Tag: half marathon
What’s Hot and What’s Not
February 6th, 2020
Essentials
Running tops.
Reliable shorts
Good quality socks
Proper running shoes
Running cap
The … Non essentials ?
Running jacket
Running supplementation
Overly expensive running shoes
20 Tips for 2020
January 15th, 2020
1. Understand that you’re probably not going to beat Mo Farah.
2. Race with yourself
3. GO! GO! GO!
4. Give yourself time to heal
5. Keep on going (Oh how typical)
6. Sleep well
7. Join a running group
8. Stay Hydrated
9. Make a goal.
10. Find a good playlist
11. Incentivise
12. Shake it up
13. 2020 miles in 2020
14. Stretch those legs
15. Have a warm up race.
16. Eat well.
17. Quality over quantity
18. Use a training app
19. Work on your Weaknesses
20. Just have fun!
How to Tone Those Turkey Legs & Keep Running Over the Christmas Period
December 18th, 2019
All of December from the 1st to the 31st, everyone’s favourite festive activity seems to be eating everything from mince pies to roast turkey.
In this time of celebration, lots of people forget all about running (what half marathon next year?) and let their years worth of hard work and training lose the battle against the chocolates you receive every year without fail, from the distant family members you barely know the names of.
More worryingly this can lead to a decrease in motivation towards training coming into January and February and your chances of hitting that PB come the end of 2020 are looking slimmer.
However, here is your one stop guide to keeping on the roads and off the pigs in blankets. I am obviously not a dietary expert so take these ideas with a pinch of salt (not too much however) and remember you are allowed to enjoy yourself throughout this season, but keep these tips in mind.
Every mince pie = 1 Mile
This should make you able to justify your excessive consumption to yourself, as you will definitely run that 36 (and a quarter) mile run this week.
Use the cold as a motivator
If you think to yourself when out running, of that warm fireplace waiting for you on your arrival home, you will run twice as fast… probably.
Amazing views
Just think of the views you will get of that winter sun when you leave the house, also you will be the only runner to enjoy them with others tucked up inside while you’re working hard.
Running one step ahead of the competition
Many runners will be using this time period to rest and put their feet up after a hard year of training but not you, you will continue throughout and thus be a stronger runner in 2020.
Excuse for new Gear
That running jacket you could never justify, those cool trail shoes you thought you’d never need? Think again, Christmas is the time to give, and this includes giving to yourself, so treat yourself and buy some new gear before you hit those frosty roads .
Maybe the cold is not for you?
If even the thought of running in the winter breeze gives you a sniffle, then consider going down to your local gym and hitting the treadmill instead. The warmth in the gym will give similar conditions to running in the summer. A good idea is to run on an incline as running on a flat treadmill is no good for your ankles, so run on a 1% incline and above if you fancy challenging yourself.
Incentivise with the odd treat.
See you can enjoy yourself, within reason, think about that turkey when you get home after your run, yet again it will likely make you run faster and keep your mind positive in the bitter winter winds
Nice as it may seem, we all know that running is not our priority during the festivities so see if you can utilise a couple of these tips to keep you going, even if its just once or twice a month , I guarantee you will see the benefits come the new year.
The next time I will be writing here is in 2020, so have a “Runtastic” (no, surprisingly I did not find that pun in a cracker) Christmas and see you then!
(In the meantime, please click the heart below if you’ve enjoyed the read!)
My 2019 Great North Run
December 12th, 2019
This year’s great north run was my first half marathon and my first run for Dragonfly Cancer Trust.
Along with being one of the most painful experiences of my life, it was also one of the most rewarding. Personally this run meant a lot to me, because as a child I struggled with mobility and had to regain the ability to run, therefore completing this had always been a dream of mine.
Onto the day of the run. The day started for me at around 7:00am when I woke, had my breakfast and got on my dragonfly top, got a quick photo and left for the run.. Upon arriving in Newcastle, the atmosphere was electric, the sun was shining and everyone was glowing. We were all ready for the task in hand.
Like most of the runners, nature was calling, hence the one and a half hour wait for the world’s largest collection of portaloos. Whilst being a rather painful experience, it was also a great for meeting fellow runners and finding out other peoples stories. This took me until around 10:00am and gave me 40 minutes until start time. Eventually as the workout came to a close and final preparations were completed, it was 10:40 and we set off.
My first impressions were how alarmingly fast I started. My first mile came in at 6’32” and stayed around there for the first parts of the run. The atmosphere from the crowd was incredible and a real motivator to keep going at this pace. At points (in particular mile 8) it was difficult to keep going, however, the thought of the cause I was running for kept me motivated and proved to be a great inspiration.
The last push of my run finished on a 7’23” mile and it was a great feeling to return to my home of South Shields. Finishing the run in the time I did was a great surprise to me as I was aiming for around 01:45 time therefore finishing in 01:36.06 was an amazing achievement.
The true challenge of the race, however, was finding the charity tent!
The labyrinth of charity tents proves to be quite difficult to navigate and it felt like running the race again trying to find it. After what felt like around 3 years, I discovered the tent where Jane and Sarah, as well as my family were waiting for me. I felt a surge of pride upon entering as it occurred to me how hard I worked towards this moment and how the money I had raised would help towards this fantastic cause.
From this day onwards I decided to continue volunteering for Dragonfly Cancer Trust and hence writing this blog ! For all those interested in running next year I hope this provides some insight into what the Great North Run will be like.