Being away from Monday to Wednesday has really put the pressure on.
I like travelling with my job, it’s interesting to meet new people and go to different places but it does make routine challenging.
I needed to leave for the airport at around 14:30 on Monday and I would need to make it to yoga before that. The options were a 60 minute classs at 06:30 or a 90 minute class at 10:00. As flexible as my work is I just can not justify being off line for 2 hours in the working day!
So, I decided to take on the 06:30 class. Me! 06:30!!
When I went to bed on Sunday I was exhausted from a busy weekend of exercise and the thought of getting up at 05:40 and doing yoga at 06:30 was not filling me with joy. In fact I slept badly with the knowledge that I had to get up early.
When my alarm went off I debated going to the later class to get some more sleep, but it just wasn’t realistic with work and so I got up and went. It was really frosty outside and I would loved to have stayed in bed, but still I dragged myself to the studio.
The class itself was a challenge. I hadn’t eaten so had little energy, but the issue was more that I have no flexibility when I wake up so everything felt far harder than normal. I definitely feel like taking morning classes more frequently would be beneficial, it’s a totally different type of practice where you just have to accept the way your body works rather than fighting against it.
By the time of my flight I was incredibly tired and in desperate need of a nap. I sat on the plane next to a young mum with a toddler and a babe in arms and napping just wasn’t on the horizon. My throat was beginning to feel a bit scratchy and I was sure I was beginning to get sick.
At the hotel I decided to do a really short treadmill run before dinner.
I haven’t run on the treadmill yet this month and pacing myself had been challenging outside. I decided to only run a single kilometre but I had a really unpleasant running experience as the treadmill was facing a full length mirror. Every step I could feel myself hating on my body, on how I look, how fat I have got, how far I have to go, how far I am from feeling physically good a few years ago.
I met colleagues for dinner which was lovely and went to bed full of cold. Meh.
On Tuesday I felt sick. I blame the early start on Monday! Luckily my colleagues were able to supply me with tablets and throat sprays to help take the edge off. We had a good day and as I couldn’t do yoga because I was away I decided to do a small run to not make my cold worse, but as it was dark out I had to do it on the bloody treadmill again.
This time I managed 2Km, but again hated every minute of looking at myself. Being sick probably wasn’t helping.
This evening I have returned to London and got home just before 8pm with a run and yoga still to do.
As I said travel has got in the way somewhat. Being sick isn’t helping. At this point to say my motivation is low is an understatement.
But, when I got home there were two parcels waiting for me! My darling friend Lucy Ironside Allen had sent me a card and some motivational gifts to help me get through the rest of my challenge! A perfect gift at the perfect time. How lucky I am to have such a kind and thoughtful friend!
Just like that the thought of quitting was not an option and I put on my running kit and head out to do a 1.11Km run around the block. My throat and lungs were screaming out, but her words were running round in my head:
‘I just wanted to let you know how amazing and inspiring I think you are for what you are doing for Charity this month…..just remember me willing you on and thinking you are ace!’
This challenge is bigger than me, it’s about raising awareness for Mind and beginning my year with a fit and healthy intention. No matter how hard it is, every day I am DOING IT!
