Emmie Collinge: Snow Runner!

I have a fellow liquorice appreciator for you this morning.  You can thank me later (in liquorice!)

Meet lovely Emmie!  Originally from Nottingham, this 26-year-old freelance translator of German, Dutch and Swedish loves cycling, stroopwafels and the Dutch - so it's pretty fitting that she currently lives in Switzerland. When I originally spoke to her about coming on the blog over a year ago she was planning her move over there so it's really awesome to hear that running most definitely went with her! Over to you pal:

1.  I started running 20 years ago (not long after I started walking) and it has been a love-hate relationship for two decades.

2.  I run because it’s quicker than walking, taking me to places I’d never see otherwise and I wear multiple pairs of VJ sport shoes, a Finnish orienteering specialist, who make the meanest and grippiest trail shoes.

3.  The last run I did was yesterday’s lunchtime meandering and I ran my favourite local route with some of the steepest, sharpest hills. It was exciting and energising because spring has finally sprung and the Swiss flowers seem so much brighter than in the UK.

4.  My current fave bit of kit is my new Ashmei top – although admittedly I haven’t ran in it yet. It’s far too nice to sweat up.

5.  I'm training for a 128km race across Norway’s Hardangervidda Plateau – however, ‘plateau’ is definitely not the word I’d choose to describe this landscape. 

6.  Running made me feel alive when I first realised (accepted?) how much I love being outside, recognising that the times I run on the road and track aren’t so important and how entire days spent running with my boyfriend and a picnic are unbeatable.

7.  I'm currently listening to bird song and sporadic bursts of conversation when I run.  It sets me free to be away from constant noise, screens, technology.

8.  I participate in all kinds of races, donning my local club vest on a weekly basis, be it road, trail, mountain or track. It has helped me keep the momentum and improve my Italian!

9.  I started choosing liquorice and homemade crispbread as fuel for running while we were in Norway last year and these have proven far more worthwhile and efficient than anything else for entire days spent on the trail. I would recommend it.  

10.  I'm currently obsessed with progress – particularly when it comes to downhills – and the Strava proof of this keeps my running addiction fresh and new.

11.  I'm bringing Italian snow mountain running and retro Italian tracksuits to this blog, and throwing them down on the table.  I've just done my first snow race and found it better than any other terrain.

12.  I'm currently having issues with choosing races, far too many out there and prices seem to be on the rise - can anyone offer any tips? 

13.  Finally, here's my inspirational quote, embarrassingly taken from Emma Watson’s UN speech last September and watched the day before I ran a storming 10km PB. Hearing it go over and over as I watched the kilometres tick by, I repeated “If not me, who? If not now, when?” It gets me going.  

You can find emmie on twitter.  Now go, run! 

Rhianon West: She Runs with her Mum

I've got a lovely lady for you today.  She's accomplished something we all wish we could do: gotten her own mum into running marathons.  Can we say run-buddy envy??? Rhianon is always brimming with enthusiasm and kindness on twitter; I wonder if I was more like her, whether my mom would come running with me too? 
Over to you mate!

1. I started running  10 years ago, just as I started University as a way to counteract all the booze and cake! Initially it was all about plodding away endlessly on the treadmill but I soon discovered that running outside was far more enjoyable! There's always runs that go badly or ones where you have to drag yourself out the door but you never regret going for a run afterwards.

2.  I run because it keeps my head in check. Without it I sometimes feel like the whole world would topple in on me. It helps keep me on the straight and narrow and I wear a pair of AsicsGel-Kayano 19s. Just got some new neon red ones. Hopefully they'll brighten up those dark morning runs!

3. The last run I did was this morning and I ran 8.5 miles into work. It so so nice to have daylight on my morning runs again and there's loads of daffodils in Hyde Park at the moment making it extra pretty. Epic run overall!

4. My current fave bit of kit is my Garmin 405, called Gary. I love him like a brother from another mother and never go on a run without that little chap.

5. I'm training for the Tow Path 10 race at the end of April. After having to drop out of my spring marathon due to a back injury I'm using this race to help ease slowly back into running.

6. Running made me feel alive when I crossed the finish line at the Berlin Marathon a few years ago. It was my first marathon and the finish under the Brandenburg Gate was a high point in life so far for sure. I cried my eyes out after finishing. This was quickly replaced by devouring a VERY LARGE bag of ready salted crisps.  

7. I'm currently listening to some shamelessly cheesy "mash-up" remixes when I run.  I always listen to music when I run as it helps me keep my rhythm.

8. I participate in interval sessions with my local club, Ealing Eagles when I can but I generally much prefer running on my own, with my thoughts, but whenever I am at home visiting my parents I'll always get out for a run with them around the countryside lanes in Gloucestershire. A very welcome change from city running.

9. I started drinking Nuun before and after running after being recommended it by the lovely running folk on Twitter. I was suffering from terrible post-run headaches and Nuun has single-handedly stopped them. I'm hooked! Strawberry Lemonade is by FAR the best flavour, and I can also vouch that it helps knock a hangover on the head very efficiently too! 

10. I'm currently obsessed with strength training/core work/anything at all that makes my back stronger and me stop getting injured.

11. I'm bringing my mum to this blog, and throwing her down on the table (not literally!).  She got into running a few years back after lots of encouragement from me and is now hooked. She ran her first marathon, the Chicago Marathon, last October with a storming 4.21 debut.  My mum is a total trooper on the long runs and attacks a hill far more aggressively than me!

12. I'm currently having issues with my lower back- can anyone offer any good core work tips?

13. Finally, here's my inspirational quote.  This little saying gets me through those times when your legs feel like lead weights, your lungs are burning and that hills seems just TOO steep to run up.

Find Rhianon on instagram and twitter and failing that you can probably find her on a 12 mile run with her dearest companion.  Happy running, ladies!

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!

Alice Saunders: Runner, bag maker and shameless pop music subscriber

(The reason it took me so long to get this post online is I kept getting sidetracked by amazing  leather bags.  I'm warning you, this will happen.) 

It's a pleasure to introduce Alice from FORESTBOUND.  She's a Boston-based designer who makes beautiful bags from unique materials.  Over to you, Alice!

1.    I started running about 3.5 years ago and it's become such an integral part of my life. Not only does running help keep my fitness level at its peak, but it constantly challenges me to perform better and push myself, which I love so much.
2.    I run because I love the feeling of getting faster and stronger after putting in many of hours of hard work.  I wear a pair of New Balance 1400's which I love! Took me years to find the right shoe and I'm so thankful that I finally have!
3.    The last run I did was just a few days ago along one of my favorite routes close to my house - around two ponds, with a good amount of hills. It was somewhat tough mentally just because I'm still adjusting to both cold weather running and running in the dark now that the sun goes down so early in the winter!
4.    My current fave bit of kit is my new pair of New Balance 1400's that arrived yesterday. They come in so many great colors it's hard to chose just one!
5.    I'm training for/eyeing up a spring marathon. The specific race is yet to be determined, but I'm planning on something in early/mid May.
6.    Running made me feel alive on Thanksgiving morning when I ran a local 5k and placed third in my age division. And also a few months ago when I ran a half marathon with zero training whatsoever because the opportunity popped up a few days before the race. I'm definitely not recommending this to everyone .. but it was a great challenge and I finished in a respectable time (1:51).
7.    I'm currently listening to Ke$ha's new album when I run. I have no shame admitting that Top 40 pop music is my favorite to run to.
8.    I don't really participate in any local running groups or forums, but reading running blogs written by strong ladies helps to keep me motivated! Some of my favorites are..

 Ali on the Run +Sweat Once a Day +Health on the Run 

9.    I drink lots of fresh juice and green smoothies to make sure my immune system is healthy. I do whatever I can to make sure I don't come down with a cold that will keep me from running. I also try to eat as much protein as possible since it plays such a big part in muscle recovery and I can definitely feel it in my legs when I'm lacking protein!
10.    I'm currently obsessed with the thought of running a spring marathon fast enough to qualify for the Boston Marathon (I'd have to run a 3:35) in 2014. It keeps me super motivated to incorporate lots of speed work and hills into my runs.
11.    I'm bringing yoga to this blog, and throwing it down on the table.  I have insanely tight leg muscles that never seem to loosen up as much as I stretch and foam roll, so incorporating at least 2 yoga classes a week into my workout routine has made a HUGE difference for me. I'm constantly battling a knee injury related to my tight muscles, so stretching & yoga-ing as much as possible is always my top priority.
12.    I'm currently having issues with balancing work & running. Being self employed and working 10+ hour days can be tough when it comes to fitting in enough time for running and yoga. Especially now that it's winter and early morning runs are dark and cold and my bed is so warm, I'm struggling with fitting everything in during the day!  Can anyone offer any tips?
13.    Inspirational quote - ' You don't get better at running hills by walking them'

Check out the FORESTBOUND website.  You can also find Alice on twitter, and read about her marathon training on tumblr.  

Liz Goodchild: (Very) Long distance runner and inner badass unleasher

I'm Liz!  I run, I write, and I have wild hair. I recently forayed into the world of ultra-marathons and have the black toenails to prove it.  If I'm not busy unleashing my inner badass, I can usually be found eating tofu laced with chili and ginger or googling pictures of Jillian Michaels and wishing I had her abs.  This photo was taken at Home Park, in the grounds of Hampton Court Palace.  It's my favourite place to run because the views are simply breathtaking!

1. I started running 2 years ago and it's deepened my connection with myself in a way that no therapist/self-help book ever could.

2. I run because I feel free and happy when I do so, and I wear a pair of Asics 2170’s.

3. The last run I did was a 50K race. (!)  It was grueling because it was 50 whole kilometres long, and hey, 50 kilometres is a really long way.

4. My current fave bit of kit is my bright blue calf compression sleeves.  And yes, I may look like a 5 year old school-girl when wearing them, but my calves now love me.

5. I'm training for a 10K race in December. I’m aiming for a sub-45 finish.  

6. Running made me feel alive the minute I set one foot in front of the other on my very first run.  I’ve never looked back.

7. I'm currently listening to Pink’s new album, The Truth About Love, when I run.  It makes me happy!

8. I participate in massive amounts of Twitter banter and it has helped me meet other like-minded people who don’t raise an eyebrow/fall asleep when I discuss my IT Band pain/marathon training plans. 

9. I started drinking chocolate soya milk after running and it's changed my post-race fuelling habits.   I would definitely recommend it.  

10. I'm currently obsessed with running faster and stronger and it's keeping my running addiction fresh and new/making me want to tell others about it.
11. I'm bringing hill running to this blog, and throwing it down on the table.  I've just discovered it and it's working for me.  Want to improve your speed? Go find a hill and run up and down it for 30 minutes.

12. I'm currently having issues with not having enough money to sign up for ALL THE RACES EVER - can anyone offer any tips? 

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