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Never Stop Glasgow
Free EventsTry-Athlete

Get Fit For Free with NeverStopGlasgow and The North Face

written by Stephen Morrison

Put your hands in the air, if you just don’t care.

Care too much about paying inflated fees to get fit that is! Just last week, a feature in the National expressed how wealth (or even a lack of it was) was a barrier to participating in sports and physical activity. When wages (if you are lucky to have one) aren’t increasing but the cost of everything else is, then it can be hard to justify spending £8.00 on a weekly class.

Thankfully, I have yet another one of my “get fit for free” posts to share with you.

Our good friends at The North Face on Buchanan Street (and nationwide) are following up on their free and popular NeverStopGlasgow trail runs with some NeverStopGlasgow fitness sessions.

Over the course of four weeks, you can attend any one (or all) of the Wednesday night NeverStopGlasgow training sessions that will help your prepare for the Great Scottish Outdoors. Or in my case, the Tough 10 Cancer Research event in Edinburgh (don’t forget to enter my free competition for free entries).

Whether you are a skier, climber, runner or Munro bagger, having sufficient strength and endurance to get you across the finish line (or on top of that peak) is vital. Each session will be tailored to provide you with the physical skills to climb any mountain , even if that mountain is more of a hill and you are just out with your family in the local park.

NeverStopGlasgow

Come together to train and to have fun

And with only twelve weeks until Christmas (summer has officially gone), it might prepare you for climbing out of taxis in little black numbers or with sliding across dance floors in your smart suits. What will you train for?

NeverStopGlasgow is not only for elite Mountain Athletes.  It is open to all and everyone participating will come away  with increased fitness and hopefully increased confidence. In fact, if you attend all four weeks, starting this Wednesday at 6.15pm, you will come away with more than that.

The North Face will give everyone who attends four consecutive weeks a special gift from Mountain Athletics (a Thermoball jacket would be nice!), so don’t delay and get signed up for what promises to be fun, challenging and ultimately rewarding. 

NeverStopGlasgow

Just follow this link and sign up for free at a session near you. In addition to Glasgow, there will be events in Edinburgh, Newcastle. Liverpool, Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham and London  (obviously).  As a blogger and physical activity activist, I often complain that brands don’t bring their events to Scotland. Can we show them that there is a demand and that Glasgow is NOT the sick man of Europe?  NeverStopGlasgow

Thanks to Ben Read Photography for the pictures and to North Face for putting on these sessions. I have not been paid to promote this. 

Get Fit For Free with NeverStopGlasgow and The North Face was last modified: October 15th, 2016 by Stephen Morrison
October 1, 2016 0 comment
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CyclingFree EventsRunningTry-AthleteYoga

Get Fit For Free in Glasgow (and Balloch).

written by Stephen Morrison

Get your diaries out and put big circles around Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th September.

For on these days, there is an abundance of FREE activities on for you to try, in and around Glasgow.

Whether you want to go for a walk with the family or a cycle with the family, there is something for you. If you want to hone up on your running skills or even test your fitness, there’s a way to get fit for free, this weekend.

There is an activity for you and activities for all.

Saturday 3rd’s Free Activities

Walk About

Free Activities in Glasgow

From September 3rd -11th, the Ramblers are organising 100’s of free walks across the UK as part of their Walk About festival.

20 of these walks will be in Balloch Park, this Saturday. There will also be games for the young and old and there will be talks from experienced Park Rangers and partners Cotswolds. There’s even free refreshments later in the evening being served to those with tired legs.

Walking was the activity that started my huge weight loss and it is an activity that almost anyone can undertake. With short 15 minute walks to all day hill treks, there is a walk for almost every ability at Walk About at Balloch Park.

British Military Fitness

Get Fit for free in Glasgow

 

If your idea of fun is getting down and dirty, then this Saturday, British Military Fitness might be the workout for you. As the UK’s biggest and best loved (their words) provider of outdoor bootcamps, you are rest assured to get no rest.

But fear not, British Millitary Fitness is actually another activity that is suitable for most and with free events on this Saturday at Kelvingrove Park for Westenders and at Rouken Glen Park for Southsiders, you might want to sign up as new recruit and take this opportunity to get fit for free.

Touch Rugby with the Centurions Touch Rugby Club

Free Activities in Glasgow

As a try-athlete, Rugby is one sport that I’ve yet to have a punt at. It’s not that my face is my fortune, but that me knees are already in bits without having some 16 stone bearded bear maul me in a ruck. So, why haven’t I though about getting in touch (that’s enough puns, I think) with the guys and gals at Centurion Touch Rugby Club?

Touch Rugby is an increasingly growing sport that is fun, fast and non-contact. It is a great way to get fit and again, is open to all abilities and all sexes. This and every Saturday, you can head down to Victoria Park for a free introduction and training session.

Sunday 4th’s Free Activities

Tour of Britain and Sky Ride

Free Activities in Glasgow

Th big events, for cyclist at least, this weekend are the Tour of Britain and Sky Ride Glasgow. The Tour of Britain is an opportunity to watch some of the finest riders in the world embark on this iconic race across Britain and it is also an opportunity to travel in their footsteps (or should that be  in wheel circumferences?). Once the the elite cyclists have departed, the route is opened up to the general public and everyone has the chance to cycle the traffic free 5KM route around the city centre. It is ideal for families and also novice cyclists.

Free Activities in Glasgow

Go Sky Ride around Glasgow in a traffic free 5K

And fear not if it has been a while since you last peddled and you are worried that your bike is not roadworthy. Every registered participant gets a free bike check from Halfords and a free Sky Ride Bib.  A lack a bike shouldn’t be a deterrent either as you can hire, using the code 721972, a free bike from Nextbike (see, everything is free in this blog) for one hour. This should be plenty of time to take part in the fun.

Lululemon Athletica, S D Movement and Barbells, Beards and Barbers

Unfortunately, I will not be running in this year’s Great Scottish Run due to my stubborn pride and my weak hide. My hip and my knee are on the mend, but neither a 10K or half marathon road race will do either of them any good.

However, I can still train and I can look for ways to help me return to running and make me a more efficient runner. If you’ve read my Chi Running blog, you’ll appreciate that I am open to new ideas and that I am a huge fan of Lululemon Athletica. Not only for their uber expensive but oh so wonderful shorts and t-shirts, but for their innovative and community driven approach to helping their customers improve all aspects of their fitness.  Every weekend, you can find free yoga and cardio classes and they regularly put on special one off sessions.

This Sunday, they are spoiling you for choice. The splendid Stella Bertram and trainer Paul are  delivering a Barbells, Beards and Barbers session at Mohair in the Trongate. Beards are optional but you will learn just how useful and effective a barbell workout can be. Again, all abilities are welcome but spaces are limited. Sign up HERE

Get Fit for Free in Glasgow

I am really interested in this one (especially as I also need a haircut and beard trim) , but unfortunately (or fortunately) I will be participating in Lululemon’s main event (sorry Stella and Paul).

Get for for free in Glasgow

Run Glasgow Run with SD Movement.

This is the first of four weekly pre-Great Scottish Run Events at Lululemon. Each week, one of Glasgow’s premier trainers will take you through a free (there’s that word again) but invaluable training session that will help you run faster, longer and with less injuries.

I hear they have a money back guarantee

Week 1 is with Scott Devenney of SD Movement and even if he wasn’t a personal friend (my disclaimer), I would have no hesitation in recommending this session. Scott’s services are highly sought after and he includes mountain ultra marathon runners and er me as clients. He might not get you up a mountain, but he will get you up and over the Kingston Bridge at around mile 2 of the Great Scottish Run, using an array of tools and techniques that make him one of Glasgow’s best movement coaches. You’ll have fun and get fit for free.

(As an aside, Lululemon are also having a wee party this weekend, where you can see the latest range of clothing. Hopefully this means a sale soon)

So whatever your plans are this weekend, why not spend an hour or two trying out a free activity? It might be the first step to a healthier and happier you.

 

Get Fit For Free in Glasgow (and Balloch). was last modified: June 1st, 2017 by Stephen Morrison
August 30, 2016 0 comment
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Paralympic Hope
DoMore with StrathmoreTriathlonTry-Athlete

Scotland’s Paralympic Hopes in Rio 2016

written by Stephen Morrison

Stephen will never be an athlete. He won’t be able to be as active as others and he’s likely to develop early onset arthritis

I am possibly paraphrasing my paediatric consultant a little, but these were the words that were implanted in my head as a child with Perthes Disease.

I spent some months in a wheelchair,  several years in crutches and many more years using my shorter leg and weak hip to explain my lack of athletic ability and my lack of self belief. It also became an excuse to lead a sedentary life.

Now, as a try-athlete, I still don’t don’t possess any sporting prowess and with chronic knee pain, the consultant possibly wasn’t completely wrong (after 9 months, I still haven’t had my knee properly checked).

However, if I could go back in time to my younger self, my one word of advice would be to ignore that consultant’s prophecy.

Sport is for everyone and we can all be athletes

That’s why I’ll be cheering on every Paralympic athlete in Rio for the 2016 Paralympic Games, but especially the British and Scottish contingent. Not in order to use them in some lame fitspiration meme that condescendly asks if someone with no legs can run, why can’t you, but because they can genuinely help inspire the disabled to take up sports  and because they are all genuinely great athletes.

Scotland’s Paralympic Hopes

Take Libby Clegg, my favourite Paralympian (I spent a wonderful day training  with her for Libby’s Guide to Running) and one of Team GB’s major hopes for a medal. Her World Record time of 23.03 seconds is only 1.25 secs slower than Elaine Thompson’s Gold winning performance in the Olympic 200 metres final.

Scotland's Paralympic Hopes

After training with me, Libby went on to set a World Record. Just saying,

Her eyesight has deteriorated further since I met her and she will have to run with a blindfold in Rio, but I am hopeful that her event will be one of those shown by Channel 4 and I will be cheering her on in her attempts to win gold.

I can’t mention Libby without showing some support for her little brother, Stephen who makes his Paralympic debut as a swimmer. He is joined by fellow Scots Andrew Mullen, Scott Quin and Abby Kane in a British squad that contains swimmings sensations Ellie Simmonds and Ollie Hynd who will be flying (or floating) the flag of Team GB.

Paralympic Hopes

http://www.elliesimmonds.com

 

But back to my selection of Scotland’s Paralympic Hopes and next we have an athlete who shares my birthday (albeit 23 years younger) and who makes me wish I could have moved so fast when I was in a wheelchair. She is one of our greatest hopes for a  medal and it is of course Sammi Kinghorn.

Paralympic Hopes

Sam Kinghorn is on track for Gold

Sammi is an exceptional young woman and someone who is another try-athlete. After breaking her back, she travelled down to the Spinal Unit Games in Stoke Mandeville, where she tried a variety of sports before deciding on athletics. She has only been racing for about 4 years but her approach to sport and to life is truly inspirational.

But don’t take my words for it. Sammi is an Ambassador for Strathmore Water’s DoMore Campaign and for Harper MacLeod where you can read her wonderful blog.

Next up, we enter the world of Boccia. What’s that I hear  you ask.

Boccia is a form of bowls that has been developed especially for athletes with severe impairments and it is one of the most inclusive and possibly most exciting events in this year’s Paralympics, if this video is anything to go by.

World Champion Stephen McGuire leads a Scottish contingent of eight who will represent Scotland and Team GB in Rio and like Libby and Sammi, he presents a genuine Paralympic hope and is another inspirational and hard working athlete. He is  also an Ambassador for Muscular Dystrophy UK and like Lizzy, he belongs to a family of Paralympians with brother Peter, a London 2012 medalist.  He is also a try-athlete who dreamt of being a Paralympian and set out to find a sport that suited him, before being introduced to Boccia.

Paralympic Hope

Stephen McGuire hopes to boss at Boccia

Unfortunately, Boccia is unlikely to be shown on Channel 4’s Paralympic coverage, but I wish Stephen and the team success and maybe I can find a way to try the sport for myself. It looks extremely challenging tactically and I love that it provides those with the most severe impairments an opportunity to compete and to play sports.

In Scotland, Scottish Disability Sport are responsible for the sport and you can also find out more at BocciaGB

As a Try-Athlete and injured runner who is now determined to become a triathlete, I am ending this post with an athlete who continues to amaze. Faced with her own running injury , Alison Patrick started competing in triathlons in 2014 and promptly won the World title. In addition to being  a Paralympic hope, she gives hope to me that I can successfully combine my love of running with sports that don’t place as much load on my joints.

Scotland's Paralympic Hopes

From runner to triathlete to hopefully Paralympian champ

Para-Triathlon covers many classes, including those with missing limbs, but Alison competes against those who are visually impaired  If you ever thought that navigating a triathlon course and making the transitions from swimming to cycling to running were difficult, imaging doing so while tethered to a guide. It must be one of the ultimate examples of teamwork in sport

Rio 2016 sees Para-Triathlon make its Paralympic debut and for displays of mental and physical strength and endurance, I think that this will be one event to watch (or record it, if it is on in the wee small hours).

It is my hope that the Cleggs, Kinghorn, McGuire and Patrick receive the same support and admiration as the Murrays, Farah and Brownlees. Not because I believe they face harder challenges or have overcome greater obstacles, but that #becauseofsport these athletes have found a way to push themselves to new heights. Every one of them speaks about a determination to be a Paralympian and their dedication and discipline (Sammi trains twice a day and slaps herself in the head -hopefully not literally-if she thinks about missing a session) are a shining example to budding athletes, both disabled and non-disabled.

The Rio 2106 Paralympic Games start on September 7th and run until September 18th with 50 events and around 4350 athletes from over 160 countries (and two representing the Refugee Olympic Team) competing. Events will be live on Channel 4 and you can show your support on Twitter with the hashtag #Supercharge for both the UK’s and Scotland’s Paralympic hopes.

The lack of funding has been well publicised, so if you are feeling inspired, why not help to support our Paralympians with a donation to Supercharge ?

Scotland’s Paralympic Hopes in Rio 2016 was last modified: March 11th, 2018 by Stephen Morrison
August 28, 2016 2 comments
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Forerunner 735XT
Kit and Tech ReviewsTriathlonTry-Athlete

Garmin Forerunner 735XT Multisport Watch Review

written by Stephen Morrison

This summer, I headed off to Australia with a spring in my step and a new Garmin Forerunner 735XT  on my wrist. It had been a winter of discontent , disappointment and disconnection, but I had decided that by autumn, I would branch out into new sports and activities and leave my troubles and negative thoughts behind.

Armed with the Garmin Forerunner 735XT, I was equipped to track several new activities in addition to the staples of outdoor and indoor running, cycling and swimming which are more than adequately tracked by almost every other Garmin Forerunner watch.

These included  Rowing, Stand Up Paddle (SUP) boarding and Hiking. All activities that I hoped to undertake while on my Australian travels.

There is also the option of adding other activity profiles,  such as Strength and Cardio, but these basically operate like a stopwatch with heart rate based calorie burn, which don’t, in my opinion, add much value, although you can download HIIT training apps, which could be fun (please note that perceptions of what constitutes fun may vary).

The watch itself is smaller than the Forerunner 620 and similar in shape and size to the Forerunner 235. This makes for a comfortable fit and more likely to be “borrowed” by my training partner and partner in life, Teresa. It is quite light and given my knack for falling off of bikes, I have concerns about how durable the plastic  casing and screen are. My first 620 (it was stolen during a burglary) suffered a few scrapes and some might prefer a more rugged watch, such as the new Suunto  Spartan Ultra, but I do like how light it is and the fact that I can customise it and wear it as an everyday watch  (more on that later) at work.

It also lacks the touch screen ability of the Forerunner 620, but I have a confession. While I loved my 620, I prefer using buttons. More reliable, especially in wet conditions  (I do live in Glasgow) and a slightly faster and more accurate  response than the touch screen , although that might be down to my fat fingers.

 

Outdoor Swimming with the Garmin 735XT

While in Oz, I went swimming in oceans,  lakes, creeks and even under a waterfall and can attest to it being waterproof (and shockproof seemingly).  The optical heart rate monitor doesn’t work in water, but Garmin do provide a chest strap for swimmers and another for triathletes with the Tri Bundle. I never tested these as I had left them at home, but when I start my swimming lessons (pool and sea), I will use this to measure my performance and progress.

Garmin 735XT

Garmin probably didn’t have swimming in waterfalls in mind when designing the 735XT

Currently, I am more of a try-athlete than a triathlete, so the Forerunner 735XT is probably a tad advanced for my needs, but the Ironman within me is eager to test it in triathlons and I did manage to test while hiking through a few rainforests and on a kayak in the Whitsunday Islands

Kayaking with the Forerunner 735XT

Forerunner 735XT

I went “get in the sea” with this pic, as I was about to get in the sea

The activity profile on the Forerunner 735XT is actually for rowing and I am not sure just how universal stroke speed and distance are, but on reviewing my performance back on land and comparing it against average kayaking metrics, the numbers seemed about right. For someone not very good at kayaking, that is.

Forerunner 735XT

Seemingly this is at the low end of average.

 

And here is my main issue with the all singing (only activity it doesn’t measure) and all dancing Forerunner 735XT.

Post kayak or row, I love looking at the stats, charts and maps on both the Forerunner 735XT and the Garmin Connect App on my mobile phone and reflecting on my performance. While running, I can lift my arm and see how I am performing in real time, and make adjustments, but just try that while kayaking (and even swimming). You are dependent on two arms and monitoring your performance is impossible, using only the watch (feel free to correct me) without interrupting your flow.

However, the GPS does certainly work well enough, even at sea. It is very quick at acquiring satellites and much faster than my old Forerunner 620. I especially like the Garmin Connect maps.

Garmin 735XT

My Garmin Map of Shute Harbour using my Forerunner 735XT

 

Hiking with the Forerunner 735XT

In Hiking mode, it also adds elevation and as we climbed Mt Ngungun in the Glasshouse Mountains (read my post about it) and Mt Cannibal (given the Australian tradition of naming every place literally such as “To The Beach Road”, I was relieved to find it was clear of cannibals ), my boys were elated to hear at regular intervals how high we were climbing. One caveat worth noting is that the Forerunner 735XT relies on GPS.  For some reason,  known only to Garmin, it doesn’t have a barometric altimeter that you can find in the likes of the Vivoactive HR .

Forerunner 735XT

Elevation (both in altitude and heart rate)

In addition to measuring our elevation, it also measures distance,  pace, calories burned and of course heart rate, which seemed to elevate in pace with our ascent of Dunk Island. The dips were undoubtedly selfie and scenery stops. Not rests. Honest.

And that brings us neatly to the wrist based optical heart rate monitor (hrm). For me, chest straps found on sports watches are a pain. Literally. They are often too tight and I have often found it difficult to keep them in place. The addition of an optical hrm attracted me to both the Forerunner 235 and 735XT and there is something addictive about checking your heart rate while walking to work, climbing stairs, watching television  and even while sitting on the loo. Possibly too much information, but I was only doing so for research purposes. Honest.

But the optical monitors are not without their detractors. Fitbit are currently battling a class action lawsuit for the inaccuracy of their optical heart rate monitor watches and I do have some reservations about the Garmin Elevate system. It is a proprietary technology and over the courses of several updates, Garmin claim that it has become more accurate and for the majority of time, it does seem to be. I have a very low resting heart rate and recover relatively  quickly from exertion (it must be all the yoga and meditating) and the Forerunner 735XT seems to be unable to react accurately to sudden changes in heart rate, although it does eventually respond and for my purposes , the readings are accurate enough.  While wearing it 24/7, I really like how it uses my heart rate to determine my daily basal metabolic rate.  I.E. how many calories I burn each day (otherwise referred to as how much food I can eat in a day).

You become addicted to checking if your heart is still beating

I also quite like the customisable watch faces via Garmin IQ (their App centre) and the smart notifications that show me weather forecasts, social media updates, and even text messages and incoming calls (handy at work). However, these are also available on the Forerunners  235 and 635, and on their own, they are not a reason to upgrade to the Forerunner  735XT. However, the watch does come into its own with some key and rather exciting features.

Forerunner 735XT

Just call me Universal Biker

The Forerunner 735XT is the only Garmin watch order viagra
that supports the Garmin Varia range and having picked up the Vision In-Sight display headset, I can confirm that they pair together quickly. As I train for triathlons and get out on my bikes more, I will fully test the Vision and report back.

The Forerunner  735XT also improves upon the 235 by adding a function that would please my Chi Running coach (see my review of Chi Running).

A Metronome. 

I am guilty of a long stride (even with my short legs) and a low cadence and the Metronome tool is set to pulse at the recommended  180 steps per minute, although this can be tailored to each runner. This helps you run at a more efficient pace.

For the sports scientists among you, the Forerunner 735XT is equipped with all manner of performance indicators. From the standard training tools, race predictor, VO2 max (premium Forerunners) and recovery adviser to more advanced Lactate Threshold (requires the chest  strap) and Functional Threshold Power readings. I will be honest, these mean little to me at the moment, but I intend on finding out.

You might think that all of these functions and the constant use of GPS, heart rate and bluetooth might be battery intensive and in comparison to the seemingly never ending battery of the Garmin Vivofit, it is.  While away for four weeks, and using the heart rate and GPS, I have charged it three times with a very quick charge time.  I should point out that Garmin state that it will last 14hrs in full race mode, so any budding Ironmen might want to consider their expected finishing times and an alternative watch, such as the Fenix 3.

However, the Garmin Forerunner 735XT is a stunning sports watch that combines many of the best features of Garmin’s Forerunner and Fenix ranges and it equally works well as a physical activity tracker  (like other models,  it reminds you to move) and smart watch.

All of this doesn’t come cheap (Garmin Forerunner 735XT Tri Bundle costs £435 at Wiggle , but you can pick up the Run Bundle for £335 at Millets) and for the average runner or cyclist, I might recommend the less expensive options of the Forerunner 235 or Vivoactive HR, but then, who wants to be average and who would much rather be an Ironman (or at least a half Ironman)?

The Garmin Forerunner 735XT is a watch for Triathletes and Try-Athletes. It is the watch for me.

 

Disclaimer. Garmin provided a Forerunner 735XT for this review, but I loved it so much, I bought one for myself.

Garmin Forerunner 735XT Multisport Watch Review was last modified: December 30th, 2019 by Stephen Morrison
August 24, 2016 2 comments
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I AM TEAM GB
Try-Athlete

I am Team GB- Join In on Saturday 27th August

written by Stephen Morrison

Legacy.

Every Games, whether it’s Commonwealth or Olympic, tries to create a Legacy. The Olympic Games are a chance, not only to celebrate and coronate the world’s best athletes, but to inspire and motivate the next generations of Olympians to be the next Jessica Ennis-Hill, Mo Farah or Laura Trott

Every evening, I sit down with my boys and watch at least an hour or two of the competition on TV. I watch as they are transfixed by the gymnasts and cyclists. I watch as trampolines and bikes are dragged out of the closet and then I smile as the boys ask me if we can all go to the park.

I AM TEAM GB

They are my legacy

 

I duly and happily oblige and going out with these guys brings more joy than any of my awesome sporting sessions with Olympians.

I have always tried to encourage the boys to follow my example and become Try-Athletes and to find activities that they will enjoy and keep doing. They haven’t yet found the sports that they want to pursue and at 10 and 12 years old, they possibly need to find one now, if they are to find their future selves standing proud on podiums.

I can just see them as future Brownlees, standing side by side in sport as well as in life.

However, I am not a pushy parent (honest) and my only wish is that they remain active and enjoy as many sports and activities as they can. I do not want them to follow my example and become obese and unhealthy. With almost a third of children being overweight, we have to do our best, as parents, to provide our children with the opportunity to lead lead active, healthy and happy lives.

So, I am genuinely excited about next weekend, when sports clubs across the country open up their doors and invite all of us, young and old, to partake in parkruns, hockey, tennis, rowing and almost every sport on the Rio roster.

I AM TEAM GB

I AM TEAM GG

Join In with TEAM GB

 

It is all part of the “I AM TEAM GB” campaign which will see ITV switch off its seven channels for one hour at 9.30 am on Saturday 27th August, which will hopefully encourage you to switch off your own television sets and go out and do something less boring instead (showing my age).

You can go to your local parkrun (9.00am in England and 9.30 am in Scotland) for a leisurely and friendly 5km run (or walk); you can dive into one of the your local swimming pools and you can try many sports from barefoot bowls to golf, tennis, hockey and judo.

All for free and all at a sporting complex or park near you.

Simply sign up and enter your post code to find out what is happening in your area and then, just join in.

Join In

 

Join In are another partner of I AM TEAM GB and their goal is simple. To encourage more people to get involved with local sport. And that doesn’t need to mean joining a football league like the fabulous Man V Fat or digging out your running shoes for running groups like Great Run Local, it can mean simply giving your time and support to enable others to be active and to maybe help nurture future sporting champions.

I mentioned Man V Fat and Great Run Local for a reason (other than to give both a wee push). Both invite athletes (if you’re active, you’re an athlete) of all sizes, shapes, ages and abilities. Both were brought to Scotland by me, but more importantly both rely on volunteers and the support of local communities to deliver weekly events that genuinely change lives

For everyone involved, participants and volunteers.

Volunteering may seem like a sacrifice of your time, but take my word for it, there are few things as pleasing as hearing that someone is doing something positive in their life because of you and there are few better ways to make wonderful friends than volunteering. You meet people who enjoy helping others, who enjoy being around other people and people who seem to smile all of the time.

I AM TEAM GB

My old Great Run Local Glasgow Gang

 

So, why don’t you Join In with the I AM TEAM GB celebrations on Saturday 27th August and see what sport can do for you?

I am Team GB- Join In on Saturday 27th August was last modified: October 26th, 2017 by Stephen Morrison
August 18, 2016 0 comment
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Refugee Olympic Team
Try-Athlete

Why I am supporting the Refugee Olympic Team at Rio 2016

written by Stephen Morrison

“To treat me equally, you have to treat me differently”

This was the opening line to my winning Diversity & Equality Civil Service Award submission in 2009.

At the time, I was approaching my peak weight and I was probably at the peak of my career in the Civil Service. The work that I did with the DWP Move On Refugee Team, in Glasgow, remains one of my proudest achievements. At the heart of our work and the quote lies a simple premise.

Sometimes, giving people equal rights is not enough. Sometimes, we need to do more than provide an equal footing and sometimes we need to deliver something innovative and different from what already exists.

This was true then for our ground-breaking Move On team and more so now, with the wonderful inclusion of a Refugee Olympic Team at Rio 2016. Ten athletes from four war torn countries now compete together under the Olympic Flag, a symbol that celebrates the unification of the five continents and which represents colours from all of the flags of all of the participating countries. The Refugee Olympic Team represents 59 million displaced people and they represent hope for a better future.

Cheating, corruption and conditions have arguably all cast a shadow on the Olympic Games, but in the Refugee Olympic Team, the International Olympic Committee have created something that we can all rally behind at Rio 2016. They have provided us with an opportunity to show our support for a crisis that has left so many homeless, helpless and hopeless.

They have also created something that represents the true values of the Olympics: Friendship, Respect, Excellence, Sportsmanship. The Refugee Olympic Team embodies all that is great about sport and humankind.

Refugee Olympic Team

Photos, biographies and more information can be found at UNHRC

Unfortunately, however, there are some who are arguing that these athletes have no place at the Olympics and that they should simply be given the opportunity to qualify for the right to represent their new home nations. They are asking why they should be treated differently (or given special treatment) and they are suggesting that these athletes are not good enough,

However, it is my belief that this group of exceptional athletes deserve our admiration and our respect. For an athlete, competing at the Olympics must be the greatest honour and possibly the greatest challenge, but the Refugee Olympic Team have overcome even greater challenges, not just to qualify but to survive.

Refugee Olympic Team

Follow Yusra at her Facebook fan-page

Take Yusra Mardini, the 18 year old Syrian born swimmer. A gifted athlete in Syria, she was being primed for success, but events in Syria took over and last August, she found herself in a six man dinghy with nineteen other people floating in the Aegean Sea. The motor had given in and the dinghy was taking on water. Yusra, her sister and two men jumped out, but not to flee. Instead they got behind the dinghy and began pushing.

Eventually the men gave in, and for three and a half hours in freezing waters, Yusra and her sister continued to push on. They were driven into fleeing Syria, driven into the cold waters and now their drive would give hope to those on board that dinghy and would save 20 lives. Fast forward one year and Yusra now gives hope to the world’s refugees. She and the other members of the Refugee Olympic Team are showing the world the resilience, courage, strength and talents that refugees possess. This year their number is 10, but in years to come, how many more talented, but currently displaced kids will be inspired and empowered to chase an Olympic dream?

That’s why I will be cheering for the Refugee Olympic Team in addition to supporting Team GB

Will you join me?

You can also follow them on Twitter at @RefugeesOlympic with #TeamRefugees and catch up with all the latest news, schedules and results on this handy Google Refugee Olympic Team page

 

Why I am supporting the Refugee Olympic Team at Rio 2016 was last modified: August 13th, 2016 by Stephen Morrison
August 5, 2016 0 comment
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RadioTry-Athlete

CamGlen Radio Does Zumba in Glasgow

written by Stephen Morrison

As part of our CamGlen Radio Adventure Show, Paula McGuire and I met with Christine Peek of Zumba With Glasgow Sisters to find out more about  Zumba and about where you can try Zumba in Glasgow.  Read how I got on last year, when I tried my first Zumba class.

I can only blame myself. Label myself a “Try Athlete” and someone is eventually going to call me out. I didn’t think it would be the woman I loved, but it was!

For months, Teresa has been urging me to come along, to give it a try and to put aside my perceptions and assumptions. For months I have been telling her that I didn’t think it was for girls (I did), that I didn’t think it was a lesser form of exercise (I kinda did) and that I was totally unsuited to it (that one was honest).

But, when Christine Peek adopted my #onepercentmore challenge by offering a bring a friend for free deal, I knew I could resist no longer (not just because I’m cheap!).

I was going to try ZUMBA and I was just a little bit scared.

And not without reason. A constant theme of my blogs is that I’m uncoordinated. I’ve seen Zumba videos and there is far  too much going on,  for my liking. Another reason for my trepidation was that I wasn’t unfamiliar with Christine’s Zumba with Glasgow Sisters method of making you sweat. I “enjoy” her Kettlecise and Insanity classes. I had a suspicion that her blend of Zumba would be testing.

And I was right, on both counts.

As the only man in a room full of women all staring at me accusingly for invading their inner sanctum, I retreated to the back row, where my shuffling and stumbling would go relatively unnoticed until the instructor ultimately pointed at me and coordinated a group laugh.

This is what I was thinking. In reality, I was made to feel welcome and was even given a few words of encouragement. I did still head to the back row. And then it began.

I am ungainly. I am stiff and I have no rhythm. The first few tracks, I felt lost. I’d just get the hang of a move and Christine would move to the next. It was relentless. I was moving in the opposite direction to everyone else and I was having to occasionally stop and stare at what she, and everyone bar me, were doing.

Zumba in Glasgow

Put your right leg out

Just as I was getting into the swing of it, Christine announced that now that we were warmed up, it would get faster.

“F-A-S-T-E-R!?” I mouthed incredulously at my girlfriend.

But a funny thing happened. As it got faster and I started sweating even more, I started to relax. I started to get in time with the music. I started to enjoy it. Sure, I was still all over the place, but I was shaking my arms like I just didn’t care.

Zumba in Glasgow

Shake It up

As the music and moves moved from Salsa to Bhangra to African I started to feel my hips gyrating and my smile widening. Any more so and I’d be close to getting arrested. At one point I jumped out to berate Christine’s partner Spencer for not giving me some manly moral support and couldn’t help myself from dancing back into the room.

By the end, I didn’t want to stop. I was having a great time, doing something that the woman I loved, loved doing. Zumba is far removed from what too many people perceive it to be. It’s hard work, it’s a great workout and more importantly it is a whole lot of fun. All the way home we laughed and joked and I now appreciate just how hard Teresa trains.

What will my OnePercentMore Challenge have me doing next? It’s up to you. What would you like to see me try? Remember, I am a Try Athlete!

And, if you want to try Zumba in Glasgow, you could do a lot worse than trying Christine’s Monday, Wednesday and Friday classes. Alternatively, you can search for Zumba in Glasgow on the official Zumba page.

 

CamGlen Radio Does Zumba in Glasgow was last modified: August 17th, 2016 by Stephen Morrison
August 4, 2016 1 comment
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AustraliaTravelTry-Athlete

Salty Dog Sea Kayaking in the Whitsundays

written by Stephen Morrison

Airlie Beach, Queensland. Gateway to the Whitsunday Islands and renowned for its Main Street drinking and dancing institutions. Here, 21 years ago I made many friends and even hooked up a 3 week sail along the coast while partying each night.

Salty Dog Sea Kayaking

Magnums. Where I spent many a night.

However, this time I was not partying in Magnums or sailing off into the sunset . Instead I was looking forward to another mode of sea faring.

For I had booked an afternoon of Whitsunday Sea Kayaking with Salty Dog Sea Kayaking, a respected and experienced tour operator, based out of Shute Harbour . I had originally hoped to book a place on their full day excursion to South Molle Island , but I had instead learned a valuable lesson. In Queensland and especially during Victoria and New South Wales school holidays, it pays to book accommodation, tours and excursions well in advance.

Thankfully, there was space on their afternoon kayak to White Rock and I was looking forward to getting out to the sea and to testing some of the features of the fabulous new Garmin Forerunner 735XT, which Garmin had kindly given me for my Australian travels (look out for a full review on Man V Fat).

 

In addition to the usual Forerunner tracked activities of running, cycling and swimming, the 735XT also allows me to track stand up paddle boarding, hiking (more of that in my next blog) and rowing and enables me to create this wonderful route map.

salty dog sea kayaking

My Garmin Map using my Forerunner 735XT

Now, I am no expert, but while they might differ greatly, rowing and kayaking both involve sticking a stick into water while sitting in a floaty mcfloatyface.

Hopefully I will soon understand and respect the finer details of rowing, when I try the sport on the banks of Glasgow’s River Clyde, but after being picked up and taken to Airlie Beach’s Shute Harbour I was given a succinct safety talk and introduction to kayaking by Salty Dog instructor Lion, who had found his way to Australia from Germany via an outdoor sports degree in New Zealand.

He explained some of the basic but key points of kayaking and requested that we respect and accept his instructions while we were out at sea. This was especially important as the wind was picking up and the water was becoming gnarly (Lion’s word). The route of our afternoon’s kayak would be determined by Lion’s reading of the weather and the sea. Given my inexperience and Lion’s local knowledge, I was more than happy to defer to his judgement.

I was also more than happy to share a kayak with Elise, a English teacher from the Northern Territories, who also happened to have some experience in kayaking while studying sports at University. I kept my own experience to myself, as busting my nose and mouth open on Tully River rapids might not have instilled confidence in my abilities.

Suitably instructed and paired, we launched our kayak into the water and set off for the agreed marshalling point. The sheltered waters of Shute Harbour were relatively calm and Elise and I quickly settled into a comfortable pace.

Too comfortable it seemed, as we were soon way beyond our group and had to be called back by Lion, who was keen that we should stay as a group.

Salty Dog

Yes, boss, we’ll stay close. ..honest

Throughout the afternoon, Lion provided some history of the region and kept us aware of vital information such as the location of boating channels and advice on what to do if a big boat is heading in our direction. Which was basically stop or change direction as never in the history of kayak vs boat collisions has a kayak came out the winner.

As we ventured further out, Lion unfortunately but understandably advised us that we would not be going to White Rock, as the wind and the waters were both livening up. The sky might have been gloriously blue and the waters clear and relatively warm, but we were not foolish enough to disrespect the sea or Lion’s instructions. Elise and I both felt confident on the water and we were happy to race ahead of the group at times, but never ventured too far away.

While it was disappointing not to be heading to White Rock, I was really enjoying battling against the wind and swells of the sea. There is something both calming and exciting about skimming across the water and with each wave that we broke, we increased our speed. I was enjoying the workout so much, that I encouraged Elise to take a break and film our approach to the beach, where we would stop for a some snorkeling, walking and some food.

Salty Dog Sea Kayaking had provided us with Stinger suits, snorkeling gear and lunch, which were all stored in the holds of our kayaks. The kayaks used by Salty Dog Sea Kayaking seemed to be well equipped and even came with pedals that made changing direction easier for our navigator, Elise.

Once beached, we noticed that visibility in the water was not great and, as a group, we decided to go for a wee hike along the beach and a climb over the rocks, before retiring to an old beach hunt for our energy replenishing lunch of fruit, nuts and juice.

Salty Dog

A wee stroll amongst the rocks

After that, it was a race back to base. O.K. It wasn’t a race, but both Elise and I had both enjoyed our battle with the swell so much, that we pushed on, ploughing through the waves, only to slow down every so often to await our team. It was exhilarating and I might need to look up my fellow Amazing Loser Chris Oliver, who is an avid sea kayaker, once home in Scotland as most of our coastline is stunning and it would be wonderful to test myself in Scottish waters.

But back to Airlie Beach it is for this post and our kayaking adventure.

Our day ended with some manual labour, as we assisted the Salty Dog team in the storing of the kayaks. This final act reinforced the idea that we were a team and as we piled onto the bus and regaled with our interpretations of the day’s adventure, I was struck with a tinge of regret.

The success of all of these trips often rely upon the group dynamic and as the afternoon had progressed, we all had become more and more familiar and friendly. Elise and I had become a good team

Salty Dog

Elise and I became paddle pals.

It would have been a pleasure to have spent the full day with this crew and as I was being dropped off at my hotel, I promised that I would share this blog on the Salty Dog Facebook page, from where I “borrowed “ a few of the pictures in this post.

So, if you are reading this on the Salty Dog Sea Kayaking page, with a view of booking a day or half day kayaking, don’t hesitate. You’ll visit empty beaches, learn about the local area and will fall in love with kayaking in the Whitsunday waters. The Salty Dog Sea Kayaking excursion was one of my favourite Australia 2016 activities and I have no hesitation for recommending them or their tours.

Or, if you are one of my pals reading this because I pestered you to, then let’s get you (you read this far) out to sea, or on a loch or even river for some kayaking fun.

It was also nice of Lion to share his verdict on my sea kayaking skills

Salty Dog Sea Kayaking in the Whitsundays was last modified: August 13th, 2016 by Stephen Morrison
July 26, 2016 4 comments
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HealthJourneyMental HealthObesityRadio

Don’t Worry, Be Happy

written by Stephen Morrison

I worried that when I walked away from Great Run that opportunities to promote physical activity to large audiences would diminish. Great Run was one of my greatest experiences, but it was also my biggest disappointment. I should have moved on, by now, but my name still appears on their pages and I still regret the unfortunate (but ultimately unavoidable ) ending of our partnership.

I worried that as my waistband increased, my message would be perceived as hypocritical and the irony of a now obese again man warning of the dangers of obesity was not lost on me. I have championed the idea of being Fat and Fit, but how can I inspire others, when I have recently been unable to motivate myself and I feel that I’ve been stuck down in a hole.

I worried that my increasing knee pain would limit my ability to keep active and would prevent me from continuing my fun life as a try athlete and Jack of all trades. It seems that I have finally answered my question of How Many Miles?

I worried that giving up on friendships and things that I cherished would force me back into the shadows and enable Stephen the Recluse to re – emerge. I haven’t seen some friends in months and I am again using excuses to avoid meet-ups.

I worried that I was losing the respect of my boys and that I embarrassed them. Other dads were fitter (and younger) than me and I am again adding layers (in summer) to try and hide my waistline.

I really do worry too much and this week has reinvigorated me.

Maybe it was the lovely gift from Lululemon or The Boss reminding me that we are born to run or Ali Clarkson showing me his magic moves on a bike, but as I type this I am dancing in the dark (the light bulb just blew) and I know my glory days will return. I have spent too long in the badlands.

Yesterday, myself, Paula McGuire and Colin Thomas recorded some great material for CamGlen Radio and thanks to Paula, I am having fun again as a try athlete. We are not as polished as other broadcasters (well, I am not), but we are putting out some entertaining (I think) and educational (I bloody hope do) broadcasts with wonderful guest interviews. Colin was simply wonderful and will be joining us for at least the next month as we talk about running. It’s not quite racing in the street, but for an injured runner, it is reminding me why I love running.

I WORRIED

Please tune in this and every Tuesday at CamGlen Radio . Nowhere else, in my hometown, will you hear about as many new activities, for you to try.  Let us know if we have encouraged you to cycle and run or to try Zumba, bowls or yoga. 

Today, the boys and I are starring in an advert together, as an active family for Vitality. We are also being featured in a Father’s Day story on active dads and my boys are again talking about taking up sports and planning days out with me. Those two hearts are what really inspires me to be a local hero.

And then, next week, I start my new role as the Communications Officer for the Civil Service Sports Council in Scotland and I discover what the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons have in store for me, as I step into a new role promoting the #FeetforLife campaign.

 

Before and long before

Before and long before

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Don’t Worry, Be Happy was last modified: August 13th, 2016 by Stephen Morrison
June 3, 2016 2 comments
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CyclingTriathlonTry-Athlete

Street Trials with Ali Clarkson

written by Stephen Morrison

Today , I made my first active commute to and from work by bike.

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Street Trials with Ali Clarkson was last modified: August 13th, 2016 by Stephen Morrison
May 31, 2016 1 comment
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Once 354lbs, I now use physical activity to add years to my life and life to my years

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@2016 - How Many Miles


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