Big race is on for our Johnny!
JUST over two months ago, after a year of doing absolutely no exercise, I decided it was time to get healthy again and signed up for the Great North Run.
And although I have no before and after pictures, those following my weekly column will know my fitness has improved markedly.
With that in mind, I went to see fitness expert David Fairlamb, a sports psychologist, life coach and personal trainer based in the grounds of North Tyneside College.
David claims to have the best facilities in North East England for personal training, and puts people aged from 11 to 70 through their paces.
Before working out an individual regime, David gauged my overall body condition using a variety of tests.
The first of these told me my weight of 11st 2lb is fine for my 5ft 8in frame and that my lung capacity has gone up to 500 litres a minute after I stubbed out my 20-cigarettes-a-day habit.
A body composition analyser then revealed, among other things, that I have a metabolic age of 33, which was music to my 38-year-old ears.
"The body analyser is more a test of health risk rather than of fitness," said David. "It can be useful, though, as it gives an idea of body fat and fat around the organs. We do these tests once a month with clients."
Loving the day so far, I upped the ante and agree to a treadmill test designed for athletes. I'd been in training, so how hard could it be?
Eight minutes later, I found out. In the first six minutes, my heart rate went up to 182 beats per minute – my recommended maximum for exercise – and, though I managed two minutes more, in the end I couldn't even reach the stop button and whizzed off the end a la Mr Bean.
Wobbly-kneed but satisfied, I was ranked in a 'superior' level of fitness, but it took my heart rate a less than superior 10 minutes to return to 100bpm.
It must be stressed, however, that the treadmill test was only for my personal vanity and not everybody goes on it. Most don't.
Some who go to see David are new to exercise, and find the idea of having a personal trainer all seeming a bit Californian. He thinks times are changing, though.
"We've had all sorts come in, from athletes to 20-stone blokes," he said. "People get bored of gyms because they set programmes lasting up to a year.
"We vary the exercise, so there is a whole range from gym work to beach boot camps at Tynemouth."
Johnny is running for the Children's Trust. His race number is Orange 7426.
For details of personal training sessions, call 0771 364 0899 or go to www.david fairlambfitness.co.uk
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Weather for South Shields
Saturday 04 February 2012
Today
Light sleet showers
Temperature: -1 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 1 C to 6 C
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Wind direction: West
