How to get back into sports?

biohaiid

Hi, I'm a 17 year old girl with literally no sporting hobbies.
I used to be really into soccer. When I started I was useless, I couldn't even kick a ball, and then I got on the starting team of my local club for about a year. I think I lost interest then, I dunno. I always like basketball but I hated my school team coach, and there are no other teams in my area.
I did gymnastics for a short while when I was much younger but was no good at it. I did horse riding for quite a bit but never gained enough confidence on a horse to get much good at it.
Last year I got really into going to the gym. I'd go every day in summer and got quite fit and toned, but now I just have no motivation, even though I neeed the activity.
I'm not overweight or anything, I'd just like something fun, healthy and active to do with my time.

Does anyone have any suggestions how and what sports could help me getting active again?

Beasty

I would say it wouldn't I, but why don't you give cycling a go?

It's a great activity where you do as much (or indeed as little) as you want. It gets you out in the fresh air and is an excellent way to get and keep fit. There are activities every week, be it local club spins, charity rides of between around 30 and 200km or just getting out on your own for a while. There's an ever-increasing women's racing scene in Ireland if you wish to compete in the sport. It's also an efficient and eco-friendly way to get you places

Drop over to the Cycling Forum if you want to find out more or ask questions about any of the gear or cycling in general

biohaiid

I had a feeling someone would suggest cycling .. I'm terrible at it. :L
Although I am willing to give it another go. I have a decent bike and the road my house is on would be suitable enough, so it could be an option. I like the whole individual sport thing though, I might try running and I just started swimming again, although I cant see that lasting long as I can barely manage one length of a pool. :L
Thanks for the suggestion.

Beasty

You think you're terrible at it. However cycling is a sport where the more you put in the more you get out. I started cycling seriously in my late 40s. I basically cycled to work, and when I started it would take over an hour to do the 23km commute. My fastest time now is well under 37 minutes - an average speed of over 38kph - admitedly there was quite a tailwind. I've lost over 6 stone over the last 5 years.

The great thing is you can go at your own pace, either alone or in groups. I've taken up racing and am regularly beating people half my age, but that's because I'm averaging 250km a week

I would agree swimming is an alternative providing you have a convenient pool, but from my experience the all-round fitness gained from cycling is much more for the time put in.

I would suggest you check out the cycling forum, and in particular some of the training logs. Some excellent examples of what some other women have done can be seen in Mel and the 180km Ring of Kerry and carrilou's 23.5kg to be lost

biohaiid

Beasty wrote: »

You think you're terrible at it. However cycling is a sport where the more you put in the more you get out. I started cycling seriously in my late 40s. I basically cycled to work, and when I started it would take over an hour to do the 23km commute. My fastest time now is well under 37 minutes - an average speed of over 38kph - admitedly there was quite a tailwind. I've lost over 6 stone over the last 5 years.

The great thing is you can go at your own pace, either alone or in groups. I've taken up racing and am regularly beating people half my age, but that's because I'm averaging 250km a week

I would agree swimming is an alternative providing you have a convenient pool, but from my experience the all-round fitness gained from cycling is much more for the time put in.

Fair play, that's quite the achievement.
My pool isn't great, it's too shallow at one end for me so apart from my general uselessness, that made it very difficult.
I am definately considering cycling now, as I have started going to the gym again and am starting pilates tomorrow, so I might be back in shape in no time.

mrwhimwham

Ever consider playing Table-Tennis? Great sport to play and very easy to pick up. Tables found in nearly every college round the country.

If not Table-Tennis, why not Tiddlywinks?

biohaiid

mrwhimwham wrote: »

Ever consider playing Table-Tennis? Great sport to play and very easy to pick up. Tables found in nearly every college round the country.

If not Table-Tennis, why not Tiddlywinks?

Was thinking of something a bit more active. :P

mrwhimwham

Tiddlywinks players all over the world are raising their fists angrily! :eek:

You ever consider picking up either racquetball or handball over in mayo? Very popular over the wesht of the country!

biohaiid

mrwhimwham wrote: »

Tiddlywinks players all over the world are raising their fists angrily! :eek:

You ever consider picking up either racquetball or handball over in mayo? Very popular over the wesht of the country!

Are they?!
Well, not from my part anyways .. GAA, boxing or nothing :P
But I have been considering a racket sport, not too sure how my hand eye coordination is, not very good I'm sure.

mrwhimwham

biohaiid wrote: »

Are they?!
Well, not from my part anyways .. GAA, boxing or nothing :P
But I have been considering a racket sport, not too sure how my hand eye coordination is, not very good I'm sure.

The raining European Women's doubles champions are from castlebar. And as for handball, there is countless alleys all over the county. Also, both great communities if you do manage to get involved.

biohaiid

mrwhimwham wrote: »

The raining European Women's doubles champions are from castlebar. And as for handball, there is countless alleys all over the county. Also, both great communities if you do manage to get involved.

Who would have thought, might consider it, cheers.

SuperInfinity

My advice is to play either soccer or basketball. I personally hugely prefer soccer and hate basketball, but they are both team games etc.

titan18

Running is always easy, cycling if you have a decent bike. When you build up a decent bit of fitness and speed, you can always join clubs if you want to do it socially, and work out by yourself if you'd prefer that.

Richard Hillman

Badminton

biohaiid

SuperInfinity wrote: »

My advice is to play either soccer or basketball. I personally hugely prefer soccer and hate basketball, but they are both team games etc.

Like I've said Iv'e already spent a considerable time playing soccer and have lost interest. And basketball is always something I liked but found impossible to get involved in. Maybe when I head off for college it might be an option.

titan18 wrote: »

Running is always easy, cycling if you have a decent bike. When you build up a decent bit of fitness and speed, you can always join clubs if you want to do it socially, and work out by yourself if you'd prefer that.

I've started going to the gym reguarly lately so after Iv'e got considerable back in shape I'm gonna give the two a go and see which I like.

Richard Hillman wrote: »

Badminton

Thats what my mom suggested too. :L

Flo89

Ultimate Frisbee. For getting fit, challenging yourself, surprising yourself, meeting new people, getting to travel and developing a lot of personal skills if you get involved in the organisational side of it. Definitely join in college!