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Spring Challenge 2020

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Join us for seven weeks of fresh air, fitness and all-round fun!

Springtime is here! Time to head outdoors and take on our seven-week Spring Challenge 2020 – consisting of workouts, wildcard surprises, super-sessions, prizes and fun. Our goal is to get your feeling fit & fabulous for summer.

How does it work?
  • Challenge starts on Mon 12 Oct to Sat 28 Nov 2020
  • We will focus on three goals:
    • Get Faster – achieve a PB in your chosen run (5km) or cycle (20km) course
    • Get Stronger – improve your strength based on a benchmark circuit
    • Build a Healthy Habit – commit to being ‘Consistent’ by attending 3 x weekly training sessions
  • Weekly training sessions include:
    • Running – Mon | Thurs | Sat
    • Bootcamp – Tues
    • Cycling – Weds | Fri | Sat
    • Yin Yoga – Tues (pm)
  • Surprise ‘Wildcard’ challenges will be issued each week (can’t say any more!)
  • Points will be allocated for attending training sessions, completing challenges and achieving goals
  • Prizes will be awarded for most improved, most attended sessions and a special Coaches award
  • Prize-giving concludes at end of challenge on Sat 28 Nov – with a brekkie BBQ
Who is this challenge for?
  • You’re looking to reignite your fitness Mojo
  • You’re looking for a tangible/achievable goal to work towards
  • You’re looking for someone to be accountable to
  • You’re looking to hang out with like-minded, fun-loving friends
  • You’re willing to commit to 7-weeks of fresh air, fitness and fun!
What is the cost?
  • $40 p/wk (across 7-weeks)
  • Includes prizes
  • Guaranteed results & lots of fun!

Learn to Run 5km this Summer

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It’s light in the mornings, the temps are warmer – a great time to start moving, be active, get energised and head outdoors.

As I was preparing to write this blog post, I googled images for a ‘Mature Woman Runner’. (At 51yrs old, I consider myself mature.)  The image above popped up, which got me interested.

Harriette Thompson completed the Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon in San Diego last year, in a time of 3 hours, 54 minutes, 16 seconds. She became the oldest woman to ever finish a half marathon. Harriette was 94yrs old!

This is truly inspirational! To think that at the age of 94yrs, this lady is still making the most of life. Wouldn’t you want to be like Harriette?

“Mummy you’re fat!”

Another inspirational story is about our very own run coach, Andrea Drury.  Andrea’s fitness career started in her 40’s. Prior to that she was overweight, heavy smoker (20+ cigarettes a day), and never did a day of exercise!

At 40 she ran her first distance of 50 yards for a taxi, and nearly passed out! At which point, her 5yr old son sat in the taxi, looked at her and said, “Mummy you’re fat and you can’t breathe”.  That was the start of her health & fitness journey – cigarettes went, exercise began, and feeling great followed.

“Surround yourself with positive people on a similar journey to you, and you will achieve your goals.” Andrea Drury

About the program

Our latest learn-to-run program will give you the tools to achieve exactly that!  It is aimed at supporting women who are beginners or just getting back into running. Those who want to get active, lose weight and create a new healthy habit – which becomes part of your lifestyle.

  • Our 8-week program is gentle and nurturing – starting at a low fitness base and gradually build you up to running 5km non-stop
  • We meet weekly on Thursdays at 9.15-10.00am in Manly Vale
  • Groups are limited to small sizes to ensure our coaches are able to give you their personal attention
  • Sessions focus on running technique which includes stride, cadence, posture, foot position, breathing, and much more
  • A few sessions will be filmed, so that we can guide you on how best to improve your running style
  • We also explore running-related relevant topics such as mindset, nutrition, safety, gadgets, etc.
Plus more!

Our 5km-FIT learn-to-run program is MORE than just a running program – it is about getting active, getting fit, making friends, building confidence, joining a community and achieving a very special goal. We want to ensure you fall in love with running, so that it becomes a habit and part of your lifestyle.

About our coach

We are so excited to have the wonderful Andrea Drury lead our 5km-FIT learn-to-run program. Andrea transformed her life (see above) and is passionate to share her journey with you.

Program details

  • Thursdays weekly
  • 18 Oct to 6 Dec 2018 – 8-week program
  • Thurs 9.15-10.00 am
  • Passmore Reserve, Manly Vale
  • Cost: $200
  • BONUS! Free 4-week meal plan with shopping list

“Running is a great way to keep your body fit and healthy but the best thing is, it really helps your mental heath – especially when running with an awesome bunch of supportive, happy people in the BEXI group.” Kate Power

 

FIT-TO-BE Program

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Our FIT-to-BE program was borne out of the desire to support women who want to become fit, healthy and happy.  The name FIT-to-BE suggests becoming fit… to be who you want to be. To be healthy… to be active… to be happy!

If you’re a woman who has lost your exercise mojo, or looking to rebuild your fitness after having a child/children – we will support you in your journey to being fit, healthy and happy. You don’t need to have exercised much, own fashionable gym wear, or organise a baby sitter – just turn up to each session and we will do the rest.

About the program

Our 8-week program will inspire you to learn to love exercise again. To find your mojo and feel supported in the barriers you might have to fitness and nutrition. Each week we will meet at a different location in our beautiful northern beaches backyard and do 45 minutes of exercise to develop strength, cardiovascular fitness, but most importantly make you feel happy and connect with like-minded women.  We will chat, laugh, share stories and catch up for coffee after we finish.

About our Coach

Our coach is the gorgeous Emma Just – mum-of-three, wife, nurse, runner, triathlete… and simply the most humble, beautiful, kind and accomplished lady around. Emma started competing in Triathlon after the birth of her second daughter, where she progressed to competing in the World Champs in Kona (the ultimate accolade in the world of triathlon). But if you did not know this, Emma would not mention it.  Be sure to read her full bio.

“I’m really passionate about the importance of women’s health and well-being. Feeling nurtured and being part of a community and finding something that makes you love being active is vital in changing your life to be fit, strong and happy.”  Emma Just

Program details:
  • Tues 16 Oct to Tues 4 Dec 2018 (8-weeks)
  • 9.30-10.30am
  • $160 for 8-week program
  • Limited to 10 x FIT-to-BE women
What to bring:
  • Yourself
  • Your child (if you have one)
  • Current runners that you use for walking/running
  • Gym tights/leggings
  • Short-sleeve t-shirt/running shirt
  • Sun visor/hat
  • Sunglasses
  • Bottle of water (for child as well)
  • Lots of enthusiasm and a big smile
  • Money for coffee afterwards

We believe the greatest gift you can give your family and the world is a healthy you. 

 

 

Three Mental Strategies for Endurance Running

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As a runner, our biggest asset (or sometimes our greatest enemy) is our brain. Physical training is important, but that alone is not enough to put wings on our feet. What we feel on and off the road has a huge influence over how we perform once we lace up.

Professor Tim Noakes MD (author of acclaimed Lore or Running – and a real guru in the running world!), recommends we train our brains to cope with ‘discomfort’. Interval sessions, hill repeats, tempo runs, endurance runs – exactly the type of training sessions that should be included in our training programs. What is a hard training session one week, becomes a manageable session the following week. Why? Our brains become conditioned to accept and manage the ‘discomfort’ – twinned with an improvement in our physical conditioning.

In the Runner’s World book ‘The Runner’s Brain’, Jeff Galloway (USA Olympic Runner) shares his three mental training methods that he has used for over 40yrs:

  1. Visualise the Race

    Rehearse the outcome over and over. Imagine what you will feel like at certain stages in the race. When you will have strategic nutrition breaks, when you will walk, etc. Visualise key milestones in the race (historic building, bridge, park), where your supporters will be waiting for you, the various terrain (hills), etc. Rehearse your race step-by-step.

  2. Use Magic Words (Mantras)

    Magic words distract you from the discomfort while connects you to your inner thoughts:

    • Relax – There is no pressure on me | I am relaxed | I am enjoying the endorphins | I feel comfortable
    • Power – I feel good about myself | I know what I’m doing | I can do this | I am going to nail this
    • Free – I feel light as a feather | I am floating through the crowds | I am running smoothly

  3. Use Dirty Tricks (Mind Games)

    These are quick fixes to get you from one point to the next. Imagine wrapping a giant invisible rubber band about the runner ahead of you, start cinching him/her in towards you so that you can feed off their momentum. Another trick is to create songs of the names on posters of those who are being supported – i.e. Angela | Pamela | Sandra | Rita… “Mambo No. 5” ?

There is no right or wrong mental strategy. What works for one person, may not necessarily work for another. The key take-out is that we should identify which mental strategy(ies) work for us and then practice them over and over again.

 

If you train your mind for running, everything else will be easy — Amby Burfoot

New York, New York!

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A few weeks ago one of our BEXI Runners, Michelle Savage and hubby Matt, headed to the ‘concrete jungle where dreams are made of’…. and achieved a dream-come-true.  Michelle shares her experience below:

One year ago my husband Matt asked me if I would run the New York Marathon with him. I said “what the hell are you thinking?” Then the more I thought about it, the more I wanted to give it a go (well really I just wanted a trip to NY). So we entered the race in early 2015 and had 8 months to train for it.

I should also mention, at the same time of registering, we started renovations to our house, moved 3 times and changed our kids school! What were we thinking?!

Once in our new house, I stumbled across Beauty of Exercise. Once I told Debbie what my goal was, I was soon armed with a training program and surrounded by the most supportive people I have ever met. I have never experienced this before – it was absolutely amazing! 8 months later, we were on a plane to New York.

Race day arrives, I am calm and ready to do this marathon-thing. We arrived at the start at 7am, however our wave was only due to head off at 11am. I spent the time watching people from all over the world (good thing I love people-watching). Running attracts a great sense of camaraderie!

11am, time to throw the jumpers off and we are off. The first 21km were breezy and comfortable. Locals cheering us on, bands playing loud music, people dancing, police and security on every corner. I hit the 25-30 km mark and started to feel the fatigue. Dizzy, sore, tired, weak – so I started to walk/run and stop at every drink station. Matt stayed with me the whole time – he kept saying we are doing this together till the end! That kept me going.

We reached Central Park with 3-4km to go. This felt like an eternity! Jogging and walking quite strangely – until I see the finish-line. With one last final surge, I pick up the pace and head across the finish line – 6hr 5min.

We did it! It was over… and hard to understand what we just did. It wasn’t until the next morning that the reality set in.

The atmosphere in NY the day after was so special – people having breakfast in café’s, wearing their medals, limping, smiling, laughing. A truly amazing sense of camaraderie!

I never thought of ever running a marathon, but now I can look back and cherish the experience!  Thank you to all my BEXI buddies for making me feel special and supporting my journey. I hope some of you get go to New York and share in this experience — it is worth every penny. Thank you so much!

Michelle Savage
Marathon Runner

There’s nothing you can’t do
Now you’re in New York…

Congratulations Michelle and Matt – an absolutely awesome experience! You will always cherish that first marathon.

Debbie Solms
Run Coach | Personal Trainer