Creating Your Olympic Fitness Legacy
At last, it’s 2012- the year of the Olympics! There are many reasons for my excitement; the buzz throughout London, the Olympic torch coming through towns across the UK, the end to the incessant Tube work (I’m an optimist), more Boris bikes in east London. Of course I am dreading the massive crowds, the camera-wielding tourists, the endless television coverage…
Regardless, I’ll take with the good with the bad as the 2012 Olympics should prove to be fun. And to add to the fun of the Olympic year, 2012 will be my second personal Year of the Olympics challenge.
Four years ago, in honour of the Beijing 2008 Olympics, a couple of friends and I decided to use our Olympic-fuelled inspiration for our own fitness and wellbeing and to participated in five Olympic-distance triathlons over the summer of that year. Racing in one event every month from May through September, we swam 4.5 miles, biked 125 miles, and ran 31 miles in the spirit of fun and fitness. Though none of us will ever be true Olympic athletes, we felt a bit closer to the spirit of the Games as we experienced our own victories, defeats, and even ended up with finisher’s medals. In our eyes – the medals were gold.
This Olympic year, we are planning another challenge. I would encourage you to create a challenge of your own! Our 2012 Year of the Olympics will include multiple Olympic events instead of focusing solely on triathlon. Currently we are planning a marathon, a marathon swim (10K, yikes!), and at least one Olympic-distance triathlon. Maybe cycle racing or kayaking will join the list or maybe we’ll focus on what we know best and add a couple more triathlons. Regardless, we are sure to learn new things about our bodies, our minds, and ourselves, get in great shape and have a lot of fun.
Interested in how the Olympics can help to inspire you? Sure, watching the Olympics will be moving and inspirational, but sitting on your sofa watching the events won’t do much to help you to get fit. There are, however, great ways to use the Olympics as a jumping point to get started. I really like the NHS Get Fit with the Olympics web page. There are interviews with Olympians and Paralympians, older people who have gotten into sport later in life, and motivating articles from people just starting out. There are different articles describing Olympic sports and how you can get involved and even a fun, “What’s Your Sport?” quiz. Of course, keep in mind that the quiz told me I would be great at “Invasion Sports” such as football and basketball, despite my utter confusion when playing on a field or court containing more than one other person!
London made a pledge when bidding for the Olympics to provide a sports legacy, but getting started begins with you. Why not take advantage of the Olympic buzz to start a legacy of your own – the legacy of fitness and health!
If you fancy getting fit this year be sure to check out Groupon UK for great deals on gym memebrships, fitness bootcamps and dance classes. Like this one for example Ten Zumba™ Classes for £24 at Simply Dancing Partners. Thats 64% off!
Photography by: Lim CK, Spunfunkster and kk+
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