Just over three years ago I toed the line of my first London marathon, and my first marathon overall in fact. Among the sheer volume of nerves, mental doom and fear that morning, I never really anticipated the effect that one race could have. That initial cloud of fear dispersed with the motion of running straight through it and the knock on effect of getting across that finish line … Continue reading COACH MAGAZINE : LONDON MARATHON SPECIAL
Whether it’s your first, or your thirtieth marathon, when you’ve got a race up ahead and life to juggle along the way, it’s easy to forget even the most simple things. We all have slips of the mind, it’s part of being a human. So, here’s a list or two for marathon day, pre and post race, in an effort to prevent any unpacked mishaps. This lowdown also applies to weekends away, but … Continue reading 26.2 TICKLIST
I’ve come to find that progress is a continual thing. It isn’t a complete entity, it’s an ongoing process, be this in the country in which we live in, or for the world as a whole. I count myself lucky to have grown up in a society, that, whilst it may have its flaws, ultimately, it works. It aims to allow individuals the freedom of modern life, and offers children the … Continue reading SIERRA LEONE MARATHON : GIRLS SPEAK OUT
After racing the Berlin marathon in September, it was a welcome feeling to be able to face my next set of marathons without time or pace on my mind. If I’m honest, I hadn’t necessarily planned to run all three in close succession, I’d already agreed upon Chicago with my boyfriend Stephen, and Toronto with my good friend Jeggi, but even so, when an impromptu spot for Berlin came … Continue reading 4 WEEKS, 3 MARATHONS & A TON OF FUN
Give yourself a goal you don’t think you can achieve, and then work at it, until you do. 2 years ago I sat in housekeeping at Run Dem Crew, and listened to the story of Paul Bains getting a sub 3 hour marathon. I tried to comprehend how someone could run sub 7 minute mile pace for 26.2 miles, and couldn’t quite fathom it. The … Continue reading TICKING OFF THE BUCKET LIST: RUNNING A SUB 3 HOUR MARATHON
“Fear, to a great extent, is born of a story we tell ourselves, and so I chose to tell myself a different story from the one women are told.” Wild, Cheryl Strayed With a medal around my neck and a WMN RUN 100 wreathe on my chest, I sat down on the floor next to a pile of my own vomit, with a tingling nose, a … Continue reading AVENUES FOR CHANGE : RACE TO THE STONES 100K
I’m no ultra marathon expert. I’ve ran three ultra races in total. Whilst my second offering up to longer distance may have been a surprise win, the other two were more like running picnics than races. But I guess experience is gained through trying. Whether you’re a veteran mountain goat, or preparing for your debut at the distance, here are 8 of my long distance … Continue reading ULTRA MARATHON ADVICE
Following a difficult race at this years’ London marathon, I was left with a want to prove a few things to myself. I needed to know that I have the ability to pace these legs of mine, and attempt to combine push with enjoyment. Hard experiences can cloud the reality of times that have passed, and I had an urge to blow these away. After … Continue reading SILVER PLATES AT RICHMOND PARK MARATHON
When the wheels fall off, keep on trucking. The hardest things to deal with at times, are the problems that you create yourself. I’m much more patient than I used to be, but last Sunday, the urge to race ahead of 2 weeks taking it easy on Lemsip, meant that I went running into a wall which I had rashly built myself. Being swept up … Continue reading LONDON LEARNING
As a result of my first marathon, I ran a 3.35, choked back my tears, sat down shortly after finishing, and threw up repeatedly into a plastic bag. Like many of those that train for marathons, I ran every training run alone, spent time raising money for charity, and had no real idea what to expect on the day. All I could see ahead was … Continue reading AN ANNIVERSARY : VLM
