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Our BEXI community at its BEST!

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I was reminded recently of the importance and power of a community.

 

A couple of our BEXI members were due to run the Tokyo Marathon on Sunday 1 March 2020. For the past 16-weeks they had trained meticulously – through the intense summer heat and the devastating bushfires, which had an impact on the air quality. They remained focused and forged ahead with their training.

 

Sadly, this was not meant to be. The coronavirus took hold of Asia, becoming a mass epidemic. Two weeks out from their ‘World Major’ Tokyo Marathon, the mass-race event was cancelled. They were devastated!

 

All that hard work – the physical training, mental training, planning, saving, preparing, etc. All gone!

 

They toyed around with finding a ‘replacement’ marathon to fill the gap – but nothing quite matched Tokyo. Instead, one of the girls came up with an idea to run 26.2km (vs 26.2miles, which is the marathon distance), on Sunday 1 March 2020 – the day that the Tokyo Marathon was due to be hosted.

 

She planned three loops of 8.7km each and invited her BEXI friends to join her in her quest. Not knowing who could make it (sadly, her other Tokyo Marathon buddy is based in Byron Bay) – she showed up and was literally flawed by the support.

 

She had an awesome group of BEXI runners join her for each loop of her run. Her sister traveled from across Sydney to support her middle loop. The last loop boosted the biggest support and resulted in her running through a finish chute lined with Tokyo flags, a cheer squad of BEXI buddies, a winner’s tape for her to cross… and her very own personalised race medal – “Winner Tokyo Virtual Marathon 2020, Ros Meyer”.

 

Her buddies even had a printed a photo of her Tokyo Marathon buddy stuck in Byron Bay.

 

This filled me with so much pride and happiness.  Our BEXI community at it’s best!

 

Roslyn and Peita – ‘As you let go of adventures not meant for you… you will be brought new ones aligned to your magic.’

 

Blackmores Sydney Running Festival 2019

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We’d love you to join us for our most popular training event on the race calendar!  The Blackmores Sydney Running Festival on 15 September 2019. An absolute bucket list event, taking you across Sydney Harbour Bridge and finishing on the steps of the Sydney Opera House. 

Regularly voted as one of the most scenic running events in the world, we have the absolute pleasure of calling this our ‘home’ run.  This year we are thrilled to be offering face-to-face training programs across all distances – Marathon, Half-Marathon and Bridge Run 10km.

About our Programs

Our programs are always built on the foundation of having FUN!

Each program starts with building a solid foundation, we then incorporate strength, speed and endurance into the mix. Our goal is to ensure you progress gradually and consistently, building strength and fitness, so that you achieve your race goal in peak physical and mental form.

We train together as a team, as this offers encouragement, motivation, accountability for showing up and a great sense of camaraderie between fellow running buddies.  Training programs are prepared in periodised blocks and provided via Training Peaks. This allows us to structure individual plans that best suits your needs and goals, as well as giving us the feedback and analysis tools we need.

Run training consists of 3 x weekly group training sessions, which take place at Collaroy/Northern Beaches. We mix up our long runs to keep things fresh and fun! There is an additional strength & conditioning session which we recommend to build muscle strength, power and endurance.

Race Distance
Program
Training Starts
Marathon 42.2km 16 weeks 20 May 2019
Half-Marathon 21.1km 12 weeks 17 June 2019
Bridge Run 10km 8-weeks 15 July 2019
Recommended Weekly Training Schedule
  • Mon: Strength Training* – to build muscle strength and to protect your joints from injury (*part of Gold Membership package)
  • Tue: Run Intervals – to develop aerobic capacity, speed, strength & stamina on the run
  • Thu: Run Intervals/Tempo – to develop aerobic capacity, speed, strength & stamina on the run
  • Sat: Long Run – to build running endurance, strength & stamina
What is included?
  • Online periodised training program based on your race distance (8-16 weeks)
  • Wide range of face-to-face coached sessions – running, strength, group classes, etc.
  • Mental skills and strategies
  • Race nutrition and recovery
  • Race tactics and guidance
  • Monthly face-to-face program review meetings
  • Analysis and feedback on training data
  • Race weekend logistics
  • Motivational support
  • Access to private online forum
  • Membership of a supportive, like-minded Community
  • Glass of bubbles at the finish!
What is excluded?
Program Prerequisites

We are committed to supporting and encouraging all to participate in our programs, whilst keeping the health and safety of its members a priority.  Please view our program prerequisites to determine which program is right for you.

About our Coaches

Our qualified coaches bring a vast level of experience in the sport of endurance running and strength & conditioning. Between them, they have completed ultra-marathons, marathons, half-marathons, trail marathons and much more.

Your Investment Options
  • GOLD Membership – Unlimited weekly group training sessions (incl. strength, yoga, group classes, +) – $50 p/wk
  • Marathon – 3-weekly group run sessions, online training program – $42 p/wk (16-weeks)
  • Half-Marathon – 3-weekly group run sessions, online training program – $42 p/wk (12-weeks)
  • Bridge Run 10km – 3-weekly group run sessions, online training program – $42 p/wk (8-weeks)
BONUS! Sign up to the marathon or half-marathon program and we will ‘gift’ your partner our 10km online program.

Surround yourself with Royals

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What an absolutely incredible morning!  I feel truly humbled, inspired and motivated – hence the blog.

It started at 6am with our BEXI runners heading off for their Saturday long run training for Blackmores Running Festival. The morning was lighter and the temps were perfect for running – that feeling of Spring was in the air. I parked up at Billarong Reserve to greet our runners with fuel/refreshments for their long run. While waiting I bumped into 2 lovely ladies who were preparing for their long run – they were off to do 32km in training for their Berlin Marathon. Lesley Wilson (Mosman) and Jude O’Shea (Balgowlah).

Obviously we got chatting about Berlin – which then soon became a conversation about all the marathons they have run — New York, Athens, Chicago, London, Boston, etc.  Wow!!! Inspired and energised about all their accomplishments, the conversation rapidly flowed about their experiences with each marathon:

  • New York – the supporters across the various boroughs. Choral singers in Harlem, Hip Hop rappers in the Bronx, silence in the Jewish Quarter.
  • Boston – the bomb going off after Lesley crossed the line. The shock, the bewilderment, the camaraderie of the running community. *
  • Athens – the basic fuel stations (in the early days). From buckets of water to dip into, to sponges soaked in water, to coke. This was Jude’s first marathon – she smashed it in 3.08.
  • London – the amazing atmosphere! Bumping into Will and Kate,  stopping to take selfies. Then having friends send you pics of you taking a selfie with the royals – too funny! (That’s Lesley in the pic to the right.)
  • Kona – Jude turned to triathlon for a while and competed at Kona twice! She then went off to have 4 x children (!), and is now coming back to running – for the enjoyment.

All such humble, passionate, beautiful stories and covered this in a space of 10mins – while warming up. Oh… and the other amazing fact was that Lesley did not know about Narrabeen Lake! This morning was her first run around the lake.

Such a beautiful experience! I love surrounding myself with these amazing people and such an incredible community.

You are…  the people you surround yourself with!

* If you haven’t watched the movie documentary about the Boston bombing – watch it!  

 

It takes just 8-Steps

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Manifesting what we want in life is not as daunting as we think. We often fill our minds with negative talk which convinces us that our dream is not possible. At the same time, when we fill ourselves with positive talk, positive things happen.

All it takes is just 8 steps:

  • Set a goal – without a goal we have no direction. With no direction we’ll go nowhere. Be clear of what we want – write it down and remind ourselves daily of what we want.
  • Gratitude – feel grateful for what we have now. Our health, our family, our friends, where we live. We will realise we are already blessed and this will drive us to want to achieve.
  • Believe – once we are clear about what we want and believe that we can achieve our goal, the universe will conspire to make it happen.
  • Visualise – image that we have already achieved our dream. Focus on how good it feels to cross the finish line –  to become a 5km runner, a marathoner, a triathlete. This will bring our dream closer to us.
  • Affirm it – affirm our intentions daily, as if the event has already happened. This will bring our dream even more closer to us.
  • Stay positive – we attract what we put out there, so look for the positive in everything. Positive thinking attracts positive energy. Positive energy attracts positive people.
  • Take action – once our intention is clear, we will receive inspiration from those around us. Feed off the inspiration and we will blossom.
  • Meditate – a daily meditation practice will connect us with ourselves on a deeper level, as well as with the universe. This is when the magic happens!

By incorporating the above steps into our thinking, we will start to see the magic happening in our life. Give it a try!

Positive thinking evokes more energy, more initiative and more happiness!
Upcoming dates to diarise:
– 08 Jul Blackmores 10km Bridge Run – 10-wk training program
– 17 Jul Term 3, 2017 – commences
– 05 Aug NEW! Tri-FIT Long  Course Weekend – 12-wk training program (coming soon)
– 05 Aug NEW! Ironman Western Sydney 70.3 – 16-wk training program (coming soon)
– 25 Aug NEW! Delicious Daily Dinners – 3hr Cooking Workshop (coming soon)

’10km Self-Love’ Holistic Program

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Our ’10km Self-Love’ Holistic Program is exciting on every level. It includes all of our passions – meditation, yoga, running, strength, pampering, reading, relaxing, sunshine, beach and best of all… spending quality time with amazing like-minded individuals.

What is self-love?

Self-love is that feeling of unconditional love, gratitude, happiness and a regard for one’s well-being:

  • It’s taking care of ourselves so that we feel healthy and beautiful
  • It’s words of affirmation and positive self-talk
  • It’s treating ourselves to something that we’ve always wanted
  • It’s giving ourselves permission to do the things we enjoy
  • It’s surrounding ourselves with people who inspire and encourage us

The relationship with ourself sets the tone for every other relationship we have 

What is our ’10km Self-Love’ Holistic Program?

It’s a 10-week program where we practice well-being, happiness and gratitude. We surround ourselves with a community of like-minded people and then meet three times weekly to enjoy a nourishing yoga practice; balanced strength training and mindful running.  Our program culminates with our ‘Self-Love’ Retreat in the Gold Coast – which includes a weekend of feeling healthy, happy and nourished.

When are the sessions?

Our 10-week program starts on Sat 29 April 2017. You get to choose 3-weekly sessions that suit your availability:

Day Session Time Activity Location Coach
Monday 9:30 – 10:30 Balanced Strength Active Lifestyle, Collaroy Renata Malinauskas
Tuesday 06:00 – 07:00 Mindful Running Jamieson Park, Narrabeen Debbie Solms
18:30 – 19:30 Balanced Strength Active Lifestyle, Collaroy Renata Malinauskas
19:35 – 20:45 Nourishing Yoga Active Lifestyle, Collaroy Nicole Grace
Wednesday 09:30 – 10:30 Balanced Strength Active Lifestyle, Collaroy Renata Malinauskas
18:30 – 19:30 Balanced Strength Active Lifestyle, Collaroy Renata Malinauskas
Thursday 06:00 – 07:00 Mindful Running Long Reef, Collaroy Debbie Solms
09:30 – 10:45 Nourishing Yoga Active Lifestyle, Collaroy Nicole Grace
18:30 – 19:30 Balanced Strength Active Lifestyle, Collaroy Renata Malinauskas
Friday 06:00 – 07:00 Balanced Strength Active Lifestyle, Collaroy Regan Wilson
Saturday 08:00 – 09:00 Mindful Running Jamieson Park, Narrabeen Debbie Solms
08:00 – 09:00 Balanced Strength Active Lifestyle, Collaroy Regan Wilson
>> click here for additional Strength & Yoga options (from 15 May 2017)    
What is included?
  • Choice of 3 x weekly meet-ups
    • Nourishing yoga practice – to stretch our body and open our minds
    • Balanced strength training – to improve our mobility, flexibility, balance, strength and core
    • Mindful running – to slow our minds and improve our health
  • ‘Self-Love’ Retreat at the Gold Coast (30 Jun – 2 July 2017)
    • 10km fun run (it’s all about fun and participation – leave your watches behind)
    • Nourishing Yoga
    • Guided Meditation
    • Refreshing Herbal Teas
    • Swim, Sauna & Steam
    • Foot Salt Scrub
    • Relaxation (bring a good book!)
  • Weekend program logistics (full program on Fri 30 Jun – Sun 2 July 2017)
  • Motivational support
  • Access to private online forum
  • Membership of a supportive, like-minded community

I am mine, before I am ever anyone else’s 

What is excluded?
  • 10km race entry fee (Gold Coast 10km on Sat 1 July 2017)
  • Travel, accommodation* and meals – to/from Gold Coast
  • Additional pamper treatments (massage, manicure, pedicture, etc.)
  • Eating out – wholefood cafe’s (yummy!)
  • BEXI technical race singlet
What is Investment?

The 10-week investment is $450 (or instalments – 3 x $155/pm) — program starts on Sat 29 April 2017.

NB: It is recommended that you book your flights as soon as possible to secure a good price (currently $200 return, as of end-March).
*We are currently holding a few gorgeous apartments in Surfers Paradise.

Our Gold Coast Marathon | Half-Marathon programs will also culminate in our weekend retreat.

♥  Make happiness your priority – register today! ♥

November Challenge

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Would you like to feel amazing this summer?

This summer is going to be hot and full of fun!  Come join us on our 30-day November Challenge and let us help you feel FANTASTIC this summer.

Who is this program for?

  • anyone who would like to get energised for summer
  • anyone wanting to lose some weight
  • anyone who is lacking in motivation
  • anyone looking for accountability
  • anyone who is intimidated by large training groups

How does it work?

Each week you will be presented with a program of activities which include fitness, nutrition and motivation. We will set you weekly challenges (which are manageable and achievable) and hold you accountable for achieving these challenges.

Our 30-day November Challenge is not about exercising every day and counting calories. It is about fun, fitness, friendship, support and accountability. We will start off with small, achievable challenges and progress each week. There will even be prizes at the end of it all!

What is included in the weekly program?

–  1 x group exercise class
–  1 x home workout
–  5 x breakfast and dinner meal plans
–  Healthy snack recipes
–  1 x wildcard challenge
– Supportive on-line community

What do you need to do?

  • Sign up to the 30-day November Challenge
  • Commit to the weekly challenges
  • Post updates on our private Facebook page

What will we do?

  • Provide you with weekly intentions
  • Provide you with exercise classes and plans
  • Provide you with healthy meal plans
  • Provide you with inspiration and motivation
  • Provide you with support to keep you accountable

What happens at the end?

Your peers will nominate those members who have delivered on the challenge and achieved their goals. There will also be a ‘Coach’s Choice’ for those who have inspired/motivated the group and worked really hard to succeed.

How much does it cost?

Only $45 (normal value $290) – jump on it now!

Current Beauty of Exercise members who have committed to a Summer training programs, will automatically be included.

When does it start/end?

Starts Mon 2 Nov and finishes Mon 30 Nov 2015

What prizes are up for grabs?

  • Hair & Beauty treatment
  • Magazine subscription
  • Health store voucher
  • Meal voucher
  • Much more…

Register on-line and we’ll get you feeling fantastic!

Top Tips for Embracing Spring

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Goodbye Winter, hello Spring – we’re so excited to see you! The season of new beginnings. Fresh buds bloom, animals awaken and the earth seems to come to life again. As the days get longer and warmer, our motivation levels increase and we start setting our sights on new goals. Get fit, learn to run, train for a marathon, lose weight, etc. Whatever your goal, the time is now.We aptly linked our new Spring term to our favourite mantra:

Our future is created by what we do TODAY, not tomorrow
So to help you get started, we would like to share our top tips for embracing the new season:
  • Decide on a goal that really excites you
  • Write it down so that it become real
  • Tell your friends as they’ll hold you to it
  • Research your options for a trainer/coach to support you
  • Surround yourself with like-minded people
  • Set mini-milestones to keep you focused
  • Celebrate your successes along the way
Yesterday is history, TODAY is a gift, tomorrow is a mystery. If you have a goal in mind, we’d love to support you in making it happen. We’ve packaged an awesome Spring Offer to get you excited for the new term ahead…

SPRING GIFT PACKAGE:
Register for one of our Spring programs and you’ll receive our amazing Spring Gift Package (valued at $150):
– Hypnotherapy CD focusing on ‘Mindset for Runners’ – overcoming barriers to achieve success
– 1:1 Goal-setting coaching session with Debbie Solms (Run Coach)
– Beauty of Exercise water-bottle
– Delicious coffee from our friends at Drip Coffee Traders
– Membership to our amazing community
– 25% off our awesome BEXI summer singlet ($15 vs $20)
We look forward to supporting you achieve your goal!
Debbie and the Beauty of Exercise Team

Camaraderie at the Fore

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The Oxford English Dictionary defines Camaraderie as ‘the mutual trust and friendship among people who spend a lot of time together’.

That is exactly what our community at Beauty of Exercise (BEXI) is all about. We support each other through the lo’s, celebrate the hi’s… or just have a good laugh with each other.  

A perfect example was at our interval training session earlier in the week. We had three groups training together – 1) Run-FIT; 2) Race-FIT half-marathoners; and  3) Race-FIT marathoners. It was a very tough session – 2km | 1.5km | 1km | 800m – all at fast tempo paces. The final 800m rep was intended for the marathon group only.  The other two groups were gloating that they had finished and didn’t have to do another rep… until they noticed their ‘buddies’ getting ready for the last rep. Not wanting to leave them unsupported, they jumped up and rallied around them for their final 800m rep.

This truly highlighted what an awesome Beauty of Exercise community we have fostered over the past 3yrs. One which is filled with a great sense of camaraderie, team support, motivation and inspiration. Our BEXI community are always there for each other – if someone needs a buddy to run with, we are there to support them. If someone is having a bad day, we are there to lift them up. If someone  is lacking motivation, we are there to inspire them. The true spirit of our BEXI community. That’s what makes us so special. That’s what we love so much!

Debbie Solms

Debbie Solms is an accredited Personal Trainer, Run Coach and founder of Beauty of Exercise – an inspiring women’s running group on Sydney’s Northern Beaches

 

The Power of Setting Goals

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Why are goals so powerful? Because they give us a purpose; they help propel us forward; they help us believe in ourselves; they hold us accountable; and they help us live life to the fullest.

Three months into 2015, we are proud of the progress our Beauty of Exercise members have been making:

  • Our Run-FIT team completed their 10km Sun Run event in February – huge kudos to Amanda Green for placing 3rd in her age-group;
  • Our BEXI Trekkers completed their 55km Coastrek event last week; 
  • Our committed Race-FIT team are in serious training-mode for the marathon and half-marathon events at the Australian Running Festival in April; 
  • Our inspirational beginner runners and walkers are four weeks away from achieving their first 5km parkrun; and
  • Our fabulous beginner swimmers are gaining confidence in the water as they prepare for their Pinkie Triathlon at end-March.

Goals drive success! So if you’re looking for success, we’ve got some awesome programs planned for the upcoming autumn term:

– Gold Coast Airport Marathon (& half-marathon/10km)
– RUN BETTER Workshop
– 5km-FIT
– Walk-FIT
– Swim-FIT

Put your feet up and read about the above in our latest newsletter – http://goo.gl/Louw8x