Great North Run training diary 9: Georgina Morris

They’re sharing their progress with readers along the way as the team at Kirklees Active Leisure does its best to get them ready for the challenge ahead.

Georgina writes:

“With less than 20 days left to train for the Great North Run, Claire and I decided it was time to call on the professionals once more.

“The team at Kirklees Active Leisure has been doing its best to get us in shape since March with advice in the gym, personal training sessions and all manner of fitness classes.

“The past few weeks has seen us doing plenty of running out on the road, gradually increasing the distances we’re tackling before we brave the half marathon next month.

“Sadly, no amount of running will ever prepare us for a session with one of the personal trainers based at Dewsbury Sports Centre.

“Regular readers will remember the punishing kettleball and squats workout with our last trainer, Danny Missin, which sent me a bit wobbly in the head.

“Our new trainer King Solomon had something far worse in store – not only kettleballs, but also medicine balls, abdominal roller wheels and resistance bands which were used to turn us into the equivalent of husky dogs as we ran up and down the sports hall while dragging him along.

“After a five minute warm-up on the treadmill, it was time to brave a tour of the circuit with a minute at each of the six exercise stations.

“I realise this might not sound too taxing, but a minute can feel like an hour when you’re heaving a medicine ball above your head and slamming it down to the floor over and over.

“My arms and legs were like jelly after two turns around the circuit, and I was more exhausted than I had been when I’d finished a 10 mile run the previous day.

“I was ready to thank King for his help and crawl on home – but he wasn’t done with us yet. There was still a race to see who could cover 1km on the rowing machine in the fastest time and then a series of stretches to warm down.

“Although I can barely lift my arms to type this, now is definitely the time to push ourselves and make most of the few days we have left to prepare. If anyone can get us into shape, it’s King.”