Most sport and fitness clubs and groups wouldn't be able to function without volunteers like these. Their get-up-and-go helps others stay healthy, make friends, enter competitions and more. Read on to find out what inspires them to make it happen for others.

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Saturday Nov 17, 2007

Interro-gait

If you've been following this blog at all, you'll know that I've been suffering a bit with my dodgy ankles.  Seeing as I've got a fair amount of time to prepare for the 10k, I thought I'd take matters into my own hands (feet?) and get some gait analysis, to work out just what's gone wrong with my lower legs and if anything can be done to fix it.

I went down to USA Pro, on Broadwick Street (near Carnaby Street - London's trendy West End), for my appointment with Winston, who's the store's expert and personal trainer.  In general, I find personal trainers as a species quite terrifying, so I was naturally apprehensive.  After taking down some notes about my medical history, he observed the position of my feet and ankles when standing, tested my flexibility, and then put me on a treadmill barefoot to see how I walk with no support from shoes.

The upshot is - I have supernating feet!  This all sounds very exciting, but basically it means that my toes point outwards when I step, and it's worse on my right side (the weakest ankle) than on my left.  So it's no wonder my ankles, calves and knees have been giving me hassle when I've been running. 

I was appalled to learn that this potential problem should have been picked up years ago - when I first started spraining my ankles - and I should have been given exercises to do rather than being told, "Well, you've torn the ligaments, so they'll always be weak now."  Thankfully, there are shoes and trainers that will offer me support and be able to correct this problem, and Winston also recommended that I see a podiatrist to get some orthotics. 

That'll be the next stage of training, then.  In the meantime, I'm persisting with the usual cardio workout - at least 45 minutes, at least three times a week, and swimming when I can manage it.  I'm going to try to get to a yoga class this week too, as Winston suggested that I try something along those lines to improve my flexibility.

Posted by Carrie ( 4:02 PM )
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Saturday Nov 03, 2007

The challenge continues

When I finished the Hydro Active Women's Challenge 5k, I swore I'd never do anything like that again.

It was a great experience, I raised a lot of money, but running really isn't me.  My training programme and gym attendance has definitely increased my fitness, and my stamina has greatly improved, but I'm just not a person who is built to run.

Then I got an email on the 9th October inviting me to enter the Bupa London 10,000 in May 2008.

I emailed my dad, my boyfriend and two of my best friends to ask them if they thought I'd be absolutely insane to enter.  The feedback was overwhelmingly swift - "it's a great idea", "yes, you'd be insane.  Do it!" - and by the time my dad answered my email, I'd already sent off the form and the fee.

I'll be raising money for the Alzheimer's Society again, and though it'll be an immense challenge, I want to raise at least as much as I did for the 5k run.

At the moment, I'm struggling to shake off a lingering flu bug, which has limited my gym-going activities, but as soon as I'm fit again, the training will begin in earnest - and once again, I'll be blogging here.

Posted by Carrie ( 5:22 PM )
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