Word of the week - Gym

I've often wondered why people join the gym. 

Why they choose to run on the spot, row with no where to go and cycle while watching the TV?

Well last week I discovered why?

I started running back in October and two weeks ago it got too dark for me run after work.

It wasn't just about my safety. Finding a route that was well lit and not isolated, but more about being able to see where I was running and not worrying about tripping over or thumping through puddles, slipping in mud, or stamping in dog poo.

Going a gym is a big thing for me. Whilst I'm a social person and I love meeting people, I'm not a joiner. I hate joining in with things. I hate having to be a place, at a set time, to do a set thing with people. With the gym I can go on my own, I don't even have to go in the car, I can walk there, it's relatively quiet at the time I go and it's next door to the coffee shop, so if I get there and it's too busy I've got somewhere to wait.

My introduction to the gym went really well. They started by showing me how the equipment worked and I was really overwhelmed but I plucked up the courage to say 'stop' and I told them what I wanted from the gym and I've mastered 3 pieces of equipment:

The treadmill - stand on the edge, attach the safety clip (so if I slow down and move towards the back of the machine and it snaps off, it stops the machine so I don't fly off) step onto the machine and start to walk. I press the up button to a speed I'm comfortable and slowly build up the speed until I'm running. There's a 'cool down' button and it slows me back down to a walk, followed by 'stop' and step off. The screen tells you how far you've run and for how long. There's a screen with auto forest route to watch or you can choose city vibe and I ran around the streets of Munich, which was interesting as I've walked round there and the English Gardens many times.

Rowing machine - Manually move the level between 10-1 (I choose 7) sit down, strap feet in, pick up handle and just row. You can turn screen on and it tells you how fast and far you've rowed.

Cross Trainer - Slightly harder to get on and off as it starts to move as you step on it. Simple screen to tell you how far and how long.

In the second week I mastered the bikes.

I've had a problem with the treadmill with my arches, especially on my right foot and if I'm honest I find it a bit boring not having a change of scenery. I've started downloading programs to watch on my iPhone  although you can watch TV on the screen and connect your headphones, I just haven't figured out how yet. 

I prefer running in the mornings, but I don't have time before work in the week, they do have a wonderful changing room and showers but it would mean getting up round 5.30am. I might give it a go.

 I go to the gym as soon as I get home from work on a Monday, Wednesday and a Friday and I'm going out for a run on a Sunday morning and haven't been able to do a parkrun since I did my first one 3 weeks ago, due to weather and flooding in Monmouth. I'm doing one in Swindon next Saturday.

I'm going to use the gym to build strength and endurance and I'll have to master the other equipment, but I'm sure I'll manage and I'll have to run outdoors 3 times a week even if it is dark as there is a local running group that meet around 7pm, whilst it's not a time I prefer, I'm going to have to suck it up as the treadmill really isn't for me.