From sit to fit - who am I and what am I doing here?

Hi all and welcome to my blog which will honestly chronicle my journey from sit to fit!


At the end of 2018, a local personal training team in Manchester, Spark Fitness (www.sparkfitness.co.uk) set out on a search to find a Winter/Spring Spark Plod Ambassador. From the many that applied I was one of the lucky two voted to take part. Over the next few months, I will work with Spark Fitness towards my Spring racing goal - the Great Manchester 10k in May 2019!

I've never done anything like this before so am very excited to get started. However, as my blog name suggests, I am a reluctant runner and want to give an honest and realistic take on this journey from spending most time sitting at desk on my laptop, to getting myself moving and becoming fitter both physically and mentally.

So let's get started. Spark Fitness posed some introductory questions to me to see how I was feeling ahead of the first personal training session!

During your time as spark plod ambassador (SPA) what goals would you like to achieve?

When reflecting on what I wanted my personal goals to be during my time as a SPA, I decided I didn’t want to put most emphasis on numbers. Yes I have that ‘goal weight’ in mind, I think most people will, but during my recent Couch to 5k program I took part in with the Prestwich Plodders, I found I lost literally zero kilos, but lost inches and most importantly felt fantastic and made great friends with inspiring women. I therefore learnt I felt better about these results than if I’d have lost a few pounds. After all, I believe that you could look wonderful on the outside, but if you don’t feel wonderful in yourself then you struggle to see your reflection in a kind way. I also didn’t want too many goals as in my opinion that just adds complications, distractions and more things to not reach and then feel bad about yourself for (we’re our worst critics). Anyway enough rambling (you’ll get used to it!) here are my SPA goals:

• To complete the Great Manchester 10k in May whilst raising money for charity
• To commit to and persevere through Maggie & Aimi’s training plan and guidance in my bid to get healthier and fitter (both mentally and physically)
• To be honest with you in my journey, sharing the highs (when my jeans fit that little bit better) to the lows (when I’m being told to run another lap when I just want to nap!)

Hopefully, in my quest to achieve these goals, I will help and inspire some people following my story and bring a smile to someone who needs it.

What are you most looking forward to about this challenge?

I’m most looking forward to getting stuck in and seeing where this chapter takes us! I haven’t taken part in anything like this before so I’m really interested to find out what my body can do and the difference this experience will have on me, not just physically, but also on my outlook on things, general wellbeing and experiences along the way. I’m therefore determined to fully embrace it and most of all have fun with it!!! The only way I will make a genuine change to my lifestyle is if it brings fun and laughter with it.

What do you think will be the hardest element of this challenge?

I think the hardest element of this challenge will be keeping myself disciplined. I’m not someone who wakes up early eager to hit the gym before most people are awake, snack on fruit and veg and have drunk 2 litres of water before lunchtime....I’m more of a wake up with just enough time to get to work, grab a M&S scotch egg for a lunchtime snack and reach for coffee rather than water kind of woman! Honesty is the best policy right? 

I’ve also been the type to prioritise work on evenings over exercising or socialising. Over the last year this has been something I’ve really tried to work on – to put my own plans and ‘me time’ before work on a more regular basis to achieve greater resilience and life/work balance. I’m still working on this and being part of the plodders group runs has been great. However I struggle with getting myself motivated on my own, so that will be a challenge.

Tell us an interesting or funny fact about yourself that people may not know.

I’m an adventurer at heart and have been lucky enough to have had some unforgettable experiences in my life so far. My biggest adventure was living in Sydney, Australia for 3.5 years (2012-2016) which brought with it truly unforgettable and cherished memories. 

I’m always looking for my next adventure big or small and as I (VERY reluctantly) reach the big 3-0 in June this year, I’m compiling a list of 30 things to do in my 30^th year – happy to receive any suggestions 😃

I hope you enjoy this blog and my journey.
The reluctant runner