HydroPower - drink to run
In the old days, the answers to questions around what and how much I should be drinking would have revolved around types and bottle quantities of wine.Alas, no more.These days, what I'm wondering is...
View Article1/2 marathon fuelling experiment
It's time to start thinking seriously about how I'm going to fuel my long runs, so I'm going to try a few things out this weekend at the Kimbolton Half Marathon.If it the plan agrees with me, then I'll...
View ArticleDodging the bonk
No, not that kind of bonk ... I'm talking about the other one ... the Wall ... the one feared universally by novice and experienced runners alike.The one that can stop you in your tracks anywhere from...
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Triumph at Kimbolton Castle Half Marathon
What a fabulous setting for my first ever half marathon and my first race since a 10k in 2005.Although the weather looked more like this ....Thankfully my brother had suggested taking a bin bag to wear...
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Bird's eye video of the 2014 Berlin Marathon course
If you're running the 2014 Berlin Marathon, you might be interested in this bird's eye video of the 2014 Berlin Marathon course.I've used the official course map to put it together with the help of...
View Article2014 Berlin Marathon Route Sights
When I told a serious runner recently that I planned to do a bit of research on the sights and history associated with the 2014 Berlin Marathon route, they thought I was nuts ... "you're not going to...
View ArticleThe Story of Berlin Reading List
I've been to Berlin once before in 2012. I'll be going again in a few weeks and this time I'll be better informed!I've written about my plan for picking out interesting landmarks or points of...
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Wimping out just a little
I need to do a long long run this Sunday in preparation for Berlin on 28th September. I had it all worked out ... the lovely Rutland Water is right on my doorstep and the pathway around it is supposed...
View ArticleBerlin ... a very quick history from the rise of Brandenburg to Otto von...
In the 17th and 18th centuries, the state of Brandenburg was a rising star among the loose federation of German states. Brandenburg was ruled by the house of Hohenzollern, which from 1657 also ruled...
View ArticlePerfect day before a long run in training for 2014 Berlin Marathon
For what feels like the first time in my training, I have a perfectly free day the day before a scheduled long run.Hurray!William is off with his Dad, there are no family parties to attend, no friends...
View ArticleLongest distance ever covered on foot ...
by me, that is ... not globally in the history of the planet or anything!I went out yesterday for my long slow run with a goal of 17miles and actually did 18.5miles or 30km for all the metrics out...
View ArticleThe poor woman's mid-life crisis? Endurance sports!
Eight months ago, I couldn't run for a bus.Two days ago, I ran a 30km (18.5mile) training run in preparation for the 2014 Berlin Marathon, which takes place on 28th September in less than 5 weeks.Along...
View ArticleReclaiming my body, reclaiming myself
It occurred to me the other day when I was on my long slow run that for the first time since being in my early teens I actually felt like my body was my own again.Running and training for the Berlin...
View ArticleHorror week of non-training
Last Sunday, I was elated.I'd run 30km - further than I've ever been on foot before; and I wasn't even particularly sore.I felt great.Right up until 9.21pm on Tuesday, when I got a text from my son's...
View ArticleA million pairs of running shoes and not a pair to wear
Today I bought my third pair of new running shoes in 5 weeks.I loved the pair of Saucony Guide 6 that I started out with, but as I upped the mileage, I started to get blisters on the big toe joint....
View Article2014 Berlin Marathon Route Sights
It's taken a bit longer than I thought to pull together a route map for the 2014 Berlin Marathon complete with landmarks, but it's almost finished.It's here on my 2014 Berlin Marathon Pinterest...
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10 days to Berlin Marathon and I'm finally back on the horse
Ever since I finished my longest run ever on 24th August, things have gone a bit wrong.With only 5 weeks to go to the Berlin Marathon, my son's father moved his international girlfriend from overseas...
View ArticleI don't think anyone thought I'd actually do it ....
When I announced at New Year 2013 that I was giving up smoking as the first step in training for the Berlin Marathon my family smiled kindly and said "well done - you go for it, love".But I don't think...
View ArticlePanic, picking and world record marathoning
Do you ever find yourself holding your breath in a subconscious effort to stop time because you believe you have so much to do you can't see a way of getting it all done and you've got no idea where to...
View ArticleFailure to launch
And here we go again.Am trying to bribe myself to get some tricky work done by buying cake and coffee and sitting in Nero's rather than in my home office. This is one of my more common avoidance...
View ArticleFrom anxious overwhelm to optimistic excitement in 10 minute blasts
Someone just told me that it's up to me to choose how I face the day.I've got into the habit of starting off with an air of "anxious overwhelm". I'm not entirely sure why. It's a feeling I seem to have...
View ArticleGetting more done, 10 minutes at a time
In my post last week "From anxious overwhelm to optimistic excitement in 10 minute blasts" I came up with an experiment to get things done without getting stressy by just doing 10 minutes at a time.I'd...
View ArticleBurn 50 calories an hour just by standing
It's spring and I'm back to my home-made standing desk by the kitchen door, looking out onto the walled patio garden. The research shows that we burn an extra 50 calories standing compared with...
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You've got to be joking ... a waiting list .... for a spiralizer???
When I went in to my local cookery shop last week to buy whatever gadget it was I needed to try out the new courgetti "fad", I thought the shop assistant was joking when the she told me that they had...
View ArticleHappy news!
I've opened a little shop with nuMonday to sell some of the things I've been making, particularly over the last year or so.It's mostly jewellery at the moment, with a focus on beads, cords and...
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