Tess Langley: Runner, mover and shaker

Tess sent me her answers twice.  I could feel her energy through the computer.  She seems to be one of those people who doesn't sit still.  I like people like this. They're usually always up for a run. Over to you Tess:

I'm Tess, I'm an ex-smoking, binge-eating fattie-turned-fitness-obsessive and over the last couple of years have completely turned my life around. I work as a social media account manager and copywriter for a design agency in Brighton and LOVE TO RUN. And go to bootcamp. And do HIIT classes. And ride my bike. And climb mountains and go hiking. And food. I love ALL the food.  

1.  I started running about 2 years ago and have slowly learnt to love it. I do a lot of bootcamp and HIIT classes and although I really enjoy these and they keep me fit, nothing beats the buzz of a good run. Saying that though, running doesn't come naturally to me and is really hard work so I love working at it and seeing improvements.  

2.  I run because I love the way it makes me feel afterwards (and mostly during, depending on the amount of vodka/gin consumed the night before). Sometimes, when the weather's great, I've fuelled well and my favourite dnb/trance track comes on, I feel like I can run forever. I currently wear a pair of Asics (soon to be Brooks Ghost 6 when I finally get round to buying them!)  

3.  The last run I did was a 10k PB at the Brooks Brighton 10k. My initial goal when I signed up for it was to come in under an hour but I've been working really hard on improving speed and stamina and finished in 54:54 so am mega chuffed! 

4.  My current favourite bit of kit is my Garmin 210. Can't imagine going back to faffing about with my phone on my arm now. 

5.  I'm about to start proper training for Brighton Marathon in the Spring. <insert petrified face here> 

6.  Running made me feel alive when I crossed the finish line of my first half marathon a couple of years ago. I literally couldn't believe that I'd ran that far.

7.  I'm currently listening to a mixture of trance and liquid dnb when I run, and am currently bumming Etherwood's new album.

8.  I regularly run with my local Sweatshop Run Community and also do my local Parkrun and they've helped me improve my speed and strength no end - I've shaved 3 mins off my 5k time since the end of May and now my comfortable base pace is finally under 10min/mi. 

9.  I recently started drinking a protein shake after running to refuel and help recover my muscles and it's really improved my recovery time. I do have whey protein at home but have started to make my own protein smoothies (eggs, bananas, a few raspberries, Greek yoghurt, milk & cinnamon) and they're much cleaner/nicer.  

10.  I'm currently obsessed with signing up for races to keep my running addiction fresh and give me something to aim for. I train much better when I'm working towards a goal and have already roped a few friends into some races with me. 

11.  I'm bringing fartleks, intervals and hill work to this blog.  I always knew speed work and hills would produce results, it was just a case of getting on with it. I'm also looking at starting heart rate training as I've heard good things about it improving aerobic and anaerobic thresholds. 

12.  I'm currently having issues with my knees. I've got a marathon to train for and am praying not to get injured - can anyone offer any tips? 

13.  I have a few favourite inspirational quotes, but the one I've kept in mind whilst learning to run faster is: 

So get out there and RUN!

You can find Tess hanging out on twitter, over on her blog, at instagram and Pinterest too. Thank you Ms FitBits!

Charlotte Watson: Naked Runner

Our next We Do Run Runner is Charlie Watson.  She's part of the Women's Running Write this Run 10k team and has a soft spot for 13.1-milers.  In her non-running life she works for a magazine and doesn't like pickles. She wants to run a sub- 2 hour half marathon (we think she can definitely do this) and run the NY marathon (we think she can definitely do this also.)  Over to you, Charlie... you pickle-hater, you! 

1. I started running three years ago and it's kept me fit, allowed me to lose weight and make some awesome friends. And mostly stops me eating chocolate for breakfast.

2. I run because I love/hate it and I wear a pair of Brooks Ravennas or Asics.

3. The last run I did was last week and I ran my usual route - 3.5miles  It was awesome because I ran naked (aka without a watch) and just enjoyed it regardless of pace.

4. My current fave bit of kit is my garmin.

5. I'm training for the Ealing Half Marathon in Sept and eyeing up a full next year.

6. Running made me feel alive when I crossed the finish line of my first (and only) marathon. I felt invincible.  

7. I'm currently listening to Naughty Boy La La La when I run.  It makes me sing along out loud.

8. I participate in occasional Nike and Sweaty Betty Runs and it has helped me meet people and speed up - you can find more information here on my blog!

9. I started drinking Nuun hydration before and after runs and it's changed my need to complete every run with water. I would recommend it.  (Although you may need to pee 2-3times before the race!)

10. I'm currently obsessed with the FIRST training plan- (only running 3 days a week) and it's keeping my running addiction fresh and new/making me want to tell others about it. And wanting to push for a sub 2 hour half!

 11. I'm bringing speed sessions to this blog, and throwing them down on the table.  I've just discovered them and they're doing interesting things for me- getting faster whoop! 

12. I'm currently having issues with motivation and inflexibility. Can anyone offer any tips?

13. Finally, here's my inspirational quote. Now go, run!

You can find Charlie on twitter and over on her blog.  Also check out her 10k blog on the Womens Running website. 

Stephanie M: Runner, baker and .... well, SHE MAKES CAKES, PEOPLE.

She runs and she bakes cakes.  Oh, and she runs a cake club.  Ummmm can we be friends?  Meet the lovely Stephanie: 

1. I started running 9 months ago and it's taken me on a voyage of personal discovery and helped me meet lots of lovely people and make stronger bonds with exisiting friends
2. I run because 1. I want to eat cake 2. the gym never worked for me and 3. now I'm addicted. I wear a pair of Brooks Ravennas
3. The last run I did was a 10k yesterday morning along the Thames path. It was actually pretty easy, I was feeling sad because I managed to record my slowest ever parkrun on Saturday morning, so decided to go out and not care about pace and just run, when I looked at my phone when I got home I'd managed 10k at the same pace at the parkrun the day before. Cue feelings of elation and relief that I had not lost my ability to run!
4. My current fave bit of kit is my iphone armband. Until I save up for a garmin, I use nike+ to track my pace, sometimes its unreliable but better than nothing. As the weather warmed up I was finding less and less pockets in my clothes for my phone!
5. I did have a place at Windsor half, which I can't attend so I'm now running 16m at the Kingston Breakfast run in October and I'm thinking about a full marathon in 2014, Brighton?
6. Running made me feel alive on Christmas Morning 2012, I'd only been running a few months, but was determined to get out. The whole world seemed to be asleep, I counted the other people I saw on one hand and I glowed with pride all day. 
7. I participate in Parkrun and Wimbledon Windmillers (only just signed up) and they've helped me meet liked minded people, stay focused and have a new weekend routine, I can't image not doing Parkrun now, and I'm generally pretty grumpy if something stops me!
8. I started eating almond butter and nakd bars and other naturally sweet things since I started running and it's changed the way I cook and bake. Now my body does marvellous things I want to give it what it needs, and sometimes it needs cake, but reducing sugar and fat can actually work out really tasty.
9. I'm currently obsessed with sweaty betty's free yoga classes and it's keeping my running legs and muscles more flexible and helping me keep calm to my day-to-day life.
10. I'm bringing kids apple puree squeezies to this blog, and throwing it down on the table.  I wasn't happy taking gels/anything non natural on my half marathon as my body doesn't react well to caffeine. My mum found me some apple purees with easy open lids which I ate half of during Richmond half marathon and it really fuelled me. I'd recommend them - I got mine from decathalon. For some unknown reason I was still clinging to the packet over the finish line.
11. I'm currently having issues with speed, I've completely plateaued and haven't had a PB in ages. In fact my 5k time has been steadily getting slower since February - can anyone offer any tips? 
12. Finally, here's my inspirational quote. I adapted it from Piglet. It keeps me going on long runs.  Now go, run!

You can keep up with Stephanie's delicious baking and squeezie-fuelled running over on her twitter and her facebook. 

Sarah Marsden: Runner and serious about an S Club Party

Did you hear that? Someone just ran past with some serious tunes blasting on their headphones.  I think it was Sarah, putting all the other students to shame with her awesomely witty running enthusiasm, and claiming to be obsessed with porridge and 'scampering around Leeds encased in Lycra.'

Hi, I'm Sarah and I write over at Goldilocks Runs- on my blog I get to share things I'm learning about running, silly stories and quite unflattering pictures of me trudging around cross country in the snow. I've currently had to shelve my plans for Brighton being my first marathon in April, so am focused on getting fit and strong to make my debut at York marathon in October.

When I'm not running, wearing Lycra and procrastinating or blogging about it, I'm learning to be a doctor at medical school in Leeds, which I find requires similar attributes to running- the ability to blag knowing what you're doing, fuel whenever the opportunity arises and wilfully ignore that you've needed a wee for hours now! When I'm not in serious student doctor mode, I can be found beer racing with my university's cross country club or baking industrial quantities of my beloved banana cake. 

1. I started running a year ago, and it's got me fit, kept me sane through the demands of medical school and given me a newfound love of porridge, early mornings and mud.

2. I run because I enjoy it, and lack the hand-eye coordination to play any other sports. At the moment, I wear a pair of Brooks Ravenna 3's when I'm not running barefoot in the pool wearing the flotation belt of doom.

3. The last run I did was on Sunday and I ran a grand total of 2.5K on the treadmill. It was shoddy and painful because I am nursing a very reluctant right hip and trying to persuade it running IS possible.

4. My current favourite bit of kit is my foam roller- although I swear loudly at it and kick it whenever I walk past, I think it's doing my muscles some good and helping my mystery hip injury.

5. I'm eyeing up the York marathon in the autumn, for when my hip is hopefully fixed- I'm glad now that I entered on a whim after a bottle of wine...

6. Running made me feel alive the first time I pushed past the tiredness and exhaustion and experienced my first elusive 'runner's high', where my brain and legs no longer felt connected and I felt like I was flying (inwardly. Outwardly I probably still looked in pain, sweaty and like a tomato in a blonde wig).

7. When I'm in the gym, I'm currently listening to a lot of 90's pop- think Spice Girls, Blue and S Club 7. It makes me forget that I've been on the exercise bike/elliptical for what feels like a lifetime. Side effects include minor bopping and accidentally singing along- though I call anyone who wasn't cheered up by my rendition of 'Wannabe' a fibber.

8. I participate in my local parkrun on Saturday mornings when I'm not injured or hungover, and it has helped me get out of bed on a Saturday morning, meet new people and race 5K without the faff of race entries or travel. You can find out more at www.parkrun.org.uk. I also participate in my uni's cross country club, but unless you are a) a student b) have a penchant for yellow clothing and c) enjoy drinking pints of bitter whilst people shout 'eat it!' at you, I'll leave that one there...

9. I started eating more breakfast before my long runs, like a bowl of porridge and some toast, and found it gave me much more energy- I'd recommend it! I wouldn't recommend eating pizza to cure your hangover and then almost immediately going out for a run- Leeds has surprisingly few litter bins and hedges when you're feeling queasy.

10. I'm currently obsessed with training plans. Whilst I'm injured I'm reading them until my eyes go blurry and it's rebooting my enthusiasm for when I can finally run properly again- I want to do ALLLLL the sessions!

11. I'm bringing Body Pump classes to this blog, and throwing them down on the table. They're fun, more female-friendly than the weights room full of hulking meatheads and protein shakes, and are making me feel stronger and generally more awesome.

12. I'm currently having issues with my right hip, which is producing some very annoying pain and some very alarming crunching- can anyone offer any suggestions beyond 'see a physio' and 'learn to like swimming'?

13. Finally, here's my inspirational quote. It gets me going. Now, go run!

Catch Goldilocks on twitter, her blog and at the Yorkshire marathon in the Autumn!