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PARK RUN – YOUR PERFECT PARTNER

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The weeks are slowly counting down towards the June Bank Holiday weekend and the Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon, and three familiar faces are looking forward to the big day, having already faced up to big challenges themselves this year.

Clare Scanlon, Noeleen Lynam and Lucy Dillon will be well known to viewers of the massively popular RTÉ show Operation Transformation, and the three ladies are now gearing up for their next milestone – the Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon.

The three Leaders from the RTÉ show are looking forward to the event as they continue the training regimes that saw them drop a combined 64.9 lbs over the course of the show.

Clare Scanlan is fighting through the pain barrier at the moment with a troublesome knee injury but she is adamant that it will not stop her making the finish line in Dublin in June.

“I’m not setting out to jog it because of my surgery. I have my cartilige torn and i am aiming to walk it but I hope to jog a little bit too. They are kicking off a new park run in Newcastle West in the coming weeks and I will definitely be doing that but at the moment I’m walking every couple of nights and cycling.

“I’m doing the bike to suit my knee, it’s non-resistant, you’re not putting pressure on it, but I’m also walking two nights a week plus the exercises online from Karl Henry so it’s a combination of all those you know. ”

One of the most important things aspects of the Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon is of course the fact that it is something for women of all ages, and abilities to enjoy and Clare says that even if she can’t run it, she’ll still finish it and use the training as part of a healthy life-style.

“A lot of people walk it anyway- the majority of people do walk it. Running isn’t for everyone, it might never be for me even, but you never know!

This [staying healthy and fit] is a long term project. I have come a long way in a short time, the intensity we had on Operation Transformation, I suppose you couldn’t sustain that. Right now it’s about preparing for the Mini-Marathon and getting into a rhythm that suits your lifestyle. I’ll definitely keep it up and won’t go back to the way I was definitely.”

Her fellow Operation Transformation leaders Noeleen Lynam and Lucy Dillon were in full agreement that the fitness kick wouldn’t stop once the cameras stopped rolling on the show and Noeleen is working hard to get herself ready for the race.

“It’s going well,” she says of her prep. “I downloaded a plan, we had the app for doing the 5k and now I’ve to move up to the 10k and I’m following that to the best of my ability and it’s going well – hopefully I’ll be ready for June!”

“I know with Operation Transformation people say “oh my gosh [what happens] once it finishes?” but they (RTÉ) are very good and we had a life coach session with Dr Eddie where your goals for the next year were set out, either fitness or in other areas. I actually find that I try to do the running and swimming every second day and the resistance training on the other days, and I have got to the stage that I feel if I don’t do them I’m missing out. I feel bad for not doing them! It’s not something that would have happened before but you get into that way of thinking and when you know how good you feel after doing the exercise, you don’t want to give that up.“

Lucy Dillon agrees and believes that park run is the perfect way to get yourself ready for the Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon. She says having the goal of the race has helped her carry on her work from the show.

“It has definitely, if not helping me even more. My fitness regime is stricter than my food plan at the moment – that hasn’t gone out the window, I’m lighter now than I was on the show- but my fitness plan is going very well.

“I find it easier now, I’m doing more exercise  than when I was on the show because Op Trans was very intense, trying to fit everything in. I can now do it at my own leisure rather than fitting it around the camera. Even on Wednesday night there I did a 10k in Dundalk and that’s something I couldn’t do when on the show.

“I do the park run every Saturday morning and that gives me confidence knowing that I have that every Saturday. Other than that I’m on a ten week training plan, the interval training is good. I signed up for the 10k to give me a taste of it.”

Her advice for anyone still thinking about signing up for the Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon is do it and then get yourself down to the nearest park run to get into your stride.

“Jump in, do the park run, there’s plenty of people doing it and that will push you on because you’re not on your own. There’s still plenty of time to get ready for the mini-marathon. You can walk it if you want, and anything you do between now and then is a bonus really.”

Get your official Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon gear now at Elverys.ie http://bit.ly/1MBVRbE

ASICS GEL LUMINUS – RUN LONGER

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The Asics Gel-Luminous is a running shoe from the running experts. It’s made for runners and not only does it offer fantastic comfort, it also helps keep your running gait in check -and that’s good news, believe us. The Asics Gel-Luminus Women’s Running Shoe has FluideRide midsole and gel cushioning
which offers you the prefect form foot strike, landing and take off to give you a comfortable and springy ride.

With exceptional cushioning for longer runs, a breathable mesh upper and a Clutch Collar System™ creates a snug and dynamic fit around your heel the Gel-Luminous is the perfect shoe for anyone who wants the best for their feet.

FluidRide bounce back and cushioning with less weight and more durability making sure that your last step is as comfortable as the first while rearfoot and forefoot GEL absorbs shock throughout the gait cycle and reflectivity material for visibility in poor light. Perhaps best of all the high abrasion rubber on the outsole brings exceptional durability to the Asics Gel-Luminous which means that you know this will not quickly fall apart on you meaning you have to dip into your pocket any time soon!

The Asics Gel-Luminous for men and women – available now at Elverys.ie and in Elverys Intersport stores http://bit.ly/1UooelK

PUSHING ONWARDS

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Hayley Coleman is one of the most best known make-up artists in the country and will this year be running the VHI WMM for the first time. Elverysblog.com will be following her progress as she gears up the run on Monday June 6th.

It hasn’t been ideal training weather in the last couple of weeks but Elverys ambassador Hayley has still kept up the hard work ahead of the VHI Women’s Mini-Marathon as she explains.

“Because the weather is just so bad recently I really didn’t want to go outside! I did a 6k run on Sunday last but I have been doing more in the gym, strength & conditioning and that – it’s keeping me on my toes. I’ll try and get a run in over the weekend, but it is so horrible with the storms and wind… With the evenings getting a bit brighter though it will be a help, but overall training hasn’t been too bad, I’m getting on ok.”

She points out that despite the less than desirable conditions doesn’t mean that you need to shelf the training.

“Exactly. I was doing a lot of treadmill work and trying to get out on the road but the weather put paid to that. Having said that the weather has improved a bit and hopefully I’ll get a half an hour run in over the next couple of days to keep up my fitness. When the weather is that bad I try and push myself a bit more in the gym because it helps with the overall fitness really and that’s as important as anything. I feel myself getting fitter though when I do get out to run as well.”

With the knowledge that the better prepared you are for any event the better, Hayley has been wearing the Shock Absorber Max Sports bra and EVB Sports Leggings and she is delighted with how much protection and support they have provided in her runs.

“The Shock Absorber are amazing, very, very good. Some girls don’t wear sports bras when running and I think that is just ridiculous because they are so helpful. The EVB are great, they give you so much support in your core, they keep everything in – you’re not wobbling around,” she laughed, “but it really does help mentally as well when you know you have the right gear, it helps you when you’re getting out there to run.”

Read Hayley’s previous column here – http://bit.ly/1MrzlCm

“The great thing as well is that you wouldn’t notice them, they are not intrusive at all. I’ve worn them for running and they really do help support your posture. The EVB are so great for that, and the Shock Absorber gives you such support as well. I’ve had people with back issues ask me about the EVB and I have to say I’d have no problem recommending them at all.”

“They’re black as well, you can’t go wrong – they are fashionable, and when they’re fashionable that’s also important ha!”

While the weeks are counting down to the big day, Hayley is not getting worried focusing on the event just yet.

“I’m not even thinking about it [June 6th] to be honest. I’m just looking to get fitter and starting to enjoy running more. It’s coming much easier, it’s not a chore any more, I’m enjoying it now, maybe it’s because I am getting better at it. When I miss a day I feel like I want to get out there and do something more. Running for me was difficult and I still do find it tough – it doesn’t come easy to me. Everything else isn’t too hard, but running is tough, but I feel as if I am getting better at it and that’s a great feeling.”

There’s still time to get involved with the 2016 VHI Women’s Mini Marathon – register now and keep up to date for tips and informaton on Elverysblog.com http://bit.ly/21z6LWo

HAYLEY COLEMAN TAKES ON THE VHI WMM CHALLENGE

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Hayley Coleman is one of the most sought after make-up artists in the country and will this year be running the VHI WMM for the first time. Elverysblog.com will be following her progress as she gears up the run on Monday June 6th.

She may be one of Ireland’s most popular make-up artists and social media bloggers, but Hayley Coleman admits that she is a novice when it comes to her running career. The Mayo native is looking to change all that however as she prepares to take on her very first Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon this June and is hoping to encourage other first timers to join her on her journey.

To give herself the best chance of taking on the challenge Hayley dropped into her local Elverys Intersport where she had her Footbalance done and she pointed out that came as a revelation to her but it has already paid dividends.

“It was all really, really new to me. Before this I always just went in to the shop and picked a pair of runners that looked nice! I never really knew anything about the Footbalance. I had heard of it, but I was probably too shy to ask when I went in to the stores.

I learned a lot from it though – I wouldn’t have known that my feet were so different, I wouldn’t have thought that at all. The guys in there were a great help too, they really know their stuff,” she added when she found out she tended to over pronate on her right side.”

Since then though it has helped her to feel more comfortable as she stepped up her training.

“You’d notice it straight away – I went out running in my old trainers recently because the ground was mucky and I didn’t want to run my new ones but I definitely noticed a difference almost immediately. There is so much more bounce with the Footbalance insoles, there is way more cushioning and it is completely different now.”

“They do make a massive difference from what I can see. The comfort, the support… my feet feel like they are more upright rather than caving in as they used to be. There is so much more support – I feel like I can even run faster!”

With the correct footwear chosen and her gait analysis done Hayley believes that having a goal – in her case finishing the Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon in June – is the perfect way to ensure you get out there and get training.

“Absolutely – it’s like you have someone behind you telling you not to give up and giving up is something I would do! It is pushing me on though and it’s giving me a goal, I have a time I would like to do it in and that’s what I’m trying to get towards as well. That little thing behind me – I’m telling myself at the moment that I *have* to do it rather than just wanting to do it. I’ll try and schedule it into my day and push myself to do it.

Lately I’m doing 5k three times a week and that’s on top of gym work. I think you need to be able to build strength and an overall fitness regime. I wouldn’t be an athlete. I find it hard to train, I’m not someone who will say I love exercise. I’d love to sit down and eat a burger and chips everyday but I know once I do my run I feel better and I’m, achieving something.”

I haven’t a plan yet, at the minute I’m just trying to train better and do the right things. People ask how do you find the time but there will always be an hour at some stage in your day. I have a young son who is five years old, he’s a bundle of energy and I have to work, but I try to think of it as work and fit it into my weekly timetable.

I do enjoy it when I get out there, the feeling afterwards, you feel great, and I do love it. I just need a kick at times but I do love it when I get out there then!”

You can follow Hayley’s progress on her own social media channels as well as on Elverysblog.com and you can register to run the 2016 Vhi WMM here – http://bit.ly/21z6LWo

ELVERYS INTERSPORT & VHI WOMEN’S MINI-MARATHON 2016

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Elverys are once again proud to be a partner of one of the biggest sporting and social events of the year – a carnival of fitness that has become one of the most important fundraising events in Ireland on an annual basis. The Women’s Mini Marathon, sponsored by VHI is a powerful movement that not only benefits charities countrywide but also provides an invaluable chance for women throughout Ireland to use it as a vehicle to get fit.

Gaining, and maintaining, fitness is not just about a single day which is one of the main reasons that Elverys have launched our #CommitToFit campaign this year. Outside of the big day at the start of June when we see up to forty thousand women descend on Dublin’s streets, we at Elverys know that in the months preceding, in every town and village, there are women on the streets and roads getting in shape to take on the challenge of completing the course, being committed to their fitness. Our SS 2016 range of activewear reflects this and we understand that a healthy and active lifestyle is vitally important for everyone. As ever in our long association with this great event, Elverys Intersport is ready to help in any way we can to ensure that everyone is prepared as best they can for the June Bank holiday.

If you’re unsure of what you need to do to get into shape, if you want to learn more about recovery, training techniques and nutritional advice to get your body ready for the VHI Women’s Mini Marathon, Elverys Intersport is here to help. With regular plans, suggestions and advice in association with the Evening Herald and on Elverysblog.com, we intend to make sure that not only are you taking part for a worthy cause but also that you’re learning lessons that will benefit your health and fitness regime long term.

We will be bringing you tips from experts and special contributors, including the fantastic Hayley Coleman, steering you in the right direction in terms of footwear, clothing and fitness accessories. Elverys Intersport also promises to guide you in the right direction when it comes to battling the elements – sun, rain, wind or sleet, we will have you ready for whatever is thrown at you during the next few months.

We’re looking forward to motivating you with fitness essentials and excite you with new technologies and we will do all this and much, much more between now and June, as you set off on the path to the finish line, of this most wonderful, and iconic of events!

Grab your Vhi WMM training range now at Elverys.ie! http://bit.ly/1MBVRbE

ALL IN THE HEAD – BUILDING A WINNING TEAM

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Elite Performance Mind Coach Denis Coen gives us insight and tips into simple practical mental skills and effective coping strategies to allow you to unleash your true potential in sport. This time we look at building trust in a team environment.

Building a championship winning panel can be a very challenging, daunting and complicated task. Getting a team, whether in business or sport, to come together to achieve a vision is never going to be easy. Why? Because athletes come from different backgrounds with different values and beliefs. They all think and behave differently also and therefore, building a successful panel is a process. You can’t expect a group of individuals to come together and become a fantastic team without looking at some of the barriers that may hinder the success of a club or organisation.

Attitude

Recognising the dysfunctions within a team, evaluating and discussing them can bring about unity and consistency within the panel. The implications of not been able to discus and see dysfunctions within your team will be the result of underlying tension among the athletes. If such tensions exist the performance of the team will be affected.

Like fitness testing, the attitudes and behaviours of athletes need to be measured and discussed regularly. Just because a player gives a verbal commitment at the beginning of the year does not mean his commitment will remain reliable. Likewise, a player that may seem like a team player may have his own individual agenda for the season.

Having an individual agenda that does not correspond with the team goals and vision will also have an effect on team morale and performance. And you know that low team morale is a major confidence killer to any team. Having worked with various teams over the years I have distinguished many different dysfunctions of a championship winning team. One of those dysfunctions is the lack of trust.

Trust

Trust is the primary foundation for building a championship winning panel. It is a critical part of team building and it really and truly is at the heart of teamwork. Failure to understand or build trust is the result of team players and team members not been able to open up to one another.

Having worked with various teams in different sports over the years I have found that players have difficulty opening up to each other. Understanding a teammate’s emotions and motivations will result in team unity. Therefore, it’s important to understand how teammates feel and think. Sport is an emotional game. We may not always admit this but it is true. To build trust one must learn to value the emotions of their teammates.

Success

Teams that win championships do not hold back. They are completely open with one another and aren’t afraid to admit to their mistakes and weaknesses. They will seek help for their weaknesses from teammates and work on them and they will work hard to learn from their mistakes. Weaknesses may not always be physical or tactical within a team or panel. A player’s weakness maybe a behavioural or mental one that has a negative impact on the panel. It is important to be open and honest about this also. By challenging and rectifying a behavioural or mental weakness will more than likely increase the performance and success of a team.

Having trust means having confidence in your teammate and having confidence in the direction and vision of the team. When trust is at the core of a championship team, team members are more likely to commit to the process of a common goal. No matter how difficult the process, team players will stay committed to it during the ups and downs. When trust is evident there is an absence of suspicion and fear among the players. The players will depend on each other and believe that each and every one in the panel is capable of performing to get a job done.

Bring out your best in pre-season with our great Home Gym equipment sale. http://bit.ly/1NuYRdS