Taking the ‘work’ out of ‘workout’

On those occasions when someone remarks on how 'good' or 'disciplined' I am to exercise on a regular basis I always feel like a little bit of a fraud. It's not like I have to drag myself to the gym, or force myself to lace up my trainers, shunning a favoured spot on the sofa [...]

1,500m two ways: A pregnancy swimming session

As I get closer to my due date, and as London gets hotter and hotter, I'm finding swimming is my fitness saviour. I'm definitely slower and get tired a lot quicker than ever before, but I always feel better for just getting into the pool and moving my body. Being in the water also helps [...]

Why I’m surprisingly comfortable taking my kit off…

One of the (many) great things about growing up as a swimmer is that I have developed a total lack inhibition when it comes to stripping off in a swimming pool changing room. When you've spent years trying to fit in training around school, and as an adult you find yourself squeezing a pool session [...]

Sneaky little 2k swim

While I've been trying to get into the pool at least once a week, I'll admit that recently I've not been swimming proper sets, but rather, just putting my head down and doing laps. However this week, inspired by a recent episode of the Rich Roll podcast with Australian Olympic swimmer Micheal Klim, and to [...]

Tri, tri and tri again: The reality behind triathlon training, kit and racing

With my love of running and swimming it's amazing how often people have asked if I'd be tempted to do a triathlon. The honest answer is yes, but (and there is always a but).Ā The crux of the matter is that I'm not the most confident cyclist, and although I'm trying to build up some cycling [...]

Fit friends: My secret weapon for winter training

When it's cold, dark and rainy in the winter months it's really easy to let your motivation for exercise slide. A lunchtime run suddenly seems less appealing when it involves getting soaked through, and the pool seems less alluring when it's subzero outside. What I find makes things even trickier is the running routes I [...]

Back in the pool

Given that the last time I went swimming was an impromptu dip in a rather chilly Lake Como after a long walk up and down the Italian hills, and that the last time I was at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic pool I was clambering over giant inflatables in a Total Wipeout style afternoon with my [...]

Catching up: Mind, Body and Spirit

I realise that I haven't written for a while; a combination of mood, work and wedmin, sunshine and social engagements have made me reluctant to sit in front of a screen when not absolutely necessary of late. I've even been eschewing my phone in favour of books and magazines in a bid to escape the [...]

Swimming upstream

It's been a funny old week in the UK, and by 'funny old' what I actually mean is abjectly disastrous. This blog isn't usually a platform for my political opinions, but this week comes asĀ an exception and as politics and well-being collide I've found myself laying awake at night worrying, doing sun salutations to the [...]

Underwater ab workout

I made it down to the pool twice last week and again last night so I'm stockpiling a nice collection of sessions ready to share with you. I was going to post them in order, but last night's session was too much fun to hold back (!!) so I thought I'd share it first. This [...]