M.J's Fitness Training

M.J's Fitness Training Personal training and Boxercise in the Downham Market area. Fitness should push you but be fun!! Hey! I'm Mel and I am M.J's Fitness Training.

After moving to Norfolk, I really wanted to get back into my fitness but after trying a few gyms, nothing really stuck. I missed the connection of training within a group of like-minded people. I mentioned this to a friend, who introduced me to Downham Fitness Bootcamp, and what a fantastic group of people, all so welcoming and encouraging and the camaraderie's unrivalled. This in turn rekindled my love for training, and has recently given me the confidence and opportunity to become a fully qualified Level 3 Personal Trainer and I am also a fully registered Boxercise Instructor, enabling me to assist others in their fitness journey and see just how much is achievable. My philosophy has always been, fitness training should be for everyone, it should push you but it has got to be fun, if not, we can all find excuses. I currently have Boxercise classes on a Wednesday evening 19:30 - 20:30 at the Jubilee Community centre in Downham Market, but I am looking to add further days and times to the time table. In my spare time, I train my 2 Newfoundland dogs in water rescue, which usually requires a nice glass of wine when we get home after a day in the water, and looking for a fun challenge, like an inflatable obstacle run, I mean, why not?

13/09/2026

🏃‍♀️ THE NON-RUNNER RUNNING DIARY – THE PEACOCK PLOD! 🦚

Well… today we did something slightly ridiculous.

WE RACED. 😳

The Peacock Plod at Hockwold Hall.

And because apparently running 6K on a Sunday morning wasn’t enough punishment, we thought we’d sign up for the 10K.

Simple enough, right?

WRONG. 😂

Firstly, it was absolutely HU***NG it down at the start.

Not raining.

Not drizzling.

Proper, why-have-I-paid-money-to-do-this rain. 🌧️

I was completely soaked through before we had even crossed the start line.

But hey… nothing says “athlete” quite like standing at the start of a race in soggy un**es wondering where it all went wrong. 😂

Then came the briefing…

And this is where things took a turn.

We had signed up for the 10K, which meant doing the 5K loop twice.

Except…

THE LOOP WAS ACTUALLY 5.3K.

Now I appreciate that 600 metres might not sound like much.

But when you have mentally prepared yourself for 10K, suddenly someone casually adding another 600 bloody metres is quite frankly outrageous. 😂

I had NOT mentally budgeted for those metres.

Anyway, off we went!

The husband immediately zoomed off into the distance 🚀 because apparently he thinks we are actually racing.

Elinor went off and did her own run.

And me and Steph Abbott stuck together. ❤️

Now, I LOVE trail running.

Give me a nice forest trail over a road any day.

But today’s trail was less “lovely woodland adventure” and more “TRY NOT TO DIE IN THE MUD AND HOLES.” 😂

It was SOOOOO muddy and slippery.

There were sections where we had to precariously shuffle along trying not to slide sideways into the river.

And I’m not even exaggerating.

At one point I’m pretty sure my feet were travelling in completely different directions to the rest of my body. 🤣

There were also several occasions where I accidentally slid into complete strangers.

“Sorry!”

WHOOSH

“Sorry… I just slid into you.”

Honestly, I feel like there should be a separate category on the results for Most Likely to Become an Unintentional Human Bowling Ball. 🎳😂

According to Garmin, kilometres 4, 7 and 9 were my slowest.

And this makes perfect sense.

Because they were either:

🌳 A field verge with massive tractor tyre imprints

🫠 Me questioning every life decision that had brought me there

🦶 Or my ankle politely informing me that it would like to retire.

But somehow we kept going.

Then came the final straight.

And because apparently I had one tiny molecule of energy left, it turned into a sprint finish with another lady, never met her before but with a bit of friendly encouragement between us and we absolutely went for it.

She was a good egg. ❤️

And then…

THE FINISH. 🏁

And this is where things suddenly became VERY exciting.

Because not only was that ridiculous run finally over…

There was a MEDAL. 🏅

There was COFFEE. ☕

And then…

THERE WAS CAKE. 🍰

Suddenly the soggy underwear, aching ankle, blister, mud and the extra 600 metres that nobody asked for were all completely forgotten.

Funny how that works. 😂

And do you know what?

I actually think I enjoyed it!

Which is slightly concerning because it means one of us will inevitably say:

“Shall we sign up for this?”

And we all know what that actually means…

“Yes. We are signing up for this.” 🤦‍♀️😂

For now though, I think I’ll stick to my nice, sensible little 6K runs.

Where there are fewer strangers to accidentally slide into.

And considerably less mud.

Probably.

A HUGE well done to everyone who took part today — runners, marshals and everyone involved in setting up. 👏

The event was run by Zigzag Running and the whole set-up was brilliant. Even if Mother Nature clearly had a personal vendetta against us! 😂

And a MASSIVE shout-out to:

👏 Marie & Pete, who completed the Richmond Marathon today!

👏 Lisa, who started her Ultra yesterday at 12pm and ran brilliantly right through until this morning!

Absolutely bloody AMAZING efforts! ❤️

Right… I’m off to recover from my 10.6K mud-based survival experience.

Until next time… when someone inevitably says “shall we sign up for this?” 😂

Take care and have a fab one! ❤️🏃‍♀️🦚🍰

Xx














06/09/2026

Another Day. Another Run.

Well, it’s Sunday, so that can only mean one thing… RUN DAY! 🏃‍♀️

Today’s run was fuelled by last night’s curry, half a bottle of wine 🍷 and this morning’s highly nutritious pre-run breakfast of… a quick glass of water. 💧😂

Clearly, I have this running nutrition lark absolutely nailed.

So off we set, and thankfully the heel decided to behave itself and eased off after about 1.5km. 🙌

It was also MUCH warmer than I thought it was going to be. I left the house thinking, “Oh, it’s not too bad.”

Reader… it was too bad. 😂

About 5K in and my left quad, just above the knee, decided it was going to start getting tighter and tighter. So I stopped for a little stretch. A very brief stop I will add.

Now, you would think the husband would be concerned about my wellbeing.

No.

He was annoyed that I had stopped.

Which, obviously, annoyed me because HE was annoyed that I had stopped. 🤦‍♀️😂

And so began the highly productive conversation of:

“Why are you annoyed?”

“I’m not.”

“You are.”

“No I’m not.”

“You are though.”

Bloody husband. 😂

Anyway, after my little stretch and a bit of mutual annoyance, off we went again.

A little over 6K done and I was absolutely MELTING! 🫠

Not sure whether I was sweating out the curry, the wine or just my questionable life choices, but whatever it was… it was coming out! 😂

But it’s done. Another Sunday run ticked off. ✅

Sometimes the fuel isn’t ideal, the weather isn’t ideal, your legs aren’t ideal and your husband is being a pain in the arse… but you still get it done. 💪😂

Until next time, take care and have a fab one! ❤️🏃‍♀️

Xx

04/09/2026

🏃‍♀️ The Non-Runner Running Diary
Episode: The Arctic Lorry Incident 🚛💨😂

Well, it's Friday...

Which can only mean one thing...

RUN DAY! 👟

Now, this morning started with rain.

Not a little drizzle.

Not a gentle "ooh, it's a bit damp" sort of rain.

We're talking FULL-ON DOWNPOUR. 🌧️

So we decided to wait and see if it stopped.

Thankfully, it did.

Unfortunately...

THE WIND GOT WINDIER. 🤦‍♀️😂

And because that wasn't enough, Mother Nature also decided it was time for her monthly appearance. Add in a heel that was hurting like a...

Well...

It was sore. 😂

Needless to say, I wasn't exactly chomping at the bit to get out there.

But off we went.

The heel was still painful around 1.5K in, so I stopped and walked for about a minute and seriously considered calling it a day.

"Maybe this is sensible."

"Maybe I shouldn't push it."

"Maybe I could just go home and have coffee."

But then came the dulcet tones of the husband, "don't we have a 10k event next Sunday?" and somehow I carried on.

And would you believe it...

The heel actually started to ease off!

So onwards we went.

We reached the agreed halfway point, the husband carried on, I turned around...

And straight into a FULL-ON HEADWIND.

Oh, the joy. 😐😂

Then, with about 1K to go, I became aware of a rather large lorry behind me.

Now, I'm a polite person, most of the time.

And when you're being slowly stalked by an Arctic lorry, you probably should get out of the way. 🚛

So I did what any sensible runner would do...

I SPRINTED.

Not a little increase in pace.

Not a polite jog.

A FULL-ON FLAT-OUT SPRINT to the lay-by. 💨💨💨

I pulled into the layby and carried on with a slow jog.

The lorry slowed down...

And then...

JUST SAT THERE.

Didn't overtake.

Just slowly chugging along.

Didn't even seem particularly bothered.

Meanwhile I'm in the lay-by sucking in oxygen like I've just completed the final of the Olympics. 🤣

And then came the chuntering, I couldn't help it!!

"You've got plenty of room!"

"You've had plenty of time to overtake!"

"Why didn't you just go past?!"

"And now I've got to carry on running!"

"I'm hanging out of my arse because of you!"

Honestly, I was basically having a one-sided argument with a lorry driver who couldn't even hear me and was probably laughing his head off. 😂

Eventually I carried on and somehow managed to finish...

A little over 6K DONE! 👟💪

Heel survived.
Legs survived.
Headwind survived.
Arctic lorry survived.
My dignity...

Debatable. 🤣

But it's done.

And thank God for that!

Another run ticked off, even though I really wasn't feeling it beforehand.

Sometimes getting out there when you don't want to is the biggest win of all.

Now I'm off to recover from my entirely unnecessary Olympic sprint. 😂

Until next time guys, take care and have a good one! ❤️👟

31/08/2026

🏃‍♀️ The Non-Runner Running Diary
Episode: Back to Reality! 🇬🇧👟😂

Well... it's Sunday, which can only mean one thing...

RUN DAY!

And this one was back in the UK! 🇬🇧

Now, it wasn't 30°C+ at 7am like Croatia...

But it was MUGGY.

So apparently the British weather thought I'd had far too much fun on holiday and needed bringing back down to earth! 😂

Back to 6K today, but we decided to take our other route rather than the long-hill route.

And honestly?

I just couldn't face that hill today. 😂

I know I can do it.

I've done it a million times.

I've just spent a week running up what can only be described as Croatian mountain ranges...

But did I want to struggle up our stupidly long UK non-hill hill today?

Absolutely bloody not. 🤣

So we went the other way.

And actually, it was a pretty decent run.

The pace was consistent.
Not speedy...
Not my fastest...
But definitely not my worst.

And here's the weird thing...

My body can actually do this.

It's my brain that's the problem! 😂

Physically, I'm capable of running the 6K.

But somewhere along the way my brain starts going:

"This is hard."
"Maybe we should stop."
"Do we actually need to run today?"
"We could just walk..."

Why?!

Why is running such a mental battle?!

The legs are quite happily plodding along while my brain is holding an emergency meeting about whether we should continue. 🤣

But today we did.

No stopping.
Consistent pace.
6K done.

And the husband was particularly supportive today, so a big thank you to the dulcet tones for helping keep me going. ❤️

Maybe the holiday hills have taught me something after all...

I can do more than my brain tells me I can.

I just need to convince my brain of that! 😂

Anyway, another run in the bag and officially back to UK running.

Until next time guys... have a good one! ❤️👟

28/08/2026

🏃‍♀️ The Non-Runner Running Diary
Episode: The Final Holiday Plod 🇭🇷👟

Well... another day, another run!

And this one was the LAST RUN OF THE HOLIDAY! 😭☀️

The hills here have absolutely killed me... but I can't lie, the views have made every sweaty, breathless, questioning-my-life moment worth it. ❤️

And today was a HOT one!

In the video I say it was mid-20s...

Turns out it was actually 30°C at 7am! 🥵

No wonder I seemed to be leaking from every available surface! 😂

I really wasn't feeling today's run.

My heel was hurting.
My back was hurting.
And a few of us had been up early to watch the lunar eclipse, so sleep wasn't exactly at its finest.

Basically, my body had submitted a formal complaint. 😂

But...

4K is 4K.

I can't say I'm particularly happy with today's run, and I definitely didn't finish feeling like a superhero...

But you know what?

4K is still better than 0K.

And sometimes that's enough.

The important thing is I went.

I got it done.

And I survived another Croatian hill. 😂🐐

Next run should be Sunday, back in the UK, where I'm hoping for slightly less than 30°C at 7am, please and thank you! 🙏🤣

For now though...

🇭🇷 Thank you, Croatia.

What an absolutely beautiful country.

Amazing views, ridiculous hills, plenty of adventures, some questionable navigation, lots of laughs and some fantastic memories.

And, of course, several runs I definitely won't forget!

Now it's time to enjoy the rest of the holiday before heading home.

Until next time guys, take care and have a good one! ❤️👟🇭🇷

25/08/2026

🏃‍♀️ The Non-Runner Running Diary

Episode: Revenge of the Mountain Goat Pass! 🐐🥵🤣

Another day... another run!

And today's started with a 5:30am wake-up call.

On holiday.

ON HOLIDAY!!!

Surely this should be illegal?! 😂

But apparently we had decided that getting a run in was more important than sleep.
I'm starting to question our life choices.

It did feel a little cooler at that time... not quite the surface of the sun, so that was a bonus! Instead, we had muggy.
Add in a rubbish night's sleep and a bit of cramp and I was feeling particularly athletic. 🤣

Off we went...
First up, the undulating section.
Then came the Mountain Goat Pass 🐐
And that's when I had a thought...
"Why not share my adventures from the last run with the husband?" 😈

So I took a sharp right turn off the Mountain Goat Pass...

And there they were.

THE VERTICAL STEPS.

The sort of steps that make you question every decision that led you to that exact moment. 😂

Now, the difference between these and the set of stairs we tackled together on the last run is quite significant.
The ones we did before had lovely wide steps, so you could step up, take a couple of strides and then tackle the next one. Still hideous but not deathly, until the way down.

These?
Nope.
These had tiny, shallow treads, basically just deep enough to get part of your foot on...

And they just...

**KEPT...

GOING...

UP.** 😳

So up we started.

And then, from somewhere behind me came the dulcet tones of the husband:

"WHAT THE BLOODY HELL?! WHY ARE WE GOING UP THESE?!" 🤣🤣

I may have had a little snigger.

Because obviously I had to tell him I was simply sharing my adventures with him.

He now knows exactly what sort of trouble I get myself into when I'm left unsupervised. 😈

Eventually we made it up, survived the mountain goat section, and somehow completed the run without either of us filing for divorce.

🏃‍♀️ Run done.
🐐 Mountain goat mode activated.
😂 Husband suitably traumatised.
💪 We survived!

And then, because apparently we hadn't had enough excitement...
⛈️ A brief thunderstorm rolled through! Just as we arrived back at the villa.

Now we're showered and ready, we're off to see some waterfalls. 💦

Honestly, who needs a relaxing holiday?!

Have a fantastic day everyone and I'll speak to you all soon...

Until next time! ❤️👟🐐

21/08/2026

🏃‍♀️ The Non-Runner Running Diary
Episode: Lost, Sweaty & Apparently a Mountain Goat 🐐🥵🤣

Another day... another run!

But this one was a little different...

IT WAS A HOLIDAY RUN! ☀️🍺👟

And blimey... I haven't done hills like that in a VERY, VERY long time!

Add in temperatures hotter than hell — and I should know... 😈🤣 — plus a few beers from last night, and I wasn't exactly feeling like an elite athlete this morning.

We set off to the dulcet tones of the husband and I decided that, considering the heat and the beers, I'd run the first 2K with him, then he'd carry on and I'd turn around and head back.

Simple.

Except...

What happens when Melly runs somewhere new unsupervised?

I get lost. 😂

And today, true to form, I did NOT disappoint.

First problem...

We hit the main road and I couldn't remember which turning I was supposed to take.

Somehow, by complete luck, I picked the right one.

Then I missed the stairs.

Now, these weren't just any stairs...

They were HELL STAIRS. 😳

So obviously, using my impeccable logic, I thought:

"Yep. Look at me! Being all independent and s**t!"

So I kept going.

And kept climbing.

And kept climbing...

The gravel track got steeper.

Then narrower.

Then steeper AND narrower.

And eventually my brain went:

"S**t... I'm lost."

At this point I was perched up there feeling like a very sweaty, very confused mountain goat. 🐐😂

So I turned around and gingerly made my way back down this ridiculously narrow gravel ledge, desperately hoping I wasn't about to introduce myself to the local emergency services.

Eventually I found another set of stairs.

Not THE stairs...

But stairs that would take me back in roughly the right direction and, more importantly, back towards the correct altitude! 😂

So I carried on.

Some time later, I finally made it back to the husband.

He had already done a little over 7K and was looking slightly concerned and extremely relieved to see me.

I suspect he was getting to the point where he was considering having to come and find me.

Which would have been entertaining...

For everyone except him. 🤣

But...

I made it back.
I didn't die.
I didn't need rescuing.
I survived the hills.
And most importantly...

I found the Villa!! 😂👏

All showered, safe and now firmly back under supervision.

I'm pretty sure my next unsupervised run won't be happening until we're home.

Because apparently holiday running + hills + heat + no phone + Melly's sense of direction = an adventure. 🤣

Let the holiday adventures continue! ☀️🍹👟

Until next time guys! ❤️

16/08/2026

🏃‍♀️ The Non-Runner Running Diary

Episode: Garmin vs Strava — The Betrayal! 😂👟

Another Sunday... another run!

Well, it was meant to be a super early one, around 6:30ish...

But the husband decided to throw a couple of nosebleeds into the morning plans, so we waited it out and eventually got ourselves out around 9am.

And do you know what?

We tried a different route today! 🌳👟

It's one we've only done once before and actually... it felt pretty good!

Just over 6K and, more importantly...

It was quicker than normal! 🎉

It's definitely not my fastest run ever, but it's faster than I've been running in a LONG time, so I'm absolutely taking that win!

The last kilometre did feel like it was approximately 47 miles long though. 😂

But here's the thing...

My pace didn't drop.

If anything, my final kilometre was slightly quicker than kilometer 5! 💪

So despite my brain screaming:

"How much longer can this possibly go on?!"

My legs were apparently still doing the business.

Very happy with that!

Although...

There is a small issue.

The husband and I ran side by side for the entire run.

I tracked mine on my Garmin watch.

He tracked his on Strava on his iphone.

Same route.
Same distance.
Same people.
Same bloody run.

And yet...

My Garmin says I was 17 SECONDS SLOWER.

EXCUSE ME?! 🤨😂

Seventeen seconds?!

I demand a recount.

Clearly Garmin has something against me.

Anyway, I'm choosing to ignore that little betrayal and focus on the important things:

🏃‍♀️ 6K+ done
⚡ Faster than I've been in ages
💪 Pace held right to the end
😎 Didn't give up
🌞 And now the rest of Sunday is mine!

Well... after whatever jobs I've inevitably forgotten about. 😂

Now to get on with the rest of the day and, more importantly...

START THINKING ABOUT THE HOLIDAY! ✈️☀️🍹

BOOM!

Have a fab day everyone and I'll speak to you all soon! ❤️👟

14/08/2026

🏃‍♀️ The Non-Runner Running Diary
Episode: S**t Chicken & Finding the Plod 😂👟

RUN DAY! 🎉

And it was an early one!

Humphrey was booked in at the groomers for 6am, so the morning went a little something like this:

⏰ Get up
🍗 Eat the single piece of "s**t chicken" I saved from last night — aka peppery Southern-coated mini fillet 😂
☕ Coffee
💧 Bottle of water
🐻 Drop Humphrey off
🏠 Get home
👂 Hear the dulcet tones of the husband...

"It's run time."

Yay!
..Not. 😂

Anyway, off we went.

The first 1.5K actually felt pretty good and I was running quicker than I have been recently, so I thought, "Ooh, maybe today is going to be a good one!"

Then somewhere between 2.5K and 4K my brain decided:

"Nah. We're done. Let's go home."

I really did want to give up.

But I had a word with myself, told myself to stop being a drama queen, and just kept putting one foot in front of the other.

And do you know what?

The last 2K actually felt nice-ish! 😂

The plod rhythm finally returned, my breathing settled and suddenly I was back in my little running groove.

So...

Just over 6K DONE! 👟✔️

Not every run is going to feel amazing. Sometimes you've just got to get through the bit where your brain is screaming "NOPE!" and wait for your body to remember what it's doing.

Now it's time to collect the boy, clean the house and attempt to organise the general s**tshow that is my life. 😂

Because apparently running 6K isn't enough for one day!

Until Sunday guys... have a good one! ❤️👟

09/08/2026

🏃‍♀️ The Non-Runner Running Diary
Episode: No Run... But Definitely No Rest! 😂☀️

Another day... but no run today!

Well... not technically anyway.

Instead, today started with an early start laying the patio. And apparently I have been promoted to Chief Manual Labourer. 👷‍♀️😂

My jobs included:

🧱 Carrying tiles from one place to another
🧱 Gilloppy spreader (IYKYK)
🧱 Helping get the tikes into position
☕ Drinks lady
🍵 Tea lady
🛠️ General goffer
💩 Mucker-inner..basically anything that involved moving, fetching, carrying or getting in the way! 😂

The plan was:

Lay patio until 12:30 ✔️
Quick shower 🚿
Run to Oxborough 🏃‍♀️
Rounders tournament at 13:30 🥎

Simple.

Except...

At approximately 13:10, the husband asked:

"You do know what time it is, don't you?"

No.

No, I did not. 😂

Cue absolute chaos.

What followed was a whirlwind of:

🚿 Showering at approximately 400mph
👚 Throwing clothes on
💨 Running around like a lunatic
🚗 Getting in the car
🥎 Driving to Oxborough

Somehow, despite the complete lack of time awareness, I managed to get there for pretty much 13:30.

And then I spent the next THREE HOURS playing rounders in the blistering heat.

Yes.

You read that correctly.

THREE HOURS.

In the heat.

Those of you who know me know how much I LOVE running in the heat... so imagine how thrilled I was to then spend my afternoon standing and sprinting around a field in it! 😂🥵

But you know what?

I stuck it out.

Played all the games.
Didn't collapse.
Didn't spontaneously combust.
Got a little bit scorched 🌞🔥
And am now absolutely bathing myself in moisturiser in the hope I don't shed my skin tomorrow. 😂

And honestly...

I had a fab time! ❤️

So although there wasn't technically a run today, I'm definitely counting this as a pretty active day.

Patio labour + three hours of rounders = I'm pretty sure I've earned my curry and an earlyish night.

Next run will be Tuesday or Wednesday...

Assuming I can move by then. 😂

Until next time guys, have fun! ❤️👟🥎

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