M has been very ill, and then I got sick, so I've not run for a fortnight. This weekend I've got back to running and completed both a parkrun and an 18km run. I'm so pleased that I got a long run done ahead of my half marathon! The post A fortnight off training appeared first on Fat Girl to Ironman ..read more

I've been trying hard with my training as I'm conscious that my first race of 2025 is a month away. Luckily, my training plan seems to be working as I'm getting faster as I'm running further. The post Four weeks until my first race of 2025 appeared first on Fat Girl to Ironman ..read more

In previous years, I’ve written lengthy posts setting out long lists of intentions for the year, but I’m not in a place where I want to make any New Year’s resolutions this year. If I’m out walking, I like listening to The Lazy Genius podcast. Kendra Adachie’s mantra of ‘progress not perfection’ feels much more attainable right now. There are... The post Veganuary and training appeared first on Fat Girl to Ironman ..read more

2024 was a long slow countdown to my 500th parkrun. I had hoped to do it on 21/12/24, but I missed a parkrun because of Storm Darragh. This meant that my 500th event would take place on Christmas Day. My last parkrun milestone was in May 2018, when I completed my 250th run. I love Christmas Day parkrun because everyone... The post Achieving a parkrun milestone appeared first on Fat Girl to Ironman ..read more

December was a fantastic month for parkrun as there were six festive parkruns to take part in. Unfortunately, I was really unwell during the month. My regular runs from the YMCA in Eastleigh were cancelled, so I didn’t do as much running as I’d hoped to. I also missed most Monday night LRR runs because of family commitments. 02/12/23 – Run Directing at Southampton parkrun The first Saturday of the month was my 12th volunteering slot for the year, so I’m maintaining my volunteering ratio of 35%. Hopefully, I can start to build on this next year by volunteering more regularly whilst M does junio ..read more

I started 2024 with a New Year’s Day parkrun. It was my 452nd parkrun (my 261st at Southampton). We didn’t have a late night last night, but we bought a new mattress in the sales and it has had the opposite effect to what I’d hoped for. Instead of improving my sleep, I’ve struggled to find a comfortable sleeping position and have slept terribly since we got it. I’m really hoping that my sleep improves this month, as that should help my running. Anyway… I love New Year’s Day parkruns – I’ve managed to complete them in 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2020, 2022 and 2023. The years I missed, I was in Cor ..read more

The last time I visited Penrose parkrun was New Year’s Day 2020, so it’s over 3.5 years since I last ran there. I’ve run it with my nephews, my mum and Stuart, but M has never completed the run there herself. As well as giving M a chance to increase the number of different parkrun events she’s done, I thought the drive would be easier. Heartlands is closer to my mum’s house by a couple of miles, but it’s also on the main road which is often congested with holiday traffic on Saturday mornings. We arrived 15 minutes before the start but didn’t immediately get out of the car because it was rainin ..read more

London Marathon was a month ago and since then I’ve barely run. It’s not because I haven’t wanted to, but because I’ve had to catch up with everything I postponed whilst training. The housework has been neglected and I needed to do some studying. However, the benefit of the enforced break is that my knee has had some time to recover. Yesterday I managed my first pain-free post-marathon run. Unfortunately, my right foot is now hurting. Post-marathon season’s best at Southampton parkrun (30/04/23) I wasn’t sure how my first post-marathon parkrun would go. After my first marathon in 2012, I strug ..read more

My final week of light training ahead of London Marathon has been tough. I haven’t lost as much weight as I’d hoped to and don’t feel well enough prepared. Monday night training with Lordshill Road Runners – Avenue of Pain On Monday, I went to my usual Monday night training session with Lordshill. My heart sank when I realised it would be a hill training session. Even more frustratingly, Group D (the group above mine) had a track session so several people from Group D joined Group C. I decided to do the session but I didn’t want to push too hard. I jogged up the hills and walked when I felt ti ..read more

It’s starting to get real – I’ve now received my email from London Marathon letting me know my start colour and wave – I’m in Blue 9. I’ve also got my bib number: 54632. This means that you can track me, either online or using the London Marathon 2023 app. Remember that Blue 9 is supposed to start at 10:36, so with a slightly late start and a congested first 5km, I wouldn’t expect to see anything on the tracker until ~11:15am. Stair climbing at PK Portcurno After my long run around Hayle, we had to find some other activities during our holiday as the weather forecast was dire. I did a bit of ..read more