Bootcamp Beach

I'd considered doing a bootcamp last year to get fit but ultimately decided against it. This year I decided to go for it to help me in my Three Peaks Challenge.

Here is my exact heart-and-soul diary as typed in half-day-to-half-day on my iPhone. (Fixed a couple of typos.)


Day 1
Check in, chat, measure, walk and run, stretch, games on beach for 45 mins. Absolutely knackered already :(

13 here so far. Me, Steve and 11 women. Bonus. Three more people arrive tonight.

Small but nice tea. Chat. Shower. Downstairs alone. :( Others in rooms or gone to check out spa facilities at other hotel.

My room is crap. Stinks of damp plaster. No wifi up there and shower is dreadful - a mere trickle.

Just spoke to manager, he's offered to move me for the wifi. Didn't mention the other stuff.

[I have to add here - the staff and service at the hotel were exceptional, really really faultless.]

Jessica and Emma, who I'd spoken to earlier, joined me. Both really nice.

In bed for 9:30. Aching already and I've done nowt!

Day 2 AM
Up 6:15 for 7 start - a walk down to beach. Warm-ups then counted press-ups and sit-ups. I'm in bottom 5% easily. Then timed 1.5 mile run. I did well I think (for me) at 14:50. Came about 10/16 for this.

Back up to hotel for Breakfast.

Then back down to beach for an hours circuit training: Single weights. Over-head weights. Tension band forward arms. Tension band side arms. Running. Star jumps. Squats. Little hurdles. The 8 things each for 2 minutes. The whole lot 3 times. All this in pouring rain on the beach.

Back to hotel for an hours boxercise. I can't do arms whatsoever. Absolutely knackered me out.

Just waiting for dinner, it's only 12:30.

New room. No heating but it's being worked on. Much better. Still no wifi.

Day 2 PM
Gorgeous soup for dinner, plus salad.

Heating fixed in room so starting to dry this morning's soaked gear.

Next start 2pm. Walking boots on, hopefully in my comfort zone now. Time will tell...

A 5 mile walk at a great pace. I struggled to stay at the front and had to learn a new walk (crazy I know). 5th at the half way turn around point, 3rd almost at the end but the final hill was easy and I stormed it. I know it's not a race but I was pushing myself like I should be!

After that back to hotel for an hour's Abs training. Total nightmare as I simply don't have any. 50, 60, 70 situps and other multitudes of variations. That was most of the others. I do 10 if I'm lucky and I know tomorrow my gut is going to be agony. I suppose I have to start somewhere but it's both embarrassing and disheartening.

Lovely tea (green Thai curry) and then 30 minute walk to city centre and back.

I suppose I should add... No snacks. No coffee or milk and only green tea or berry tea. Yuk.

I saved my afternoon banana for evening so I had a treat to look forward to.

I feel starved yet I'm not actually hungry.

Day 3 AM
Warmups at 7 on cliff top then jogging. I'm so stiff I'm last at everything and in agony. Left Achilles is painful.
Couldn't apply deodorant as it means lifting 2 arms!

Really not looking forward to the rest of the day. Just had breakfast. Waiting for 9 to re-start.

Nightmare. Warmups then circuit training. My abs have completely gone and I cannot lift my feet if lying on the floor, even with knees bent. Can't do situps, pressups, squats or burpees. Agony.

Circuit training damn near killed me. Had half hour break and it took me most of it to walk to the toilets. Felt like collapsing. Absolutely drained.

Recovered a little but stretcher carrying and tyre pulling which is not easy when you can hardly walk.

Back to hotel, now awaiting lunch.

This afternoon is cycling and I'm actually looking forward to it. Even if it's hard it can't possibly be as hard as this morning.

Day 3 PM
Bicycle ride was great. 12 miles and I behaved like a kid - I'd forgotten what fun it is. Must have done a mile more than everyone else :)

[Forgot to write in my diary about my seat twisting, me taking my eyes off the road and hitting a concrete bollard stopping me dead - with my knee. Ouch.]

Last 2 miles were tough though, headwind along the seafront but I pushed myself as much as I could. Not a race but I was 5/14. Finally something I'm half decent at. Seat was most uncomfortable I've ever known and my balls have mostly disappeared. Worried.

Walk back to hotel was tough at first but I found my stride and again waltzed up the hill in front of all. Really shows the walking has paid off over the last 3 years and that we all have strengths and weaknesses.

Dreading tomorrow when it's back to Abs stuff. Mine are shot.

Tea in 30 and then chat/presentation by a nutritionist.

Booked a spa/sauna wotsit for 8.

All went ok. Nothing to report except my testicles are back!

Day 4 AM
Feel crap today. Muscles are reasonable but in myself I'm not right, I can't get warm. Worried its exhaustion and thinking back to last day of Sud Tirol holiday disaster.

Up as usual. I did 10 minutes warmup before anyone turned up as I know I'm slow to get started. Down to cliff top for 10 minutes warm-up and 30 circuit training. In the freezing rain again. Fortunately next two morning sessions will be indoors. My right ankle keeps getting a sharp twinge which doesn't help with sprints.

Also still worried about my Abs. I'm guessing indoor work will use them a lot and mine are screwed.

Just had breakfast and now lying on my bed, cold. I can hear my coat and bootcamp-bib still dripping onto the floor even though they've been hung up 45 minutes already.

Just cheated and had an energy-gel sachet. I'm hoping it helps me get warm.

On a positive note I know all this is definitely helping me for the Three Peaks.

Ok. Not so bad. First session was boxercise again, I quite like it and definitely feel an improvement in my muscles and my technique.

Second session was sprinting. We walked a couple of miles to a rugby pitch and did warmups in the mud. Not pleasant. Filthy after lying in it many times. Then sprinting which I feel I did very well, pushed myself a lot. Walk back I felt great and even sprinted up loads of steps to win a bet!

Day 4 PM
Out for surfing, get ready, walk a mile to the beach just as the coastguard red flags it. Trainer decided to do football & rounders on the cliff top park. Everyone goes to change except 3 (inc. me) & trainer who do the 'zig zags' to get the gear from our beach hut. Back up to the top and have a kickabout. When everyone arrives we split into 2 teams and play for fun although the other trainer (a mad Scotsman) takes it very seriously. By now it's pouring down. England lose 6-2 but no surprise as there were only 4 footballers present and 3 were on Scotland's team. Lots of fun but absolutely drenched. Shattered and the walk back to hotel surprisingly tough. Now back at hotel for 30 minute break before indoor workout.

3 grapes, half a walnut and 10 raisins never tasted so good.

...

Well don't I always cause the commotion?!

This session was using tension bands... there were 8 different exercises. Two minutes each, 4 times for the lot so about 40 minutes.

My arms are very weak so I can't do much but the odd thing was my legs were killing me (as noticed on walk back previously), and all I was doing was standing on them. I kept swapping weight from one to the other to no avail. I did about 20 minutes and then I got pins and needles in my ears! :( Then my whole head and then my entire arms and legs. I felt faint so I stopped for a short rest then carried on.

No good, I felt dreadful. I stopped and went out of the room to sit down, pins and needles everywhere.

Then my entire arms and legs started to vibrate. I can't explain it, they were ok visibly but internally they felt like I was being electrocuted.

Gary, the trainer came out to look after me and tried to get me to calm down and breathe slowly. I didn't know (still don't know) I was breathing quickly.

Then my fingers turned to wood. I could see them, I could tell they were attached to me, but they weren't my fingers. They were stiff, almost deformed.

Gary got me an iso-gel drink as he suspected my electrolytes were low. When that didn't help a sugary tea which did help a little.

However when it got worse a few minutes later he called an ambulance and two minutes later I was on the phone to the Triage for a good 10 minutes by which time a paramedic had arrived. A GP on the course with me was also there comforting and encouraging me. Paramedic gave me a full MOT during which time my fingers came back and eventually the pins and needles left.

Official line is that I was exhausted and ran out of electrolytes or sugar causing the pins and needles and dizzyness. I then (unknowingly) panicked and caused a lack of oxygen in my blood which caused the stiff fingers (I forget the medical term).

All I needed was energy and rest, the paramedic even recommended I go ahead with tonight's planned jacuzzi.

Tea was the nicest meal of the week and I devoured it eagerly.

Gary doesn't want me to do tomorrows pre-breakfast run but I still want to. I feel well, just tired. I'll see tomorrow but of course play it safe.

Gary was great, I am truly grateful for his care, and everyone else was so concerned I actually felt a bit of a fraud.

I'm such a wuss!

Day 5 AM
Really struggled to get up today; late to sleep with vivid dreams and fitful sleep all night, plus having been told not to attend till 9 which made the 6:15 wake-up a huge challenge.

I felt like I had a head cold and my right ankle has some sharp pains so I joined the Green team to take it steady.

A gentle walk down to the beach and then stretching which was much better in a small group as I could ask which muscle each exercise was meant to stretch. Some are obvious but some are not and because I don't know all the muscle names I struggle when they say "lean like this to stretch such-and-such" - often I think I've not quite got it right and stretched a different one or even my back which isn't right.

After that some walking along the beach front alternated with power walking. I felt much much better and this was too easy for me so when we got to the Zig Zags I pushed myself and tried running up them. I only got half way but I was making extra effort which is why I was here. Once at the top I jogged a lap of the park while the others caught up, again to push myself.

Then walk back to the hotel for stretching/cooldown.

Breakfast was a bowl of porridge which I struggled to finish, as did many others. We all think that our stomachs must be shrinking - a week ago I could have wolfed it down without trying. Sounds good!

Now awaiting the 9 o'clock restart, still mindful of yesterday's 'performance'.

A mile to the beach and then energetic warmups followed by an hour building and moving a "cannon" in two teams. Seriously hard work on the sand.

Quick break and then a walk up the steps to the cliff top. Great. Not. Now we walk/run up and down them for 10 minutes. It doesn't sound long. Go try it! I'm exhausted after the initial walk up and only manage 2 full 'laps', one of the other guys ran 4! Then across the valley/gulley to another set of steps and another 10 minutes. This time I did 3 laps. Exhausting.

Finally jog/walk back to the hotel for stretching which, because I've never done it and I'm stiff as a board, is like another energetic session for me.

I'm aching all over, I can't get fully rehydrated despite drinking loads, and I'm now at the stage where I want it to end. I'm enjoying it but I've had enough.

Thankfully a 30 minute break before dinner.

Day 5 PM
That was fun. A walk down to the beach and then rounders in the sun(!) All a bit of fun, no serious rules and a fair bit of confusion but a nice change. Walk back up all the bloody steps again and now a short break before the last session.

Last session was stretching. Easy in some respects, hard in others but a nice way to end the week 'proper'.

Just the early walk/warmups and the final assessment tomorrow before the long drive home.


Day 6 AM - final half day!
Up early, after an early night, and extra stretching on my own.

Then down to the beach for proper warm-ups before going into the re-assessment.

Sit-ups and press-ups as before. I did the same sit-ups as before but more press-ups - mainly because I used my knees.

Then the 1.5 mile run. Christ on a bike. I had thought I felt better and ready for it but within 100m I knew it was going to struggle. I had to walk twice before I was half way.

On the way back it was against the wind but I dug deep and focused on a song, then another song where the verse fitted my rhythm so I repeated it again and again and again.

At 7/8 distance I lengthened my stride, not being a runner simple things like this aren't obvious. It was a bit harder of course but a fair bit faster. I was flagging but pushed. At 15/16 distance I increased again and damn near killed myself to get over the line. 60 seconds slower than Monday but considering the exhaustion, aches and pains I was fairly happy with it.

Back to the hotel for the measuring.

Waited my turn. Gutted, everything is less but my stomach is only 1.5cm less which doesn't make sense. I can SEE it's different so what's going on there?

Finally the weight - lost 5lbs so that's a small bonus.

Leaving here a new man... motivated and educated!

National Three Peaks

A month or two ago my sister Tam offered me a place on her work's charity National Three Peaks outing in June. For those who don't know this involves climbing and descending the highest mountain in Scotland (Ben Nevis), the highest mountain in England (Scafell Pike) and the highest mountain in Wales (Snowdon).

All inside 24 hours - including the driving.... start at the base of Ben Nevis, climb, descend, drive, climb Scafell Pike, descend, drive, climb Snowdon and descend.

There's meant to be 17 of us doing this, all from Tam's work except me. They are a veterinary practice and they are raising money to pay for treatment on stray animals that are brought in.

So I've been training. I've been doing more walking; I've got a long walk or a hilly walk planned every weekend until then and I've also started jogging three times a week.

Wish me (and us) luck!

Catch-up #2

Edale circular - 14/04/2012

Drove to Edale (yet again!) with my good friend Paul and met up with my sister, Tamara, her husband Robert and the uber-well-behaved dog Dexter. We did 10 miles by heading to Back Tor, Mam Tor, Rushup Edge, Lord's Seat and then over the moors to the ventilation shaft above Cowburn Tunnel. It was very bleak and even started to snow. We then headed NE across more moors until we got to the head of a stream I can't find a name for on any map. Tam and Robert backtracked at this point whilst Paul and I scrambled all the way down the long gulley to a cache at the bottom. We then all met up and walked back to Edale. Total route 10.2 miles. 3 caches.



Dale Dyke - 21/04/2012

Drove to Lower Bradfield and met up with Tam and her supposed gang of Three Peakers - more news on next post. In the end it was only us two and Bill who Tam works with. We walked 9.1 miles around Dale Dyke reservoir and up and over Ughill Moors. No caches but a lovely walk.

PS. Forgot to add - I did this walk with 11 books in my rucksack to build strength!

Blog catch-up

I've been negligent lately so here's a brief summary.

02/04/2012 - Did the Cawthorne Christmas Coroborree series with the kids, my mum, my sister, my brother-in-law and their dog. The weather was excellent and we all enjoyed a lovely 6 mile walk through the countryside before ending up at a pub for some quality food.

09/04/2012 - Good Friday. Drove to a car park near Derwent Reservoir and did a long circular route around the bottom east/west leg of the dam. Shocked upon arrival by the remaining snow which had fallen a couple of days earlier and we'd forgotten all about, we crossed the dam wall and headed directly up Win Hill which was seriously tough going and had my good friend Paul putting me to shame. Once at the top we headed NW along to the Hope Cross, then North down the hill, over the A57 and back up past Hagg Farm before turning SE towards Crook Hill. The path doesn't go to the actual summits but we detoured off to visit all three before descending back down to the A57 and a final disappointing mile along the roads back to the car. 10.2 miles total and a fab day out.

12/04/2012 - Easter Monday. Paul and I were picked up by Chris from work at a shocking 7am for a drive to Hope. Here we did Chris' favourite walking route which involved ascending Win Hill (again - but a different route), then the same route over to Hope Cross before turning South-West towards the bottom of Jagger's Clough and down to Nether Booth. We followed the road for about half a mile before turning up the steep climb to Back Tor and then the steady ascent up to Lose Hill. (Win Hill/Lose Hill - it's all historical you know!) From here a long and steady descent back to Hope. Drizzle most of the walk but very refreshing and great company. Another 10.1 miles walked and back home for mid-day!