With 8 weeks down and just 9 to go I am fast approaching the half way point of my marathon training schedule. This week was pull-back week, where I only needed to run 4,4,5,13 miles. Only going out three times during the week felt rather sneaky now that I'm getting accustomed to four weekday runs. [...]
It's funny how some weeks seem to take an eternity, with each day ambling on without haste, while others just race by and before you know it's the weekend again. This week most certainly falls into the latter category. After a week like this, it's nice to take a minute to reflect on the goings [...]
There is something about the act of exercising that seems to encourage a sense of camaraderie and openness with fellow athletes. I'm not sure if it's something to do with the physical detachment from ordinary protocols, the shared sense of commitment to a goal, or the mutual understanding of borderline masochism that comes from spending [...]
I am now officially a Tough Mudder! Yesterday we ran 12 hilly, muddy miles interspersed with 24 obstacles to cross the TM London South finish line. The day began at 5:00am with a quick shower, cup of tea and a banana before layering and warming up with a 2.5km run to the train station to [...]
So there are just 3 more days to go until TM-day and I'll admit I'm petrified and slightly questioning why it was I thought this was such a good idea. On Sunday Sandra, Lucy and I had our second to last training session, on Thursday we have our last. Sunday's session was good fun, but [...]
There is a slightly irrational part of me that clings to the notion that fitness is a cumulative process, irrespective of periods of rest or injury. I want to believe that somehow our fitness levels go on hold during these stretches of inactivity; that they are suspended while our bones heal and our ligaments and [...]
After this morning's pre-work swim session and with the smell of chlorine fresh on my skin I'm feeling rather nostalgic for my university water polo days today. I have a sneaking suspicion that this nostalgia may also have something to do with the rather wonderful wedding of one of my polo teammates at the weekend, [...]
This week I've had some good(ish) news: my x-ray results came back and there was no sign of a stress fracture! It seems what I actually have is bad ligament damage, which I see as a much better state of affairs, not least as one of my worries about the suspected fracture was the doctor's [...]
With no x-ray results and a dogged determination to go on press to see my book printed, in the early hours of Wednesday morning, (3:30am early), I got up, took a good handful of painkillers and set out on my trip to Slovenia. With the early morning and with my sleepiness and blood sugar all [...]
After weeks of trying to run through the pain, this week my ankles finally swelled up and gave up, bringing me, quite literally, to a stand still. I've been suffering from peroneal tendonitis, which began with a nagging pain running along the outside of my lower leg and into my foot and has now reached [...]
Mother Running Vegan 