I was asked to get involved with Boohoo’s Couch to 5K fitness campaign, as a Boohoo Fit Ambassador, which I think must be a result of my increased fitness ability over the past couple of months. Win! That feels like a sense of achievement in itself!

At the moment, with my Nine to Five and Fit8 week body transformation well underway, (which is made up of a combination of cardio, HIIT High Intensity Interval Training) and weights) A lot of the running that I’m doing at the moment is in short bursts – as part of the circuits or HIIT sessions. For instance, I’ll run 300 metres as fast as I can – as part of a circuit, then the next session try 400 metres, then 500 metres (half a kilometre!)

I have found that doing these short bursts of really fast running has had a big impact on me too. I did go for a longer run yesterday, which is what I used to do regularly, but I’ve always run within my comfort zone. 

And I guess I’ve never really really pushed myself that much until now. But I can genuinely say that running as fast as you can on the treadmill or outdoors, you do notice that you start to run quicker than you’d usually do, because your body is acclimatising to performing that bit harder. 

This sort of training is called Fartlek, which in Swedish means ‘Speed play’ according to Wikipedia. It’s a training method that blends continuous training with interval training. So for instance if you’re running, you push yourself hard and go as fast as you can, for a particular distance, then just slow down and just keep running at your usual pace.

The Boohoo Fit C25K campaign as ties in really nicely with a question I was asked recently by a friend who has just started running for the first time. She asked if I had any tips for starting to get a bit more active, and I remembered that another friend of my had downloaded the Couch to 5K app, and had really great results! 

More info about doing your own Couch to 5K challenge can be found on the NHS website too.

If you are brand new to running, this is a great way to ease into it without doing yourself an injury or burning yourself out in the first kilometre!

Any way, back to Boohoo Fit…

 I don’t know about you, but when I’m working out I need items that are not going to make me overheat, as I overheat really quickly. So, when selecting my Boohoo Fit pieces, I thought ok, I’m going to go for something more slightly fashion led, which is different from a lot of the gymwear that I own already. 

I like the motivational slogan, and so I decided to go for the Maisie ‘WORK, WORK, WORK’ running vest, the Alisha grey ‘SQUAT GOALS’ vest – squats being my main objective to help shape my peach! Basically, on a leg day I can wear my squat goals vest and spur myself on, if I need reminding as to why I am putting myself through hell…

The final item that I went for is the Laura cross back running vest(shown above.) It says that it is a running vest – and I did actually try it on the treadmill – and, thankfully, I was wearing a top underneath, as it does tend to slip to the side when you’re jiggling about… so wear a decent sports bra, or layer over another top – unless you’re genuinely into showing a bit of side boob!

Boohoo Fit takes the ‘Athleisure’ trend and runs with it! It’s incredibly cheap price-wise too! Take a look at the rest of the range.

With autumn well and truly settling in, it’s getting colder and so, coming up to Winter, I would probably look at getting a few more hoodies or jackets to wear, as I’m walking to and from the gym. 

I really like the Gracie fit running crop sweat top, although I can’t imagine running in it as I’d probably overheat, but it is really cool! There’s a few other really cool hoodies too. Take a look at the collection and let me know if there are any pieces that catch your eye, and let me know how you’re getting on with your Couch to 5K Challenge.

If you want to read a bit more about Fartlek or get other running tips, check out ‘Runner’s World’.

Over to you…

Have you started any new fitness programmes lately? What are you working on? And what are your goals? If you have any fitness questions that you’d like me to put to my trainer Rich from Blitz Fitness, who is getting me into shape at the moment, please drop me a comment below, tweet me @LucieKerley or email info@luciekerley.co.uk

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