Am I being unrealistic? -

Cai that's so exciting!!

I can't stand the gym, which is why i'm a runner, but i think i'll be going to the gym this winter as last winter i got chased while running by 3 men and it was very scary. Of course at the time i insisted everything was fine but now i feel i've "proved my point" to myself and can happily cosy up in Bodypump (NOT very cosy, lol) for the winter.

My half marathon is on September 2nd and i have two 11.5mile runs, one 13mile run and three-five 5mile runs planned between now and then... After that i am NOT running for a few weeks. Gonna go and try out some classes in my local leisure complex. Was thinking Pilates, swimming (used to be able to do 1km in 26 minutes - not a bloody chance of that now!), body pump, maybe spin (but i am scared of spin! LOL).

I think you'll be fine. When you go to the gym you keep challenging your body, it might hurt more the first few weeks but enthusiasm will carry you through and it will NEVER not hurt at all - that's the point of doing it. If you get to the stage where the next day you don't feel you've worked out then it's time to step up, you're body's become used to it and is coasting along. I find the biggest battles go on in my head, not my muscles. The thoughts i have when i get up past 8 miles running - "i should stop" "i'll stop in a minute" "i really want to stop now" - i just disengage that part of my brain from the part that makes my legs go and keep running! The endurance is 80% mental and enthusiasm makes SUCH a difference.

One thing i would say is that if you feel it hurts too much and you can't work out as planned STILL go to the gym, have a sauna, a slow swim, something low or no impact and relaxing but still do it. That way your gym habit becomes more integrated (skipping it becomes a habit all-too-fast with me) and you can associate it with "cai time" and not just gruelling work-outs. Another thing you might want to do is set yourself challenges. The first challenge is getting into a pattern, but when i began running (1mile, veeerrry slowly, about 14 months ago) i wrote a list of things i'd like to achieve like "run to GF's house" "run in a 5k race" "run in a 10k race" "run 10k under 60 minutes" "run a half marathon" and it is great to achieve things! You really feel like you're getting somewhere, looking back. You could have things like "be attending intermediate yoga/pilates in 6 months time" or "can complete one gym circuit without breaks" - see how you go anyway, i found goals made a big difference to me. That's why i'm setting up my winter goals now already ;) Keeps me motivated. This year i'm cracking my half marathon, next year i'll be getting my 10k time down under an hour (it's 63 minutes just now). So sad but i get excited about these things....

Good good good luck hun, keep us updated. When i start gyming i shall post you all about it and bore your (sports) socks off ;)

Bx