Mum on the Run

I’m seriously considering stopping drinking. I’m not saying I will never drink again, but at the moment, I feel like I could do with not having the hazy head that booze gives me.

I don’t think I drink too often. I probably have alcohol once a week. The problem for me is that I’m most often than not unable to just have a couple of drinks. I’ll open a bottle of wine with the intention of having just a glass, but end up finishing off the whole thing. And if there is a beer in the fridge, I’ll have that too.

I’ve done the non drinking thing plenty of times. I had no problems staying off the booze during my three pregnancies (with the exception of the off glass of wine with dinner every now and again) and have done dry January quite a few times without even finding it hard.

What I do find crazy, however, is that whenever someone isn’t drinking in a social situation, they are faced with a million questions. Unless you are pregnant or ill, it’s apparently weird not to have alcohol. When ever I’ve done my booze free Jan, I’ve sometimes ordered tonic water with lime, just so that people will think I’m having a G&T. That way I don’t need to explain to everyone why I’m not drinking or be faced with people taking turns in saying ‘just have a drink.’

I don’t think I’ll find giving up alcohol hard. I’m so determined to push my fitness and do well in my training and races that it should be enough to make me keep my ‘pact.’ What I always find hard though is deciding what to drink when you’re not having an ice cold beer on a sunny day or a lovely glass of wine with dinner. There are only so many diet cokes you can have…

I’d love to hear some good suggestions for drink that you can have at home and also order when you go out. A friend of mine swears by Elderflower cordial, which is lovely, but I could do with a few more options. Also, has anyone reading this gone teetotal?

So go on, any suggestions this way, please! Also feel free to judge me or say that I’ll never manage not to drink. And then watch me prove you wrong! I’m pretty determined and stubborn when I decide to do something, in case you
haven’t noticed…

I got my (very precious) new bike exactly a month ago. Before that I hadn’t cycled since I was a teenager, but since choosing to start ironman training, the biking was going to be pretty essential…

I have totally fallen in love with it and have managed to do 418 kilometres in the last four weeks. That’s only a total of nine rides, which doesn’t seem that many at all considering I have a 300km overnight bike ride ‘looming’ next month! (I really must learn how to say no to ridiculous challenges!)

But the ‘moral of the story’ is that cycling is good for you! My bum has definitely had a lift and my belly seems more toned. I know that part of seeing some results this quickly is because I am doing something new that my body isn’t used to. But it’s definitely working!

So anyone reading this who is thinking of getting a bike, go for it! Chances are you will see lots of new places that you wouldn’t visit otherwise, get out in the fresh air – and did I mention you’ll get a toned bum?!

And just to clarify, sadly that’s not mine on this post. I’ll be needing quite a few more rides (and a spray tan!) before I’ll share my derriere with you!

Yesterday I went for my longest bike ride to date with my friend James. He has been absolutely brilliant in teaching me about the gears, what to do on steep hills and bends and how to get comfortable riding behind someone’s wheel. And all this whilst having to put up with me cycling in my huge Zara sunglasses! Granted, they may get some looks from fellow cyclists, but the Oakley types don’t suit me one bit. And whilst I know it shouldn’t be a big deal, I haven’t quite managed to get myself a pair of proper ‘sport sunnies’ yet…

I was excited about the ride, especially as I hadn’t been on my bike for ten days. I had done about 12 rides in total before and had loved all of them. But not this one. As soon as we got to the first slight incline, I realised my legs were totally powerless. My heart rate jumped up to 180 and everything felt really hard.

I’m definitely not a wimp and don’t give up easily, but after about just 10km, I was ready to turn around and go home. Of course I didn’t. I carried on behind James, but I wasn’t enjoying myself. For the first time ever, my bum hurt on the saddle, my shoulders ached and I really just wasn’t feeling it.

I know that sometimes you just have a bad session, and it shouldn’t be such a big deal. But I was so angry with myself. I tried to push harder and keep up, but there was nothing left in my legs. I was mostly annoyed that I was holding James back. In fact, I told him quite a few times to just go and leave me get on with my pathetic ride. He didn’t.

Looking back, it wasn’t such a bad ride. We did 87km with an average speed on 25kmph, which isn’t terrible. And like James said, it was the longest distance ever and I did better riding on his wheel. I of course know all this, but my competitive mind is still angry…

It’s simple though: I did too much a few days before the ride so my legs were totally wiped out. It was my own fault. Luckily, I think you actually learn from those sessions that don’t go according to plan, at least mentally…

I’d love to know what you all do when you have a bad session. Do you let it go, or do you analyse it? Does it make you more nervous about the next time you train, or is it the opposite and makes you more determined to ‘smash’ it?

I have decided that from now on, I am going to be happy with my body. I’m sure I’ve spent most of my life thinking that my tummy could be flatter, my thighs smaller or my arms more toned, but you know what, I’m really not in bad shape for someone who has carried and given birth (naturally) to three (big… 9lbs big…) children less than two years a part.

When I was in my early twenties, I used to teach a lot of classes at all the gyms around London on the side of my studies. I was fit, but never totally happy with the way I looked. It was only when I flicked through the photos from that time after I’ve had my first child when I realised I had actually been in very good shape.

Having kids changes your body, that’s a given. But if I am being totally honest, I am now probably in the best shape of my life. Bare with me here, as I know it sounds crazy! But because I am so busy with the kids, shop, fitness classes and PT, I am having to train a lot smarter. Being pushed for time makes you give it your all each time you exercise, whether it’s a cycle ride, run or a resistance training session.

Of course I would still love smaller thighs and arms and belly that had more definition, but I’m no longer going to make a big deal out of it. I am training well and eating the right things. Yes, I occasionally drink too much, but I’m not gonna beat myself up about that either.

Now, the question is… who is going to join me in ‘celebrating’ their bodies rather than constantly obsessing about what could be changed?

And no, that is not me in the picture!

Muireann Carey-Campbell, or Bangs, as everyone seems to call her, is the fabulous and fit lady behind one of my favourite blogs, Spikes & Heels. Described as “a fitness site for badass women who train hard,” it’s an inspirational read. The site has just recently turned one, and if you haven’t bookmarked it yet, you are seriously missing out! I talked to Bangs about the weirdest fitness class she’s ever tried, her favourite brands and our mutual hatred for the term ‘bikini body.’

Your blog Spikes & Heels is inspiring so many women to get fit. Was the idea for it long in the making?
Ahh thank you! Well, it kind of came about almost despite myself. The more I was getting into fitness, the more frustrated I was feeling towards the traditional media aimed at women who are into fitness. I really disliked the pink/fluffy/all about weight loss approach to fitness. It didn’t reflect what I, or any of the women I was encountering on my journey, were about. At the time, it seemed more and more people were associating me with fitness anyway, so it just looked like all roads were leading to me starting a site. And no one was really doing my kind of site with the specific ethos and message I wanted, so I decided to do it. From inception to launch it was about three months in total.

You studied fashion, but have you always been into sports?
Gosh no! I’m not a natural athlete by any means. I played netball in primary school (as we all do), but by the time I was in high school, I was a dancer and that was my focus. I didn’t do any sports at all in school. It was just dance, dance, dance from the age 11 to 22. Then there was a period of prolonged inactivity until I was about 29!

I’m glad I’ve found someone who hates the concept of ‘bikini body’ as much as I do! Do you think the magazines will ever stop using that phrase and encourage people to get fit for life instead?
Man, I detest it. It’s such an unhealthy approach to fitness. Apparently women should only work out two months of the year to prepare themselves for two weeks on the beach. I think in general, the ethos of women’s magazines when it comes to fitness is all backwards. I work out because I love my body, not because I hate it. But the message they put out is that I should always be unhappy with some part of my body and something should always be improved. Sadly, I don’t think the ‘bikini body’ thing will stop any time soon, as women who haven’t yet found a healthy relationship with being active totally lap that nonsense up.

You love running, but have only quite recently started cycling. How do you find it and have you got any tips for anyone thinking about buying their first ‘proper’ bike? (Besides wear a helmet, of course!)
It depends what you want to use it for really. I have a great fixed wheel bike that I got second hand, that I love. My road bike is obviously a bit flashier. I had a proper fitting for that. I didn’t even know that was an actual thing, but it’s been invaluable. If you want to get into cycling more seriously, I think a bike fitting is imperative to get done. It makes sure the bike is properly set up specific to all your measurements.

What clothes do you feel the most comfortable in? And when it coms to sports gear, what are your favourite brands and items?
At the moment, I pretty much live in workout kit because I’m constantly training. I do love to dress up though and look very feminine and put together. When it comes to sportswear, I probably wear Nike the most and Rapha when I’m cycling. I also really like Sweaty Betty and Lululemon for really nice kind of cross over fitness/every day wear.

Lastly, what is the most bizarre fitness session you’ve ever tried?
Definitely aerial yoga, but it was amazing!