Off to the gym for a good chat!

Stewart and myself have been taking every opportunity to slog out our training regime. We train together very in frequent due to our different working patterns, availability and commitments. The only true form of training is to actually get into the mountains covering distance, ascent along with different terrain. We are fortunate to be on the doorstep of the Brecon Beacons, Black Mountains and the Wye Valley. These areas of outstanding beauty are taken advantage of when possible. A long distance trek prior to the Pyrenees has been discussed, this being the crossing of all of the major summits of the Brecon Beacons -West to East. We are aware of the “Beacons Way” however we feel our route will achieve greater ascent / descent, which will blow a few cobwebs out.
Again we are fortunate enough to have a small hill –Grey Hill- bang smack on our doorstep. This little devil is more than enough to get one into trim. Oh yes it must not be sniffed at! Different routes, with challenging times being achieved.
Core fitness is being built by battling out mind numbing hours in the gym. Poor ole Stewart to date has strived to attain greater fitness only to be knocked back by a blessed bad chest and colds. Determination will prevail, once he has overcome this bad patch fully.
My personal gym performance is by no means record breaking, however I can assure you I am achieving greater targets than I have since my hernia operation just over twelve months ago.
When I come home from France my first objective is to take a sledgehammer to the Concept 2 rowing machine, I hate the thing. I started off just before Christmas with a time of 1min 59.1 secs / 500m, I was chuffed with this for starters. After much huffing and puffing along with some choice words I am down to 1 min 45.2 secs / 500m. Well I’m pleased with it! Best to date on the treadmill being 33.5 min / 6 k. & 60 min / 7 kph / 15% incline. Like I say not World best stuff but I’m pleased. The one thing that has made the hours in the gym more bearable is having my wife Liz’s company. Her enthusiasm and own personal targets have given me encouragement. On occasions I have to admit when I come home from work and cant be bothered, off I’m dragged and away to go……….hello Concept 2. We are both very fortunate to have wives who are also committed to our objective. Well we will tell them what all the exercise is for closer to the date!