The Final VHI WMM Update

Our VHI Women’s Mini Marathon ambassador Hayley Coleman gives us her final training update before the big day on June 5th. Hayley, a professional make-up Artist is no stranger to the Mini Marathon, having completed it last year, calling it ‘one of the most amazing experiences’

After months of preparation, she is nearing the end of her training and is intent on besting her time from last year. Her personal goal this time around is to hit 10k in the 50’s and we have no doubt that she can do it! With less then a week to go, we sat down with the Westport native to see how she has been getting on.

“My training is pretty much done and I cannot believe at how far I have come in the few months.’‘ Along with her busy schedule Hayley’s training consisted off 2/3 5k runs a week along with strength and circuit classes. As well as the training plan Hayley also signed up for a few local races to help with her preparation and helps build confidence.

Intersport Elverys Ambassador Hayley Coleman VHI Mini Marathon

Hayley explains ‘I try to combine this with strength and circuit classes, just to change things up and give me myself a bit of variety.’ Having this variety helps keep the training interesting and Hayley also gives some advice to any new runners or any ladies taking part in the mini marathon.

‘Pick a spot up ahead and run to that spot and if you have to stop do, but only for a short while. The clock is still ticking.’

Hayley went on to add: “If you feel like you are lacking the motivation it’s important to push through and you will feel the benefit from it. It was important for me in preparing not to deprive myself as you want to enjoy my training; moderation and balance are key.”

Hayley also gives praise to her local Intersport Elverys, who were always on hand to help out ‘I have to make a big shout-out to all the staff in my local store, they have been great; always on hand to give me advice on what the best footwear is and what clothing is appropriate for my training.’

With the Mini-Marathon a few days week away Hayley’s last minute advice is ‘I am going to take it easy this week maybe a few gym sessions and eat well and sleep well as that is so important.’

So ladies, don’t forget to visit Elverys.ie or pop into your local store for any expert advice or last minute needs for the big day.

Best of Luck to Hayley and all the ladies who are taking part on the 5th of June. Enjoy your day!


Benefits of a Home Gym

3 REASONS A HOME GYM BENEFITS EVERYONE

Sitting on the couch watching TV and feeling a bit guilty that you’re neglecting your fitness? Have a spare half an hour but not sure you can make it to the gym? Want to get back into a fitness regime but not sure when or how to start?

Well if you’ve nodded your head to any or all of the above then it’s time to think about looking at Home Gym Equipment and the benefits that can bring to you immediately for your fitness regime (as seen on the RTÉ Today Show!).

Cuts down on gym memberships 

Most households feature more than one person – that equates to more than one gym membership for a household. The beauty of investing in home gym equipment is that you cut down on memberships or trips to the gym. Grab an elliptical and you can ease yourself back into a training regime if you’ve dipped in more recent times. It’s one of the most accessible machines out there for anyone getting started or coming back from injury, but it also is perfect for the more experienced fitness fanatic – basically it’s ideal for everyone in your household!

Cater for everyone

A treadmill is a machine that offers a multitude of ways for anyone to commit to their fitness regime. Looking to lose calories? There’s a work out for that. Looking for a speed work-out? There’s a work-out for that. Want to get in a 5k walk without having to head out into the rain and wind? The answer is right here!

Take the pressure off 

It can be very tough for parents of young children to stay focussed on a fitness regime, but when your gym is literally in your own home, how much easier would that be? Pitch up a multi-gym, treadmill or exercise bike in a spare room or even the corner of the room and you have the peace of mind of not having to leave the house, but you also get some down time for yourself while not neglecting your own fitness.

Having a home gym gives you a chance to offer a great impression to your children too. It allows them to see that their parents take fitness seriously and introduces them to a healthy outlook on life from an early age.

There are so many reasons why a home gym could be the most important bit of equipment you bring into your home this year – can you ignore the benefits?

Check our our brilliant Home Gym Equipment Sale NOW ON in selected stores and online http://bit.ly/2eDdBZw


Charity Partnership

CYCLE AGAINST SUICIDE ANNOUNCE PARTNERSHIP WITH INTERSPORT ELVERYS

Intersport Elverys are pleased to announce our partnership with Cycle Against Suicide to help spread the message “It’s OK not to feel OK; and it’s absolutely OK to ask for help”.

Cycle Against Suicide beanie hats are now on sale in Intersport Elverys stores throughout the country. A portion of the proceeds from the sales will go to Cycle Against Suicide, to help promote its aim that “together, shoulder to shoulder, we can break the cycle of suicide on the island of Ireland.”

Over 800 people die by suicide in Ireland each year. That is 800 families and communities devastated; 800 lives cut short. Cycle Against Suicide aims to affect change by beginning a conversation about mental health in schools, businesses and communities throughout the island of Ireland.

The launch, which took place in Dundrum Town Centre on 17th November, saw Cycle Against Suicide Ambassadors; Ireland women’s rugby captain Niamh Briggs and former Dublin footballer, Jason Sherlock lend their support to the Cycle Against Suicide and Intersport Elverys partnership and beanie hat initiative.

Cycle Against Suicide founder Jim Breen said, ‘we are really excited to announce our partnership with Elverys Intersport. We are extremely grateful to them for their support and for helping us to spread the message of Cycle Against Suicide throughout the country.’

According to Intersport Elverys senior Marketing Manager Anne-Marie Hanly, “We are delighted to be in a position to support Cycle Against Suicide as they continue their great work. We have produced an exciting range of quality beanies, which carry the charity’s messages such as ‘it’s ok not to feel ok’. With €5 per item going to the organisation, together with our customers, we are helping them to reach out to some of the most vulnerable people across Ireland to combat suicide and promote better mental health.


Puma Train for Legend Competition

Imagine having the chance to training with one of the world’s greatest athletes and fastest man alive – Usain Bolt or a training session with Rihanna’s personal trainer?

Well Puma (creators of the new Ignite Dual and Fierce) along with Intersport and Elverys are teaming up to give YOU (and a friend), the chance to Train for LEGEND and receive an unforgettable training session with the world’s greatest ever sprinter or the opportunity to train like a superstar!

It really is the opportunity of a lifetime to learn from one of the most talented and gifted athletes to ever grace a running track.

HOW TO ENTER

To win these AMAZING training sessions, simply click here or click on the competition banners below to sign-up . Best of luck!

COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED.

THE PUMA ‘TRAIN FOR LEGEND’  RANGE AT ELVERYS

Check out our new and extensive Puma range in-store and online here -> http://bit.ly/2bx4KtE

See how our last Irish winner, Jenny Larkin, got on in Los Angeles at the last Puma event!


SINÉAD DESMOND TALKS VHI WOMEN’S MINI MARATHON

Journalist and Broadcaster Sinéad Desmond is a long time supporter and runner of the Women’s Mini Marathon, and here she gives her tips and insights into how best to enjoy the big day!

Hello to all you lovely VHI Women’s Mini Marathon ladies!

Whether you’re a veteran, a first timer or coming back for seconds you are guaranteed to have fun! It is such a great event and we should be very proud of the fact that it is the biggest event of it’s kind in the world, with over 40,000 women strutting their stuff through the streets of Dublin! This will be my 10th WMM and I can’t wait. The buzz is always fantastic and so much money is raised for good causes. To date a staggering €198 million has been raised for charity, so give yourself a pat on the back!

I’ve been asked to give a few words of advice to first timers, so here goes! First things first, congratulations you’ve committed to doing your first 10k! If you’ve never done a race before it’s a big deal and no small undertaking, so congrats for getting out there and training. You should be well into your training now, but if you’re not don’t worry – you can choose to walk it on the day, many do! Finishing is the goal, not time. But I would encourage you to push yourself past your comfort zone, if it doesn’t challenge you it won’t change you!

Good gear is essential, I see a lot of boobs bouncing everywhere at women’s events, so lock ‘em down ladies! A good sports bra will make for a far more comfortable running experience! Obviously a pair of trainers that are suitable for the event are a must, most places offer free fitting services nowadays so take advantage of that! A new addition to my kit this year is my EVB capri length running leggings. They are designed to support your core and pelvic floor, which they do, and they keep my posture prefect and protect my lower back. But my favourite thing about them is they stop everything wobbling, think Spanx for jogging! I love that they’re Irish owned and designed by an Irish woman who wanted something to run in that worked for her.

I also always run in shades and a visor too. A lot of you will train for the WMM in the evening when the sun has gone down but on the day it can be very sunny, you see a lot of burnt bodies! So remember to bring sunscreen!

I’m no expert but I’ll pass on three bits of advice that have worked for me over the years.

Do what works for you! There is a lot of information out there about running and by all means soak it up, but trust yourself too!

Change nothing on race day, if you’ve been training in certain gear wear that gear. Eat what you normally eat, run as you normally run.

Enjoy every second! Even the seconds that hurt, the sense of achievement will make it all worthwhile!

So good luck all, see you at the start line!

Xxx Sinead

Sinéad Desmond present’s Tv3’s award winning Ireland AM from 7am-10am Monday to Friday.

 


ROLLING ON – HAYLEY’S TRAINING UPDATE

Elverys Intersport Vhi WMM ambassador Hayley Coleman has pushed on with her preparation for the June Bank holiday weekend and she has found that rest and recuperation is just as important as her training over the last few weeks.

Feeling fragile after a recent 10k race in Castlebar, Hayley has been singing the praises of her Trigger Point foam roller.

“I’ve been using it all week since I did a 10k on Sunday,” she told us. “I was not feeling the best all week in the run up to the race, but I said I’d do it anyway but I was sore since. I went and did another 5k then, and a few (fitness) classes and maybe I should have rested but [the foam roller] has been brilliant. I’ve been living with it all week!,” she laughed.

Her experience on foam rollers was limited prior to starting her training but she recognises the benefit now.

“I would have used it in the gym but because I didn’t have one at home I wouldn’t have spent as much time using them. It completely loosens out any knots you have, it is really good. I didn’t know that my hip flexors would be so tight from the running, but I’ve used it on those and my glutes all week and they are a lot better now. If you have little knots it helps stretch them out and works your muscles. It’s been great, I think I’ll keep using it all the time.”

“The guys in the gym showed me how to use it properly and if you have one you need to know what to do, but if you do it’s really beneficial. I wouldn’t have known what to do with it before, I’d have been just looking at it but it’s been great.”

She has found it especially useful after a long day in the car and on her feet at work.

“Totally. Your lower back, glutes, if they are tight, your back, your hamstrings will be at you and this is why the foam roller is so helpful – I’m using it even when I’m watching TV! Just to give yourself a good stretch, it might hurt a bit but that’s the way you know it’s working!”

Hayley also branched out to using fitness technology in the shape of a FitBit Flex to keep her up

“I’ve been spending my time getting the hang of it, because to be fair there is a lot to it, there are so many bits to it that keep surprising me. You can track your steps, you can check your sleep patterns, everything. I get an email which tells me what my most active day was, and that is great because it is a good reminder.”

“You’re finding new parts to it the whole time, even with my running it tells me how far I’ve gone, the pace I’ve been going at, things I wouldn’t know. You can input your age, your weight, whether there’s any weight loss you want to reach, when you want to lose it by, how much you’ve lost each week – it’s a great help. You wouldn’t even notice you have it on either, it’s very unobtrusive and light.”

Hayley discovered that her fitful sleeping habits can be an issue prior to running so she’s hoping to get in more sleep before the Vhi WMM race day.

“With my sleep [patterns] it’s telling me that I’m only sleeping five hours a night – I would have thought it was more, but I wake eleven times a night on average. You don’t realise why you’re shattered in the morning – you’re thinking you’re after a good night’s sleep. It’s great like that, it’s really helpful.”

“After the 10k I was shattered and I only really came back to myself a few days after but what happened was that I was working very hard that week and I was up at 5am, 6am every day, and by Sunday (race day) I woke up and I was shattered. What I learned was that I need to ensure that I have plenty of rest in the days leading up to the race itself on June 6th. I was burnt-out, and maybe a bit dehydrated. It shows how important sleep and rest is and it’s just as important as training.”

Follow Hayley’s progress and much more on Elverysblog.com every week until the big day June 6th