Power Failure: A Lesson in Resilience

Yesterday marked the first Monday of January, a day that signalled the end of holiday festivities and the start of my new fitness routine. I had my running gear laid out the night before, and I was up and ready to go by 6:30 a.m. to tackle a 6-mile run. The day before had brought a fresh layer of snow, and the temperature had plummeted overnight. Rather than risk slipping on ice, I made the decision to head to the gym and hit the treadmill.

But when I arrived at the gym, I was met with an unexpected sight—the building was dark, and the car park was nearly empty. Apparently, there had been a power failure. I felt annoyed and headed home, planning to work for a while, before returning to the gym later in the day.

The day unfolded with its usual demands. I had to visit a client, so I quickly changed into work gear, then headed back home to get changed again in preparation for my gym session. But when I arrived at the gym, it was still closed, and now it was starting to get dark. In the past, I would have thrown in the towel, letting the series of setbacks derail my plans for the day.

But the new me—armed with a fresh mindset for 2025—decided not to give up. I chose to do my run outside, even though it was dark and freezing. The snow had mostly melted, leaving just a few piles of melted snowmen scattered around, and thankfully the footpaths weren’t icy.

So, I laced up my shoes and ran laps around the block. It was a bit repetitive, but it got the job done! It wasn’t the workout I had originally planned, but it was a reminder that sometimes things don’t go as expected—and that’s okay. The key is in how we adapt and keep pushing forward, even when the circumstances aren’t perfect.

In the end, this “Power Failure” wasn’t just about a gym losing electricity. It was about powering through challenges and finding alternative solutions to stay on track with your goals. The obstacles will always come, but it's up to us whether we let them stop us or find a way around them.

The moral of the story? Even when things don't go as planned, there's always an option to push forward. And sometimes, the run outside in the cold is the one that feels the most rewarding.

#snowmen #icy #gym #powerfailure #challenges #obstacles

It starts with the feet

There is lots of free information on YouTube and the internet, I don't know how we all managed before the world wide web.

I've read so many articles and watched a lot of videos which show exercises and stretches to deal with my snapping hip and weak glutes. It's easy to become overwhelmed and end up reading and watching but not actually doing what is necessary.

Another useful snippet I picked up somewhere was to look at my feet. After all if the foundations aren't good then the rest of the structure is always going to be a problem!

I do have quite low arches, they aren't flat, but definitely low. It has caused me problems in the past when doing long walks and I solved it by putting insoles in my walking boots. It never occurred to me to change the insoles in my running shoes. Looking at my current, well used, pair of running shoes, there is definite wear to the outside edge which is more pronounced on my snapping hip and injured side.

So I've invested in a pair of RunPro Currex Dynamic Insoles. The box claims they will enhance recovery, reduce injuries and increase performance.

I've also enlisted the help of a personal trainer at the gym. After discussing what I need, she is going to put together a programme for me. I need the accountability and structure to make me do it. I'm very much a facts and figures person and need to see steady measurable progress. I'm hoping this will be a big help and fill a gap in my training.

I have now started doing a little bit of running and can do so without any pain. So I'm building back up slowly - I started with 1 min, then 2, then 4, 8, 16 etc.  

Shoes

For running shoes, I always used to buy Asics then I discovered Hokas.  I don't know how or why, but I swear they make me run just a little bit faster.  However, due to the very muddy Parkruns I've had to buy some new shoes that are just for the gym and chose some Brooks.  I'd not heard of Brooks before but they are perfect for treadmill running.  I bought them from a lovely running shop, Metres to Miles tucked away in Epworth along with some long Ronhills for those long cold runs.

I'm assuming that I will run the actual Firelighter race in the Hokas but maybe they will be worn down by then.  I'm not sure how many miles a pair of shoes will last, I've certainly got a lot of miles to run before the 1st September!

The Gym

The start of my training coincided with a cold spell.  There is no way I'm running on icy pavements so I've joined our local gym - JD Gyms in Doncaster.  £21.99 per month seems a reasonable fee and I can cancel anytime.

First visit to the gym: 

Learn how to get in (and out) - it's all apps, QR code and pins these days.  

Find the changing rooms and try to padlock the locker - my suitcase lock is a bit small - bigger lock required.

Learn how to use the treadmill and get it to show what I want according to my training plan.  If I use the pre-set 5k distance why does it show how many miles I've run!  I asked one of the assistants to show me how to change the distance run to km rather than miles and she tried to google it but gave up and got someone else to do it.  After a bit of a work around it got sorted out but sometimes it's easier just convert the km distance to miles.

Nice hot shower afterwards, saving on electric costs at home - win win.