Welcome to the new blog design!
This has been a work in progress for a while, I hope you find it easier to navigate and a little more up-to-date. The old blog design has been around for a number of years and I was ready for a more modern, professional look.
There’s also podcast news that I shared on my weekly newsletter today – not signed up yet? Get this week’s email here.
Lockdown 2.0
We’re back in lockdown here in the UK, with socialising limited to 1:1 when we’re exercising (thank goodness we are still allowed that!). Restaurants, cafes, non-essential shops and leisure activities are closed aside from takeaways. And it feels rather bleak that we’re in this state of lockdown until December 2nd at the earliest. Whilst I totally agree with the need for stricter regulations to get reduce the spread of Covid, I can’t help but feel worried for people’s mental health, finances/jobs and small businesses.
I’ve been meeting up with friends to exercise. Either running or walking, at weekends and before work. The weather has been very wet but we’ve had some very welcome sunshine too!
Running
I’ve been making the most of the exercise rule to run with others recently. Including a last group run with Ellie, Tam and Anna prior to lockdown, and solo runs with friends a couple of times a week. I feel like I’ve been too nervous to run with people beyond my weekly group run/walks or with Emma because I’ve felt like I’m too slow, unfit and would hold the other person back. But in the past running with others has helped me increase my pace and fitness. And so I’m grateful to friends that don’t mind the odd walk break.
This week I’ve been feeling a bit off, with a stomach pains most days which has not made for a conducive week of running. I’ve done two easy runs…and that’s it. Normally, I would berate myself but as I haven’t got a race on the calendar yet, and I’m trying to listen more to my body (and not dig myself into a hole). So Coach Ash and I agreed that I’ll just re-do last week’s training plan.
On that note, I am REALLY missing having something on my calendar to work towards. I’m eyeing up fast marathons in June next year. I’ve got the Chicago Marathon in October but it’s hard to know I’m going for a Boston Qualifying time without knowing when the cut off window will be for the 2022 race! Have you got anything on your plan for 2021?
Work
I shared a ‘Day in the Life’ over on my stories and feed last week which I’m pleased so many of you enjoyed. I am back working on Intensive Care which is both tough, and interesting. (My goal is to work as a Critical Care dietitian part time and sports dietitian part time…is that even possible? Who knows!).
I’ve enjoyed the challenge of taking on more than my typical Band 5 role. But it’s definitely a lot of work right now, which is why the blog in particular has been suffering.
Book Club
James and I started a running book club! The first book is ‘Rise of the Ultra Runner’. We’ll be inviting comments and questions from our virtual book club members to discuss in a podcast episode with the author, Adharanand Finn on the 24th November (the podcast will be out later that week for listeners).
For keen beans, next month we’re reading Nick Butter’s ‘Running the World’.
What’s been going on with you?
Yay. Glad that Nick Butters book is next. Just bought it. Already read the first book earlier this year. Excited to hear your thoughts.
Yay thanks for getting involved!
Hi, love the blog but the redesign really doesn’t work on mobile. The font it way too big and the Twitter/Facebook links on the left scroll down with you blocking the left hand side.
Thanks, I know, I’m trying to get someone to help work on the social shares bit. Thanks so much for your feedback, it’s definitely a work in progress!
Love these update posts. I also really enjoyed your day in the life shares to the instagram. I think with so much going on in the world these little snip-its you share about your life are great. I think you should make these a weekly thing. Also, how is everything going with the house? I know you mentioned doing some renovations but I don’t think you ever shared all about the house when you moved in? Maybe a little house tour??
I love the new blog look and I look forward to the running book club.
Love the new design! But i would want to note that it’s not the UK that’s in lockdown – you’re referring to the English lockdown. Sorry to be petty, but I’m in wales and we are under different restrictions. Love your posts and thanks for the running inspiration!