Two Four-Letter Words That Make a Huge difference!

'Just’ and ‘Only’

As some of you know – we’ve been putting up challenges on the Fuelled By Fun facebook group to collectively cycle, run or walk around islands and across the sea.

Adding up everyone’s mileage each week as a ‘team’ we have travelled – virtually – around mainland UK and Ireland and have crossed the Atlantic from Newquay to New York. Encouraging a real mix of people from hard core ironmen to first timers on bikes or newbie runners.

But one thing stood out, that I really feel I wanted to write (and have a little rant) about - people’s use of the words ‘just’ or ‘only’. Making their achievements seem unimportant, irrelevant or not much effort!

Getting out of the front door in the first place is a massive achievement for quite a lot of people. Some of the phrases I've seen when collecting miles of everyone... “Only 5 miles…”, “Just 8 miles…”. Twelve months ago I’d have laughed at you if you told me I’d be able to run or walk 5 miles and as for cycling – well, I used to think cycling was the work of the devil!!

I’m just asking that we all try and change our language – less of the four-letter words (I mean ‘just’ and ‘only’!)

Celebrate  your achievements – whether that’s 1 mile or 100 miles – celebrate the fact you did it, your body was strong enough to do that, you were mentally prepared to get out of the door and go for it.

And make sure you have fun :)

Fuelled By Fun - September Challenge Week 3

The challenge was set back at the beginning of September - members of the Fuelled By Fun Facebook group joined in the Run/Walk Challenge which was to (virtually) run/walk from Newquay to New York!

Collectively we gathered the mileage - whether it was the walk to work, a run/walk or jog around the block.

On week 1 we collected an amazing 1159.43 miles. Week 2 showed no let up for the amount of miles everyone ran and walked. We collected 1332.42 miles of run/walk miles from the fuelled by fun community. An absolutely amazing effort from everyone.

Week 3 proved no less spectacular, making it all the way to NYC we collected 1143.67 miles, which means we made it over to NYC with a week to spare (and some!!)

Now the next challenge is the October virtual triathlon - medals n' goodies! You can join in the virtual triathlon here

If you fancy joining in the fun, join us on Facebook.

Take baby steps and just get moving!

Fresh starts don’t have to be a Monday or January!! I always think that September feels like a fresh start – new pens, new books and new school uniforms!

But we don’t need ‘fresh’ starts – we just need to start! And to start with baby steps!

Small steps are much easier to take, much less daunting and can help to get you going without feeling overwhelmed. A perfect example, is the bike challenge, which started back in July. The challenge was to see if we could collectively cycle around the UK mainland and Ireland. We had no idea how long it would take, or even if we would manage it – as it’s nearly 7000 miles.

Participants gave us a weekly tally of the number of miles they had cycled each week. To our amazement it only took 6 weeks to get all the way around mainland UK and Ireland.

We just asked people to take baby steps, we had ironman triathletes taking part right through to people who had to dig out their bike from the back of the shed and actually get cycling for the first time in years. Then there were those like myself who hated cycling, but had a go and ended up absolutely loving it!! Everyone was contributing – anything from 100 miles to 1 mile.

The point is that people started – they had a go. There was no set mileage that was unrealistic for some and too small for others, it was all about what people could manage.

That’s what Fuelled By Fun is about - getting moving and having fun while you do it. Don’t push yourself so much that you end up hating it. I used to do that! I would decide that I wanted to start running to get fit so I would go out too fast and too far and end up feeling like my throat had been cut and my lungs had burst - not much fun at all!

Start taking baby steps – it doesn’t have to be 10k’s, half marathons, triathlons (although it can be if you want!) – it’s just about getting moving.

Check out the virtual triathlon we have for October and start taking baby steps (and get a bit of bling at the end of October too!)

Fuelled By Fun - September Challenge Week 2

The challenge has been set - members of the Fuelled By Fun Facebook group have joined in the September Run/Walk Challenge which is to (virtually) run/walk from Newquay to New York!

Collectively we're gathering the mileage - whether it's the walk to work, a run/walk or jog around the block

On week 1 we collected a fantastic 1159.43 miles. Week 2 has shown no let up for the amount of miles everyone has ran and walked. We collected 1332.42 miles of run/walk miles from the fuelled by fun community. An absolutely amazing effort from everyone.

If you fancy joining in the fun, join us on Facebook.

Life at the back of the pack!

Have you ever been out running with a group and always seem to find yourself at the back, gasping for air whilst desperately trying to make your legs go faster so you can keep up??? 

Yup me too!!  


Setting off on a group run is great, but a mile or so in, when you're losing sight of your fellow runners as they disappear into the distance... not so great! 

The first thing that takes over your mind is the “why the hell am I doing this”?? Quickly followed by “the OMG I’m hating every minute of it” to the “when will this be all over so I can go home and cry”?? Then there’s the hope!!!!! You spot that your fellow runners have stopped to wait for you... brill a rest at last. Nope as soon as you catch them up then they’re off again 😩 at this point you're red faced, out of breath, have sweat dripping into your eyes and in need of an oxygen cylinder, not only has every ounce of confidence you had disappeared, it has actually destroyed your soul. It’s nobody’s intentions or fault that you feel this way, they're just doing their thing as they should do, and I know if they did know how you felt they would be horrified at the thought... but the fact is life at the back of the pack is hard work!

Fast forward 12 months>>>>>>

Life at the back of the pack now is where I love to be... gone are the feelings of "I’m not good enough", gone are the stresses of trying to keep up... gone has the feeling of it wanting it to be over along with the fear of failure 😁 

Instead they’ve been replaced with, I can do this, I am me and I run at my own 'no pressure' pace, I chat to people and find out about them and their lives. I take in my surroundings and appreciate what’s on our doorstep, I stop for silly photos, and wild wee’s and the only time I cry is with laughter... 

So what’s changed??? 

Me I’ve changed... I no longer focus on my finish times but the finish lines! I no longer focus on how slow I run, just on how much fun I can have along the way, everything and everyone else is the same... It’s just my outlook that has changed and thank goodness it has as it’s brought back my love for running 😊 

What is it they say a “mile is a mile no matter how long it takes you to run it “and it’s so true 😄 

I can officially say I am Fuelled By Fun and now loving every single run 😊 
Nic K 

Fuelled by Fun - September Challenge Week 1

The challenge has been set - members of the Fuelled By Fun Facebook group have joined in the September Run/Walk Challenge which is to (virtually) run/walk from Newquay to New York!

Collectively we're gathering the mileage - whether it's the walk to work, a run/walk or jog around the block

The miles are collated each week and so far on week 1 we've collected a fantastic 1159.43 miles - we're a third of the way there already!!

Amazing effort from everyone. If you fancy joining in the fun, join us on Facebook.

Mountain or mole-hill?

Following a friend’s twitter feed last week, they mentioned that the amount of work that had to be done was equivalent to the size of Everest. A feeling that most of us have – to-do lists as long as your arm, that a lot of the time, prevents us from getting up and out. We don’t have time to run, swim, walk, climb or whatever it is that makes us feel good – because we’ve got such an overwhelming amount of stuff to do.

This got me looking at lots of amazing, awe inspiring shots of Everest itself, the peaks, the avalanches and the shear scale of this monster mountain. But it also got me thinking… If they were to pan out (ok, when I say “pan out” I mean go up to space) and have a look at Everest from space, would it look as dramatic?

Cue Google Images…

The answer is – No! It doesn’t even look that big a mountain to be honest, when you look at it from space. Don’t get me wrong - I'm not be-littling the immense challenge of actually climbing Everest, or the mammoth to-do lists that we all seem to have. But my point being that sometimes we look at targets and actions that we have to tackle and can make a really big deal about it, as though it really is like climbing Mount Everest. But if we take a step back and look at the bigger picture (I’m not suggesting you book on to Virgin Galactic though!) that “mountain” might not be as big as you originally thought it was.

Images courtesy of commons.wikimedia.org

We can over think things to the point where we can put such enormous barriers in front of us that it probably would seem easier to climb Everest – in winter! The exercise element gets put to one side – as though it’s a luxury. It’s not a luxury; it’s a necessity to keep you sane. In fact it can help you put things into perspective and not “sweat the small stuff” (as the saying goes).

Is everything on the to-do list absolutely necessary – if it is, can it be delegated, can it wait, will the world end if it doesn’t get done?

Looking after your mental health should be at the top of your to-do list – and needs to be fuelled by fun stuff.

Swimming fuelled by fun

As I’m sure many of you are aware – I love swimming!!

I couldn’t tell you when it started, I think I’ve always loved swimming. My mum likes to tell the story of when I was about 4 years old and I’d been sent to my room for being naughty and the punishment was that I wasn’t allowed to go swimming, as we always did on a Friday night! So what’s a 4 year old to do with herself on a Friday night when you’ve been grounded!! I rolled up my towel and my cozzie and sneaked out of the house and walked the 1 mile to the swimming baths and went swimming. Needless to say I was in even bigger trouble – but it clearly demonstrated 2 things – 1. My determination and 2. My love of swimming.

It’s only as I’ve got older that I’ve discovered open water swimming – which is seriously even more fun than pool swimming.

There are no lanes – as the Great Swim slogan says – no lanes, no limits. You can swim to your hearts content. No stopping and turning, no one tapping you on the feet to get past, no overheating in water that’s hotter than a bath!! In fact the colder the water, the better!!

There is lots of research into the benefits of swimming in cold water – even to the point where it can replace anti-depressants. It’s pretty much a prescription for mental health and wellbeing (http://www.swimming.org/justswim/swimming-improves-mental-health/)

The cold water teaches the body to deal with stress more effectively, it releases endorphins that you just don’t get from pool swimming, it boosts the immune system and an added bonus of burning more calories.

I have seen seasoned pool swimmers try open water swimming and be converted, I’ve seen complete newbies who wouldn’t even entertain swimming in a pool, let alone open water have a go and absolutely love it.

I realise it may not be for everyone – but if ever you’ve seen the pics posted up on here or the FB page and are even a teeny weeny bit tempted – go for it – I’m quite sure you will love it.

Keep it fun!!

A few weeks ago we were staying in a beautiful holiday cottage in the heart of Wales – 10 minutes from several beaches. Views of mountains and ocean, swimming in the sea, which was crystal clear, I could see crabs scurrying about their business, pods of teeny weeny fishes floating around – ok I’ll shut up!!

So the idea was to chill, it was our wedding anniversary, which obviously requires lots of beer and prosecco (and pizza and chocolate!!!) I was looking forward to this R&R.

Then we met our holiday cottage neighbours. They were so lovely – really friendly, told us about different places to visit – that they had been to… on their bikes!!
We had temporarily moved in next door to the equivalent of Jason and Laura Kenny!! These 2 were MEGA fit, they cycled up hills we needed to take in second gear in the car, then they’d go for a swim, or an evening walk.

My idea of R&R suddenly made me feel like the laziest person on the planet. I went swimming everyday and did a minimum of 800 metres, yet I was feeling totally inadequate – and felt I should hide my bottle(s) of prosecco and packet of mini cheddars!!

Then I gave myself a good talking to!! You can only do what you can do!! We put so much pressure on ourselves with work and family. You don’t want to start putting pressure on yourself to exercise.

Summer holidays are the prime example of people putting pressure on themselves to ensure everyday is filled with something, to makes sure the kids are looked after/have something to do/are entertained.  But at Fuelled By Fun we don’t want you to feel pressure to have to do something every day – sometimes it’s not possible, and sometimes you might not want to.

The point of Fuelled By Fun is exactly what it says on the tin – it has to be fun!

Fuelled By Fun - July/August Challenge - Final Week

The challenge was set for members of the Fuelled By Fun Facebook group to (virtually) cycle around the Mainland UK & Ireland.

Collectively we have been gathering the cycle mileage - whether it's on a spin bike, out on the open road, commute to work or turbo trainer in the kitchen!

The miles have been collated each week and by week 1 we made just outside Cardiff!!

By week 4 the Fuelled By Fun team collated enough miles to make it all the way over to Ireland.

It seemed a shame to stop there, so we carried on the cycle challenge into August, and by week 5 the Fuelled By Fun team took us nearly all the way around Ireland.

We knew the team were pretty amazing - and everyone went above and beyond for Week 6 - which as it turns out is the final week!! We collected a fantastic 1352.72 miles, which has taken us all around the rest of Ireland and back over the sea back to Chester!

It has been a great journey - we've seen everyone dig in and have a go - whether it's seasoned cyclists, newbies or people dusting off their bikes after spending years in the shed.

If you fancy joining us for future challenges (the next one is a run/walk one) just join us on Facebook.

GUEST BLOG: Anything is possible!

Fuelled by fun is the perfect phrase to describe how exercise feels to me. Running is my thing, and I didn't expect to fall in love with it as much as I have done, it's been hard work with plenty of bumps in the road. I’m a single mum with three Autistic children. Running is my saviour, I run off the crazy, I run off the upset, and I run to feel like me again.

Now, I’m not perfect, and I’ve realised mental health is so important. Throughout my years I’ve suffered with depression and anxiety, never quite feeling like “me”. I’ve gone through a lot, always blaming myself and feeling pretty guilty about what I should and could be doing, never feeling I reached my full potential.

I let people walk all over me, made mad decisions, and felt trapped in general. I started to take control, and with the help of clearing my head with exercise, I’m now the full free spirit I always felt was there inside of me.

I started running properly 3 years ago, gave up smoking, and began the best phase of my life so far. All my children were diagnosed within the past few years with ASD, I fought for them, had to give up working, and went through a hell of a journey to get the best support for them all.

Running has helped me keep a level head and showed me that anything is possible. I had a hysterectomy in November last year and had to start my running journey from the beginning again in February. In March I was diagnosed with ADHD, which made everything fall into place for me, and I now understand my behaviour and struggles over the years.

What did I do next? I ran, and ran some more!

I have just completed 75 miles in July, ran a 10 km PB, and I am also fundraising for an autism charity. Absolutely anything is possible. Running is much more than just keeping fit, it’s a way of life for me. It helps me with excess energy, helps me de-stress, has introduced me to some of the most lovely people, and I feel happy and free.

Definitely fuelled by fun :)

Fuelled By Fun - July/August Challenge Week 5

The challenge has been set - members of the Fuelled By Fun Facebook group have joined in the July Challenge which is to (virtually) cycle around the UK & Ireland.

Collectively we're gathering the cycle mileage - whether it's on a spin bike, out on the open road, commute to work or turbo trainer in the kitchen!

The miles have been collated each week and by week 1 we made just outside Cardiff!!

Week 2 proved even more amazing - a collective total of 1070 miles took us all the way around the South coast to Norwich!!

Week 3 just surpassed all expectations with a whopping 2034 miles, which meant we made it around most of mainland Scotland.

Week 4 and the Fuelled By Fun team have not let us down - we collated an amazing 1236 miles, which means we made it all the way over to Ireland.

It seemed a shame to stop there, so we carried on the cycle challenge into August, and this week the Fuelled By Fun team collated an amazing 1089.49 miles, taking us nearly all the way around Ireland.

If you fancy joining in the fun for the remainder of the cycle challenge, join us on Facebook.

There’s no better medicine than exercise!!

The one thing in life we all experience is the death of a loved one, and I’m no exception. July in particular is an emotional time for me, it’s the month in which both my beloved nan & grandad passed away. Now you may be thinking what the heck has this got to do with being fuelled by fun 🤔 well I will tell you .... 

What being active with friends has taught me about life and about death is that there is no better grief counsellor or therapy session that you could ever attend anywhere in the world that is a fact!

I looked after my nan for 5yrs before she passed away, she was my world and my inspiration, she always used to look forward to a Sunday evening and our mini show and tell sessions after either my running, cycling or swimming exploits, she loved looking at the selfies with my friends beaming with pride and there would always be the compulsory marks out of 10 for the medal and T-shirt, she loved the fact that I was fit having fun and most of all happy 😁 So when she passed away I was lost, I become withdrawn, anxious and began suffering from panic attacks, now I know everyone deals with grief in different ways but my way of coping was by exercising and by doing it with friends, the endorphins from the activity coupled with the love, friendship, support and just general chit chat from like minded folk was better than any tablet that any doctor could have ever have prescribed. 

So in a nutshell me keeping active and doing it with friends got me through some of my darkest of days, therefore proving that the benefits of exercise are in fact not just good for your physical fitness but also for your mental health .. FACT 😁 

Nic K