Challenge - 8 hours of Bikram Yoga

Since not being able to run, and therefore compete in triathlon and obviously running, there is a big competition and challenge shaped hole in my life. I have really missed the mental and of course physical challenge which racing brings, but also the immense feeling of satisfaction which comes with completing a triathlon, or getting a PB, or generally having a really good race. 

I have been plodding along with my rehab program and generally drifting about in the wilderness of training without racing. Those of you who know me will know just how much I love racing all all which that brings.

I found out about this challenge for Children in Need at Hot Bikram Yoga in London. It is 6 Bikram yoga classes back to back in one day.

That's Back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back bikram.

Now, I am sure some of you are thinking "pffft, that doesn't sound too challenging to me? Sitting about saying 'OM'". I am sorry to say, this was my view of yoga until a friend of mine introduced me to Bikram yoga. I have been a huge advocate of it ever since, and the benefits for mind and body are huge. Especially for those of us who abuse our bodies through mile on the road, in the pool or hunched over TT bars on the bike.

For those of you who don't know, here is a bit about Bikram...

Bikram Yoga has been developed from traditional hatha yoga. It became popular in the 1970s but is currently enjoying a resurgence in popularity. Generally Bikram Yoga classes run for 90 minutes and consist of the same series of 26 postures, including two breathing exercises. Now here comes the part which sets it apart, it is practiced in a room heated to 40 °C and with a humidity of 40%. I promise you will be dripping with sweat at the end of it! 

I am doing this for the personal challenge, but also trying to raise a few pennies for a good cause. I have never done anything more than one class in a day, and they are tough at the best of times.

13 November, Balham HBY Studio

Some links;
Check out HBY...you wont regret it :) 
My fundraising page

The Other Side

I have never been to spectate a road race, so what better event to start with than the London Marathon?

With the RAF's Ben Livesey lining up on the elite start line, and a number of the ladies from all 3 servicees battling it out to duck under the golden 3 hour mark, it was set to be a spectacular race. Notwithstanding it was the debut marathon on Mo Farah and Chris Thompson. 3 new course records, a world record, and record numbers of spectators - not bad eh?

We went to Tower Hill to watch the action which meant we saw the athletes twice. Once just before mile 13 and just after mile 20 going in the other direction.

The first athletes past were the wheelchairs. seeing them in person you get a much better sense of how excruciatingly difficult it must be to power yourself along for 26.2 miles by your arms only. Watching on TV it always seems quite effortless. But then again, so does running! 

Next came the IPC athletes and the support was amazing. The crowd were going mental anytime someone went past and the athletes were loving it! This year was the first time the IPC event has been held in London.The women were next to come past - at incredible speed! It was almost impossible to get a photograph of them!

The main event was the elite men. The first few runners came through still with the pace makers and looking incredibly fresh. Then when Mo Farah came past the roar of the crowd was incredible. When they came back around the 20 mile mark, the masses were passing on the other side. Runners stopped and clapped as Mo came past. 

It was incredibly exciting to see Ben running amazingly, truly inspirational. We were going crazy as every RAF athlete came past. After a quick start - 15m26 for the first 5k (we were tracking him online) the next  25k with even 5k splits of 16m05s, 16m18s, 16m04s, 15m59s and 16m26s. The English International led the RAF to clean sweep in the Inter Service team competition. Livesey's time of 2h17m44s was outside the Commonwealth and European qualification mark by 44 seconds! He finished in 17th position overall. 

In the women’s race Flt Lt Tamsyn Rutter ran a brilliant race and finished in 2h58m55s - a time that would see her win both the RAF and Inter Service gold medals. .

I will definately be back to the Marathon, and definately not to run. As inspirational as all the incredible performances were, they did not make me want to run 42km!