Fitness Friday - Variety

It's easy to get stuck in a rut.

You get used to doing something, and being humans creatures we're not that big a fans of change, so we stick to what we like because it's the easy option....we've all been there.

I have a shocking confession to admit, please don't judge me too much. Last week I went for the first run in 2 months. 

2 WHOLE MONTHS?!? 

How did I let that happen? 

Well, it's easy you see, I fell into a rut. 

I went to the gym classes that I like (aerobics, body pump....) and did weights most evenings....

Yet the longer I put off running, the more scared I was to go out and pound those pavements!

So I realised, enough was enough. 

I laced up, plugged in my earphones and hit play. 

30 mins later I was back in my room feeling super energised, but realising I had lots of ground to cover to get back up to my norm. 

So what did I do? 

I set myself a goal, not an arbitrary one like "I want to get fitter". 

No, a SMART one (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, time-frame).

I have signed up for the Valencia 15km Nocturnal run, on the 15th June, and I aim to do it in less than 1:30. There we go, it's now in print. And you lovely people have all borne witness to my challenge.

*** A mate said this was too soft for me, so my challenge is now well-under 1:20!! Thanks Jake! ***

After the Valencia Half Marathon in October, Time 1:54.

So, where am I going with this little personal anecdote?!?!

We all need to remember that VARIETY IS THE SPICE OF LIFE!!! 

We need to remember to mix up our training!!!

Ok, so you might love your long runs through the woods, and sure, that's great for your wellbeing and general health- but have you thought about doing some simple bodyweight exercise to complement your training? How about some press ups, sit ups, plank, and tricep dips at the end of your run when you're stretching off in the garden?

Or maybe you're a total gym bunny and can't get enough of pumping that iron, sound familiar? Why not add in 10 mins on the cross trainer/bike at the start and end of each session to get that heart rate up?

Or do you devotedly attend your lunchtime aerobics class to 'tone up'? How about branching out and trying out a different class with a different target area? Be brave and let out all your frustration in Aerobox/martial arts or find some inner peace with yoga/pilates? 

If you have an injury, that's absolutely not an excuse to laze around on the sofa all day eating chocolate!! (And you know it!) Work around your injury. I was off most of last winter with achilles/calves problems so couldn't run, so instead I focused on strengthening up my upper body and core. There are always other things you can do. Even 10 mins of abs in the morning and night will make a improvement to your overall fitness.

What's your training looking like currently? Is it rather lop-sided? What are you working towards this summer? 

Have a think about it, what do you want to work on? 

Then make yourself a GOAL. 

See what local events are happening over the summer. Challenge a partner or friend to do it with you, it'll give you both more motivation.

As I always say, whatever you choose, JUST DO IT, and remember you're still lapping everyone on the sofa!!!

Please share your tips and advice, I'd love to hear them :)

Hi Ho Hallie

Hallie & I spent a beautiful Saturday afternoon lazing around in the Park.

We briefly escaped the lush green world to gorge on a Duck & Mushroom Paella large enough to feed the entire family (the Spanish have some serious portion control issues) before returning to the tranquil tree-lined avenues.

And then we discovered the 'workout zone', and of course, we couldn't resist. It's not like our bellies were full to bursting with rice or anything!! We stripped off our shoes and attempted to recreate our gymnastic prowess of years gone by.....

Until it all got a big much and our silliness returned! Being serious and grown-up is way over-rated in our books!

All our physical exertion on top of the endless free shots the cheeky Spanish waiters had insisted on giving us meant that it was time for a well earned nap...

Right by the side of the path...

EVERY girl loves flowers (Boys take note!)

In my eyes, no visit to Valencia would be complete without a walk up the Serranos Towers. I drag everyone up here; my sister pre-maraton, my little brothers, my Granny with her dodgy knee, super fit Army boys.... 

The majestic views over the old city and the surrounding plains make the 132 steps so worthwhile.

As the menacing clouds were rolling in and threatening to dampen our sprits, we headed over to one of my new favourite haunts, Viveros.

Needless to say, the rain chased us all the way home. And, being British, we loved every second of our nature shower! 

Thank you so much Hallie for coming to visit, I hope you enjoyed your whistlestop tour, read her version of events here. Who else fancies a weekend away in this lovely city?

Diving, Climbing & Smiling

After a frantic Friday sharing all the common/garden gnome variety Tourist sights of Valencia with Hallie, there was nowhere else I wanted to be on Saturday morning than wandering along the gorgeous Turia Park, our little green ribbon of peace and tranquility that wraps itself around the crowded city centre.

On the Eastern end of the Park your eyes are treated to the spectacular 'City of Arts & Sciences' complex, which includes an Imax, a science museum, art gallery/opera house and aquarium. All very architecturally impressive and set amongst cooling pools of azul waters. Oh yes, life is really hard here in Spain...

Above the car park there is a charming garden walkway, 'Umbracle', and being typical to Spanish style, it's got a fair selection of random statues! A diving board? Here? Well why not!

(This section of the walkway is the awesome nightclub Umbracle, I'll share photos someday...but so far we've been having too much fun to document our night time misdemeanours!)

The Palau de Musica, remember this place from the opera? It's a popular location for kids to be let loose on rollerblades and kiddie bikes with/without stabilisers so it's wise to keep your wits about you! The parents, of course, are blissfully unaware yattering away to each other in the shade, with less than half an eye on their children.

I think the total abundance of Palm Trees will be something I miss the most when the dreary English skies return to my daily life this summer.... Maybe if I ask mummy nicely we can have one in the garden to remind me of my sunshine filled year in Spain?

Oh yeah, did I mention that Hallie is a climber? Check out this post of hers for her recent adventures in France. She just couldn't resist having a go on this set-up under one of the bridges... Hopefully we'll be able to while away the dull winter of England escaping to the indoor climbing walls where she can share her tricks of the trade with us rookies!

A pretty perfect Saturday morning spent enjoying life as a local in Valencia and avoiding all the less than desirable influx of weekenders that crowd up this beautiful city. Our galavanting around continued all day long, but that's another story for tomorrow lovely people...

Cocktail Chicas

"Because no good story ever started with someone eating a salad..."

This weekend I was spoilt rotten by having my uni homie, the stunning Hallie, come visit. Being a fellow blogger she was mega keen to get snap-happy with her camera for all the historic sights of Valencia, but first things first - Food & Drink!

Dinner on Friday turned into a late night affair (I have an amazing ability to faff...) at the Morrocan heaven that is Balansiya. Of course we just HAD to go all out and indulge in the million-course tasting menu. Once again, it did not disappoint and we left happily stuffed with our prominent food babies leading the way homewards, deciding it best to save our drinking antics for later.

Come Saturday it was time to partake in our own mini bar-crawl. 

First stop Cafe De a De (I think...) 

Apart from a few locals and a  table of couples having dinner in the corner, it was pretty quiet. Nevertheless we got into our groove, ignoring the random interior decor of a giant painting of an ape!

Cosmopolitan for me. No shame at all in being all girly. Super delicious and I sipped away as if it was juice, totally forgetting about it being alcohol. Ooops. That tends to be the problem with cocktails, I tend to forget about it them BAM you stand up and it hits you like a freight train!

The cocktail of the house for Hallie. Disaronno & Lemon. Don't knock it until you've tried it! You have the luscious smooth sweetness of the amaretto combined with the sharp zingy kick of the lemon. NOM.

This is the place to go if you like your traditional cocktails and a more civilised, grown-up sort of mature atmosphere. It looks to have a good array of tapas and nibble so I reckon it's pretty decent in the daytime too.

Place numero 2. Good old Mescafe, famous in my world for its crazy blue cocktail. You just know something of that colour is bound to be awesome, right?!

Oh yeah, and they make 'em pretty darn strong here too. 

Winning! 

Hallie went for the Bombay Sapphire, complete with a raspberry and a blackberry fruity thing! 

The couple next to us were playing Trivial Pursuit, so we looked around to find the Scrabble set but to no avail. So we ended up discussing future baby names and the like....yep, it was one of those nights! Guys, you just won't understand.

Final stop Cafe de las Letras with a mind-bogglingly long choice of cocktails and a moustachioed man that seems to know everything there is about flavour combinations. If you're into your fruity ones especially, then shift on down to this place soonish as it always success expectations.

A wonderful night with my girl and we've made plenty of exciting plans to keep up with our adventuring and discovering of secret gems next year when we're back at uni. Cheers up us intrepid culinary and drinkary explorers!!

Tune in tomorrow for some cartwheels, climbing and a wee bit of culture.....

PS, please check out & FOLLOW Hallie's blog, she's a newbie and would totally love to hear from you :)