By, Louise Court, Discovery Learning Tutor

I decided to run my first marathon last year.  After competing in bodybuilding competitions, I decided I needed a different challenge.  Both require lots of training, but at least with marathon training I could eat carbs and avoid the egg whites!!  Also, I was personal training a couple of clients through marathon training and I had never done one myself.  I thought to be a good PT I should know what it feels like and be able to give advice and tips.

So I booked myself into a local marathon race in the New Forest!  There were some big hills and the 18 mile mark is not the best time to run up steep hills, but I got through it and kept on running till the end.  I did my second marathon this year in June, it was uphill and off road, plus it was a really hot day.  I got through it again; I didn’t hit the wall this time, it just hurt all the way! I think it was actually a 27 mile race in the end.  Once you cross the finishing line it is a very good feeling, and all that hard training has paid off.

If you can dedicate four training sessions per week and focus each week on the mileage set, you can complete your first marathon in 16 weeks.  You just need to be motivated, and be prepared to run in the rain, sun, wind and maybe snow!

Here is the mileage you can do to complete this challenge:

First 8 weeks:

Second 8 weeks:

You will notice you don’t need to train up to 26.2 miles, you will have the fitness and adrenaline to keep you going during the race.

Also, 3 weeks before the race you will start to taper down your training. This will be enough training to keep your running fitness up, and it allows your muscles to rest and recover, otherwise you will burn out.  After running 18 miles for training runs you will really enjoy this part, especially the 3 mile sessions!

Top tips:

1. Buy a GPS watch, they are amazing you can download the info to your laptop, check your mileage, pace, etc.  They’re really good for personal training sessions too. Map my run is quite a good website to check out the distance of your runs
2. Invest in a good pair of trainers and socks.
3. Have good tunes on your iPod.
4. If you need to sleep after a long run and you are very tired, then you’re not eating enough carbs, fill up your plate!
5. Keep hydrated and run with energy gels, dried fruit or whatever works for you and your stomach on the long runs.

I have decided to train harder for the 30 mile race in January.  I have always picked the marathons which require training in the summer time—much easier! But this time, I’m going for the winter training.  Remember there are loads of marathons going on throughout the year, and not just in London.  Check out the Runners World website and set yourself a challenge today.

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By, Sebastian Bonnici, Head of Recruitment at Discovery Learning

As many of you are aware, securing a job in the health and fitness industry is not an easy challenge and the current ‘down-turn’ is not helping. There are fewer jobs, which enables employers a wider selection of candidates to choose from and brings more competition and makes finding a job more and more difficult.

If you want to work in the health and fitness industry, whether it’s as a gym instructor or personal trainer, having the right fitness qualifications and coming across well in an interview plays an important part in getting the job.

Here are a few interview tips which may help you:

1.) Company Background

Do your homework. Use the internet to look at company websites; read their news pages for any recent success stories which may be worth bringing up in discussion. And if time allows, call the company and request a brochure and annual report.

2.) Interviewers

Find out who you will be meeting and what their position is within the company.

3.) Location

Be clear about where the interview is taking place. If time allows, do a trial run to the office to avoid any panic on the day of the interview.

4.) Be punctual

Allow plenty of time, but arrive no more than 10 minutes early for an interview.

5.) Dress appropriately

Make sure you prepare what you’re going to wear in advance, and that it is appropriate for the type of environment in which you would be working.

6.) CV

Make sure you are aware of what is on your CV so you can answer any questions on it. It is a good idea to have a copy of it with you at the interview.

7.) The first impression

Greet your interviewer with a smile and a firm handshake (but don’t be over familiar).

8.) Interview tips

• Why do you want this job?
• Why do you want to work for us?
• What do you know about our company?
• Why did you choose your profession?
• What are your strengths/weaknesses?
• What do you enjoy/dislike about your current role?
• What has been your greatest achievement to date?
• Why are you looking for a new position?
• How would you describe yourself?
• How would your friends/colleagues describe you?
• What are your aspirations?
• What can you offer to your new team/company?

Don’t talk too much, but do respond positively to all questions asked.

Think about questions you would like to ask beforehand:

• What are the company’s plans for the future?
• What opportunity is there for career development?
• What training will I receive?
• How would you describe the culture of the company?

Ask for feedback at the end of the interview and thank the interviewer for their time.

In my recruiting experience, these are very helpful tips for anyone. I hope these tips will help you nail that dream job you want!

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