I started exercising at an early age with ballet, tap and modern dance and then represented various school teams in netball, rounders’ and lacrosse. At university, a good friend recommended I join her at a lunchtime aerobics class and so my love of aerobics and the gym began.
I took up step classes when I left university and even bought a step and numerous videos to use at home. Many nights my husband would come home from work hoping to have a nice sit down only to find me twirling around a plastic step in the lounge!
Even when my children were little and I was unable to visit the gym, I would exercise to fitness videos when they were having an afternoon nap.
Once the children went to school, I started going to the gym more frequently and took up running. Having never been able to run a mile, my aim was to take part in a Race for Life. It took me 6 months of training to reach 5km and I took part in the Brighton Race for Life in 2006 and finished it in 35 mins.
I then decided that 10km would be a challenge and took part in a Race for Life 10 km event later that year at Leeds Castle in Kent with Julie our hygienist. It was a challenging course but I completed it in 1hour 10 mins.(Julie was a lot quicker)
My next challenge was the Great South Run. A 10mile road race around the streets of Portsmouth. I took part in the race in 2007 and despite torrential rain on the day I finished it in 1hour 40mins. I was so proud of myself that I actually cried when I crossed the finish line.
Julie then decided that we would challenge ourselves once more and entered both of us and her sister in a half marathon. I put in a lot of training but was not prepared for the extremely hilly course! Some hills were so steep you could just about walk up them. Having cursed Julie for the entire course, I finished it in just under 2 ½ hours.
I also took up body combat and spinning classes at the gym which I do several times a week as well as running.
I have also entered the East Grinstead 10km run for the past 2 years with Julie and this year managed to break the hour mark by finishing in 58mins.
My next challenge is in May 2013 in which I have entered the East Grinstead Triathlon. I will be swimming 500m, cycling 20km then running 5km. I will have to teach myself front crawl but the cycling and running should be ok.
If you are up early on a Sunday, you may see me and my neighbour running up and down the Worth Way in training for the triathlon and cycling around town. However if you are in the swimming pool keep clear of the woman who can’t yet master front crawl as that will be me!