Finding a Running Bra You Love Not all runners are the same. Before we even get into our different sizes, shapes and fitness levels, we all have different preferences; some like pavement pounding, other prefer trails, some like intervals, other like to take their runs easy, and some like long runs while others are fans of short and fast. So, when it comes to kit and especially running bras, it’s great to get recommendations from other runners but, essentially, you need to find out what works for you – your size, your shape and your preferences. Because, like runners, not all bras are created e ..read more

Training for the London Marathon in Just 10 Weeks If you follow me on Instagram, you may already know that I’m training for the London Marathon 2022. I had a somewhat ‘last-minute’ offer of a place from the sponsors Flora and decided I was doing just enough running to seriously consider it. I say ‘last-minute’ because 10 weeks out from the race (which is when the offer came) is about as last-minute as you can really leave it to consider running 26.2 miles. Funnily enough, I’d written a piece for Women’s Running a while ago on whether you can train for a marathon in 10 weeks. Spooky. I wa ..read more

The Big Three of Marathon Training Let’s talk ‘Big 3’! It’s something I tell my Marathon Squad runners and it’s important to think about right now if you’re training for an October race. I’m all for marathon training not taking over your life. Your training should work with your other plans, your holidays etc. If you map it out well enough in advance, you can still have a social life and train well. But, it’s important to pay close attention to the Big 3. What Are The Big 3? The Big 3 are the three biggest volume weeks of your marathon training plan and will include your longest runs. They typ ..read more

How to Become a Running Coach I never dreamed when I started out running as a complete beginner that, several years later I’d be teaching other people how to run as a job, but here we are. I’ve been leading and coaching runners since 2013 and I’m also now a resident coach for Women’s Running magazine meaning i write the training plan each issue as well as a column about my coaching life, and I tutor for England Athletics teaching other runners how to become Run Leaders. How I started coaching There’s a video below with more background on my journey… Your first steps into coaching Your first p ..read more

Why is a sports bra so important? When you find a sports bra that fits you perfectly, you’ll pull it out of the dirty washing pile to wear it again instead of settling for a clean bra that isn’t as good a fit. My breasts have changed size and shape many times over the past decade. I’ve been pregnant, had a baby, breastfed for 19 months, lost weight, put weight on – all of this has meant I’ve spent a lot of time wearing sports bras that didn’t quite fit. I’ve worn sports bras that have been too loose in the cup, too tight in the chest band and that I’ve had to prise myself in and out of. The r ..read more

Running with my phone: now and then I started running in 2008, long before phones became smartphones. I started running on a treadmill in a basement gym, staring at the numbers on the dashboard slowly ticking over. It was boring, but I was too nervous to run outside and I had no way to measure how far or fast I was running other than on that treadmill. Once I’d made it to 20 minutes of running, it was time to be brave and leave the confines of the gym to run in the open air. I sometimes think about that run as I get ready to go out now, iPhone 12 in hand with a host of apps at my disposal, and ..read more

The Best Sports Bras for Running For me, a good running bra is one of the most important pieces of kit for female runners. Poorly fitting bras can affect your running form as you unconsciously make small changes to your upper body when you feel unsupported or self-conscious. Myself and Jane have picked our favourites for The Run Testers. Have a look at the video and find out which we recommend including a bra for post-natal runners who are still breastfeeding ..read more

New Year Plans: Just Keep Moving My New Year’s goal isn’t to hit any massive mileage targets or to run every day in January. This year I’m keeping it simple with a mantra ‘Just keep moving’. That movement might be a run (after all, I’m hoping to run a marathon this year), but equally it might be 20 mins of yoga or a walk around the reservoir. Because I know that even small amounts of movement can add up. While that half an hour walk or 20 mins in downward dog might not get me round a marathon, they’ll help improve my mood. There’s a lot of pressure to start the year with a big challenge. But ..read more

The Best Women’s Running Leggings With Pockets The guys at The Run Testers asked me to join them to talk about which are the best women’s running leggings with pockets. Jane and I picked our favourites – all with the important pocket big enough to carry your phone. If you’re still running in shorts, check out this round-up of women’s running shorts ..read more

My Essential Running Kit The guys at The Run Testers asked me for my essential kit picks, and so here they are. What couldn’t I run without? My socks, pants, bra and visor. Here’s the video for the lowdown on my picks ..read more