I have just returned from the University of Birmingham Sport and Fitness Centre.

…. which is about 10 minutes away from me by bike.

This costs me £37.64 a month and I think it is well worth it.
The centre has a 50m pool (with a movable floor to make it shallower for children and boom to change the length to 25m), sauna and steam room, Gymnasium, squash courts, and a Costa cafe (yesterday I had the Maple Hazel Hot Chocolate, quite sweet but tasty)

Today I went to the gym and used the stair climber (15 flights of stairs), followed by the running machine (1km distance, 145m gained –  running through the Australian Outback).
I then went down to the pool, swam 100m, and used the sauna for 10 minutes (95°C).

Not much, I know but I hope better than nothing.

I never quite understand the physics of the running machine.
I set it to maximum elevation but I am not quite sure why it should make a person use more energy, after all, you don’t actually go up … your centre of gravity remains in the same place.
Maybe someone can explain it to me?

The canal goes through the University and I often cycle back along the canal tow path and River Rea cycle route, however today I got side-tracked by the Greek Gyros Bar on the campus (I had a chicken gyros which was delicious) and decided to cycle straight home.

I try to get to the Sports Centre about twice a week. As well as a bit of exercise I like the atmosphere of academia at the University (not to mention the food and drink – The Bratby Bar sells a nice pint)

University Of Birmingham Sport and Fitness