How to stay active over Christmas

Hi everyone, Ruby here. Hopefully you’re enjoying the build up to Christmas. This week, my blog will contain exercises and activities you can enjoy and take part in to help keep yourself and your family stay active over the Christmas holidays.

Firstly, here are some ideas of adventurous activities you might like to try. Recently, I went tubing with my football team, it was great to slide down on your own rubber ring with a maximum of 3

other people at the same time. My team loved this as it was great to bond and share a fun experience together, it was fast paced, outside on a dry ski slope and you had to walk up a slight hill to do it all again! Most of us had never tried it before, including me.This is a short 15 minute drive away, in Brentwood; closer to home is Havering Christmas Land, which is in Harrow Lodge Park by the newly built leisure centre - you can't miss the lights. When I visited over the weekend, we walked through the display of lights, which was magnificent as volunteers created this variety of festive themed lights including nutcracker figures and even a deluxe throne and sleigh, where you can pose to have your photo taken. This is great exercise as well because you're following the path to see the different parts of the decorated gardens and walk outside.

You can also take part in your local Park Run even on Christmas Day or simply go for a brisk walk or bike ride in your local park, it’s free just grab your trainers and away you go! Great to grab a moment of fresh air away from the busy days of Christmas and support your mental well being too.

Lastly, here are some exercises you can do at home to keep you occupied and take a break from the sofa, you can try these everyday to help burn off any extra calories from the festive food! Each day you can repeat a stretch for 2 minutes or maybe start with 1 minute, build up your stamina and see how long you can do the stretch for. Here are some stretches you might consider trying: squats, side lunges, lunges, box and wall squats, bicep curls holding a can of baked beans. Completing these stretches each day will help you gradually get back into your fitness routine.

I hope you consider these ways of remaining fit and healthy over Christmas!

'Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, I look forward to sharing more reviews & adventures with you in 2022!’

Ruby x

Contact:

Tubing: Brentwood Park Ski & Snowboard centre 01277 211994/ www.brentwoodskicentre.co.uk

Parkrun: www.parkrun.org.uk

Havering Christmas Land: www.haveringmind.org.uk until 30th December

London Youth Games - Cross Country

Recently I took part in London Youth Games Cross Country. An estimated 1500 young Londoners representing 33 borough teams take part in the November event that takes place at the iconic Parliament Hill Fields in London. 

To gain entry I competed a cross country race with other schools in the borough.

Waking up on a crisp Saturday morning at 6:15am to board our coach at 7am myself and the rest of the Havering Hurricanes cross country team gathered ready to try on our race tops and board our coach. I felt tired but very excited, boarding the coach all together was a fun start to the day. Supporting us on the coach were members of the Havering Sports development team.

Some people slept on the journey, but I felt wide awake ready to start the day! Upon arrival we had a team photo, cheered our team on and walked across the fields to get a sense of the course and set up our base for the day.

I had a small wait for my race as it was just before midday, so I used the time to relax, walk the course, eat and do some warm up exercises and of course cheer on my team mates, it's so important to encourage and support each other. 

The start of the race line can be abit of a hustle and I looked up the hill eager in anticipation.

I ran outdoors across natural terrain including dirt, mud, grass and gravel. Every runner tries to win points for their team's overall score. Havering girls came fifth out of thirty-three London Boroughs and the boys seventh. I first took part in London Youth Games in 2019 and Havering girls came first and achieved gold!

Last year was very different, because of the Covid pandemic the games took place virtually, so it was great to get back outdoors. It was an amazing event and a wonderful setting for the race, with a vibrant atmosphere and I felt a fantastic sense of achievement taking part. The finish line brings a mix of emotions some people smile, some cry, some sprint or even walk across the finish line!

I smiled, I finished 65 out of 205 in a 2K it was tough but a great result for our team.

London Youth Games is reckoned to be the largest annual youth sports event in Europe. Notable past participants include four-times Olympic gold medallist Mo Farah, Premier League and England Footballer Raheem Sterling and World and European sprinting gold medallist Dina Asher-Smith.

Ruby Xx

Put Shack

Hi everyone, Ruby here. This week I'm going to let you know about the fun you can have at

Puttshack in Lakeside, which is why I have been there multiple times, even for my birthday party this year!

Puttshack is an interactive mini golf wonderland with a twist because they have adapted traditional golf. Instead of using paper and pen; the trackaball technology will register your ball and you’ll see your scores on a screen with the points you’ve won from each hole.

You can burn around 300 calories from playing a game of mini golf. It can also help children with coordination, balance, maths, problem solving and even decision making.

You have the option of four different courses, which are: Ruby, Violet, Emerald and Diamond. On your way through the course watch out for hazards, which will deduct points. However, here is a protip, if you putt your ball through a super tube, some will be a hole in one and as a bonus you receive 10 extra points.  On one particular hole you can win a free pizza, drink, another session or even points if you can get a hole in one. I have once done this and I won a free drink!

If your birthday is close, why not book it at Puttshack, perhaps you could even try their Christmas package, where you can purchase some festive food.

Due to how great the experience is, it has brought me back many times, because of how enjoyable and how it makes me feel really happy when I spend my time here with my family and friends.

“Perfect putting awaits at Puttshack"

Ruby Xx

Ruby's verdict: 10/10

Overall experience: Fun holes with different aspects of interactive obstacles.

Price: May vary from £8 - £10 for an adult, same for a child aged 13-17 and around £7.50 for

children aged 7-12.

Fun factor: Mixture of holes to win as many points as you can.

Contact: www.puttshack.com/uk/guest-booking or  020 3912 9400