Melissa Webb: Runner and tube enthusiast

To get you inspired for your week of running I've got lovely Melissa from lissyruns.  When she's not running or apparently over-using brackets on her blog, she works as a food buyer (and gets paid to try food!) 

Melissa is a self-confessed Tube geek ("give me old maps and photos of disused stations and I'll be happy for hours!") and it was great to hear what she has to say in brackets and out.  Over to you Melissa! 

1.  I started running just over three years ago and it surprises me every day that I'm still doing it. I know a lot of people say this, but if my PE teacher at school was to guess who would become obsessed with running in their mid-twenties, I would be pretty near the last of their guesses.

2.     I run because I love it. I honestly can’t thing of a single thing that has enriched my life in so many ways as much as running has. I wear a pair of adidas Supernova Glide 6 boosts – snappy! They are the best pair of running shoes I’ve ever owned, I was previously quite a slave to the swoosh.

3.     The last run I did was a brand new route to me this weekend. I moved to East London fairly recently and I ran the canal and Victoria Park. I’m in love with where I live already.

4.     My current fave bit of kit is my new bright orange Sweaty Betty running jacket. I never would usually spend so much on one item of clothing, but I used money I got as birthday presents on it. It’s a great fit and it’s seen me through a fair few rain showers recently.

5.     I'm training for the Paris marathon in less than two weeks. OH MY GOD IT IS LESS THAN TWO WEEKS AWAY.

6.  The last time running made me feel alive was a while ago now actually. It was in the summer before it got really hot and it was an evening run along the canal to Victoria Park in East London. I was running faster than I ever had and felt like I was flying. 

7.     I'm currently listening to the sound of myself panting when I run. I stopped running with music when I moved to a not-so-great area last winter and wanted to be alert whilst running on dark evenings. Now I don’t often run with music, but I am trying out podcasts on very long marathon training runs

8.  I run with Run Dem Crew and RDC West and it has helped me fall deeper in love with running.

9.  I started drinking chocolate milkshake after running and it stops the feeling of sickness (surprisingly!) that I sometimes get after a long run. I would recommend it.  

10.  I'm currently obsessed with the fact that I haven’t got any faster in three years (due to inconsistent training) and it's keeping my running addiction fresh because I've decided I'm finally going to do something about it. Watch out, track! 

11.  I'm bringing yoga to this blog, and throwing it down on the table.  I've discovered it earlier this year and it's awesome. I really want to become really good at it – I'm seeing quick progression when I manage to practice a few times a week.   

12.  I'm currently having issues with my lower back, as I have lazy glutes so my back and hamstrings are overcompensating and becoming tight – can anyone offer any tips? 

13.  Finally, here's my inspirational quote. I saw it on the Lululemon website and I love it as it completely sums up me as a runner. It gets me going. Now go, run!

You can follow Melissa on twitter, instagram and in Paris on April 6th! Good luck Melissa! You can do it. 

Angel Dee: Runner, PT and seeker of happiness

Today's post is from someone who struck a chord with me.  A Trainee Personal Trainer from London, Angel.  There's guts and vulnerability and something about running that keeps us burning with fire in our bellies. Because running doesn't always make it better because some things are tougher to crack.  Depression is a nasty little gremlin with no rhyme or reason or heart or soul.  But running is a constant that's always there, always and always. It keeps us strong and doesn't give up on us.  Thanks for your words, Angel.

1.  I run because I like to stay sane (I suffer with depression) and I wear a pair of Nike Lunarglides.  Trained myself up from Asics, boom.

2.  The last run I did was Sunday and I ran a circuit of Crystal Palace Park, up Anerley Hill and down to Brockwell Park – a hot and hilly five miles.  It was bloody hot but fun, because I ran with my home boy who I haven’t run with for a long time, time flew by.

3.  My current fave bit of kit is any pair of shorts I own as it’s hot out there, yo.

4.  I'm training for Nike Women’s marathon in San Francisco, third time lucky!

5.  Running made me feel alive when I came back from major surgery, illness and overall depression of not being able to run due to the above. Ran with Run Dem Crew to Greenwich Observatory and as I looked down across London I remembered why I was there.

6.  I'm currently listening to my friends talking when I run.  It makes me happy. When I run solo, as long as it has a dirty bassline I can take on the world in my running kicks.

7.  I run with Run Dem Crew and it has helped me stay running when I only signed up to run one full and half marathon. Two years later I’m still doing the ting.  You can find more information on the RDC website if you want to get involved.

8.  I started drinking vitamin and mineral smoothies every morning and drinking coconut water after running and its reduced fatigue no end for me and boosted my overall energy levels, I definitely recommend it!

9.  I'm currently obsessed with training for San Francisco and it's keeping my running focused as I want to do the best I can.

10.  I'm bringing yoga and a support network to this blog, and throwing it down on the table.  It kept me going through a very dark period of not being able to do any exercise, suffering with depression means even when I feel low, staying active reduces the low points dramatically.

11.  I'm currently having issues with nothing at all, I am in a very good place at the moment and  am optimistic that this will continue now I’m venturing off into the world to finish my Personal Training qualification, my dream job!

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

You can find Angel over on her blog, facebook, twitter or... down at the track.