positions. They certainly didn't feel very girly but I'll have to have a word with Mitch about those all the same.
He broke the news to me gently. The pain would probably kick in on Wednesday. I'm considering popping back tonight though to tell him what I'm feeling now will do fine thank you very much.
Next session, Thursday.
Keyan
This morning, I didn't even need my girlfriend to pull me out of bed and I've already fed myself with a bowl of porridge, although I admit my porridge-wallah helped a little with the microwave. But there were no jelly babies or even one eclair. Progress!
So last night was my first session with Mitch at Virgin Active in Rochester and I was pretty pathetic by the end, hardly able to lift my legs from the floor. I had a few funny looks as I grunted and panted trying to lift my legs inches from the ground as men with wrist circumferences bigger than my head watched on.
Other body builders waddled around looking as though I could have been a light snack had they fancied it.
I kept a distance. That weight lifting looks like hungry work.
We worked mostly on 'core' strength which, I found, has nothing to do with apples. I've also been reliably informed by female colleagues that some of the exercises were girly yoga positions. They certainly didn't feel very girly but I'll have to have a word with Mitch about those all the same.
He broke the news to me gently. The pain would probably kick in on Wednesday. I'm considering popping back tonight though to tell him what I'm feeling now will do fine thank you very much.
Next session, Thursday.
Keyan
Monday, 8 March 2010
Training
So, it's still Monday morning and I've already had a near death experience.
Okay, maybe that's a little dramatic, but for an hour this morning I felt like my heart might just give up.
Why?
I had my first personal training session this morning at Virgin Active with Demian, who is kindly giving up his time to help us.
After filling out some forms and having my blood pressure, heart rate and body fat measured (none of which could be described as perfect) it was out onto the gym floor.
Or torture chamber as I like to call it.
First up was the treadmill, where I started on a gentle five kilometres an hour. It didn't stay gentle for long, as Demian kept pushing buttons on the machine to get me walking uphill at a rapid speed. After walking 1km I was exhausted.
But that was just the warm up.
Next, it was on to a machine that works both legs and arms, just to make life a little easier, before hitting the bike for a few minutes.
By then my heart felt like it was going a million miles a minute, my legs felt like jelly and I thought my arms might fall off.
On the plus side, it will apparently only get easier the more exercise I do.
If it doesn't, I might cry.
Sarah
Okay, maybe that's a little dramatic, but for an hour this morning I felt like my heart might just give up.
Why?
I had my first personal training session this morning at Virgin Active with Demian, who is kindly giving up his time to help us.
After filling out some forms and having my blood pressure, heart rate and body fat measured (none of which could be described as perfect) it was out onto the gym floor.
Or torture chamber as I like to call it.
First up was the treadmill, where I started on a gentle five kilometres an hour. It didn't stay gentle for long, as Demian kept pushing buttons on the machine to get me walking uphill at a rapid speed. After walking 1km I was exhausted.
But that was just the warm up.
Next, it was on to a machine that works both legs and arms, just to make life a little easier, before hitting the bike for a few minutes.
By then my heart felt like it was going a million miles a minute, my legs felt like jelly and I thought my arms might fall off.
On the plus side, it will apparently only get easier the more exercise I do.
If it doesn't, I might cry.
Sarah
Friday, 5 March 2010
Base camp
And so it begins - £1500 to raise for CPC Kent, the highest mountains in the UK to climb and about eight weeks in which to get fit enough to climb them.
Three challenges, and I know which one I'm most worried about.
This morning I've eaten three jelly babies and a chocolate eclair. The sort of diet required? Probably not.
I'm also as thin as a rake. I caught sight of my legs in the mirror the other day and thought a hairy stork had managed to get in through the bedroom window. I struggled with the smallest weights in the gym when we went for photographs. The girls in the office have to help me open jars.
Things will have to change.
My first training session, with 'Mitch' at Virgin Active in Rochester is on Monday and I'm not looking forward to it. The gym is allowing us to use their facilities for the next two months for training free of charge. When we went for our photographs I caught Mitch training another woman (I forgave him) and she looked exhausted by the end of their hour. I dread to think what I'll look like.
We've had a lot of support so far but we need more.
Please sponsor us at www.justgiving.co.uk/messengerclimb
Keyan
Three challenges, and I know which one I'm most worried about.
This morning I've eaten three jelly babies and a chocolate eclair. The sort of diet required? Probably not.
I'm also as thin as a rake. I caught sight of my legs in the mirror the other day and thought a hairy stork had managed to get in through the bedroom window. I struggled with the smallest weights in the gym when we went for photographs. The girls in the office have to help me open jars.
Things will have to change.
My first training session, with 'Mitch' at Virgin Active in Rochester is on Monday and I'm not looking forward to it. The gym is allowing us to use their facilities for the next two months for training free of charge. When we went for our photographs I caught Mitch training another woman (I forgave him) and she looked exhausted by the end of their hour. I dread to think what I'll look like.
We've had a lot of support so far but we need more.
Please sponsor us at www.justgiving.co.uk/messengerclimb
Keyan
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