loving the new shoes not so much the old body

Im gooing to start this post with an apology.
sorry.
but i need to have a rant, i'm tired old fat and just a little depressed, and getting back into running after a great start is hard and annoying.

I can help but think about how much further I would have been in my training if I hadn't broken my finger and if I hadn't not trained for 3 weeks and well bla bla bla blaahhhhhhhh.

I did go for my run on friday I also went cross country skiing on sunday and then went for a run on monday.
on Sunday I went and bought my self some new shoes to see if I could get myself out of this little funk I'm in, and well a little retail therapy usually works, and I

NEW SHOES!

do love my new winter running shoes, the come with little spikes so I don't slip on the ice, but you  know what even though they were awesome they didn't make me any lighter or help me run any faster, and I spent more time walking than I did running sports tracker isn't working properly so I don't have the proper stats for my sessions, and it makes me cranky.

aaaarrrrgggghhhhhhh

I know there is nothing for it but to just get out there and do my training. But its sooo frustrating!!!!!!!'

so because i have a broken finger i cant grip anything with my lef hand, so that means no lifting for me, more frustration. i cant even do the things im good at, lifting heavy things and hitting people.

so here i am and now for the next 3 to 6 months whilst i rehab my finger i will focus on flexibilty and core stability and running and cycling, no lifting heavy and no hitting people

so I'm feeling a bit stuck.
how do I fix this?how do I get out of this funk?

I look to Winston Churchill who said 'when going through hell keep going'.

so this is me keeping going, keeping motivated keeping inspired.
meh.
not its not, this is me with my cranky pants on.

the plan for the rest of the week is core and flexibility training wednesday thursday, run on friday and maybe some more skiing on the weekend.
we shall see.

check ya
J

trouble getting started

its been a while,
but I've not just been on holiday.
I broke my finger just before Christmas, and needed surgery.
personally I wouldn't have thought that a broken finger could stop me from running, but it has.
and now I'm struggling to get back into the routine.
and I'm slightly depressed about it.
but here is my plan.
tomorrow I go out and run. at least 8 km.

there it is, now I've said it I have to do it.
stay tuned - Ill get back to you tomorrow about how it went.

One step two step three step four - red step blue step one step more

I've had 3 runs since my last post, and what a mixed bag they have been.

I managed to run into the studio, 10.5 k's
Took me an hour and a half, with a back pack.
I went for a friday run with my training partner, that was business as usual,
I ran around the island on monday, about 10 k's, not sure my phone died half way through so i dont have all the stats.

Mondays run was an interesting process, I found my self starting with the usual rhetoric of not wanting to go out.

• Its cold
• I'm tired
• I really should rest i have alot on today
• Its cold
• I dont really have the time for this

Bla bla bla...

And as i'm busy making excuses why not to run the part of me that has actually decided that im running today no matter what is actually going through the process of getting changed into my running gear and shutting up the studio, and before I knew it I was out the door and on my way.

This is a very sstrange process to me, its like there are two different people at war with each other in my head (yes Imay be crazy but hey, who isnt right?)- the one who wants to go out and do this thing, and the other who just wants me to stay in and be comfortable.

And as strange as it is, it is not that unfamiliar to me, its been going on for a long time, and for a long time the part of me that just wants to sit in was winning the argument, ( as a trainer this is not such a good thing, but thats a whole other subject).

I am happy that the winning side of me is the one that wants to get out and do things.

It make me feel good to go out running or riding or adventuring.

And as hard as the process of begining to run is, ( and its hard and painful and frustrating), there is a part of me that is enjoying every bit of it.

It gives me a sense of pride in my self  that i havent had for quite some time, I remember how I felt getting my first black belt, its a similar feeling, and the process is quite similar. Only I'm older and my body hurts more 😉.

But if you're wanting to get out there and be active, Ill say this, let the naysayer in your head have its moment, let it have its rant, but dont let it stop you from doing what you want.

When "they" say dont listen to the naysayers- this meant the ones in your own head too.

👍👊💪

😉

Be strong 

Love 

Have adventures

Good to go jo

Monday Runday

so true to form, after posting how much I was starting to love running last Monday, I had the crappiest run ever!

• I was sore from training the night before.
• I walked too fast at the start - it was cold and I was excited because of my new found love for running - and my legs didn't really like that.
• I tried out a new pair of compression socks which were a huge fail.
• when we got to the forest track there were no lights - see creepy guy in the forest - and after our experience a couple of weeks ago now way was I going to attempt a run on the rack when there were no lights, and subsequently no other runners.
• we ran on the foot path / road - not a good thing to do for my legs especially taking into account the bad start and the wrong socks
• we went to the sports hall down the road and ran on the outdoor track - BORING!!!

So after finding that I was starting to love my running I had what was the crappiest session in this adventure so far.

I missed my session on Friday due to reasons that include a sick 2 year old and just a little laziness


, and after a week of extreme tiredness and little good training I sit here in a Monday contemplating my Monday Runday.

magical vinter wonderland

Today I have decided to try something new - I am going to attempt to run into my studio.

its 10 k (or if you prefer a Swedish mile) -  a good distance.

As I write this I look outside my window and see that what was an ok start to the day has turned into a typically Swedish autumn day.

DARK COLD AND DREARY WITH JUST A LITTLE RAIN.

its not cold enough to snow - but dear got i wish it would. at least when it snows the world becomes a wonderful magical place. this is just depressing.

but never fear - Good to Go Jo is here.

with my never-ending stream of positive thinking I look forward to this run.

• I need to take a back pack, and pack carefully - I must take with me my work gear and then I also need to ride my bike home (I left it at the studio last night) so I need to take riding gear also.

cool, I can try out my hydro pack for running, I have been using it for cycling for over a year now but i have never run with it - I hope it works our ok - we shall see.

 Marilyn  - just because

• also I get to see how long this is going to take me - something I have wanted to find out since we opened in October.
• I think I go through Vinterviken - it runs along the water and offers more trail running than road running.

And now - I am ready

Looking forward to running today -and taking note of my mistakes from last Monday lets see if today's Monday Runday can be a better one than last week.

training actually works - and the running is getting easier

so despite creepy guys in the forest I have continued with my running program, and am starting to notice some effects.

• Its getting easier
• my recovery time is getting shorter
• I want to run more
• I look forward to my next session
• I am starting to think of other ways in which i can en-corporate running into my life - e.g.. to run t my studio instead of ride, (but then I would miss out on my ride so that  doesn't really work, but you get the idea)

And for the first time since I was a kid, I really like - dare I say it, am starting to love running.

so what is so different about running this time?

because really I have been trying to get to this place for years, and always failed.

its simple really - I finally took my own advice.

I set a goal

educated my self

and have taken steps to achieve that goal.

this running thing didn't just start a couple of weeks ago for me, really it started a couple of years ago when I started training clients here in Stockholm.

I  specialise in functional training as a PT, and it has made a huge difference in my own training.

for years I have watched how my advice and programs have helped my clients but for whatever reason I just was not applying it to my own training.

well finally the penny dropped.

I started taking some active MSR sessions with my self looking to release the fascia in my lower legs so that I wouldn't suffer from compartment syndrome so much.

I started to work on my core and functional body, I started to build strength in my lower legs and consciously work on getting my legs back into balance.

and the result.

well I now run twice a week for an hour or so, and next week we move it up to 3 times a week.

and I couldn't be more excited.

so my lesson here is, (and I can hear my self saying this to just about every client I have ever had - sigh & slight head shake) DO THE FUCKING WORK JO & THE RESULTS WILL COME.

And the scary thing is I know this - I have done this with so many other things in my life. (insert smile here)

and now I am doing it with something that has been a stumbling block for over 20 years, and it feels awesome!

so keep training people.

good to go Jo

night running & that creepy guy in the forest - this weeks adventure

so last night I went for a run with my training partner down on the forest track.
we started running at 17.20 in the evening,
now if you're reading this and you don't live in the north of Europe then you might not realise that at 5 pm in Stockholm at this time of year it is pitch black.
Even though its technically still the afternoon, its dark outside.
Living in Sweden they are well aware of that and there is a section of the track that is very well lit, and you can use the track all through winter without concern,
But...
there is more than one way to get to the light track , and the way that I like to go has no lights at all - its very dark, so we do the only logical thing  (insert look of contempt here) we break out the headlamps and run with them.
I love it, it makes me feel just a little hardcore, I'm out running in the dark with a head lamp I must be a bad-ass.
any way back to the story.

night running

So we get to the light track no problems, light work, bas-ass feeling acquired, running like a hardcore trail-running champ.
Whilst running on the light track we pass this guy, who is walking by himself, in track pants and a hoodie, with the hood up trying really hard to be noticed for walking a little bit creepy and not get his face seen (mission accomplished on his behalf).
I think to my self ooo creepy guy, so thankful we passed him on the light track and not a K before where there were no lights and no people. I shudder a little.
Now the thing is, most people out for a walk on the track don't walk slowly with their hood up, so that was one reason to notice him for a start, the other reason was that that instinctual feeling of "there is something not quite right here" hit me. and as a rule - I always pay attention to that feeling.
as a martial artist and self defence instructor I tell my students to also always pay attention to that feeling, and when and if that feeling hits, get out of that situation.
So creepy guy seen on track, I immediately think of my surroundings, the outdoor gym was just behind us and as we went past I noticed a couple of people training at it. Good.
Keep running.

more night running

We run along the track and do out thing, coming back because we have the head lamps I want to run along the section of the track that has no lights.
all is going well.
And then movement up ahead, there is someone standing on the side of the track I see them because they have reflexives on the side of their shoes and the bottom of their pants, small strips but enough to light up.
And Of course its creepy guy from the track earlier.
OK breath deep keep running. I turn to my training partner and get her to take her earphones out, if nothing else its important to be able to hear what's going on.
as another rule whilst out and about, I really like to listen to music when running but I never have it so loud that I can hear what's going on.
Again my thoughts go to my surroundings.
there are leaves all over the track and whilst they are damp, a person would have a hard time approaching without making noise.
keep running

are you feeling creeped out yet?

I keep my light tracked ahead of me as we approach creepy guy so that I can still see his reflective and then occasionally shining my light directly at him.(yes that's right I see you, if you mean me no harm then its all good but if you do mean me harm then I see you)
as we go passed he turns his body away but turns his head towards us so as to be able to watch us go past, hood still up, cant get a look at his face.
OK so this guy really is being creepy. its not just in my head, I'm not over reacting. that was weird.
keep running
we get a good distance away - certainly far enough so that we could relax a bit, calm down and focus of finishing the run.

So I come out of this experience with many feelings.
I'm pissed that some creepy guy felt it necessary to be creepy on my favourite part of the track.
I'm pissed that some creepy guy decided that he would be creepy whilst I was there thereby forcing me to step into protective self defence mode instead of I'm a bad-ass trail-runner mode - yes they are two completely different mid sets.
I'm disappointed that what was a safe place for me has now become a place of fear.
I am glad very very glad I was running with my training partner and not by my self.
And so from now on we run the other way and get to the light track from the well lit path and definitely no running on dark tracks by yourself.
and to creepy guy on the track. STOP CREEPING PEOPLE OUT! ITS NOT COOL!
oh and stop watching scary movies, they don't help either. :)

Be strong
Love
Have adventures

Good to Go Jo

the evolution of good to go jo

the other day one of my clients asked me of all the services we provide at Good to Go which to I love the most?
and well it was actually quite hard to answer, because I love them all.
currently we are a week away from opening our first training studio, so I'm feeling all nostalgic and scared and excited and all those emotions that come along with doing something huge in your life, and this question got me thinking about how it is that I have come to be in this place in time.

so here it is
the evolution of Average Jo to Good to Go Jo.

Before I moved to Sweden - Average Jo

I started my first business when I was 25, I was a very keen martial artist and wanted to start a self defence business, I went and did a business course, found a space to run classes, had a few clients, but very quickly learnt that whilst people like the idea of learning self defence that actually get a little freaked out by the violence of it all.so needless to say that was not very successful.
So i went and got my personal trainers qualifications. this was a great step in the right direction, I got a job working in a corporate health and fitness company and worked my way up from being the new trainer on staff to managing the corporate gyms and working in the corporate health section of the company as well.
during this time I also went and became qualified as a massage therapist. any way long story short.
after working in this company in various roles for about 10 years, it all culminated into this one big moment for me.
The company was in trouble and I was asked to join a meeting with eh business manager and senior staff and the board, so that we could come up with a strategy of how to turn things around.
now as a trainer and a martial artist I have learned that when you bring your passion into a situation it can help motivate and inspire and great ideas come about.
so i went into my business manager and said why don't we open the meeting with talking about what we are passionate about. She liked the idea, so we did it.

I went first and I was very nervous but in preparation I had a good look at my self and realised that the things in life I was most passionate about were the 3 things I have spent the last 10 to 12 years qualifying my self in and becoming very good at:
Personal training
Massage
Budo

Budo & crazy hair

now the outcome of the meeting is irrelevant here, but what happened to me is very relevant.
after that meeting I went home and thinking over what had transpired i realised that i wasn't doing any of those things, nor was i giving my self the opportunity to bring out my passion for them.
I was a middle level manager managing a team of people who behaved like children on a daily basis.
and I was not happy.

the point of the meeting was to develop a change strategy for the better, but I realised that for me the thing that needed to change was not the business it was me, I was miserable, unhealthy and angry and in a state that essentially goes against everything I believe.
I had to change.
So I resigned and started my next business Average Jo's.
Now at the time Dodgeball was a popular movie, and I thought the name was funny and suited me, I just wanted to be an average Jo. a trainer for the people.
And life was good. my business was doing well I was happier but not much healthier, I still had a few habits that needed sorting out.
what happened next?
well I fell in love and moved to Sweden.
and my wife and I started Good to Go.




But it was just apart time thing.
I got a job through a friend, and whilst I will always be very grateful for that job, it gave me many opportunities to learn Swedish and skills I would never have learnt otherwise.
But I returned back to that old feeling of not being happy, and being unhealthy.
something had to change.
so as before when something has to change the best place to look is at yourself.
and I look back and realised that I had in fact become Average Jo.
I was mediocre in every way. I was not what I wanted to be. And so change was needed again.
Thankfully my wife is very understanding, and after our son was born and I had finished my share of the parent leave (gotta love Sweden and their paid parent leave ) we decided that it was time to go full time with good to go and thus good to go Jo was born. (well still in the making )
why do I feel the need to do these things?
Because I believe that healthiness is 90%happiness and the rest is just plain hard work.
So if you're not happy you're not healthy and if you're not healthy you're not happy.
Do things that make you happy, if those things make you unhealthy then you need to ask yourself are you really happy when you do them?
The good to go training studio is a culmination of my vision over the past 15 years.

Studio treatment room

and here I am today getting ready to go full time into one of the hardest yet easiest things in my life.
And it feels AWESOME!
Thanks for reading
Good to Go Jo

good to go Jo