In between eating hot cross buns and Easter eggs last weekend, I went with my sister, Emma, to her first parkrun. We ran together round the 5k course – the longest she’d ever run outside and her first race. We finished smiling with Emma putting in a sprint finish to hold off someone who was trying to overtake her on the home straight. More importantly though, she finished wanting to do another and run further.
When my runners turn up for week one of my beginners running group I tell them that, although they’ve come with the promise of being able to run 5k by the end of the course, I actually have a different goal in mind for them all: I want them to finish the 10 weeks loving running. Seeing my sister, who has been a virtual member of my running group, following along via email and a training plan I gave her, enjoying running and the sense of achievement it can bring was a great moment.
After the parkrun I had my own challenge to contend with. For the past six months I’ve been training to become a personal trainer. (I wrote about it a bit here too.) Over the years that I’ve been leading my running groups I’ve come up against limits in how much I could help my runners. Deciding to train as a personal trainer was part of a plan to expand my knowledge and qualifications to allow me to help more runners in more ways.
It’s been interesting to see how the different people on the course have brought different interests and knowledge to it and how they plan to do different things with it. So while I’m not the person to come to if you want to ‘get ripped’ and get a six pack ready for your holiday, I can definitely tell you about things you can do to help your running. While other personal trainers might see running as an activity that supplements what you do in the gym, I see the gym as something that helps me, and my runners, spend more time running.
It was my final assessment with Body Aid to get my Level 3 Personal Trainer qualification on Saturday and I’m very pleased to say that I passed. Thanks to tutors Andi and Dan for sharing their years of experience and knowledge with me. I’m looking forward to passing it on to my runners. Though I promise not to make them do burpees.
I still can’t believe I completed a 5k when in the first week of January I couldn’t run for 1 minute. I remember telling my students who were somewhat amazed at my lack of fitness. I stuck to Laura’s plan, had a few runs with her and watched as I met each new challenge. The 20 min continuous run was the holy grail which even though I was moving towards still seemed almost impossible. I get it now, those runner/joggers/shufflers bloody love it. Although I’m not quite there yet I do feel like I’m part of a gang I’ve always wanted to be in. Thanks Laura
Congratulation to both of you! 🙂
Thanks for the no burpee promise! My OurParks trainer made us do them once – and only once!
All I can add here is, “I have two wonderful daughters” love you both and you both are my marathon girls.
Okay, I’m a bit new to the working out scene, so I just discovered what burpees are not too long ago. I must say, you’re going to be a nice trainer if you’re not making them do those!