WHAT’S MY MOTIVATION?

I’m unfit. Really unfit. And I have been for a long time now. Let me take you back a few years.

When I was a teenager I started having some problems with my muscles and my joints. There was a clicking sensation when I walked, my knees and back would ache a lot, and if I sat still for too long my hips would seize up. It affected my school life a lot. At the age of 15, when I was in year 10, I was referred to a physiotherapist. Lovely chap called Ron, who signed me off of PE at school for the rest of my time there. Let’s face it, that’s the dream for many teenage girls, isn’t it? It’s a good job he was a lovely chap, because I ended up seeing him weekly for the best part of two years before, eventually, he conceded that the physiotherapy wasn’t actually working, and there was nothing more he could do for me. In that time I had also seen a rheumatologist, who referred me for x-rays and an MRI scan amongst other things. In the end I was diagnosed with a combination of ailments, but the basic conclusion was that I would just have to learn to live with it.

So, from the age of 15 I didn’t exercise. The problems with my joints have come and gone over the years. I tend to experience more problems in the winter but actually, for the last 5 years or so it has been pretty manageable.

If I’m honest though, I’ve never liked sports. Even before I had a doctor’s note to excuse me from the horrors of PE I wasn’t a fan of strenuous activities. I was in the school netball team for a year. They made me, the shortest player on the team, the goalkeeper. Wise move. We lost every single match I played. I have friends who love exercise, and enjoy nothing more than an early morning run, or doing a Zumba class which, to me, sounds like nothing short of torture. I am not one of those people.

Then, about two years ago, I decided to start the Couch to 5k, which aims to get you running 5k in the space of 9 weeks. It looked like a baby might be on the cards some time in the nearish future, so I thought it might be a good idea to try and prepare my body a little for that. I’d heard this baby thing could be hard work. As well as the aforementioned muscular-skeletal issues, there’s a history of heart problems in my family, so I felt I ought to try and get a little fitter. It started off well, and I made it to week 5 before pain in my shins caused me to take ‘a couple of weeks off’. A couple of weeks quickly turned into a couple of years. Oops.

Back to the here and now, and Pickle is here. My body coped pretty well with it all; better than I expected if I’m honest, so I’m pretty happy with that. But the feeling that I probably ought to get fit has started niggling again. This time, however, I have a new motivation. I have a Pickle. Someone to run around after, climb hills with (and roll back down them again), chase around parks and take on bike rides. I want to be able to do all of those things. And what’s more, I want to be around for all of the big things in her life. I know that may sound dramatic, but if a little exercise will help me to see more of her adventures and achievements, and will enable me to be around for longer to love her and support her and to see her grow, then why would I not do that?!

So, I’ve joined a running group. It’s aimed at mums and it meets on a Monday morning. It’s free, which is good, because I think I’d be reluctant to pay to exercise. I don’t love it enough for that yet. It gives me the structure I need, as well as accountability to other people. I’m making new friends there who will (I hope) notice if I don’t turn up. The leaders allow everyone to work at their own pace, but still push me to go a little further than I might go on my own. It’s pretty ideal really. I’ve only been twice so far, and it would probably be pushing it to say that I enjoy it, but I like it more than I expected to. Pickle can watch from the sidelines (or sleep, which is what she tends to do…) or I could push her round the track in the buggy if I wanted to. It’s an easy way to exercise without needing to find someone to look after her. So I think I’ll keep going. It’s convenient, it’s friendly, and it will do me good. If nothing else it’s nice to stick around for a drink and a natter afterwards.

Unfortunately the group isn’t on in the school holidays, and I really don’t want to lose my motivation like I did with the Couch to 5k. 2 weeks off could very easily turn into not bothering to go back. So today Pickle spent a fun hour with her Pops while I went for a ‘run’. I say run, but it was more of a combination of jogging and walking, perhaps with more emphasis on the walking. But the point is that I got out there and did it. I covered nearly 4 miles in 45 minutes which will not seem all that impressive to some, but I’m feeling proud of myself for just trying. Hopefully I’ll be able to manage something similar next week and keep the momentum going. What do you reckon Pops?

Part of the view from my ‘run’ today

I have a reason to exercise now, and she’s really cute, so hopefully I’ll be able to keep it up for a while at least. It’s not just for myself anymore. Pickle is my motivation, and if that doesn’t keep me going then nothing will!

Laura x

 

A note about swimming: Lots of people (I mean LOTS of people) have suggested in the past that I try swimming as it would be better on my joints. Unfortunately I really don’t like swimming. There are many reasons, but it’s just not my thing!