Yes, I went to British Military Fitness this morning. Where else would you, all in the space of an hour, be found running, lying in the grass in Hyde Park with arms and legs in the air (yep, that was the dead bug bit), crawling backwards and forwards, doing far too many burpees and more press-ups and plank combinations than you can count? And that’s before the water break.
I was quietly relived that we ran a little less than average today as I felt I’d run enough over the weekend and because I am tentatively thinking that my aching Achilles and dagger pains in my calves have gone away. I don’t know what the reason is for this miracle cure, could be the 4 days off I had pre Juneathon or a tip I picked up at a barefoot running session the week before. ( I’m not particularly trying to run barefoot, but as a natural mid-foot striker who prefers minimalist type shoes I’m always open to suggestions on improving form and one of the things I learnt was the need to make sure that after landing on the mid-foot the heel ‘kisses’ the ground before toe off to prevent overloading the calf and Achilles. I’ve been thinking about this a bit when I run so who knows?!)
If you’re curious about Burpee conditioning… It is, 15 seconds of Burpees, at least 6 expected, then 15 seconds off (in press up position if you’re hardcore), while it’s your partners go. Repeat 10 times. Jelly legs guaranteed. Apparently we will build up to 20 sets and longer intervals.
The dead bugs is too long a story to describe but it did have an exercise goal (I think hip flexors were mentioned) and was not entirely for the amusement of our instructor and passers-by.
Juneathon day 3. 1 hour BMF class including 2.5 miles running.
June 3, 2013 at 10:10 pm
Well done :-). Have often been temped by a group like that here but I think they might just laugh at my rubbishness and make me cry!
June 3, 2013 at 10:36 pm
We always laugh at our own runishness and cry in fits of giggles!
June 3, 2013 at 10:34 pm
And suddenly my jumping seems tame! Great effort 🙂
June 3, 2013 at 10:48 pm
Good work on Day 3!
June 4, 2013 at 7:34 am
I admire you! Always wanted to do one of those BMF fitness classes but I often run past them mid-class & think it looks terrifying!
June 4, 2013 at 6:20 pm
6 burpees in 15 seconds! I would probably manage 1 🙂
June 6, 2013 at 12:46 am
My son and I play our own version of Dead Bugs: he’s eighteen months old, and on the shout of “Dead Beetles” will run away across the garden, park or field. I chase after him on all fours, and when his giggling gets the better of him and he falls over, we roll onto our backs and wiggle our arms and legs in the air.
It’s currently unknown how long this will keep him amused, since I can only manage about an hour, and he’s still warming up. However, I now have the hip flexors of a puma.