Book Love: Running Like a Girl

I have made no secret of the fact that I don't think there are enough positive female role models for the "average" woman looking to get into running. A lot of what I see around keeping fit and running created for women is focused on cutting corners and quick fixes. Which led me to pick up Alexandra Heminsley's "Running Like a Girl".

Alexandra begins the book as a normal girl going through a bit of a break up, dissatisfied by her weight and bored of gyms and yoga she decides to start running. Like many of us, her first run doesn't go well neither do some of her subsequent runs. She experiences cripplingly embarrassing moments attempting to purchase trainers and falling over during the London Marathon. She has trials and tribulations, relapses and successes.

What I really like about this book is that it is brutally honest. She doesn't struggle in her training then complete the London Marathon without a bead of sweat ruining her make up. She does it, she is emotional, she cries and she falls over but importantly she does all this and completes her goal.

Ideal for the first time runner or even those of us who are considering running as the second part of the book is full of handy tips and advice all aimed at women. I appreciate some of the tips like buying a sports bra (continual bug bear of mine as you can see here) but the tips about wearing nail varnish and what sort of make up stays on during a marathon I found a little bit unnecessary. But then I am not too concerned about sweating off my eyeliner. 

Overall, I do suggest any lady thinking of starting their running journey should read this book but so should their significant others as it demonstrates really well the emotional pressure it can put you under, the self doubt you can experience after a particularly rubbish run and the importance of people there who will support you when you have to get up at 6am in the winter to bash out that 10mile run...

Some of my favourite quotes from the book are:

"The secret that all runners keep is that they don't do it for their bodies, but for their minds. Slim legs can get boring, but a clear mind never does"

"[Running] is the discipline to stick to what you need to do to get where you need to go. It is the courage to leave someone you love in a warm bed, hoping that they will still love you when you return an hour later, sweating and cross"

My dirty little secret...

At the end of the week Rosie wrote a post for the High Tea Cast: "Running out of patience - why twitter hates runners". And it made me think about the reactions I have had from the world of twitter since beginning running and posting about this on social media.

I love twitter. I love baking. I love eating. I love vintage clothes. I love running. And I also tweet about all of these things... a lot. However, I am, increasingly feeling guilty about posting about running and the increasing frequency I tweet about running. But the truth is that as running becomes a larger part of my life it is inevitable that this will come across on social media.

I have lost followers and I have gained followers, none of this matters to me. What has surprised me though are some of the comments I get from some of my real life friends to these posts - a lot of them are supportive whilst others openly ridicule my tweets about running. This saddens me. I actively keep running posts, on the whole, off of my Facebook page as I don't feel that is a space where people want to be bombarded but twitter is designed for stream of consciousness, regular updates on the minutiae of life.

However, for all of the horrible comments and lost followers I get for every running post I put up there are more positive comments and new, better followers. Just this week I put out a post looking for recommendations on running arm bands for phones and within seconds I got lots of people offering suggestions and their thoughts, suggesting websites and where to get the best deal. There are some great ladies that I have met through twitter who post congratulatory comments on running posts, who ask me how its going, who empathise with me when an injury is getting me down and who share the guilt of a missed run.

For all of those friendships I happily accept the horrible comments and that is why I won't let running become my dirty little secret.

Shout out to the wonderful @AmIReallyRunnin and @ChiltonDiva who both spread twitter love by being truly fantastic and supportive women!

If you fancy following my twitter and aren't turned off by the odd running update you can do so here: @x_JazzyM_x

There's more to running than running

Who would've thought it but it is true... there is more to running than just getting out there and, well, running.

As someone who hates any sort of strength and core work I have been trying to ignore the advice that I should in fact be squatting, lunging and planking my way to better running. But not anymore... I am going to get those abs of steel and thighs of iron... or at least try to!

I am rubbish at fitting this sort of exercise into my running schedule so when I saw Shock Absorber post their 30 Day Abs Challenge on Facebook it was like a god send - it gives me a structure to follow, which means that I don't have to think, and it increases in intensity. What more could I want?

I am only 15 days in and as yet I haven't noticed any huge aesthetic changes - but I am trying not to dwell on this as it isn't the main reason I am doing this (although it would be nice). Yes, I have taken a before photo and a during photo and hopefully by the end I will proudly display them alongside a finished photo of perfect abs!

I have however, started to think more about my abs when I am running - mostly because they are aching from the challenge. It is making me appreciate that in order to keep going during the Brighton Marathon I am going to need a strong core to keep me lifting my legs when they start to feel like lead!

Now I need to start on the arms and legs now... Does anyone have any top strength exercises? What other exercises do you do to compliment your running?

Happy National Running Day!

I would like to wish all of those people who pull on the lycra and head out to pound the pavements first thing in the morning, leaving a warm bed when it is raining outside, sweating their make up off in the height of summer and turning down large cold glasses of wine in the pub after work a very HAPPY NATIONAL RUNNING DAY!

If you visit www.runningday.org you can personalise a running badge explaining why you run which got me thinking about why I run...

I run to be free....

- from the stresses of work
- from the stresses at home
- from the thoughts in my head
- from others
- to eat what I want
- to appreciate what I can achieve when I put in the hard work
- to enjoy being outside whatever the weather
- to focus completely on me
- to wear lycra in public

Why do you run?

My Morning Ritual

So in a last ditch attempt to finish Blog Every Day In May this blog post is about "Morning Ritual".

My morning ritual is basic and mostly focused on breakfast. I love breakfast and can't remember a time that I didn't find it an important way to begin the day. In fact it deeply concerns me that a large amount of people skip breakfast but more worrying are those who skip breakfast to lose weight! FACT: Those who eat breakfast are a third less likely to be obese (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/2824987.stm) as it increases your metabolism and stops you from overeating during the day.

I have recently changed my breakfast routine after seeing a Nutritionist who suggested that my constant sweet cravings could be down to the fact that I was starting my day with homemade granola (seriously, no reason to buy granola when you can make it with oats, honey and a little oil then baked in the oven), seeds, natural yoghurt and fruit. Starting the day with such a sweet breakfast, although healthy, may be kick starting me wanting sweet things from then on.

So, my current breakfast routine is this... Wake up at 7:45am, straight to the kettle to make a Green Tea with a slice of Lemon (Green Tea has been linked with lowering cholesterol  raising metabolism, lowering risk of cancer and fighting off dementia and has just enough caffeine to kick start the day).

Now for my savoury breakfast - I pop two eggs in to boil and go away and do my make up. Exactly 5 mins later I am ready to have my multigrain ryvita, wilted spinach, tomatoes and boiled eggs on top.

I make sure I take time to sit down to eat my breakfast and take time to relax before heading to work.