Fat Girl to Ironman

2 February 2025

A fortnight off training

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!

Categories Fitness/Running/Uncategorized Comments: 0

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