Race Review: The National Lottery Anniversary Run

Today I had the opportunity to race around the Olympic Park and finish in the Olympic Stadium... and it was AWESOME!

I wasn't too excited at the prospect of The National Lottery Anniversary Run, in fact I was dreading it. I thought it would be another case of more event than race, long waits and over hyped. The oversized running top and my boyfriend's missing race pack did nothing to fill me with confidence. But, despite this, crossing over the bridge into the Olympic Park the atmosphere was contagious.

The organisation seemed pretty good once we entered the park - my boyfriend sorted out the race pack dilemma and we hung around taking a few typical cheesy pre-race photos.

There were plenty of toilets - perks of being at a venue designed for lots of people. However, it was freezing and I did expect more entertainment before the race began after having been encouraged to get there 2 hours early. I couldn't even get a cup of tea as I saw too late, via twitter, that there were no cash machines in the park. Something which should have been highlighted in the booklet a bit better.

The starting blocks had a fantastic atmosphere, seeing Paula Radcliffe and Chris Hoy was a great addition. The warm up had a bit of the Mr Motivator about it but it was all a good laugh. The best bit though - setting off almost exactly on time which, in my previous experience, is almost unheard of!

As training hasn't gone well for me the past couple of weeks I vowed to myself that I wouldn't put too much pressure on myself. In fact I just wanted to finish! My boyfriend and I decided to run together (normally in a race one of us pulls away and we spend the whole time racing each other) which made this race something really special as we coaxed each other up the hills and sang out loud to the songs on the course. Parts of the route were amazing others less so but overall it was fantastic to find yourself winding round getting closer and closer to the stadium.

The finish was almost indescribable - running through the tunnels under the stadium, Chariots of Fire playing, hearing people cheering on the runners ahead of you then moving into the light and seeing row after row of seats. Breathtaking (if not a bit cheesy).

The best bit - high-fiving my boyfriend at the 100m mark and sprinting alongside him to cross the finish line.

This run was dubbed the "Back to the Stadium" run but to me it was the run that put me back in love with running and made me believe in myself again.

Were you there? What was your highlight?

Pppush it real good!

Just in case you hadn't noticed it is HOT. It is also muggy. This is great of a weekend laying in a bikini at the Serpentine Lido but not so great for running.

Although I am not training for anything at the moment I am starting to get frustrated at my inability to deal with this heat on my runs. I haven't managed to go further than 4miles for a couple of weeks now. My pace is a minute slower per mile than it has been for a long time and I don't know what to do...

But what I do know is that I have to just keep trying to push through it. I have to acknowledge that I won't be breaking any records for the next few weeks. I have to come to terms with 5am runs to avoid the heat. I have to drink lots of water instead of tea.

Most of all I have to learn to push harder, both mentally and physically.

What are you doing to combat the heat and keep your running on track?

A change is as good as a rest

Today finally felt like summer had arrived - I woke up at 7am to the sun shining and bright blue skies. I couldn't wait to pull on my trainers and just get out there for a quiet sunday morning canal run.

Unfortunately, my body had other ideas. I was aiming for a leisurely 10miler but by mile 3 I was struggling, hot, tired and running low on water (which is unlike me as I tend to run for an hour before needing a drink) I was close to quitting and getting the bus home.

Taking a detour through Mile End Park in order to make my way home I saw the stepped hill and opted for three sets of squat jumps to the top with walking lunges back down. Then some leg strength exercises. I then did three Kenyan Hill sprints before making the 1.5mile run home.

Instead of being disappointed that I didn't get the miles under my belt I was feeling tired and had that pleasant aching in my thighs.

So, my new philosophy is that when I feel like I can't do the length of run planned I can only cut it short with a good workout in the middle then, and only then, will I have earnt the right to bail.

Afterall, a change is as good as a rest!

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

Park Life - My first Parkrun

I've heard a lot about parkruns. People rave about them all over twitter and on the recently launched Guardian Running Blog there was an article in praise of the parkrun.

So, up early on a Saturday I decided to give the Mile End parkrun a go and it didn't disappoint. I arrived  just before the 9am start outside Mile End Stadium and there was a crowd of runners warming up, stretching and chatting to each other. Usually, this sight would terrify me - walking into an established crowd and being the newbie but this was different. The runners were friendly and the volunteers called all first timers (a surprisingly large amount of us) and explained the course and the process.

The beauty of the parkrun is in the simplicity of the course - two laps to the canal and back. Simple... well a part from the 4 up hills this involved... I am not a fan of hills so it was great to blast some uphill running over a short fast 5k. And it certainly was a short fast 5k - the front runners were clear from the start as they raced ahead of the main group and could be seen heading back on their second lap before I had finished my first. I felt like I was running through treacle, my legs were heavy and I just wasn't feeling it. But, I surprised myself and managed to complete the 5k in 24mins. But what's an even nicer touch, especially for the competitive parkrunners is the email of results you get after telling you where you finished in the group and where you finished in relation to your age group and sex.

Overall, it was a fantastic experience and felt like a real community. Although I don't think I will go every week I will make sure I go every month.

And, even better - my run was done by 10am leaving the rest of a sunny Saturday free for baking and BBQs.

Review: ShockAbsorber Ultimate Run Bra

The sun has been elusive so far this Spring so when it showed its head today there were only two things I wanted to do... 1. Eat Ice-cream and 2. Go for a run.

Armed with my beautiful new ShockAbsorber run bra and Nike running shorts I jumped on a train for Richmond ready for a sunny 7miles around the park.

This was the first time I had visited Richmond Park and the first time I had actively got on a train and left central London for a new running destination... and it paid off. It was absolutely stunning weather, beautiful surroundings and made today's run one of the best this year. Plus... it ended with a 99 flake ice cream in the sunshine!

It was also the perfect opportunity to try out my new ShockAbsorber Ultimate Run Bra. I am not known for my ample chest and it was awhile before I thought it was necessary for me to get a sports bra - in fact it wasn't until seeing the disgusted face of a personal trainer when I told her that I didn't wear one that I was shamed into buying one. Since then I have sworn by my Shockabsorber Multi Sports bra so when Shockabsorber sent me their new Ultimate Run Bra to try out I was on cloud nine.

The bra is everything you want from a run bra. It is comfortable thanks to its soft fabric, seam free lining and wide padded straps. It is also stylish and feminine being a vibrant pink and purple it looks great under my running vest or worn by itself.

Perhaps it was because I knew I was wearing a new run bra but I couldn't help but notice how many women were running without sports bras with one woman running in a halter neck bikini top! It shocks me that women can spend hundreds of pounds on getting the perfect shoes after having their gait analysed and spend hours picking running leggings and tops in the most high tech fabrics they can find but will still go out without a sports bra.

I cannot recommend the Shockabsorber bras enough - and have the tan lines to prove it!

We Own The Night

Last night saw thousands of women dressed in glowing orange t-shirts descend on Victoria Park for Nike and Elle's We Own The Night - women's only 10k...and I was one of them!

There had been a lot of hype leading up to the event and I tried not to get too caught up in all of the hype after the let down that Run To The Beat was and what with this being another Nike run I worried that the hype would be bigger and better than the run itself.

I was disappointed on arrival at the "running festival" as I was running alone and the Mr was not allowed in with me so I was facing an hour of wandering round on my lonesome... but the atmosphere in there was amazing! I met a couple of other girls there on their own and joined them to discover the delights awaiting us - there was free vita coco drinks, glowing bracelets, DJs, Nike and Elle tents. Unlike other runs there were plenty of toilets and a really nice relaxed atmosphere.

The run itself did take awhile to get going and I am not sure how I managed it but I ended up in a slower starting group than I would have liked (not sure whether this was because I didn't understand the importance of the coloured glow bracelet or because I was never asked what time I wanted to do it in!). This was a little frustrating as it meant when the race started I had to fight my way forward and it was a busy start! But once the race got going it opened out a little more and I was able to make up my time lost at the beginning.

The atmosphere around the course was fantastic - DJ stations blasting out music, pacers carrying boom boxes, large glowing globes marking part of the route and lots of people cheering. There was of course some less than favourable shouts around the course... as was to be expected... "Oi Nice A*RSE" and the like... but it wasn't as bad as I expected it to be.

The finish was brilliant - you were made to feel like you had really achieved something, given a gorgeous "We Own The Night" bracelet instead of a medal and plenty of really useful goodies such as wet wipes, deodorant and dry shampoo. And with a huge changing room area it meant getting ready to go out and celebrate my new PB of 50mins was easy!

I would, without a doubt, do another We Own The Night Run... so, when's the next one?