Talk started today of the 1st June and what will happen in the DARO kitchen, exactly half way through CtGF and the biscuit tin is pining for contents and it seems so too are CtGF'er tummies.  A previous biscuit eater was asked 'what are you doing for snacks now' and the reply was 'being hungry, very hungry'.

CtGF is an integral part of being on campus for some of us now.  You have to be fast to get first dibs on the Stationery Cupboard to change into your work-out gear these days.  Pity the person already doing some photocopying when a keener bounces in and strips off.

DARO members continue to try new activities and to set new challenges for themselves.  Our Brighton Marathon runner has signed up for the Boundary Run and there are a couple on the Boundary Fence humming and hahing about whether to join in too.  Many classes have been booked and fingers crossed to get off the waiting list and into the Fencing class.

Our poetry and juggling lunch experience lives on.

Obviously the photo is blurry due to the speed of expert juggling.

DARO badminton was a great success today.  Sally booked two courts and seven colleagues had a good knock-about.  When they got back to the office and were asked who won, the reply was 'we're all winners'.  It might be that this is the activity that continues to unite as we will most probably take this forward as our team sport.  Our Survey Monkey poll had this as a popular activity at the outset so its interesting that it meets expectations in the end.  Sally plays badders regularly and she was able to pass on some tips that were clearly effective within 20mins.  Mary seems to be able to turn everything into an art form as shown in her balletic poses in the warm up captured in the third mini photo.  No injuries or mishaps to report, just positivity.

The Boundary Run was also a great success.  Declan reports himself being the only person who had people cheering him on during the course and is extremely happy not to be last.  We'll report on his placing later but its so exciting what he has achieved that we had to write about it whilst he's still glowing.  All his previous running has been to sustain endurance for the Brighton Marathon and he only warms up to a faster speed after six miles or so.  Running 2.5 miles on the Boundary for a speed placing was a challenge, as was the terrain.  Two weeks ago Declan had to walk part of the course but today, with appropriate training, he ran the whole way.  He thinks that walking the Boundary at the start of CtGF helped him and achieving a good run today has spurred him on to committing to a daily commute run of 15 miles from his new pad (don't forget the house warming party).  Again no injury to report, the knee support is always worn when its not loitering on his desk.

Volleyball is still evil for some.  This is from the class last week and apparently the bruise has gone through every colour before peaking today.

Addendum:  Quinoa served in Dine Central these days!

So this year's CTGF is a weekly program of gym, outdoor run, indoor cycle, a 25 min swim and 1 or 2 yoga classes. I'll also be trying out Charleston and Bouldering as group activities.

Week 4

Monday - Yoga.

Monday evening - Bouldering - I absoultely loved it. After promising Jane that I won't get all macho and gun-ho I got stuck right in. Managed a few yellows and a couple of purple and blacks, highest being a 4a which required a jump up to a handle.

Tuesday - Circuits. My arms ACHED after boldering. Before starting circuits I tried a row, fine, a chest press, fine, and the a press-up and a shoulder press. NO NO NO. No way. Switched those for some knee strengthening exercises.

Wednesday - Spin.

Thursday - Charleston - too knackered to do it and gave it a miss (or rather had a hangover from watching Sunderland secure premiership football for another season ).

Friday - Holiday - Run - 7K - Dropped the kids off at school and took a 7K route home along the Worthing seafront. Desired improvement of 1K over last week.

Saturday - 100m 'non-stop' front crawl. I've never been able to master front crawl and this was last year's failed CTFG challenge. I didn't think I was going to manage it on Saturday either after a couple of aborted attempts around the 50m mark.

1 week to go which should be pretty standard except for the highlight of the Boundary Run.

So this year's CTGF is a weekly program of gym, outdoor run, indoor cycle, a 25 min swim and 1 or 2 yoga classes. I'll also be trying out Charleston and Bouldering as group activities.

Week 5

Monday - Yoga.

Tuesday - Circuits.

Wednesday - Boundary Run - boundary run is 2.5 miles / 4 km, my scheduled run for this week was 8km, so I went round twice. Really good fun. Not sure how my time compared with previous runs but I didn't the second lap quicker than the first. The second lap at the hill running up from Northfields was a killer but I made it.

Thursday - Hatha Yoga

Really enjoyed today's session. Did a bakasana and didn't fall on my face (that's not me in the photo).

 and then eka hasta bhujasana (that's not me either).

Photo source

Friday - Spin.

Saturday - Well I should have rounded of CTGF 2015 with a swim but the kids were on 1/2 term and therefore not at swimming and that mean's I don't go either. It's all part of the schedule ;)

Well I'm sorry if I've bored you to tears with my blogs but I've achieved exactly what I wanted to and more. I'm on schedule for my first offical 10km in 4 years this coming Sunday. I've stuck to my my program albeit with a false start. I've got to know people better within my departmental team and met other people around the university.