Ninja Warrior

 

Went to Ninja Warrior UK in Speke today with Jo as her birthday activity. She turned 40 last week but was at the lakes so only just got to see her today. We booked a 2 hour session which was a bad idea. An hour would have been well enough! We'd been to the gym this morning - I did yoga and Jo trained chest then we were meant to do a workout together but my body currently hates me - I have a bad knee which isn't the knee that I injured during lockdown but the other knee. Jo said her knee hurts as well from all the walking at the lakes and she twisted her wrist the other week which hasn't recovered so we didn't want to do anything too hard to save ourselves for this but ended up doing nothing for 30 minutes then did 10 minutes of abs. We both went home, had something to eat then went for 1:30pm.

We did Total Ninja in 2018 with Sarah when she got it for my birthday and this wasn't as good as that. It's smaller but has a big inflatable bit that is aimed at kids. This felt smaller but don't think it was, think just because it has different obstacles but did find the ones at Total Ninja were better. We could have went on the inflatable bit but you had to buy the socks to go on it. It was really busy and full of kids. But we did book during peak hours which also cost an extra £2.

Most of it was really hard which we couldn't do never mind most kids. Most of it is based off the TV show and one of the staff was actually on the UK TV show and represented his own country think he said Germany. He showed us a video of him doing the whole course in 55 seconds! But he was like Tarzan and could leap from one end to the other. He didn't touch every piece and mainly just leaped from one end to the end but good going wouldn't even be able to do that in double the time.

I did manage to beat the wall this time even though I could barely run up. Struggled more on the small kid's wall.

One thing I could actually do was the monkey bars and the swinging monkey bars! You can watch the full video of me doing the monkey bars on my Instagram. Unfortunately Jo didn't get a video of me on the swinging monkey bars.

I also managed to do half of this. Couldn't get the swing to get onto the second set.

I struggled on this and couldn't complete it because I have blisters on my hands - got a blood blister that actually burst so that was killing. I got gloves from last time but forget to bring them. Probably would have been able to do more if I brought them as my hands wouldn't have been as sore.

We definitely should have only booked an hour, that would have been enough. We spent more time not doing anything than doing stuff. It was really hard and there was just kids all over the place. It wasn't too bad for the first 30 minutes then a giant party turned up. We were definitely the oldest people there minus the odd parents with kids then this couple who were mid 20s turned up towards the end of our session. My upper body is aching now and it is a good workout but I think it's definitely more aimed at kids. An hour is well enough and best booking in the off peak time when there's not kids getting in your way.

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Total Ninja

For my birthday Sarah got me a day out to Total Ninja in Manchester. We'd been to the gym in the morning and trained back which was a really bad idea... Jo came with us and I drove down. It's in Trafford Park down the road from the Trafford Centre.

Kids section - probably would've done better on this...

We were booked onto the recruit one which looks so hard!

Me and Jo started on the beginner and Sarah was suppose to be filming us doing it on my phone but it turns out she didn't press record! Would have had the best you've been framed footage I was falling everywhere! She was just taking photos! The beginner was really hard but I did manage to get to the 3rd monkey bar before I fell off. But couldn't manage the rest it was hard.

We went onto the intermediate - the monkey bars were easier as they were swinging where as on the beginner they were like ladders just ran along the top. The bars are all really high up. I could just about jump up the reach them but it was a really high drop. Just think I was going to twist my ankle when I fell. I thought it would've been a foam pit you fell into which would've have cushioned your fall. I just manage to get to the 3rd bar but no one caught it on video!

We thought you had to try and step onto each one - they were really far apart but it's turns out you sit on the high ones..!

We should have watched the videos on their Instagram before we went cos then we would've actually known how to do the different obstacles! 

Tarzan couldn't gracefully reach the net sadly.

Not making excuses but you got the shortest run up on the walls! I managed to grab the top but couldn't pull myself up! But Jo did cos she's a machine!

It was so hard like it was a proper work out I was sweating and come off aching like I'd done a full session. It was so fun! Definitely better than doing tough mudder at least I come out clean and dry after it - might have been sweating but I can deal with that. We took so many videos and boomerangs which you can see my on my Instagram highlights here. Didn't stop laughing all the way through it. It was an hour but it felt like we'd been in the gym for hours! Was knackered after it.

After we got changed and went to the Trafford Centre. We had a walk around then me and Jo got a Maccies ice cream.

We went for food at Pesto's - Italian tapas.

I got Ali di pollo al forno - Chicken wings Tuscan-style, marinated then baked in the oven

Verdure al forno - Fresh colourful seasonal vegetables, lightly seasoned and simply roasted in the oven

Farfalle al salmone affumicato e asparagi - Farfalle pasta with smoked salmon, asparagus, garlic in a white wine and double cream sauce

Jo got - Polenta fritta al parmigiano e rosemarino - polenta chips made with rosemary, Gran Moravia cheese

Polpette di manzo - Spicy meatballs in a tomato garlic and herb sauce

Fettuccine alla carbonara

Sarah also got the Polenta chips

Insalata Caprese - Buffalo mozzarella and ripe tomato, drizzled with olive oil, balsamic and fresh basil dressing

Spiedini di pollo - Skewer of marinated chicken breast wrapped in fine cured ham, sealed and baked in the oven

My chicken wings were spicy which I was expecting which made all my food taste weird. I didn't think the pasta was that good I've had better. There used to be a Pesto in Liverpool One but it's closed down - think it might be Wagamama there now instead.

Jo wanted something sweet for dessert so we ended up getting another ice cream...

It was a fat day but we earned it!

Thanks for the birthday present Sarah I loved it! It was so much fun and spent the whole day crying laughing even though we didn't properly complete it all!

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