Charlie Webster Blog
Running Fitness magazine front cover
October 19, 2010
Filed Under Health and Fitness
Running Fitness Magazine front cover. I’m running through the streets of London, what I spend a lot of my time doing!
Funny thing is the picture was taken by my friend while we were having a bit of giggle on a Sunday afternoon with her camera. I reckon she should turn pro!
Royal Parks Half Marathon
October 13, 2010
Filed Under Health and Fitness
I love the atmosphere before a race, everybody chatting away but with nerves of the daunting task ahead of running 13.1 miles, never mind running it in a certain time, just completing is an amazing achievement. I was running for the Royal Parks Foundation and in memory of my very special Grandad who recently passed away. He often did walking endurance challenges and was always so generous for charity, he even wanted the money people would spend on flowers at his funeral to go to charity.
I found the run very different from the other half marathons and marathons I’ve done. One for the first time I wasn’t prepared for the run, I hadn’t done any decent mileage since back in April for the London Marathon although I have kept fit with boxing and circuit training. Secondly I have been really cut up about the death of my Grandad and I kept thinking about him the whole way round and wasn’t really concentrating on my actual running. Normally I’m very focused when I run, this time I only checked my watch twice. I also very stupidly didn’t take on any fuel and hardly any water and it was hot, and this meant I felt proper dizzy for the second half of the run, can’t see properly dizzy. Silly me!
I got interviewed twice during the run for C4,I was pretty glad both were in the first 5 miles, although I did get interviewed at the end with Tana Ramsey.
So anybody considering doing a half marathon or any run in fact, go for it! Or if you’re not considering it, consider it and go for it! It’s a fantastic way to get fit, releases those powerful endorphins making you feel great, confident and like you can take on the world plus doing it for charity can influence and help so many other people.
Marathon talk podcast
August 26, 2010
Filed Under Health and Fitness
Check out Episode 33. You can skip through to my bit at 32:00... Chat about kids in sport, my start in athletics and my slightly unusual introduction to marathons.. Download at http://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/marathon-talk/id350035346
Campaign for Life
July 22, 2010
Filed Under Health and Fitness
Since I was a kid I have banged on to anybody who listened about how much I want to help and inspire people especially kids into sport and exercise. In my job I am very fortunate to meet some amazing people. Recently I have met a couple of kids who I’d like to tell you about. Their stories break my heart because they are totally preventable.
I have been desperate to try and think of a way I can help change this situation amongst young people including obesity, body image crisis and eating disorder issues which then have such a knock on effect on social problems. I believe in Sport and exercise as one of the most powerful tools in life not just the physical advantages but emotional and social too.
Child 1 (8 year old boy) has a family history of prison; He said that he thinks he’ll be in prison when he is older. He liked gardening at school, when told that he could be a gardener when he was older, he replied ‘really do you think I could be a gardener?’ He hadn’t even thought he had an alternative than ending up in prison. Oh and this child has a very kind and thoughtful nature.
Child 2 (11 year old boy) seriously overweight said he looked in the mirror and said ‘I’m a horrible fat b*st*rd’ they were his exact words. By the way he is the nicest, kindest child you could meet.
Child 3 (15 year old girl) get’s called fat…she is not fat. She now thinks she is fat, consequently she is battling with an eating disorder.
For reasons I’ll not go into here Sport literally saved me and helped get through my younger years which were very tough. I truly believe that without it I wouldn’t be where I am today and striving to get further. It gave me an outlet for my troubles when I needed it most.
It has been proven by scientific research (and I am too a living example hence my passion), that exercise can completely change your life. Endorphins are released during exercise as well as adrenaline, serotonin and dopamine this creates feelings of happiness and gives you a mental up lift. It helps you overcome worries, stress and anxiety which is becoming more frequent amongst kids in society. Exercise too can overcome depression which I am sad to say is also becoming more commonplace amongst teens. It promotes focus, discipline and stimulates brain growth. I could go on all day about its benefits.
There is a huge disease of low self-esteem spreading as you can see from just 3 children I have met recently, kids don’t believe in themselves or that they can achieve. Low self-esteem generally leads to under-eating or over-eating and the avoidance of exercise. However exercise helps confidence and self-esteem.
I was so disturbed this week by the fact the NHS are sending out letters to kids as young as 5 telling them they are too fat. The measurement used is the Body Mass Index (BMI).
Fact! BMI DOES NOT take into account age, gender or muscle mass. It also CANNOT tell if it is lean body mass or fat mass. Some athletes have a high BMI because of muscle but they certainly aren’t fat or unhealthy.
Fact! Getting kids and people moving, exercising and having fun will help obesity problems, body-image issues, emotional and social problems that are becoming a serious modern day crisis.
Are you on board?