Bloody Hell, Indeed!

Almost 15 years ago I promised myself to never, ever take an exam again! I seem to have forgotten that there was a good reason for this statement; I am not just getting nervous, I am getting nervous breakdowns which start days before the test. Whatever I do, the more I practise, the worse I get, not doing anything however is not an option either.

Well, I had hoped that doing something that I really like doing, which will give me real joy and will be an achievement of MINE, and not something expected from me, would make a change. Oh boy: I could not have been more wrong!

I am doing my motorcycle license, and that bloody thing comes in two parts. So my decline started on 25th October when I failed the first attempt. After that I took a brief recovery, until a couple of days before the 2nd attempt. on 3rd November. From then on it went straight down into the drain.

I herewith congratulate everybody who ever took a road test and stood it, including myself. Back then, 32 years ago I went into tests like a dreamer. I had practised, one is a bit nervous, but school had tests all the time, you get there eventually. And I did. I marched into my A-levels confidently, and although things went better than expected I felt a first glimpse of discontent. An examiner was behaving in a very inquisitive way and almost failed me, and others who were in the room confirmed that it was unnecessary.

And this way my test-standing confidence got ground down over my university years, so that at the end I gave this promise to myself.

During all this time, I never felt that the joy of achievement offsets the effort and the physical pain on the guts, the depression and the fight, this utter fight with myself not to just run as fast and far as I can.

When I stood the 1st part of my motorcycle test everybody else was more excited than I was. Even to show excitement feels exhausting. I really hope that tomorrow goes well for some unknown reason, as from what I see now it is impossible to stand this test. So many junctions I have no idea how to negotiate, roundabouts I am likely to fall over, lanes I cross in a forbidden way, indicators not switched off, cars and pedestrians cut off... I used to love driving my car, it was the one thing that gave me joy and freedom whenever I felt down, and now I don't even feel safe and confident in there anymore, because all I see are rules which I am breaking. I have no idea how I got through 32 years of traffic without accident.

Please everyone, if I ever get this bloody license done and I want to attempt another test: Please remind me not to do it! I mean it!

THIS really IS the last one!

The Team is Growing

Our unusual training team to support Kash in his running training for Marathon has increased to four now. Karren is doing the milage on an ergometer and Mai wants to improve her English and will read the number of pages of which we do miles.

This turns out to be a really good thing. It motivates to do me things I never even would have considered before. Since Kash is on a tight training plan there is no questioning of whether or not I would like to row after a weekend in London and a two hours drive home: I just DO!

'The Kash' has the guts to go out in the rain at 8 o'clock on a Sunday night - so I will surely be able to row a bit while sitting in the warmth of my house.

So, YES - Things are good!

Have a look at the score board.

Wow, what a week

The previous week I had to just take it easy, I felt quite a bit beaten by the first two runs, so I chickened out while Kash had a bit of a mishap, too. With stitches after 5 miles on the long run day he decided on Thursday to swap things round and to do the long run at the weekend. So he did and then wanted to stay on track doing short run on Monday again... and that was a bit too much for the knees. So he took the rest of the week off.

I am hoping that the resting is doing him as good as it did me. This Tuesday I did a rowing  'HALFMARATHON', I can hardly believe it! It was for Sport Relief and I was a bit inspired by others doing similar things, but I only had planned for 12K and then one thing led to another and ended up with 22k.

I have done one half marathon before, some 4 years back, and I felt really down for a good week. This time I feel completely fit and happy and did a 10 mile bike ride through the forest on mountain bike on Friday. So I am a happy bunny although our score board looks a bit patchy.


Now I will have a couple of days of rest again I am hoping that I can catch up with Kash next week. Wish us luck for knees and other vulnerable body parts...

And we got a third member into the team with a challenge on her own. Mai wants to improve her English and whenever we run or row she will sit down and read a number of pages in English.

If you would like to join with a challenge of your own just let me know, or what about building your own 'Challenge Club'?

Flesh to The Bone

Ok: I am sitting here with a head like a tomato, blisters on fingers and feet and wonder what I let myself into. It was the second race day with my friend Kash who is training for the London Marathon. At least so far I am winning, but I am not sure if that is a good thing. I now at least understand why 3 month of a strict training plan is recommended. The body not just needs time to get cardio fitness meaning the heart being able to pump the blood efficiently enough to sustain the challenge, no, it also needs to build the muscle tissue needed to survive the repetitions of the move. We did 8 miles, 13 k today and from 9 k on, I just didn't feel my legs anymore, the rear was in constant pain, and my spine had shrivelled to half it's original length. If it wouldn't have been for poor Kash running out there in the darkness I would have thrown the towel right there and then. So in a way it was a matter of putting my mind to it, but I could feel that those 13k were pretty much the limit.

Hence, given that the boy is 10 weeks ahead of the training plan I definitely will not join him in the long run this weekend. I decided to do half of it... which is another 13k... and if I can keep that time I can be proud of myself. 

Actually, rowing and running get compared quite often and is said as needing similar effort... I can't quite believe that given the result of the races. Anybody out there doing both and being able to compare?

 

However, stay tuned into the race list.

Kinda A New Challenge

Oh, I can tell you that the head is still not working...

Since the body however, is not doing any better I thought I ... actually I didn't think a thing! I was chatting with a friend about his training for the London Marathon in April; I said that I could never run, but only row; He said I race you; ... and now we are kind of training partners.

It's relatively simple: Whenever he goes on the road, I will go into my spare room with the rower and do the same distance, preferably faster than him. Rowing and running can well be compared in effort and the time it takes to do a certain distance... Well, kinda... he already is in his 10th week of training and I am a slob right now. Hence it IS a bit of a challenge.

Although: I don't intend to go for a marathon distance. Like for runners the preparation time for rowers is the same and the style is very similar. Having missed half the training time I will aim for a half marathon by 22nd April, meaning that I will replace the long runs the boy will be doing by half the distance; that is still 9 miles / 15 km.

Additionally it means that I have to row four times a week... oh, oh!

Here is the training plan, not sure if I am really looking forward to this.

Marathon Training Program
Week	Day 1 miles / km	Day 2 miles / km	Day 3 miles / km	Day 4 miles / km	Total/week miles / km
1.	3 / 4.8	4 / 6.4	3 / 4.8	5 / 8.0	15 / 24.0
2.	3 / 4.8	4 / 6.4	3 / 4.8	6 / 9.7	16 / 25.7
3.	3 / 4.8	4 / 6.4	3 / 4.8	7 / 11.3	17 / 27.4
4.	3 / 4.8	5 / 8.0	3 / 4.8	8 / 12.9	19 / 30.6
5.	3 / 4.8	5 / 8.0	3 / 4.8	10 / 16.1	21 / 33.8
6.	4 / 6.4	5 / 8.0	4 / 6.4	11 / 17.7	24 / 54.7
7.	4 / 6.4	6 / 9.7	4 / 6.4	12 / 19.3	26 / 41.8
8.	4 / 6.4	6 / 9.7	4 / 6.4	14 / 22.5	28 / 45.0
9.	4 / 6.4	7 / 11.3	4 / 6.4	16 / 25.7	31 / 49.9
10.	5 / 8.0	8 / 12.9	5 / 8.0	16 / 25.7	34 / 45.7
11.	5 / 8.0	8 / 12.9	5 / 8.0	16 / 25.7	34 / 45.7
12.	5 / 8.0	8 / 12.9	5 / 8.0	18 / 29.0	36 / 57.9
13.	5 / 8.0	8 / 12.9	5 / 8.0	18 / 29.0	36 / 57.9
14.	5 / 8.0	8 / 12.9	5 / 8.0	9 / 14.5	27 / 43.5
15.	3 / 4.8	5 / 8.0	3 / 4.8	8 / 12.9	19 / 30.6
16.	3 / 4.8	3 / 4.8	Walk 3 = 4.8	marathon	35.2 / 56.6
					415.2 / 668.2

One of those things...

I really need to get cracking on this personal training thing. It is all nice and well to be able to get to the exams with a flexible schedule, but that means one has to find the determination within.

During the past 3 month I had the opportunity to part time volunteer in a gym and I learned an awful lot, although it raised a lot of questions as well.

What do I want to achieve with a client? Should I give the clients what they want, although I know it will make them fail in the long run? How much of the success lies in ‘the trainer being an appointment that needs keeping’ rather then the trainer itself? How much of the teaching should go into ‘help them finding the determination within’ as opposed to pure training technique.

Especially at the start of the New Year I read it a lot on facebook: ‘I had my first personal trainer session, it was fantastic; I almost threw up!’ Powering out gives instant gratification but this training style can’t usually be maintained for good.

For how long will one be able and willing to pay for a trainer and hence for the appointment in the calendar. A holiday usually is an all too welcome excuse for a break, and after the appointments slip. By then one has had a bit of success and the ‘urge to do something’ is gone. From then on it goes downhill until next year.

Maybe my idea of training people in a way that they learn how to get themselves out of a dip is a bit naive, and it sort of renders my job ad absurdum, as those people won’t come back next year to pay me. Future will tell if I can make a business that way. For now I have to get the stupid exams out of the way... could do with a bit of personal training for that!

A Challenge of some sort

This time it's not the muscles... it's the head. And what a challenge THAT is!

When I eventually got me degree in computer science I promised myself to never EVER do an exam again. Well, here I am... having enrolled into personal trainer school and chickening out whenever I can. So far I can claim that I learned the practical side of it by volunteering in the gym... and I did learn an awful lot, but now I really have to sit down and hammer weird names of bones and muscles into my head. I have to do two courses, a quarter of a year each, and one quarter already has passed... ouch!

It's a weird thing that in the mornings I am determined to get everything done by end March and in the evenings I am never quite sure as another day has passed without feeling successful... Maybe I should not talk so much about my plans as Derek Sivers in his  TED talk suggests. 

Determination and guts is not the only thing needed, a bit of brain would be nice, too. I never was good in learning stuff by heart, but man: having an old brain sucks! There are quite a many books about how to utilise your brain better to learn more efficiently like Tony Buzan's mind mapping... Crux is: I don't have enough time left to learn how to learn... It would be nice to get the exam done before I fall into complete senile dementia and the subject being personal trainer kind of implies the availability of some sort of physical capability, too.

So darlings,  would you please again cross your fingers for me and wish me luck for the new year. I might go a bit silent on Facebook and the blogs, but I surely will read and appreciate your messages. 

Thanks a bunch and always yours
Rika
xx

a little wrap up!

Hi Dears,

just to let you know that I had an article published in our company online magazine about my competition. In there I am asking people to become my guinea pigs for learning how to train people. In a few weeks time my training to become Personal Trainer will start and I will need practice, won't I? 

So I had to get official permission from the gym board to do such a thing and they not only agreed, but asked me to provide a poster. Yay!

In doing so I have been digging through some pictures and I thought I share the outcome with you.

So firstly here is a proper picture of my trophy

Then there is me fat and frumpy in 2004, featuring a size 12 upper and 14-16 bottom

These jeans are rather fortunate, even, as they are very very stretchy thick fabric, keeping things in nicely in place

And then there is me in 2011

... am now starting to look forward to November, for the N.A.B.B.A Novice Finals

But first things first: I had fantastic feedback from the article and may have found two clients already, and in a good weeks time I am off to my dream holiday in Sumatra, which is a bit of a challenge in itself - spiders, insects... and such. 

So see you then around mid July with updates on my training, the school and what else might crop up!

Ta ta!

It's over... for now!

Oh my goodness me, what a day that was. So, during the 5th of June 2011, I actually was quite cool. We collected my fan club and made our way to Great Yarmouth, a one and a half hours,  with two cars. The driving was fun and went well and leisurely dressed with a bag full of shoes, makeup, towels and bikini I arrived well in time before the show started.

yep, didn't forget to put the bikini on

After all the make-up tests I had decided to finish my face and hair but would leave the body untanned to avoid patches from clothes rubbing it off. The fake tan description said put it on an hour before, on arrival we were told: 'You can get into the changing room 20 minutes before, plenty of time!' Duh?

So my dear makeup girl Imola and I found ourselves in the freezing cold ladies toilet to paint a lady with something that looks like shoe polish.And then things went very quickly.

We were called into the wardrobe and it turned out that I was the only contestant in my category, as was the lady in the toned figure class. We were happy to find out that we knew each other from the gym I had been working out previously, and hence the atmosphere was rather chatty; still not nervous. Tan looked good, bikini got glued to the rear, and off we went back stage, me with Imola in tow who was holding my shoes.

With a quick run through I still was quite calm until the toned figure started her bit... Panic kicking in!

All of a sudden my name was called, and I felt moving like a robot, the music started, I remember the first few moves and then it all became a bit of an outer body experience. I thought I had messed it up, having trouble remembering what's next at least on three occasions.

Luckily my fan club as well as the video confirmed that this wasn't the case. Nevertheless, my first reaction when coming off stage: 'Never, ever again!' Whereas my toned show mate was all cheery and wanted to go back on stage instantly... hmmmm?!?

Despite lack of competitors I had to do the compulsory poses... in heels! Should have practiced that a bit. I love my heels and can walk them very well, but posing in heels I find a bit surreal and very wobbly.

However, I received my trophy from the lady who won last year and who I had feared so much. Gosh was I glad that I didn't have to compete with her, but it was nice that she did the presentation. Eventually I could relax a bit and I started to enjoy the show.

We all were a bit exhausted, so we didn't wait for the show to end and made our way home, but not without a stop-over at a restaurant. A bit of an after party was well deserved and after an entire day of plain rice and water the pasta dish was quite a treat.

Back at the changing room

Miss Toned and Miss Trained Figure

I stayed true to my 'Never, ever again!" exclamation until I had a closer look at the sheet of paper that goes with the trophy. An invite to the N.A.B.B.A (the official amateur association) Novice National Finals in November in Birmingham...

I mean, ... I am almost there... a lot of the work is done already... and 5 month time...

... and so the story goes on!

I will compete again. I will be more confident in my routine, and I eventually will have my legs!

Until then: 'Happy lifting!'

Enjoy the show!

Please find more pictures at my Picasa Web

It's Time!

Wish me luck, dear friends! I will need it! You all have been a wonderful support and encouragement. Only less then 48 hours to go and I am feeling in a weird state of nervousness, wanting to be on this stage, and wanting to get it done and over with. I have done everything I could do, the shape won't change anymore and I will have to live with those last wobbles, and I have practiced my posing as much as I could. I still see a thousand and one flaws in this last video, but I am hoping that Adrenalin will do the rest. So here are the last 5 takes of 'Thus spoke Zarathustra'... I have a hunch that after Sunday I do not wish to hear it ever again...

Stay tuned for the report of the event!

Ta ta!

The Last...

Yep, the countdown is on! Today was the last 'chest and back' day, tomorrow will be the last leg day before the competition, and now the focus has completely moved to 'POSING'.

Two days ago it was the first time that I felt I nailed it, didn't forget anything and was pretty well timed to the music.Hubby saw it and was impressed, so 'YAY!'

But still a lot to do. Today my friend Imola saw it for the first time and approved of it... although she mentioned that I do look a bit grumpy... Acknowledged! Although I don't want to smile, I surely don't want to look grumpy.

And I took the video camera for the first time. I have to see myself from the back, and I have to practice different directions of the room. That is so weird, as soon as I am turning round I keep forgetting my routine. It now is essential that I learn and feel it from my point on stage and not from what I see in the mirror and the context of the room. Due to lack of trainer, I have a hunch that the camera will be my best friend during the next week.

Here is my first video. It was meant to happen a bit differently, though. I had brought a bikini and decided to set up the camera first before changing. By the time that was done I was so knackered that I couldn't get the routine straight anymore.

 

The footage is good enough, though, to see where all the major flaws are. There is definitely attitude and confidence missing; because I am usually controlling myself in the mirror I am not always posing into the optimal direction because I am trying to get a good look rather then to feel (especially on the triceps, which is one of my best muscles); some arm and hand positions are not well aligned; I have to calm it down, there is too much wiggling going on, and legs definitely need work but I will focus on those when I will have footage in a bikini.

Oh my, one week to go. But as I said before, a week ago I could hardly remember the moves, and now I at least know how to train. Wish me luck!

PS: I am doing this challenge as a fund raiser for my favourite charity Orangutan Land Trust. Please consider sponsoring me for 1 year of hard work, sweat and worries - well, and maybe for seeing me on stage in a bikini with horrible sticky fake tan and oil, trying to remember my routine. And here is a currency converter for all my non-UK friends  ;o)

Less than 3 weeks now!

Oh it's so weird! Eventually I dared measuring myself after realising that my weight had gone down by a good kilo. Well, I seem to have got leaner, except the darn ankles. I actually lost around the biceps although it looks bigger now. All very confusing - I think I will just stop measuring.

At least I did the photo test for the fake tan. Don't laugh please! My nose looks like a sad dog nose. Never put fake tan on in artificial light, and never rush it. I am expecting to get more pictures, but for now those two have to do.

Since we took them the legs actually got a bit leaner... oh well! I was such a harsh critic of others... I will have to take quite a big dose of my own medicine.

The pics are deliberately taken from below as this is where the people will be - oh my!

The difference is actually amazing, now I have to work on hair and makeup

Still working on the posing routine... can't memorise the darn thing to safe my life... So not at a stage to tape it yet, but practicing every day now. Hoping to have something by the weekend...hopefully... cross fingers... break a leg... somebody has a penny and a four leaf clover...?

Gotta go practice now!
Ta ta

Oh... My... Goodness!

Firstly a 'Hello' to everybody! I am hoping that you all had a good Easter and spring break. At least England had a lot of free days thanks to the royal wedding. It is back to work now and thus I am duly sitting at my computer reporting the latest developments. So this is where we are at less than 5 weeks to go:

Training: Not as good as I had hoped. Due to dodgy knees and a bad cold the bottom bit is still lacking development. Well, and then I have to admit that I got weak. When I realised that I wouldn't get into the shape that I had hoped for, I let the nutrition part of things slack as well during the holidays.We were out and about every day, shopping, meeting people, and I find it hard to keep up the regime at the best of times, with a dispirited mind the cakes and paninis at Cafe Neros were just too tempting. So now it's back to the gym with a huff and a puff. Let's see what can still be achieved in 5 weeks!

Bikini: Yay! Reconsidered from black to emerald green crushed velvet after I saw the fabric samples which Tracey of Fit for U Bikinis sent me. We are now discussing design of the crystals and I still have to send her the measurements, but I am well on my way.

Tan: That is one part which caused the title of this blog. I ordered tan, glaze (to make it all shiny) and bikini glue from Tracey, and with a bit of luck I will have photo shoot this week to try it out. This stuff is seriously scary! ... and you read correctly: Bikini glue. While in 'Miss Congeniality' Michael Caine was allowed to spray Sandra Bullock's buttocks with hairspray to stop the bikini from riding up, I will be using a much more professional remedy. Cross fingers it works!

Posing routine: This is the other title reference. The music I chose is very dramatic and worthy an Arnold Schwarzenegger, while I am only a rather tiny lady... oh well. I am going to use the theme of '2001: A Space Odyssey' (trailer from approx. 2:08), I have mapped poses to it and now I have to learn it... It's still all over the place, but today I did the first proper session to memorise the movements - will hopefully post photos/video soon.

Fund raising: Another Yay! I have set up my fundraising page for Orangutan Land Trust. I would very much appreciate if you would sponsor me for my challenge. Some of my photographer friends already confirmed that they will come at take pictures, so there will definitely be pictures of me on stage in this horrible brown colour to prove that I really did it! Or you just come to Great Yarmouth and see for yourself.  The fundraising page is absolutely safe as provided by BT and the page and charity registration there is completely free, so every penny goes to the charity. 

What after...?

I decided  to enroll in courses to become a personal trainer. Yep! I eventually came round to it again. I had considered it about four years ago already, but somehow couldn't see myself begging gym owners to allow me to train my clients at their facilities and giving them up to 50% of my income. I am now planning to just do my own thing. Not sure how that business will look like in detail, but I have a plan! First things first, though: With a bit of luck I can get a place in a school at my home town from September on. Will keep you posted. 

That's it for now. I am wishing you a good work week with a lot of sunshine!

Ta ta

Bikini Decission Taken

I got the following feedback from my bikini poll

Dark green velvet:

• 2 'possible maybe, don't know, can't really tell'
• 1 'definitely not'

Black velvet:

• 1 definitely, plain
• 1 definitely, sparkly

Since the sparkly supporter is paying and I like sparkly, too, I will go for black velvet with sparkles!

And I will order a bottle of fake tan for practice... ojojojoj... black and orange with sparkles ... what a sight that must be!

All that is missing then is the posing routine... unfortunately can't buy that...

Bikini Decission Needed

Time is flying and I need to order my bikini. There are not too many options, and since I might only be doing this once I wasn't keen on paying too much money. To my delight 'Fit for U Bikinis' has a standard model on offer which cost only 40 quid. And then the sizing page didn't work.

Finding myself in a mode of desperation by now, I decided to write an email and pointing out the fault... and... oh well, as I am on it... I might want to ask for the cost of a bikini with a bit of a sparkle as well. Turns out that it is affordable and really rather pretty.

pix courtesy to Tracey, Fit for U Bikinis
without deco - pretty

... and with deco
- very pretty -

It makes quite a difference. With the sparkle it feels more like a stage costume rather than a bikini, but that might just be me.

So, Dears!

It is decided that this woman is going to get herself some crystals for the show. It is a once in a lifetime event after all, lets just have it with a nice, big Bang! 

Now the question of colour arises. I instantly fell in love with the blue pictures Tracy sent me. So vibrant and elegant. But I have to be reasonable - blue is the colour that suits me least. On the other hand I will be fake tanned like hell, so skin tone will not make any difference.

One should not forget however, that I own a head full of rather fiercly red hair which might go well with  green velvet. Unfortunately on the screen, the sample colour of the website looks rather dark, and green in general is not a vibrant colour unless it is of the 'swimming pool lining' variety.

I am confused!

I am herewith summoning my supporters for advice. Shall I use velvet or some other material? Which colour is best? Tell me, tell me... !

Now I have to go and measure myself .

Ta ta!

New Pix

Eventually, I have a few new pictures. I had another photo shoot in which Barry, the photographer, wanted to do a few experiments with the light. It then turned out that my back is rather well suited for this purpose and thus I came to get hold of some new shots. I am hoping to do another proper Bodybuilding shoot some time in April, but for now have a look at the 'artistic' stuff.

By: Barry 'Baz' Crabtree

By: Barry 'Baz' Crabtree

By: Barry 'Baz' Crabtree

By: Barry 'Baz' Crabtree

By: Barry 'Baz' Crabtree

By: Barry 'Baz' Crabtree

By: Barry 'Baz' Crabtree

More Pictures of the shoot:

My Picasaweb