Exercise – Curious Peas

Arctic One Challenge: Week 4 & 5

Dear Blog,

I hang my head in shame as I begin this blog. Those of you who have been following my Arctic One challenge will have noticed that last week, I did not post an update. This was due a rather embarrassing and very lazy week had by me. During the entire week (week 4), I only did one bit of exercise: I cycled my bike home from work, which I had left the previous sunday. I am not proud of myself.

Last week (week 5), however was much more productive. I started the week on a late shift and thus cycled two and from work. My fitbit has been having some issues this week and failing to track my activities accurately which is such a pain. As I know the route to work is just under 6 miles, I decided to leave the fitbit values in for Mondays trips as they balance each other out.

Tuesday and Wednesday I was busy with work and family activities. Thursday I was on another late shift so I cycled. I had collected boxes for moving so my friend gave me a lift home. Carrying 3 flat boxes on my bike is just not practical. I cycled home friday after work.

On Saturday, I cycled to my local Pets at Home for Clove stuff. It isn’t far from mine but is quite a hilly route.

This brings us nicely to Sunday which was sportive day! I successfully managed to cycle 75 miles around Norfolk in a very impressive 6 and a half hours! Very impressed with myself for that.

So overall, in week 5, I managed to redeem myself for slacking so much the week before. Sunday filled me with new motivation so hopefully I will keep it up. I must get back into swimming this week!

Cycling: 165.07 / 621 Miles.
Swimming: 6.5 / 31 Miles
Hours of exercise: 25:05 / 100

For more information on Arctic One and where you can donate money if you wish, please visit www.arctic1.co.uk

Arctic One Challenge: Week 3

Dear Blog,

A rather stressful week and not as productive as I’d have liked. I have really let the cycling challenge down and didn’t commute to work as much as I could have. However, I have continued to improve with my swimming and beating my personal best every time.

Monday saw the continuation of the family emergency so for obvious reasons, exercise was not high on my priority list. That being said, to clear my head, I did go for a lengthy walk through the woods.

Tuesday was nothing but work. Wednesday I attended a spin class. I had hoped I’d be able to track my miles but the computer on my bike didn’t work which was super annoying. I then swam a mile.

Back to work Thursday. Friday I was on a late shift so I manged to squeeze another swim in before work. I’m getting faster! I finally brought my bike home after Sundays events.

Saturday I had some well needed ‘Me time’ and decided to give the gym a miss in favour for a little bit of shopping and spending time with Clove. I made up for it on Sunday by cycling too and from the gym, then to work for my night shift. I swam another mile.

Overall, week 3 has been as productive as week 2 however some noticeable slacking on the cycling front. I am really struggling to find the motivation even though I do love getting on my bike. Next week will suffer the same sort of pattern as I start the week on night shifts and have 2 days overtime at work. Slowly but surly, we are getting there.

Cycling: 58.93 / 621 Miles.
Swimming: 6.5 / 31 Miles
Hours of exercise: 16.39 / 100

For more information on Arctic One and where you can donate money if you wish, please visit www.arctic1.co.uk

Arctic One Challenge: Week 2

Dear Blog,

Well this week had been a much more productive in terms of the Arctic One challenge. I have defiantly felt more active and although I know I’ve barely made a dent in my cycling challenge, I have consciously made the effort to cycle as much as I can.
Annoyingly, my firbit has been playing up this week so don’t pay any attention to the calorie information on the stats.

So, kicking off with Monday, I cycled too and from work. No idea why the fitbit decided to label one as ‘Outdoor bike’ and one as just ‘Bike’.

Tuesday was very much the same. Due to road works, I had to take a mini diversion though I can’t complain as it added up the miles.

Wednesday was my day off so I spent a good portion of the day at the gym. I signed up to do two classes: Aerobics and a Yoga/Bodybalance class. Aerobic was an… experience. I was the youngest there by about 20 years. Once I got into it, it was rather fun though I learnt I have no coordination what so ever. The Yoga class was quite refreshing afterwards. I also swam another mile, shaving off a few minutes from my previous personal best.

I didn’t cycle to work thursday as my body ached so much from yoga. Friday I was off but spend the day in my PJ’s with Clove. It was needed.
Saturday, I bussed to work as I was on a mission for boxes for moving. I walked to the gym afterwards and swam another mile. Getting faster!

And Sunday… I cycled to work but due to an urgent family emergency, I had to quickly bus into town. So as I type this, my poor bike is still locked up at work.

So overall, I’m impressed with how I’ve done this week. I can certainly see an improvement, especially with swimming. Lets see what week 3 brings!

Cycling: 45.77 / 621 Miles.
Swimming: 3.5 / 31 Miles
Hours of exercise: 9.56 / 100

For more information on Arctic One and where you can donate money if you wish, please visit www.arctic1.co.uk

Arctic One Challenge: Week 1

Dear Blog,

The first week of the Arctic One challenge is completed and boy am I lazy… I have found myself feeling very unmotivated (I blame the weather) and my whole week has felt it.
I started off pretty well. I went to the gym Monday. I cycled there and back plus spend a little time on the exercise bike*. Great start. I then jumped into the swimming pool for 55mins, completing half a mile before loads of kids came and spoilt the atmosphere.

*I’m not using my Fitbit while on the exercise bike as it doesn’t provide an accurate reading. Instead, I’ll take photos of the bike computer as proof.

I was at work for the rest of the week and shamefully admit that I bussed every day (in my defence, it has rained most of the week and I don’t own mudguards). My next day off was Saturday which was much more succesful. I opted to walk to the gym as I had errands afterwards but I did a further 20 mins on the exercise bike and I swam my first mile! And I completed it using nothing but breaststroke. Go me!

All in all, it’s been a very uninspired week. I am a bit shamed of myself. Lets hope I can get my butt in gear for week 2.

Cycling: 14.22 / 621 Miles.
Swimming: 1.5 / 31 Miles
Hours of exercise: 3.18 / 100

For more information on Arctic One and where you can donate money if you wish, please visit www.arctic1.co.uk

Arctic One Summer Challenge 2018.

This summer, I have partnered with Arctic One to partake in their ‘Summer of Sports’ event. Arctic One is a charity with aim of getting more people of all ability, involved with sports in one form or another. Though their work and the support of the pubic, Arctic One have been able to give grants to 115 people since 2015. These grants give people with disabilities an oppotunity to pursue sports and inspire the next generation of para-athletes. It is a brilliant charity and I am super excited for the next few weeks.

So the challenge: beginning the 28th May, I have until the 1st September to complete three challenges:

Cycle 1000km/621 miles.
Swim 50km/31 miles
Complete 100 hours of any Sporting Activity.

They don’t have to be done in one sitting (thank god) and if I complete all three then I’ll receive a medal and piece of clothing. Cycling will be the hardest. On the 1st July, I am participating in a 75 mile sportive around Norfolk, although that will barely touch my 621 mile target. As for swimming, I aim to swim a mile (64 laps of a 25 meter pool) each session and if I go every other day, I’ll be done in a month or so. I have no way to officially document this so you’ll have to trust me when I say I’ve completed a mile. If you have read my ‘From Frogs to Breaststrokes‘ blog, you will know that swimming isn’t my strongest ability (you’ll also be happy to know that I have somewhat mastered the breaststroke) so this task is just that little bit harder.
With both these task combined, challenge number 3 should be easy to complete.

I’ve decided for extra motivation, to write a blog every week to document my progress. It’s not going to be easy but its a challenge I’m excited to undertake. Wish me luck!

For more information on Arctic One and where you can donate money if you wish, please visit www.arctic1.co.uk

Spread the words

Like this:

Spread the words

Like this:

Spread the words

Like this:

Spread the words

Like this:

Spread the words

Like this: