Welcome to my world

I live in London with my two crazy cats, Phil and Grant. This is my online training journal as I will be running the British London 10km in July, and I hope you enjoy your visit!

• Been a bit busy

  Posted on May 1st, 2009 John 2 comments

  So, the new job’s started. A bit of a gentle introduction to the job (well if you count 30 things on your to-do list within 30 minutes of starting quiet!) I get to go jetsetting around the world still … unfortunately nowhere as exotic as Spain anymore. Chesterfield next week (which suits me for visiting the family) and sunny Solihull the week after that. But on the whole I’m enjoying it - it’s a different job entirely and it’s very weird not to be thinking about Helpdesk tickets, moaning customers and service levels.

  And seeing as this is supposed to be my training blog, here’s a training update. I did some gym sessions this week, which went well. My foot seems to be back to normal now so that’s all good too.

  P.S. Have you checked out Walford Web’s new feature - the cast wiki? I’m frantically importing character bios into it, and are up to the surname beginning with V so far. With a bit of luck everything will be imported by Monday. Click here to have a sneak peek!

  Training, Work EastEnders, Gym, Walford Web, Work

• Hit the gym

  Posted on April 14th, 2009 John 1 comment

  So, finally, after what seems like weeks and weeks I finally hit the gym today (and had to do that as I’d got a session with Keli, the personal trainer sent up from hell).

  It was the first time running since hurting my foot, and at the time all felt fine. I’m sitting here this evening with aching feet but I’m not sure if that was because of all the exercise. We’ll see how it feels in the morning, and whether I can still walk.

  So … I also learned six new exercises to do, most of which consisted of me looking like a beached whale next to Keli, who looked completely composed throughout all of it. My favourite classy maneouvre had to be squatting down like I was on the toilet while doing bicep curls. Hmmm, what fun.

  Next up will be a gentle run outside tomorrow or Thursday to see if that’s still doable. It’d chuffing well better be …

  And tomorrow’s the day I tell the team at work about “you know what”. Can’t wait for the reaction to that!

  Training Gym

• That’ll teach me

  Posted on March 25th, 2009 John No comments

  Well I’m in the office, with very sore triceps this morning. That’ll teach me to try things I don’t do very often.

  As long as the weather holds and as long as I can fit it in around endless meetings, I’ll be going out for a run later. If it rains it’ll be another trip to the gym later.

  A fun packed day awaits!

  Training Gym

• First time at the gym in ages …

  Posted on March 24th, 2009 John No comments

  … and boy does it feel like it now.

  I have a job where I don’t have to go to the office every day, as I can work from home (so if I’m on all day conference calls then it makes sense to stay at home and do them, like most of last week). So today was the first chance I’ve had to hit the gym in about two weeks, and I made the minor mistake of going down with a new training partner - much younger than me, much fitter than me, and he’s certainly put me through the ringer a bit.

  Plenty of work today on my arms (probably more than I’d do normally), and I’m definitely going to know about it in the morning. Couple that with a light treadmill session, some rowing, plenty of sit-ups and it’s been an interesting time.

  The weird thing about going to the gym after work is the way the gym manager seems to wake up at 5pm. Go down during the afternoon and it’s all you can do to get him to even acknowledge your presence. Tonight apparently I was “his friend”, and he was all jokey and smiles. Very strange when you’ve not seen that side of someone for a year.

  But enough rambling … My regular gym buddy (and running mate in the 10km in July) is back in the office tomorrow for five days, so at least I’ve got someone to go down with still - going to the gym by yourself is difficult day-in, day-out.

  At some point, I’m going to go on the scales, and pluck up the courage to post my weight on here. It’s not a nice number to post here unfortunately! But with a bit of luck it’ll come down again in the next few months.

  Training Gym, Weight