Reviewing the resolutions

Last year I wrote some resolutions down for this year, and posted them online.

I'm pleasantly surprised with what I managed to do.

1. Have a clearout and stop buying stuff I don't need. - The clearout has been ongoing (and still is).  So yeah.  As for not buying stuff, I think I've bought very little this year.  

2. Run again. For fun - Yes, I did manage this.  I've been running at least twice a week, and did a 5k and a 10k to gauge how I was coming along, and was pleasantly surprised with the results.  Still managing to not re-join a club, so I'm managing to keep it a pleasurable activity, and not get obsessive like I was in the past.

3. Go climbing again. - I've bouldered a few times.  We have a small wall at work now, so I've just used that the odd lunchtime.  Found that while it's pretty fun, it was obviously the company of the people I climbed with that I enjoyed more than the challenge of climbing itself.

4. Stop buying overpriced coffee.  Buy good coffee and make it myself - Managed this one easily.

5. Cycle to work as often as the weather allows. - Done it in spades.  The weather hasn't even been an issue unless there's a really strong wind.  The only day I haven't been cycling is a Tuesday, when I have karate after work, and I run the 5 1/2 miles to work instead.

6. Do another munro - Now I didn't do a munro, but I did do a fair few smaller hills, so I'm sort of claiming that one.....sort of.

So overall, I managed to pretty much nail my resolutions.  Now I need to (a) keep it up, and (b) come up with more for next year.

Avoiding getting lardy over winter

The weather lately hasn't been great for using the bike to commute to work.  The rain isn't an issue - someone went and invented waterproofs to deal with that - it's the wind.  Gusts threatening to blow you under a bus, or a headwind where you basically are peddling to stay still, are not much fun, so with one eye on the weather forecasts, the cycling has been reigned in a fair bit.

I've not managed to get out running much either.  My excuse being that when I get up in the morning, Pollok park is pitch black.  Same when I get home from work.  I've now got a wee headtorch that I actually bought as a second light when cycling through the park, but it can double up for running as well.

With the ever looming threat of becoming a couch potato again, I re-joined the gym, which being in my work, is really handy.  Oh, and I get a decent discount for being staff.  So while running on the treadmill isn't my location of choice, it's better than nothing.  The fact I have a locker in the gym and always keep some running gear in it, means I can get in a wee run up at Sighthill Park, or along the canal to Firhill at lunchtimes, if the weather is ok.

I spoke to one of the fitness instructors about getting a programme made up, and he's come up with three different routines, which is perfect, as I'm planning to go in three times a week. The first in muscles, upper and lower body, which is great, as all my exercise is lower, so I need to do some upper body work.
Next is cardio, so I won't loose out over the winter, and have breathing issues etc when I get out to run properly.
Finally something which will help with karate, a core session.

He's also recommended some classes to compliment the above - insanity, circuits, and spin - which I'll have a look at and give a go.  I also think I'll see if there's a yoga class that fits in with the time I'll have available.