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  1. Turning 40 the hard way. For the uninitiated, “Couch to 5K “ is a NHS backed program designed to get non-runners to take regular exercise, and, as the name suggests, take them all the way to 5K over a 10 week build up period. I undertook my own version of this a couple of years ago at a point when my life was falling apart (there’s a recurrent theme here) but never being one to follow the crowd I went from couch to 26.2 trail miles over 4 consecutive Wednesdays. I was trying to impress someone, it failed. Also a recu...
  2. Beginners 12 Week Half Marathon Plan With the annual run from Newcastle to South Shields one of the biggest Half Marathons in the World here is the perfect way to start. BEFORE STARTING TO TRAIN FOR A HALF MARATHON YOU NEED TO HAVE BASIC LEVEL OF RUNNING FITNESS. IF YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS ABOUT YOUR FITNESS OR HEALTH THEN PLEASE CONSULT YOUR GP, MOST HEALTHY PEOPLE CAN TRAIN THEMSELVES TO COMPLETE A 13.1-MILE RACE. THIS FREE GUIDE WILL TELL YOU HOW TO ACHIEVE THIS.. The following plan assumes you have the ability to run 3 mile...
  3. Remembering our friend Ian 'Go Run’ Gorin For those who don’t know who I am, my name is Heather and I'm one of Ian's many close friends that he met through running and this is my eulogy to him which I read at his funeral. Standing here in front of you all brings a range of mixed emotions. I'm so honoured to have been asked by Ian's family to say a few words but it's without doubt the hardest and most surreal thing I have ever been asked to do. How can I sum up what Ian meant to so many of us sat here today in such...
  4. Injury Prevention - The Real Excuse for a New Pair of Running Shoes. This may come as a surprise to anyone who knows me… but I hate shopping for shoes. Particularly running shoes. It’s not that I don’t enjoy a new comfy pair of trainers, but I usually want the pair that don’t quite fit. The pair that look pretty. The ones in the nice colour, rather than the ones that are right for me. And, as a trail runner, despite my best efforts to avoid the puddles and the mud, any new pair of trainers usually stay clean for a matter of minutes. I have two trusted pairs o...
  5. Couch to 5k Couch to 5K is a great way to start running. It works due to starting with a mix of running and walking, to gradually build up your fitness and stamina. Week one involves running for just a minute at a time, creating realistic expectations and making the challenge feel achievable right from the start. SIX-WEEK BEGINNER 5K SCHEDULE A basic 5K schedule that assumes you don't run at all yet, and is designed to get you to the finish comfortably with only a few short walk breaks. WEEK ONE M...
  6. 7 days of CORE!!
  7. Beginners 10k Plan The 10K (6.2 miles) distance is the next step for beginner runners, especially those who have done couch to 5K but don't feel they're quite ready to take on the half-marathon. (that comes after this) Below is an eight-week training schedule to help get you to the finish line. It assumes that you can already run at least 2 miles. If you've never run before please follow our beginner's couch to 5k, this will help your body and mind to adjust. Don't forget to warm up, this c...
  8. What is Heel Drop? Ever since the book born to run came out and the minimalist craze went mainstream, heel drop has become a word in most runners vocabulary, with the creation of new brands such as Altra, Hoka and Topo its not as simple to just pick up the right runners. Heel drop is essentially a measurement for how hight a running shoe’s heel feels. It’s short for “heel to toe drop,” often shortened to just “drop.” It's often called “offset,” Whatever name, it just tells you how much taller the heel...
  9. I thought I knew, but I had no idea… by Hannah McMahon (Lets Run Blogger!) (Photo Credit James Kirby) I thought I knew, but I had no idea… Shopping…every girl’s favourite pass time right?! As a keen trail runner I’m always keeping my eye out for some decent gear, shorts, tops and those super grippy trainers to get me through the mud and over the rocks because you can’t run a decent race without the right trainers (obviously!). But shopping for underwear is a whole other ball game. I’ve been for runs where I’ve been reluctant to jump down the trail, or ...
  10. The London Marathon: Trading Trails for Tarmac I’ve run/jogged/shuffled my way round several marathons. But 2019 was the year I ticked the London marathon off the bucket list. It had been like a ritual for as long as I could remember, the annual occasion of planting myself on the sofa to watch thousands of people toe the line, high five the procession of supporters along with the celebrities, running pandas, and men with fridges on their back to name just a few. Every year I’d mutter “next year I’m going to do that” and after many many...
  11. Holes in the toe box? One of the biggest questions we get is “Why do I get holes in my running shoes?” and “how do we prevent it” Many runners think it’s a fault with the shoes, but unfortunately its not as simple as that. Yes some shoes are worse than others but its important to tell your running specialist store that you have this issue before making your final shoe choice. After spending a fortune on some shiny new shoes, the last thing you expect is your toe to pop through the upper. Unfortunately this is ofte...
  12. Ultra Running, Ultramarathon & Ultra Trail Running If you typed the above phrases in any search engine then you will get similar answers. "they are races above 26.2" but what is an ultra marathon really? Wikipedia has an interesting definition but over the last 3 to 4 years we have seen a huge change in the races both in the UK and abroad. You have the main showcase races likes of Hardmoors Ultra Series, Lakeland 50/100, UTMB, Western States, Marathon des Sables to name but a few but what about the lessor know races and the FKT's ...
  13. Why are sports bras so important? WHY ARE SPORTS BRAS IMPORTANT? Running makes breasts bounce up, down and even in a figure of eight, in fact unless secured they have their own party. Continuous and repetitive movement may result in soreness, pain and even sagging. Sports bras are made to reduce this movement and help maintain shape. Breasts are mostly composed of fatty tissue and are supported mainly by skin and fragile ligaments called Coopers' ligaments. Because these are not elastic, during repetitive or high impact s...