I passed my Can-Fit-Pro FIS theory exam with a mark of 89% and my practical (for which I designed and ran a circuit training Boot Camp) with a mark of 91%. WHOO-HOO!! That means I am now a certified Fitness Instructor Specialist, and am ready to take on the next challenge: push-ups.

Press-ups have always been a challenge for me. Like many women my concern has always been the classic hips, butt and thighs, so I’ve neglected working out my upper body for years. The consequence: a complete inability to do a push-up. Not even one. However, thankfully modified push-ups aren’t completely beyond me so I’ve started there. My goal is to do one or two sets of 10 modified push-ups a day until a full push-up is within reach.

Speaking of which, I hear my gym mat calling my name…

My theory exam is happening on December 12th, and is predominantly a multiple-choice exams. While I’m trying not to get too flustered about it I do really, REALLY want not only to pass but do well, so I’m doing my best to get revision in here and there. The practical component brings with it few more mental hurdles for me to overcome. I don’t actually feel like a fitness instructor, which I think is pulling down my confidence levels somewhat. I’m hoping I can find my inner aerobics guru before my practical on January 16th…big swallow…

I’ve decided that part of the recipe for feeling like a fitness instructor may be to dress like one, so I’m heading off to Lululemon tonight to squeeze myself into various pieces of professional attire. I’m also going to take a leaf out of Beyonce’s book and adopt a ‘Sasha Fierce’ persona for my on-stage antics. They say that acting a certain way can actually make you feel that way (hence part of the power of Laughing Yoga classes). I think fierce, therefore I am fierce…grrr .

I’ve just been for a gorgeous 5K run. We’ve been getting into the swing of our wintering gym routine, which for me means treadmill running three times a week and weights circuits that focus on my legs, back, arms, and chest. And abs whenever I remember (my goal is to do my abs circuit every day…but realistically, that doesn’t always happen). I didn’t do anything more stimulating for my 5K than run round the track 12 and 1/2 times, but the air was fresh, the sky was blue–and I was rocking my new Peak Performance running pants, so it felt great (if a little ungainly) to be back on solid ground again after a few weeks of pure treadmill action.

It all started with the beginning of the cooler weather and my being confounded by inappropriate workout clothing (it’s starting to get fairly chilly here and wearing shorts to run now results in purple thighs and strange looks). I know this shouldn’t be a barrier to healthful living, but let’s be honest–it can be. How much more spritely and sexy do you feel when kitted out by Lululemon, for example? From my experience, I’d say that feeling good in your workout clothes can have a similar effect on endurance as powerful, motivating music. When I feel I look good, I feel stronger, fitter, and more professional. Hands down. However, I was suffering from a depressing sense that my too-short flappy jogging pants and bulky Toronto Zoo sweatshirt were ruining my running mojo. And, honestly, washing down a bit more chocolate with a bit more wine was generally much more tempting…

I don’t have any fancy cold-weather gear yet, but I have instead knuckled down and gone back to the warmer environment of the gym where I can wear my lovely Lululemon shorts and not have anyone stare concernedly at my mottled thighs. Everyone’s a winner.

And, after the disappointment of the YMCA training, I’ve signed up to Can-Fit-Pro. My weekend course is going to take place at the end of the month and I’ve learned that I should be able to sit an exam at the Y after I become Can-Fit-Pro certified in order to teach there as well. So, I’m excited!! Signing up for the training has really lit a spark under me: I’ve got my workout schedule planned and today saw me running a half-hour on the treadmill followed by crunch-time for my legs and abs (which are suffering somewhat after I experimented enthusiastically with the abs exercises in October’s issue of Oxygen…ouch…).

Box Action tomorrow, followed by a hearty trot and arm exercises on Friday (…and then beer, lasagna, and hockey–moderation in everything, after all ).

So, I could finish up things here, call a cab, and scoot on over (there are places available), but I’m also currently staring down the barrel of two deadlines and a lack of ready cash. And my parents just arrived from the UK for a three-week visit. To sign up for this course, which calls for full-day Saturday training both this week and next, would seriously bite into my time with them. All in all, after a desperate internal battle, some phone calls to my husband to try to get the car back, and general hand-wringing, I’ve had to concede that now is not the best time. Which sucks.

On the bright side, the YMCA program manager said they would be probably be running the program again around February/March time. Although it’s a shame to have to pass up on the opportunity now, I think the best thing to do in the interim is carry on with Project Me, keep my eyes on the freelance writing prize, and come at the 2010 program better prepared.

We’re still running, despite the frigid temperatures that have wafted over Canada. It’s all about layering, puffs of wintery breath, and giving little knowing smiles to the other runners we meet when pounding the pavements in the morning: our comrades in craziness. Our sartorial choices are certainly practical, if not entirely cool looking; I’m currently sporting a bright red woollen toque with ear flaps that D claims makes me look like a medieval monk. I don’t dispute this, I’m simply grateful that I still have feeling in my earlobes by the end of a run.

We’ve relaxed our regime and are now running three mornings a week for 30 or 4o minutes at a time, as opposed to continuing with our post-5K fancy fartlek training plan. This latest regime smacks a little of winding down for the winter but, as a new Canadian, I’m still slightly uncertain as to how to ensure continuity in your exercise regime in spite of bitterly cold temperatures and an overwhelming desire to hibernate. So rather that trying to push much further forward in terms of stamina, the focus is going to be on maintenance and motivation over the colder months: the not-so-sweaty-betty season!

Our short-term goal now is to spend the next 8 weeks working from an adapted version of our original training plan. This time, however, we’ll be doing it as a jog/run program, rather than as a walk/jog program. Revving up the pace will allow us to continue to challenge ourselves physically while remaining within a very manageable morning-run time frame.

Our longer-term plan is to maintain our 5K fitness over the fall and winter, and break out the shorts again in the springtime for another 5K race. With steady training and a committment to progression, we’ll tackle a 10K at the end of summer 2010. In the meantime, in addition to maintaining our 5K fitness, I’m going to be exploring the world of fitness classes and DVDs.

Stay tuned for the best personal fitness stories, advice and ideas here at SweatyBetty!

I have to say how wowed I am by the training plan we’ve followed, how happy I feel to be back in some semblance of shape, and how proud I am of both of us for staying committed to our training and to each other.

Roll on Sunday!

It occurred to me during my run this morning that the skills I’ve learnt during the past two months of training may have beaten three months of terrifyingly expensive CBT hands down. My natural state, I must confess, is to be strung somewhere between morbid panic and obsessive worrying. If there’s something to have a mild-to-moderate nervous breakdown over, I’m your gal. However…(and I say this with caution in case I go off the deep end tomorrow)…I believe the abilities to center myself, to control my breathing, relax my shoulders, and keep focussed on my goal–which are all so central to running–are making their way into other areas of my life.

I have two deadlines rapidly approaching and have just implemented a new ambitious and goal-driven working plan, but I feel in control. Perhaps I’m just becoming a masterful entrepreneur and all-round cool cucumber…or (more likely) maybe exercise really is the best therapy?

In order to vary the runs and work as many of our muscles as possible we’ve been taking to different terrain. Our favourite by far is the local conversation area, both in terms of its serenity and its well groomed grassy trails. It’s also remarkably quiet, which means we often feel like we have the whole place to ourselves, with only the garter snakes, frogs and crickets to share it with.

Trail running gets me about as excited as a fresh packet of two-bite brownies. Back in 2001 (before the injuries that stopped me running for over four years), I spent the summer living and working in the Cairngorm National Park area of Scotland. With no car and little else to do except enjoy the great outdoors, I spent all my free time running or walking on the myriad of trails and paths in the area. They were simply the best runs of my life. The kind when you feel you can run forever. And last night, running at the conservation park, I got my first taste in a long time of that experience: bounding down the trails, breathing the fresh evening air, and watching the sky turn shades of peach and pink. It’s so good to be back in those running shoes.