So here we are, approaching the end of 2020, with my running goals for the year long since fallen by the wayside. Like so many of us, I found the early lockdown quite a struggle, trying to work effectively from home whilst home schooling my two little boys. One by one, my dream races were... Continue Reading →
The 40th London Marathon (virtual edition)!
So today was the day of the Virtual London Marathon, something I had been looking forward to and training towards for the last six weeks. With the mass-participation event cancelled, London were allowing participants to put all their training miles to good use and earn their medal by completing the marathon distance on October 4th,... Continue Reading →
Training for a Virtual Marathon
This year was supposed to be an exciting one for my running, with a whole host of races planned, leading up to the highlight of my year, running the Chicago and New York marathons. Of course, as the year progressed and all mass participation races were cancelled one by one, it became clear that this... Continue Reading →
Three Years – and a few learnings along the way
It’s been three years since the header photo on the left was taken. This was my first ever race, a challenge I had set myself to run 10km, with all intentions of stopping afterwards and returning to my rather sedentary life. But instead, while training for that race, something clicked into place, sending me on... Continue Reading →
The Big Half! And a big step forward, taking 17 minutes off my PB.
At the start of the year I set myself three quite challenging running goals to really stretch myself throughout 2020: 1) run a sub-50 minute 10 km2) run a sub-2 hr half marathonAnd 3) to complete the Chicago and New York marathons! The Vitality Big Half, with its flat course, and exciting event atmosphere, seemed... Continue Reading →
The Great South Run 2019- Pacers, PB’s and my #Breaking2 challenge
With the Berlin marathon ticked off and my legs fully recovered it was time to start working on my remaining goals for the rest of the year. I’ve been totally inspired by Eliud Kipchoge's historic INEOS 1:59:40 marathon last week, so much so that I’ve decided to set myself my very own #Breaking2 challenge. Obviously... Continue Reading →
Berlin Hasenheide parkrun – and the day before the marathon!
I’m in Berlin for the weekend for the highlight of my autumn race schedule, tomorrow’s Berlin Marathon! But it just wouldn’t be a Saturday morning without a trip to parkrun. Fortunately, Berlin joined the parkrun family last year, setting up a new run location in the beautiful Hasenheide park, a short metro ride from the... Continue Reading →
Draycote Water 20 mile race – my final Berlin Marathon long run!
This has been the toughest week of Berlin Marathon training so far, with three intense mid-week tempo and interval workouts on my training plan, followed by the longest weekend long run - the 20 miler! Many marathon training plans, like mine, peak with a 20 mile long run around three weeks before race day, to... Continue Reading →
Victoria Dock Parkrun, a Huge PB and a Lesson in Mind Over Matter
I was back on the parkrun tourist trail this week for my 95th parkrun. Victoria Dock is just a few miles away from my home run of Walthamstow, and I had heard reports of it being a fast, flat course, ideal for a PB attempt! I had set my parkrun PB of 26:03 a few... Continue Reading →
Berlin Marathon Training – Halfway There!
It's now just eight weeks until I run my second marathon in Berlin on Sunday 29th September, which means I have reached the halfway point of my sixteen-week training plan! As I cross off another session on the planner stuck in pride of place on my fridge, it seems like a good moment to reflect... Continue Reading →