Fat Girl to Ironman

18 January 2025

Four weeks until my first race of 2025

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.

Categories Fitness/Running Comments: 0

8 January 2025

Veganuary and training

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...

Categories Motivation/Nutrition/Product review/Running Comments: 0

2 January 2025

Achieving a parkrun milestone

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...

Categories Running Comments: 0

1 January 2024

New Year’s Day parkrun 2024

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...

Categories Running Comments: 0

31 December 2023

December parkruns

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 –...

Categories Running Comments: 0

5 August 2023

9th parkrun at Penrose

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...

Categories Running Comments: 0

29 May 2023

A month off running (and no post-marathon blues)

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...

Categories Fitness/Running Comments: 0

22 April 2023

Final prep and Marathon Expo

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...

Categories Running Comments: 0

16 April 2023

Blue 9, your time is up!

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,...

Categories Running Comments: 3

9 April 2023

The final countdown

I’ve now done my last really long run ahead of London Marathon. I’m onto the final countdown to the race with just a 16km run to go. I can’t believe I’ve got this far, but I’m frustrated that I’ve not lost weight and am not as fast as I’d like to be. LRR Monday night training session After my 20...

Categories Running Comments: 0