Daley Training
Right then, by now you've probably found the challenge of your dreams and you're likely to be fantasising about hot climates or cheering crowds. Well, not that I want to burst your bubble or anything, but you've got a lot of training to do before that glorious moment.
Don't worry though, below are a few tips that can help make your training more effective - and fun (You knows it!).
Also if you've got some advice of your own, you can share it with your fellow believers by emailing Barnardo's event's team, who will happily upload it for everyone to read.
Together we'll be ready to take on the world - and win. Hurrah!
Treks, cycles and runs - with extra sweat
For runners
Reach new heights...
Right, if you're going to take up one of our running challenges, you need to get your lungs working like they've never worked before. And the best way to do this is to head up some hills. Why not pick a steep one near you, pace yourself and see how far you get. If you don't make it to the top, pick a marker (letterbox, telephone pole, crack in the pavement shaped like the Isle of Wight) then, a couple of days later, try it again and see if you go a little bit further.
And don't forget, what goes up must come down. But you need to pace yourself on your descent too. The last thing you want is to see that first marker up close.
For cyclists
You won't have to worry about saddle sore if you put in the training...
If you haven't been on a bike for a while, don't go too far on your first outing. You need to be sure you and your bike are in tip-top condition, so try just 30 minutes. And don't forget to take some water and wear a helmet!
After a couple of weeks, start to increase the length of the ride to about 45 minutes - then onto an hour after cycling for a month. When you feel confident on your two wheels, try to do at least 3 hours a week - up and down hills as well as on lovely flat roads.
For trekkers (not Trekkies)
Walk tall...
If you weren't sent to finishing school (and that's most of us) you'll probably walk with a slight slouch. In which case, you might find this helpful.
It will be more beneficial if you try to maintain a good posture while walking. So, hold your head centred, have your chin parallel to the ground and your eyes looking ahead (unless a tiger approaches rather fast from the left or right). Keep your shoulders down, pulled back and relaxed. Try to keep your chest lifted and your arms relaxed and swinging in opposition to the legs. Finally, make sure your stride is a comfortable length, so you don't overstretch. And that's it - no need to balance a book on your head or anything daft like that.
On a more serious note...
To make sure you don't slack off in your training, why not appoint a friend as your motivational coach? Even better, find a partner to make training more fun. If you're doing a cycle, buy a local cycle path guide to use at the weekend. Likewise, discover hikes to trek and run in your area on the internet or in a published guide book.
Disclaimer:
If you are concerned about your health you should talk to a doctor before starting to exercise. Do not exercise if you have any physical problems that might influence your ability to become more active. Stop exercising and call your doctor if you feel dizzy, nauseous, short of breath, or if you feel pain in your chest.
