MildlyDeluded

Thanks, I might have been the shortest, scrawniest Erwin Smith around, but I was also the only one who could get in that tree for epic photos. I can't say I particularly enjoy intervals, but there's no denying how awesome they are for you.

I should really remember to check in here more often... Thanks for the support, guys. Hazard, I'll definitely be checking out the assassins guild, especially since I've discovered there's a dedicated free running park about five minutes from my house. And Blaidd, care work really is rewarding, I'm hoping to move from elderly care to learning difficulties/mental health once I've completed my NVQ, since that's always been my main area of interest. And in the spirit of keeping track of what I've done, the last couple of days have been a very successful start. Body pump yesterday morning, and a 2km run after work, then an abs class (where the instructor told me he'd need to make it more difficult for me next time, but I've been going to that regularly since April), 10 minutes of intervals, and circuits today. My legs feel slightly jelly-like after all that, but in the best possible way.

Introduction: So hi, I'm MidlyDeluded, and I've been exercising without any sort of routine since February, and eating clean(er) since April. I do shift work in a residential care home, so I don't have any sort of regular pattern of hours to be able to create a workout schedule around, though the work itself can be pretty physical on occasion (whether that's joining in with the physio activities for the residents or running up and down stairs 10+ times in an hour answering call bells). Sadly there's also usually a lot of cakes/biscuits/chocolate lying around for me to try and resist. My current ultimate goal is to run a marathon by the time I'm 30 (so I've got a couple of years to work up to that), as I've discovered a love of running I never used to have, but I'm starting out with smaller races. I'd also love to try things like free running, yoga, and archery. And get back into cycling (something I haven't done since secondary school), especially since I don't drive and the local archery club is a little further out of town than comfortable walking distance. Main Quest: To run a 10k in October. Quest 1: Run outside 3+ times a week, increasing the distance weekly. Right now most of my running is done indoors on the treadmill, because I've been too self-conscious to run where other people (who aren't also exercising) can see me, and I've noticed that when I do run outdoors I can't get the same speed or distance. Quest 2: To either attend 1 circuits and 2 body pump classes or 2 circuits and 1 body pump class each week, work schedule depending. Or, if I can't make that many classes (working nights/evening so will be at work when they're happening), replace them with the beginners body weight workout. I'm much better at actually doing things if I've put my name down to go to something (self-motivation, not my strongest point right now), and the classes are included in my gym membership so I should make more use of them. Quest 3: Interval training 2+ times a week, decreasing rest times each week. Right now my interval training is really sporadic, some weeks I'll manage it every other day (except rest days, obviously), others I won't do any. I really need to get a handle on that. Life Quest: Complete my level 3 NVQ (exculding observations, which are reliant on my assessor being available for meetings). This is mostly finished already, so should be easy enough to do.