I've been making a real effort lately to step back from my time goals and just enjoy running. When running is your day job as well as the thing you do for fun, it's easy to get too wrapped up in it, and I found I was getting a little obsessed over speed, and when … Continue reading Why running should never be painful
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Why you shouldn’t feel pressured to run a marathon
Marathon season is well and truly upon us. My work email and my social media feeds have been full of training runs and questions about fuelling and tapering for the past few months, and then maranoia inevitably hits, and the internet explodes with even more questions. It's impossible to avoid the M word at this … Continue reading Why you shouldn’t feel pressured to run a marathon
I’m not a real runner
I've heard this phrase a lot recently and it worries me if I am quite honest. It worries me because running is supposed to be inclusive, yet there are a lot of people under the misconception that they're not real runners, because a small minority of people are telling them that they're not fast enough … Continue reading I’m not a real runner
Hell of a Hill Marathon Review
This marathon has been on my radar since before I even moved nearby, when I read Robert Young's Marathon Man book about completing the 5 in 5. Yes, that's 5 marathons in 5 consecutive days, where each marathon consists of five 3.8 mile loops up the same hill. My experience wasn't quite on this scale … Continue reading Hell of a Hill Marathon Review
How do you find the right training plan for you?
I often hear runners asking others to point them in the direction of a ‘good’ training plan. I always advise caution when using generic plans, or a plan written for somebody else, because every person is an individual and therefore what works for one person may not necessarily work for another. As a running coach, … Continue reading How do you find the right training plan for you?
Why summer is made for trail running
There is nothing I love more than pulling on my trail shoes on a summer’s day, and heading out onto the trails to see where they take me. A feast for the five senses: the spectacular views, or even if you’re on urban trails, the way the sunlight turns a wooded path into a glorious … Continue reading Why summer is made for trail running
Why I’m running Miles for Mind – some words on bullying
I'm taking part in a virtual challenge this month, to run #MilesforMind and as it's Mental Health Awareness Week it seemed a good chance to talk about an experience I've been through recently which impacted a lot on my mental health - bullying. It sounds silly when I write this down - I mean I'm … Continue reading Why I’m running Miles for Mind – some words on bullying
Fell-racing – falling with style
Fell running, sometimes known as hill running, but not to be confused with mountain running, is the sport of running and racing, off road, over upland country where the gradient climbed is a significant component of the difficulty. Since moving to the edge of the West Pennine Moors last autumn, fell racing has been on … Continue reading Fell-racing – falling with style
The bare necessities: review of Underun performance running underwear
We runners spend a lot of money on kit, don’t we? But how much thought do we give to our underwear, the piece of kit that’s closest to our skin and can cause chafing or irritation if it’s not right?I’ll be honest; I’m an ex-commando runner. I used to forego underwear because normal pants are … Continue reading The bare necessities: review of Underun performance running underwear
Running the Nationals
If you're a regular runner, how often do you get an opportunity to compete with the best athletes in the country? To toe the same startline, and to set off on the same gun? It doesn't happen in many sports, but the English Cross Country Association National Championships is one such event. I had been … Continue reading Running the Nationals
