New Balance Trail Running Shoes

My trainers were on their last legs so I put out a request for any suggestions for what trainers I should get next on twitter and @Al0haAlice told to get New Balance Trainers "because they are amazing"

With a recommendation like that I would be silly not at least give them a look, Al0haAlice also writes a lifestyle blog so if you fancy a gander then click here

I side stepped the New Balance website and went straight to SportShoes.com and score myself a juicy discount. 

Prices on the New Balance website started from £55 where as I bagged mine for £30 with postage and packaging.

I have used SportsShoes.com in the past and have always had a great experience and super fast delivery, my trainers have always arrived a day after I have ordered them.

I had not heard of New Balance before, I am not going to lie, I normally hit up Shoe Zone and get the cheapest on offer, great if you are on a budget just not great if you are after giving them some serious abuse when running.

My New Balance trainers are really comfortable and breathable.

They fit my size 11 feet well and give me an extra inch to my 6 foot height, all the better for looking down upon the peasants my dear!

Great grip, I have not slipped over in mud or on wet grass yet so that's always a bonus. I am yet to try them on a really muddy route thanks to summer finally arriving!

Great design and people have commented on how nice they look, my Shoe Zone classics will surely be weeping in my wheelie bin, I will pray for them.

All in all a great buy, especially if you can get them cheaper like I did.

Out Door Fitness UK

I have been meaning to check out Out Door Fitness Uk for a while and since they emailed me a free 7 day pass and the sun definitely had his hat on so I went down to Kirkstall Abbey.

I am not really a fan of group exercise so I took a friend along with me for moral support, what can I say? Flash backs from awful experiences in P.E at school.

We assumed the class was taking place at the actual Abbey but it was in the field over the road so we missed half of the boxercise class in our confusion.

We sat and watched the boxercise class as that ended and at one point retreated to the car because it was a bit windy, I had to convince myself to bite the bullet and get stuck in!

The instructor Paul was really friendly, welcoming and  made a point to remember our names which is always a nice touch.

The session it's self was supposed to ViPRS and Kettlebells but I think either everyone was having too much fun swinging the ViPRS around their heads, time just ran away with it's self or the plan for the session was changed on the fly.

Started with a good warm up then straight into a body weight circuit of jumping jacks, press ups, burpees and reverse crunches, regressions of the exercises and alternatives to suit the different ability levels.

Although on the third run through when I opted to do half press ups I was called out on it, it's good to motivate individuals in classes but it doesn't do anything for me and one of the reasons I am shy away from group exercise classes.

To be honest I was a being cocky, I had been to the gym the night before and completed 120 press ups as part of my 30 day press up challenge, fuelled on mainly water an bananas before of my cleanse and add that when I am nervous I tend to be even more extroverted and let my mouth run away with it's self to compensate so I was bound to be in trouble!

On to the ViPRs!

Lots of squat presses, spinning the ViPR around our heads, lunges, running and some core exercises thrown in for good measure as well.

The session ended with a cool down of stretches and giving more tailored stretches to those with specific complaints about tight muscles.

All in all I enjoyed the class as much as I can enjoy group exercise anyway.

I should get more into it particularly to make work muscle groups I tend to neglect, such as my core.
I hate core work out ever so much!

Th group of people that were there were all friendly with different fitness levels, including a very pregnant lady, so what excuse do you have not to go along?

Paul had a good rapport with the group and everyone seemed to really get a lot out of the session.

Out Door Fitness have classes all over Yorkshire and go out in all weathers so no cancelled classes because of a bit of snow or rain.

I did get a good workout from the session but feel I could of gotten a lot more out of it if I hadn't been to the gym the night before or been up since 5am!

My friend did tell me the next day for glutes were in pieces, but you don't need to know what she gets up to in private!

You can check them out on Facebook by clicking here, their twitter here

Get in touch with them and head to one of their many sessions a go, especially with the heat wave coming!

The Killer Armley Steps

Tucked away in the trees on the way up from the Leeds/Liverpool canal to Armley Park are the respected and feared Killer Armley Steps!

161 steps to conquer, it might not seem a lot reading it but when you are stood at the bottom unable to see the top of then you will probably change your mind!

Thanks to the excellent to the coverage of the trees keeping  you cooler can really push yourself and because the steps are off the beaten path the chances are you will have the steps all to yourself.

Because of the amount of flights of steps you have then you can create a multitude of workouts, adding body weight exercises at every landing, jumping the steps, interval training etc

You are only bound by your creativity.

As far as I know there is a free Sunday afternoon fitness class, check out their facebook page for more pictures, workouts and videos by clicking here

The Armley Steps are not a good place to go at night, it is not well lit so keep your visit to the day light hours.

If you are in the area and want a fitness challenge then give the Armley Steps a go, it's free so you can't really go wrong!

Jogging in Armley Park

Armley Park is one the best parks in Leeds that I have been to.

It's a little rough around the edges but don't let that discourage you, it's a great park to go for a run or just to enjoy with your family.
If you are driving there is a small car park at the entrance

 The park has a rugby/ football pitch, cricket pitch, tennis courts, skate park, bowling green, children's play area and even a ping pong table, pretty standard so far.

What makes Armley park stand out for me is the woodland trails that lead from the park right down to the Leeds/Liverpool canal.

Yes you can stick to the flat round route in the park proper but if you are looking to push yourself or training for an event like Tough Mudder then you should definitely go down to the woods today.

The routes take you up and down hill with sets of steps thrown in for good measure, the most gruelling and famous being the 161 killer Armley Steps.

We are due a heat wave so getting beneath all those trees is a great idea to keep you cooler and minimise sun burn.

Don't let the graffiti fool you, Armley Park is one of the cleanest parks I have been to and the wild flowers smelt amazing when I visited in the evening.

I wouldn't recommend going at night time, it's not well lit and sadly I have heard about incidents in the nearby area.

There were so many pictures that I took and wanted to put up but I feel it would over crowd the post so get up there for yourself and check it out!

Jogging along the Leeds/Liverpool Canal

The sun is out so I am making sure my run game is strong and there are not many places in Leeds I enjoy more than the Leeds/ Liverpool Canal.

You can  run to your hearts content, it's 127 miles long!

The route has a nice amount of tree cover, bridges to go over and under, ducks and boats to see along the way as well as a whole heap of other runners and cyclists.

I haven't been the whole 127 miles but the distance I have gone has pretty much all been flat other than when you approach  the locks.

At some point I do plan walking the entire distance for charity but I need to gather some brave souls to come along.

There are no toilet facilities that I have come across but some of the under passes certainly smell like they are!

The only thing I feel I should add is if you decide to venture down the canal please think of your own safety, particularly women.

Although I haven't heard anything bad for a while about incidents down by the canal but it should not leave your mind, take a friend or at the very least tell people where you are going and how long you expect to be.

Sorry to leave this post on a downer but I wouldn't feel right not giving people at least some sort warning.

Jogging at Golden Acre Park

Out jogging again, this time at Golden Acre Park in Horsforth.

This is perfect park is perfect for beginners.
The park is the fairly small at just over half and acre compared to Roundhay's 700!

Golden Acre Park gives you one clear route to jog  around through the trees, past Paul's pond and the ducks that live there.

There are a lot of benches around the pond so if you need a rest you can have a sit down and if you have brought some healthy treats with you and don't mind sharing then you can feed the ducks!

 Do not feed the ducks bread, it can harm their health and uneaten beard attracts rats and can pollute the water, apparently defrosted peas are good choice.

The route is flat and for the most park dry and toilets near the cafe which are free to use.

Golden Acre Park can get busy and there isn't the room on the pathways to accommodate a lot of people, if need room to stretch your legs then opt for Roundhay or Burley Park.

Whether you are just starting out or a seasoned veteran Golden Acre Park is still a lovely park to walk round so if you get the chance to stop and smell the roses then you certainly should.

Jogging at Roundhay Park.

Roundhay park is huge, let's get that said straight away.

It boasts hills, steps, a skate park, children's play area, gardens, trees, two lakes, water fountains, a small water fall, sports pitches, five car parks, a land train, a canoe club and even a little castle!

You can make things easy for yourself by just sticking to running around the lake, which is flat but a bit muddy in places.

 If you are a bit more adventurous and know the park well you can come up with your own route that incorporates the hills and/ or the long flight of steps to really challenge yourself.

There is enough room to cycle without getting in the way of any joggers although you may have to dodge the odd duck or swan.

There are  four different toilets for you to take your pick from, I couldn't find the opening/ closing times but I will have a look when I next go!

Round Hay Park is a big tourist attraction and can get very busy so if you don't like to share your space or just don't want a big crowd watching you sweat your bits off then you may want to take this into consideration.

I really enjoy jogging at Roundhay park, even if it is muddier than Kirkstall Abbey or Burley Park.
The amount of space and the landscape gives you lots of options in terms of route so you won't ever get bored, plus I do love to run to the sound of ducks                                                     happily quacking along with the sound of my foot steps!

Special thanks to Vikki who chauffeured me to the park and modelled in my picture.

Please check out here just giving page, only one week before she takes on the The Whole Hog to raise money for RMHC!

Jogging in Burley Park

                   

I have been out jogging again, this time in Burley Park.

This park is all about fitness and fun with tennis courts, a basket ball court, bowling green, football goals, a cricket pitch and even resistance machines that use your own body weight plus it's a nice place just to sit and watch the world go by.

It's also great to go for a jog, there is good coverage from the trees and has a good incline to run up.
 You can mix up the route you take to an extent, making it shorter or longer or to opt out of the incline.

Burley Park is a lot quieter than Round Hay Parkwhich is a big plus in my books!

There are no public toilet facilities near by so make sure you plan any calls of nature you may need to answer!



As much as I love going to Kirkstall Abbey I find the jog there a bit too easy, the versatility and temptation of the other facilities on offer at  Burley Park makes me more inclined to strap on my trainers and head there than anywhere else in the Leeds area that I have come across.

Bubble Rush

I completed the 5k Bubble Rush at Harewood house, it was my first event of the year and I don't
think I could of chosen a better one!

The event it's self is a 5k fun run, so you can walk, jog, run, skip or dance your way to the finish line with 4 lots of colourful foam to run through and get covered in, there are worse things you could spend £22 on!

The weather was great and Harewood House looked amazing in the April sunshine, there were lots of stalls available ranging from food to bubble themed merchandise to a selfie booth with most of the money going to St Gemma's Hospice.

We were handed our white bubble run tee shirts and went through a fun warm up to the music of Maroon 5 and Bruno Mars designed with all ages and abilities in mind, in fact I am going to steal some of the moves for the next time I hit da club!

Off we went and straight away I my glasses were caked in pink foam!

Lucky for me it is quite light so fell away easily, not so lucky if you are wanting to white wash your friends because the foam just collapses in your hands and blows away.

Unlike the Santa Dash I completed for Saint Gemma's Hospice there was plenty of room to over take the slower runners, if we are all honest with our selves no body likes to get stuff in traffic no matter how cute the children are!

You get 4 lots of foam on the course and two fairly long hills Each lot of foam is a different colour, pink, blue, green and yellow, and it does dye your tee shirt and skin but washes out easily enough.

I did look like I had been given  good beaten with my pink and blue legs by the time I had finished!

Considering I had only gone out running once this year I surprised myself with how well I did, the only part I struggled on was the last hill and that was because my calves felt like they were going to explode, I am grateful to my ectomorphic build and genetics because they helped me run it like a boss!

All in all a great day out for all fitness levels and abilities and a lot of money was raised the St Gemma's, if you want to find out more about the events they put on and what they are all about then click here

Boost your Testosterone!

Following on from my previous post on Testosterone I thought I best let you know about how you can boost your testosterone levels!

Vitamin D:

Vitamin D  deficiency has links to low testosterone levels, with low testosterone levels and low vitamin D levels both being linked to depression there is no wonder you feel like crap in the darker months! 

The best way to combat this is to take a supplement and getting out in the sun more.

If your are free spirited enough embark on some naked sunbathing! According to a study I came across exposing your meat and two veg to sunlight increases your vitamin D absorption by 200%! If I come across it again then I will post a link.

You can also chow down salmon, tuna, sardines, eggs, cow's milk and shrimp.

Zinc:

If you are deficient in zinc than you are probably low in testosterone as well.

Add beef, lamb, turkey, seeds, quinoa, beans and shrimp to your shopping lists!

Magnesium:

Grab some quinoa, spinach and pumpkin seeds! It seems that magnesium helps improve your testosterone levels by improving sleep quality and thus decreases your cortisol levels.

Resveratrol:

The stuff you get from red wine, other than a hangover!

Resveratrol has been shown to increase blood testosterone by 50%! If you can't handle some red wine opt for balsamic vinegar, raisins, blueberries, cranberries or dark chocolate!

Get enough fat:

Getting enough testosterone levels saturated and monounstautrated fats in your diet with help maintain healthy testosterone levels.

Bromelain:

Bromelain is an enzyme found in bananas and pineapples and will help increase your testosterone levels.

Garlic:

Garlic will increase your testosterone levels and speed up how fast your body synthesises protein, be careful though other than giving you smelly breath too much garlic will lower your testosterone levels!

Reduce stress:

Stress can reek havoc on your on your body, brain and testosterone levels!

The are tons of ways to lower your stress levels from exercise, giving up smoking, limit your alcohol and caffeine, sleep and eat healthy foods.

Vitamin C:

Appears to protect testosterone from harm and lowers stress levels!

You can stick to your oranges or opt for kale, broccoli, spinach or some berries!

Whey Protein:

Having a protein shake after exercise lowers your cortisol levels and encourages muscle growth and repair.

Train big muscle groups:

Training big muscle groups with give you a big testosterone boost, particularly when training your lower body, add some squats, dead lifts, pull ups and bench presses to your workout.

What to avoid:

Gluten can have a negative effect on your testosterone levels.

Foods high in estrogen like peas, soy, flax seed. tofu and sesame seeds.

Licorice can block testosterone production.

Polyunsaturated fats and trans fats lower testosterone levels.

Peppermint and Spearmint may hinder your testosterone levels.

If you would like to know more about testosterone boosting food then please click here to check the article written by Mass Gain Source.

Jogging at Kirkstall Abbey

The suns out so I strapped on my trainers and heading out to Kirkstall Abbey in, yes you have guessed it, Kirkstall!

The abbey its self is a ruined monastery and there is still enough of if left standing for you to have a snoop about in when the museum is open, which also has free toilets, open until at least 3pm throughout the year.

The back drop of the river Aire, trees and the abbey make for a more enjoyable and relaxing run then just pounding the streets like some sort of jogging hooker.

The land is pretty much all flat so it's great for beginners and great for me since I have not ran outside all year and have a 5k coming up this Saturday, I guess I'll just turn up and boss it!

If you are nervous about people seeing you jogging then Kirkstall Abbey is ideal, there are not masses of people there in the morning although in the hotter months it is very popular spot midday onwards.

A side from Kirkstall Abbey being a great play to go for a run it's also a great play just sit down and take in some nature and there are often events held from movie screenings to the annual Kirkstall Festival.

If you are ever in Leeds pop down and have a look and why not? It's free after all!

How to boost your energy!

I don't know about you but my energy levels have been rubbish this last two months, my greatest wish has been to quit everything and go and become a full time sloth, sadly this was not an option given to be at careers day.

On busy days I do take a Caffeine Pro pill to help become a delightful morning person, rather than a savage beast, however caffeine isn't forever so I have had a look into other ways to pick myself up!

Get outside.

 Vitamin D with help boost your energy levels and make you feel better in your self in general, the sun might not be very strong but it will still get you of that D that you have been craving!
Check out my post on the benefits of training outside

Hot to Cold showers.

Showers are great for waking you up but to make sure you are really wide awake and really to take a slice out of life after you finish your normal shower turn the temperature down low and try to endure the frigid for half a minute or so then reward yourself by taking the temperature back up then finish on cold again!

This will actually give your cardiovascular system a workout, heat opening up your capillaries and cold constricting them, making blood travel faster!

Listen to some sick beats!

Listen to some music with a fast beat, no Adele I'm afraid, think of all the songs that make you want to party and get them blasted on.

Eat!

Get some high GI food down your neck for a quick boost of energy and some low GI foods for the long haul.

Smell.

Certain smells can boost your energy, you don't need to carry around a bottle of your preferred fragrance you can incorporate them into your day to day life, either by using perfume/cologne, air fresher, shampoo/ body wash or even cleaning products can perk you up.
Look out for Peppermint, Lemon, Lime, Cinnamon, Rosemary and Lavender.

Tidy up!

If your house is messy and cluttered this will have an effect on your energy levels.
Time to roll up your sleeves and spring clean!

Exercise!

Get out to the gym and have a workout, I can't say that I have met anyone who says they don't feel energised after a good workout, even the next day when you are crippled with DOMS you wish you were back in the gym getting that energy and endorphins hit.

Drink more water!
If you are dehydrated then you will feel rubbish, check out other benefits of drinking more water on my water challenge post.

I know that some of these are harder said than done, when you feel like a sack of potatoes it's hard to shake that feeling off, try and choose some of the easier tips and see how you feel about getting back into the gym.

Benefits of training outdoors!

To get me outside and increase my cardio training I have started going to the Killer Armley Steps in Leeds.

Sadly you can't see all 161 steps here and believe me they really do deserve the title Killer!

I highly recommend them to anyone in the area even if you can only manage to trot up them,just try not to throw up!

The benefits of training outside include higher levels of exercise endorphins,the hormones your body produces to lessen pain and give you a sense of euphoria just think of them as your bodies version of morphine!

You might not realise it but fresh air is good for you! It can help you feel more alert,lessen  anxiety,lower resting heart beat plus it's free! What a bobby dazzler!

Soak up vitamin D,no not what you give your girlfriend...

Vitamin D helps your body to absorb calcium, which strengthens your bones and sustains energy production,not to mention that the sunshine vitamin increases your testosterone levels!

The more skin exposed to the sun the bigger the boost,just be careful you don't burn to a crisp and keep your worm in it's hole! 

On the flip side of training when the sun is out,training when it's cold outdoors forces your body to work harder to stay warm therefore uses up more calories to ditch that extra chin you sported at Christmas dinner!