Every year January arrives full of the promise of change and

new beginnings, but does anything really change?

No, well at least it doesn’t if you do nothing to make

things change.  So this year, instead of

waiting around for something to miraculously happen, I decided to take some

serious action!

I started by thinking long term so I asked myself what I

wanted to have achieved by the end of 2011. 

I came up with a few things varying in difficultly and ‘effort to

achieve’. 

Firstly, I want to get my motorbike licence.  After nearly two years of theory, CBT, and on

and off lessons I need to make this a priority and actually devote some time to

it.  I am taking lessons with Ian at ART (Absolute Rider Training) who has been wonderfully patient with me.  ART was a recommendation from a good friend

which is why I venture that bit further. 

For anyone thinking about getting their own bike licence in the coming

year, I have heard good things about ADS Motorcycle Training and

PRT Motorcycle Training both in Letchworth. 

Secondly, I need to get in better shape.  I feel slightly stereotypical for saying that

but I am looking at it from a different perspective.  I don’t want to get fitter and lose those

extra pounds because it is January and I feel I should.  I want to do it because I need to if I am

going to achieve the things I want to in 2011. 

I’m planning on building myself a more active lifestyle which I hope

will be easy to maintain and become routine rather than require

motivation.  I have noticed that Parkwood

Health and Fitness and Fitness Connection  seem to have joined forces to become Xchange

Fitness in the Exchange Building on Queen Street.  They are offering some great January deals. 

Something I never thought I would get in to or enjoy was

running, but after giving it a try during the summer I got hooked.  Hitchin is a great place to throw the

trainers on and grab some ‘you time’ for an hour or so.  If you have never tried it I would strongly

recommend that you do.  Take it easy to

start with, when I first started I couldn’t jog ½ mile without needing to stop

for a rest, but it really doesn’t take long to improve.  After about two weeks I could comfortably run

two miles. Hitchin Running Club also have a ‘Beginners Run’ session on a Wednesday at 6pm (meeting at Xchange

Fitness) if you want to meet other beginner runners and get some practical training

advice.  Best of all running is free,

even attending Hitchin Running Club is free. 

Thirdly (and somewhat dependent of me getting into

shape), I want to complete the 192 mile Alfred Wainwright Coast to Coast Walk in 13

days in September.  I have started

training for this with all the excitement and motivation one always has for a

new idea and have already walked 25 miles since the 2nd

January.  However, what I had led myself

in for really dawned on me after completing a 10 mile walk out of Hitchin,

through the countryside to Great Offley, and back again last weekend.  After what would be considered a ‘short day’

on the Coast to Coast walk, on relatively flat terrain, my legs and body were

aching and the last mile or so was a real slog. 

Comparing to the 10-18 mile days up and down Lakeland and the longest

day of 26 miles, I have some serious work to do.  I will be posting information about the long

distance walks as I do them, for anyone who might be interested in walking all

or part of the routes. 

So that is what I have planned to challenge me in 2011,

what challenges are you setting yourself?