As a female runner and coach of women (not exclusively) I want to encourage a better understanding of our monthly cycle and how we can maximize it in our training and racing. Let’s start with a quick recap of the female cycle and a reminder of terminology. The number of days for each phase is personal … Continue reading Maximizing training around the female cycle
Tag: exercise
Top tips for acing your first race in 2020
I was asked by the Guardian to give my top five tips for acing your first race of 2020. Read on to find out more; Train smart. It doesn’t have to be all about the mileage, key to successful training is ensuring varied intensities and distances in your weekly programme. A good basic formula is … Continue reading Top tips for acing your first race in 2020
Mental health and running – Interview with Dr Lynne Drummond
The New Year is a time for reconnecting with mind and body. As runners, we know that we’ll generally always feel better after a run, but I wanted to delve deeper into mental health and running. I was fortunate to talk to Dr Lynne Drummond, Psychiatrist and Head of South West London and St George's … Continue reading Mental health and running – Interview with Dr Lynne Drummond
Patience and Persistence pays off
Hampered by injury? Here are my top tips on how to deal with injury and get back to running in a sustainable way. Get diagnosed by a professional – speak to your GP or physio if you are suffering with pain when running. You can’t begin to treat an injury unless you know what the … Continue reading Patience and Persistence pays off
Stitch – what is it and how to prevent it?
The sharp, cramping, tugging pain in the side, known as stitch, is experienced by 70% of runners[1]. It can deter beginners from continuing running and force more experienced runners to stop or considerably slow down during races. Marathon star and Olympian Meb Keflezighi says he has lost races to stitches[2]. So what is stitch, why … Continue reading Stitch – what is it and how to prevent it?
Marathon secrets from an ‘Ever Present’
Steve Wehrle (68) is one of 12 ‘Ever Presents’ running the London Marathon this year. He is part of a special club of men who have run every single marathon since the first race in 1981. Members of the club can only leave, no one new can join. All the members are men as only … Continue reading Marathon secrets from an ‘Ever Present’
Carbohydrate – Runner’s friend or foe?
Should we ditch the humble potato? Growing up in the 1990’s watching my Dad carbo load days before each of his 10 marathons and attending pasta parties thrown by the organisers the night before the event I have always understood that traditional carbs (pasta, rice, potatoes, doughnuts etc) are essential to any long distance training … Continue reading Carbohydrate – Runner’s friend or foe?
Going out quickly in the first part of a race, what is the real cost?
I recently ran an 8 mile cross country race. It was a brutally hilly 3 lap course and I started out characteristically quickly, keen to get a good position. During the second lap I was gleefully overtaking other runners in short bursts. By the third lap, my form had crumbled, I was being over taken … Continue reading Going out quickly in the first part of a race, what is the real cost?