Monthly Archives: April 2011

Getting buff in the buff: could the naked gym workout catch on?

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Following news that a gym in the Basque region of Spain is offering its members the chance to work out naked, it got us thinking; could nude fitness actually (surely not!) take off in the UK?

The people behind the Easy Gym in Arrigorriaga noticed a drop in member numbers, which they put down to the economic climate, so they did a bit of research and opened Spain’s first naked workout. The Basque region is home to no less than twelve naturist beaches, as well as the annual Sopelana nudist race at Sopelana Beach near Bilbao; a 5K naked race where competitors are only allowed to wear sunnies, hat, socks and shoes as they run, so the region is no stranger to public displays of nudity, but what Britain? Are we ready to body-build in our birthday suits?

Now, there’s no shortage of opportunity to shed your kit in public should you wish to do so here in Britain, with official nudist beaches dotted all around the coast and a long history of naturism, with the first nudist club dating to the early part of the 20th century, but a naked workout? Now that’s another story.

First up, what about all those fitness gear producers – Helly Hansen, Nike to name a couple – who’ve dedicated years of research into making innovative fitness clothes that wick away the sweat so we can exercise in comfort. Would it not be a little on the uncomfortable side, exercising in the nude? The gym in Arrigorriaga says that towels are available to avoid slippage, but do you think that would be enough to attract naked gym goers?

It’ll be interesting to see if it does catch on, and here in the UK we’re known for being up for trying anything new, but we may take some convincing of the merits of working out in the buff.

As far as social nudity goes, is one of the main draws the very fact that enthusiasts get naked in the great outdoors to be more at one with nature, not a sweaty gym?

Hmmm, call me a prude but I think I’ll keep my gym kit on. How about you? Would you sign up if your local gym offered you the chance to body build in your birthday suit?

David Weir wins London Marathon for a record 5th Time

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Elite wheelchair racer David Weir re-wrote the record books last Sunday when he won the London Marathon for a fifth time, making him the event’s greatest ever competitor.
In a nail-biting final stretch that saw him fend off the veteran Swiss racer Heinz Frei, Weir took the title by making full use of his exceptional sprint skills, finishing in one hour, thirty minutes and five seconds. Fifty Three year old Frei, a childhood inspiration to Weir, finished 2 seconds behind.
This victory is especially sweet for Weir, who finished third at last year’s event, when two punctures put paid to his four minute lead. Weir has finished in the top 3 in the London Marathon for the last 10 years and won three times in succession from 2006 to 2008.
A truly exceptional athlete, the 31 year old won gold in both the 800m and 1500m at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and holds the British record at every track event up to 5,000 metres, as well as the 10K, half and full marathons, making him one of the finest wheelchair athletes in the world.
The last few months have been hugely successful for Weir, who won three golds at the IPC world championships in New Zealand at the beginning of the year, having won the New York Marathon last November.
This win came 500 days before the start of the Paralympic Games – what a warm up! With  David Weir on such spectacular form, 2012′s Paralympic Games promises to be an exciting one.
For full details of the 20 sporting events at next year’s Paralympic Games, see the official website :
http://www.london2012.com/games/paralympic/index.php

Race for Life 2011 will be bigger than ever

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Why not join the girls this summer for Race for Life, the UK’s biggest female-only fundraising event, and raise money to help Cancer Research UK in their life saving work.

Now in its 18th year, Race for Life has raised an astonishing £362,000,000 since it started. This phenomenal sum has enabled 4,000 doctors, nurses and researchers to help people beat cancer through research including drug development and trials and investigations into the risks and causes of cancer. Such developments have led to an approximate 16% drop in the death rate from cancer since Race for Life began in Battersea Park back in 1994.

Well over 5 million women of all shapes, sizes, fitness levels and ages have taken part in the race over the years and 2011 promises to be the biggest Race for Life yet, as Tesco celebrate 10 years supporting the cause. Between them, Cancer Research UK and Tesco aim to gather 1 million women in 300 events throughout the UK to raise a ground breaking sum for the world’s largest charity dedicated to beating cancer through research.

Many of the events are 5K but there are also a few 10K races dotted around the country, too. Anyone who’s ever joined in will know that the atmosphere is electric, from the moment you get there and the music pipes up. A massive amount of fun is had by all and no matter if you run, jog or walk, you can be sure you’ll be encouraged every step of the way.

Lots of women are inspired to take part following their own or a loved one’s experience with cancer, others are simply keen to do their bit to help raise money to help beat cancer.

Walk, jog or run, 5K or 10K – you choose

Whether you’re taking part in a 5K or 10K, walking, jogging or running, are an absolute beginner looking to improve your fitness gradually, a jogging enthusiast wanting to build your distance or a keen runner looking to better your race time, Race for Life have compiled some useful training guides in preparation for the big day.

Race for Life events will take place on various dates in the summer and you can find out when and where your nearest race is, as well as the training guides and all the info you need on the Race for Life website : http://www.raceforlife.org/

So, what are you waiting for? Go on – gather the girls and go!

The benefits of running for middle aged beginners

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If you’ve never been a runner before, the prospect of taking up the sport for the first time can be quite daunting. Many people assume that we all just naturally slow right down as we hit middle age and so avoid taking up running at this time in their life, as they assume it to be predominantly a young person’s sport. In actual fact, there’s no age limit to taking up running. Runners who have been running for many years will have subjected their bodies to a certain amount of wear and tear, so first time runners are at an advantage here. Additionally, you’ll be full of the necessary enthusiasm and determination, as well as maturity and wisdom that you need to succeed.

If you’re looking for a new lease of life, running can certainly provide it. If you’re new to running, get a check up from your GP before you start and when you do begin, start slowly and gradually build up your fitness and stamina. Lots of people for whom the early days are a bit of a struggle, find that either combining walking and running and then slowly reducing the amount of walking each session, or ‘power’ walking to start with are good ways of building fitness steadily. Make sure you’re wearing the right running gear, including running shoes. If you do experience any pain anywhere from your hips down to your feet, take advice from a physio, who can point you in the right direction as to the correct running shoes for you.

Join a running group to spur you on…

It’s a great idea to take a running buddy with you or join a running group. This will spur you on and keep you motivated. It’s also a good idea to enter a race, giving you a goal to work towards. The sense of achievement you’ll feel when you complete a race cannot be overestimated. This is one of many psychological benefits of running for people who have considered themselves unfit for most of their lives. Middle aged, first time runners are often flabbergasted at how far they’ve come, on completing their first race. Once you’ve run your first one, chances are you’ll be well and truly hooked. So, what are you waiting for, get your running shoes on and go, go, go!