Recently though I’ve actually wanted to go running. I actually do enjoy it, but the effort and lack of progress monitoring keep me coming back to “Later”. Whilst browsing the iTunes App Store the other week I was looking through the deluge of running applications and was very impressed with the previews I saw and the comments I read.

There were 3 or 4 that seemed to be good contenders, but I settled on the Nike+ app, which with it’s excellent progress reports and sub £2 price looked to be an great product.

To the distress of my legs, I’ve been out for a few runs since then, and it’s living up to my expectations. I get to see my route mapped out for me with a colour representation of my pace. Whilst running, I get audio progress reports, which I can set to either distance or time. It tells me my mile pace and how I’m comparing to previous runs.

Once I’m done with my run, it uploads the details to the Nike+ online portal where I can compare with other runners. I don’t though, I don’t think my ego could take it .

All in all, a great app and one of my best App Store purchases.

Unfortunately it’s been downhill from there and now I’m very unfit and bordering on needing to shop at High and Mighty :s.

I’ve been on the verge of saying “enough is enough” for a few months now, and last Monday I took the plunge and joined a gym again.

Remarkably I’m actually excited to be going to the gym. I’ve had 2 nights so far where I’ve been close to not going, but apart from a meeting that kept me at work too long, and an evening where it’d have been stupid to go (sooo much pain from the day before) I’ve kept at it. 4 days a week for the past 2 weeks and I’m still going strong.

My god it hurts though! I went to a short class that teaches you some work out techniques today. Granted I’ve experienced a lot of it before, but it was very useful to get a catchup class. We did some interval training on the treadmill, incredible workout, exhausting but so satisfying!

Goal so far… fit into my linen suit again (don’t laugh, it’s a great suit for the summer!).. Goal for the future, I’m going to think big and try for a marathon.