Real Stories:Real Women

Motivation

by Dorina Flores-Laird

How do you have the time to fit in running or the gym?

Finding the time is a problem. With two daughters at home, a business and a home it is so hard. But I always make it a priority. I must do something in the mornings at least five times a week. I do know the importance of “rest days”. So five days is enough for me. I try to get up at least half an hour earlier in the mornings so that I can fit in half an hour running. I make it a point that whenever I spend the night away from home I have to run, regardless of where or why I am away from home.

Having a goal helps and is a good incentive, whether it is a 3 miles fun run, a 10k multi terrain, a half marathon in the Autumn or a full marathon, believe me it is a good incentive and it gives you something to aim for and an extremely good sense of achievement once you have done it.

Another thing that helps is that I always leave my training clothes ready the night before. If I decided to run the following morning, I place my running clothes right in front of me, so that when I open my eyes I see my shorts, bra and top, there ready, waiting for me. So even if I turn around trying to ignore them, I can’t, so I just have to get up. I do the same thing with my swimming costume and gym clothes. Having something nice, comfortable and specific for the activity I want to do really helps me to get up. My nice bright red Casall top with the blue shorts is a good set and, it always gives me a lift the minute I put it on. The other outfit I like wearing for my runs, is my black Pearl Izumi top, with my black and red £/4 length Rohnish trousers, I feel so slim when I wear them, that I actually look forward to wearing them and going to the gym or for a run.

I get asked how you get the motivation to run or go to the gym. The answer is I don’t know! It is so hard for me too. But I would say

Finding the motivation to do exercise is one of the comments I hear mostly here at Pretty Sporty

One of the things that I enjoy – really enjoy – is running. I love running, love going out in the mornings and running even if it is only for 30 minutes.

It is not easy, even after having trained and run 5 marathons. People say to me I saw you running and I wish it was that easy for me. Believe me it is not easy for me either. Every time I go, I never know what to expect, but I do know that it is going to be hard on my legs, my knees and my breathing. But just to see the green trees around me, to hear the birds and see some of the wildlife we have around Buckinghamshire I tend to forget about the pain and manage to put in the time.

The other thing I try to remember is that nobody is going to do it for me. If I want to be fit, healthy and stay in shape it is completely in my hands and nobody else.

Sometimes I like to think about famous people like Madonna who also does a lot of exercise, you have seen photos of her running. I tell my self – “not even with all the money she has – she can avoid it – she has to do exercises too, she can’t get somebody else to make her fit and healthy without her having to get down to it”, so that keeps me going.

I also enjoy going to the gym, just to do something different, I like doing classes, there is a Body Combat class which I simply enjoy doing, unfortunately timing is not right, so I just use the equipment for an hour. I am secretly thinking that I would love to do a Triathlon, but I don’t cycle and I am rubbish at swimming. So I have slowly been doing some swimming at the Club, only half an hour. I am running 3 times a week and swimming twice a week. I will have to fit in the cycling – I don’t know when…

What I have learnt here at Pretty Sporty is that it is hard for everybody, to keep fit. But it is worth it. I have so many customers who come regularly to the shop, but every time I see them they are full of life, energetic and enthusiastic, and I strongly believe that it has much to do with their commitment to their sport. Be it running, going to the gym, playing badminton or tennis. I have also meet so many women who do so many different sports like boxing, rowing, rock climbing, driving fast sports cars, horse riding, surfing, dancing, the list is enormous.

I so much enjoy what I do, it is hard for me to believe that I can stay in the shop all day six days a week and be happy here. I have always been someone who loves coming and going but now I am happy here at Pretty Sporty.

Pretty Sporty has given me an opportunity to be with people, to work with good quality, performance clothes and to be in the sports industry! These are some of the things I love the most in life.