CLAIRE’S MARATHON MUSINGS
It Will Move You – The 2019 New York Marathon
It seems like a life time ago now but we booked our New York trip nearly a whole year ago, way back on New Years Eve 2018. I’d entered the ballot three times to run New York – it’s a race that has always been on my bucket list (along with London) ever since I’d taken up running. I’ve been lucky enough to get into Berlin and Chicago through the ballot but New York was proving to be tougher to gain entry into.
Making Waves: Aftershokz XTRAINERZ review
Aftershokz UK recently put out a post on Instagram calling for reviewers to try out their new, waterproof headphones – the XTRAINERZ. I filled out the form and explained that, as I was learning to swim, their new product could be a game changer for me. I was lucky enough to get picked and haveContinue reading “Making Waves: Aftershokz XTRAINERZ review”
Week 3 of Marathon Training and What a Week It Was!
What. A. Week! All I can say about this week of training is that it sucked. So bad. My week looked like this: Monday: Cycling intervalsTuesday: 5 mile runWednesday: RestdayThursday: IntervalsFriday: Rest daySaturday: Parkrun (3.1 miles)Sunday: 10 mile run Monday should have told me how the rest of the week was going to go. IContinue reading “Week 3 of Marathon Training and What a Week It Was!”
Marathon Training Week 2 And 100 Days To Go!
Week 2, days 1-7 of New York Marathon training and we’ve already hit the 100 days until race day marker. I’m not panicking, you’re panicking … My week looked like this: Monday – Cycling IntervalsTuesday – 4 Mile RunWednesday – Rest DayThursday – IntervalsFriday – Rest DaySaturday – Parkrun (3.1 Mile Run)Sunday – 9 MileContinue reading “Marathon Training Week 2 And 100 Days To Go!”
And So It Begins … Marathon Training, Week One
Monday, 15th of July. The start of a new 16 week marathon training block. The start of my road to the New York Marathon. I’m not going to lie, the thought of starting another marathon training plan absolutely terrifies me. Motivation has been lacking and it scared me that this next big commitment has comeContinue reading “And So It Begins … Marathon Training, Week One”
Earning My Third Star in Chicago: Part 2
As I left my boyfriend I felt excited. This was it. Time to earn my third star. The start pens were well organised, not too packed with people, easy to find and there were also plenty of toilets around. The queues were quite long at the first toilets that I came across but, if you’reContinue reading “Earning My Third Star in Chicago: Part 2”
The Great Railway Run 10k – Race Recap
The Great Railway Run takes place along the old railway line that’s runs from Cork City to Carrigaline. They offer two distances on the day, a 25k and a 10k, with runners on the longer route merging with the start of the 10k at Monkstown where the old railway station use to stand. At theContinue reading “The Great Railway Run 10k – Race Recap”
Team Project Run: What My Coaching Means To Me
The first time I trained properly for a marathon was for my second attempt at the distance in Berlin (If you’ve read my deep, dark running secret blog you’ll know I didn’t exactly train for my first marathon). I used a 16 week marathon training plan that I printed out from the London Marathon website.Continue reading “Team Project Run: What My Coaching Means To Me”
Earning My Third Star in Chicago: Part 1
A blog about the Chicago Marathon? That was way back in October, I hear you cry! Yes, this has been a long time coming. It’s taken me a really long time to attempt to write this because I had such a great experience there, that I didn’t want to ruin it all by analysing itContinue reading “Earning My Third Star in Chicago: Part 1”
When Race Day Isn’t As Perfect As You Wanted It To Be
Picture this. You get an opportunity to be on the start line in your dream event so you carefully select a training plan, print it out and stick up somewhere in the house. You spend months training through all weathers (including a 13 mile treadmill run because of the ice on the pavements) and youContinue reading “When Race Day Isn’t As Perfect As You Wanted It To Be”
Racing For Good
I was supposed to be doing the Brighton Half Marathon this past weekend. Unfortunately I had to drop out due to illness but we decided, as we love Brighton, to head there anyway. It got me thinking about our day trip there in November 2018. I got a last minute place in the Brighton 10kContinue reading “Racing For Good”
Product Review: Pretty Athletic
A few weeks ago Pretty Athletic, the brand designed exclusively for active women, put a call out on social media for people who wanted to try their products. In exchange for a review you would receive a sample of a product of your choosing . I jumped at the chance as I had wanted toContinue reading “Product Review: Pretty Athletic”
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas – gifts for runners
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas and you have no idea what to buy the avid runner in your life. Whether you’ve got a Secret Santa gift to buy, you need a small stocking filler or you want to spoil them, there’s something for everyone in this list of goodies that runners wouldContinue reading “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas – gifts for runners”
The London Marathon – Race Report
It’s taken me a while to write this because the London Marathon didn’t go exactly as I planned it. When I say it didn’t go as planned, I mean it was brutal. It chewed me up and spat me out over the finish line. When I started to write about my experience I just … couldn’t.Continue reading “The London Marathon – Race Report”
Endure 24 – Epic, Brutal, Relentless … Brilliant!
What do you do when someone asks you if you want a spot in an event where you run as much as you can in the space of 24 hours? If you’re me, you obviously say yes! Nicknamed ‘Glastonbury for runners’, Endure 24 is a running party in the woods! It’s an endurance running eventContinue reading “Endure 24 – Epic, Brutal, Relentless … Brilliant!”
My Mental Health And Me: My Reason To Run
This past week has been Mental Health Awareness Week so I wanted to share my story about why I run. I have found it hard to sum up how I feel on social media so I thought I’d write a blog about it. When I talk about running I often get asked about why IContinue reading “My Mental Health And Me: My Reason To Run”
If The Shoe Fits
When people talk about the reasons why you should take up running, the fact that it’s a free hobby often makes the list. But is it actually free? Well, no. Especially not if you want to do it seriously or train for a long distance run. There’s various kit for all seasons, socks that helpContinue reading “If The Shoe Fits”
Life’s A Muddy Beach: Portsmouth Coastal Half Marathon Race Report
After much debating with myself I decided to enter the Portsmouth Coastal Half Marathon. It wasn’t time to run 13 miles yet according to my marathon training plan, but it’s local and entry was really affordable. Also, Run Pompey (AKA Believe and Achieve) always put on a great event (with great bling!) so I decidedContinue reading “Life’s A Muddy Beach: Portsmouth Coastal Half Marathon Race Report”
Greenwich Running Academy: Technique Workshop
I mentioned in my previous blog that this time last year I wasn’t running. I still wasn’t recovering from the illness I’d had at Christmas (mainly because I didn’t rest!) which led to dropping out of races I’d entered. This year couldn’t be more different to 2017. I stayed healthy over Christmas and managed to stayContinue reading “Greenwich Running Academy: Technique Workshop”
Race Report: Wickham Torchlight 10k with Rural Running UK
This time last year I wasn’t running. I had been ill for a while and only got to take part in my first event 5 months into 2017 after having to drop out of the Brighton Half Marathon and the London Marathon. When a Rural Running 10k came up last May I thought it would beContinue reading “Race Report: Wickham Torchlight 10k with Rural Running UK”
Staying Healthy Over The Festive Period: Healthy Treats!
So, it’s that time of year again when the shelves are full to the brim with sweet treats and festive versions of our regular favourites. I for one struggle to stick to my normal eating during Christmas because I have a massive sweet tooth! Chocolate is my nemesis pretty much all year round but atContinue reading “Staying Healthy Over The Festive Period: Healthy Treats!”
Part 2 – The Berlin Marathon: Beer, Bratwurst and Bling!
Previously on Run Claire, Run … Just kidding. Of course we know how this story ends so we know I didn’t back out. I walked forward and before I knew it I was off! I thought the first mile or so would be be crazy with people weaving in and out of each other tryingContinue reading “Part 2 – The Berlin Marathon: Beer, Bratwurst and Bling!”
Part 1 – The Berlin Marathon: Beer, Bratwurst and Bling!
It all started back in October 2016. The Berlin Marathon had been and gone for that year and they’d just opened up the ballot for the 2017 race. I’d decided in September that I wanted to run all six of the World Marathon Majors, and I had to start somewhere so I entered. Berlin isn’tContinue reading “Part 1 – The Berlin Marathon: Beer, Bratwurst and Bling!”
My Deepest, Darkest Running Secret …
We have some pretty weird and wonderful conversations in our office at work and we recently got on to our deepest, darkest secrets. OK, so not deepest darkest secrets exactly but those things that you’re a bit embarrassed about. You know, those little things that really aren’t a big deal in the grand scheme ofContinue reading “My Deepest, Darkest Running Secret …”
The East Cork Harbour Marathon … Hills, Motivational Signs and a Personal Best!
Six weeks out from the Berlin Marathon I’m told by my trusty training plan that I should be running for 90 minutes or entering a half marathon event so I choose the half marathon. I’m already running for 90 minutes so I know a half marathon will give me more time on the road (plusContinue reading “The East Cork Harbour Marathon … Hills, Motivational Signs and a Personal Best!”
Float Away And Relax: What Is Float Therapy?
With an ethereal blue light and silence all around I wonder if I can float here for a whole hour. I’m laying in a pod filled with ten inches of water and a thousand pounds of epsom salts churning this thought round but, as time goes on, I wonder how I’ve never discovered this before.Continue reading “Float Away And Relax: What Is Float Therapy?”
Hot Pod Yoga launches in Portsmouth!Â
I first tried hot yoga in the summer of 2016. Hot yoga does exactly what it says on the tin – it’s yoga that’s hot. Well, it’s yoga that’s practised in a hot space. Bikram yoga is still considered the original form of hot yoga but there are many ways of practising hot yoga now.Continue reading “Hot Pod Yoga launches in Portsmouth! “
Saying No To The Best Marathon In The World
I started to draft this blog on the train into London two days before the marathon was due to take place. Even though I wasn’t running, we’d already booked a hotel and mum was flying over from Ireland (sadly not to see me cross the finish line as we had planned). With mixed feelings weContinue reading “Saying No To The Best Marathon In The World”
Recovering … Please Wait
So, I’ve just had my third illness since Christmas and I’m finally starting feeling better. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that that’s it now and I can get back to training properly (cue my bedside table being full of vitamin C tablets to be taken just in case the dreaded scratchy throat makes its return). ItContinue reading “Recovering … Please Wait”
Meeting The London Marathon Experts and the big marathon countdown!
Each year the London Marathon host a day in the capital full of training tips, tricks and ideas from nutritionists, athletes and celebrities who have run the best marathon in the world. As a gold bond runner (someone who gained a place through a charity on the condition that you raise money for them), I was invitedContinue reading “Meeting The London Marathon Experts and the big marathon countdown!”
Marathon training AND raising £1800 … you must be mad!
Have you ever wanted to do an event but been put off by the compulsory and, sometimes sky high, fundraising target which are set in exchange for a guaranteed place? Well, when I found out for the third time running that the London marathon ballot had failed me my thoughts turned to charity places. IContinue reading “Marathon training AND raising £1800 … you must be mad!”
Promises, promises – making (and breaking) New Year’s resolutions.
Tomorrow we welcome 2017. How did that happen?! 2016 seems to have flown by and we’re now sitting on the edge of the start of the new year. The time of year when most people have resolutions on their mind. Resolutions that over 90% of people fail to achieve. I did some indepth research (byContinue reading “Promises, promises – making (and breaking) New Year’s resolutions.”
Well, I do like a challenge … (Or how keeping busy keeps me going)
2016 has been … weird. I’m sure many would agree that 2016 has made you scratch your head and say, ‘huh?’, on more than one occasion. We’ve had Brexit and Trump winning the US presidential election which I was actually in America to witness and not to mention all the celebrity deaths that have occurredContinue reading “Well, I do like a challenge … (Or how keeping busy keeps me going)”
Battle of The Boxes: Organising a charity Crossfit competition
I’m not sure how much my readers know about Crossfit but there is always talk about how much of a sense of community there is within the walls that make up the box (gym). It’s almost a cliche now that the Crossfit community is an amazing thing to be part of and there’s a great articleContinue reading “Battle of The Boxes: Organising a charity Crossfit competition”
“I’m surprised you were able to run a marathon at your weight” …
Yes folks, those words were actually said out loud, directly to me. Not by a fellow runner who hadn’t been able to run a marathon yet but wanted to and was a teeny bit jealous. Or by a frenemy (a friend who is secretly not actually your friend and delights in giving you backhanded compliments). No, thoseContinue reading ““I’m surprised you were able to run a marathon at your weight” …”
And we are live …
So, I’m blogging now. When I started running in 2010 I never thought I’d be trying to tell the world about it. But here we are 6 years later.
