I’ve always been relatively active. Back in the UK I walked everywhere and hit the gym regularly – well it was only 500 yards from my city centre pad. Fast-forward to Dubai and 12 hour days do rather eat into one’s exercise plan. But given that one is in a bikini for 50 weeks of the year, it’s a constant and very necessary battle to stay fit and trim.
The solution? Let me introduce an old Manchester staple: Monday night running club! Yes, way back when I was thin as a whippet and had more time on my hands, E and I used to meet up every Monday and run around Chorlton Water Park. Happy days! It worked for a number of reasons: Mondays are not a staple of the social calendar so you’re unlikely to be tempted by offers of new bar openings or events, it was a regular date and it allowed for gossip and catch ups during the exercise. Anything which tricks my brain into thinking I am not exercising is most, most welcome.
As Sunday is the Dubai Monday, we’ve decided to introduce this here. Let’s be clear, I’ve only been out twice so far. But this is how good habits start, no? Let’s also be clear: as long as the humidity is hovering around the 80% plus mark and the nightly temperatures remain at 39 degrees plus, we’re never going to be winning any prizes for speed or distance. Quite the opposite.
We’ve got a regular rhythm going: Let’s run until the traffic lights. Or the roundabout. Or the ice-cream shop. Or until we want to pass out (with the current weather conditions, this doesn’t take long.)
I’m not going to lie, I’m not a natural runner. My heart doesn’t sing as I pound the (marble) pavements. But what I do enjoy is running past the beautiful buildings, sparkly palm trees and of course, the world’s tallest building. And despite the oppressive heat, I’d take that over the cold wet driving Manchester rain. And we ARE approaching winter. I’m determined to go at least once a week. Watch this space.
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