Lucy Turner: Tempo Runner and occasional Nap Taker

My next runner is an instagram buddy of mine, Lucy Turner.  She's a fellow lover of outrageous running tights and she's running a half marathon this weekend after completing some serious tempo training.  Over to you, Lucy:

Hello, I'm Lucy and I live in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire.  For work I'm a Marketing Team Leader for a local company. I'm a 25 year old figuring out my little place in the world, in between work, workouts and wine...oh, and the occasional nap.

1.  I started running 1.5 years ago and it's shown me a new side to the area I live in, as well as race locations around the country!
2.  I run because it relaxes me and I wear a pair of Saucony ProGrid Jazz shoes. So far I've collected the 14, 15 and 16 releases, and I love them all.
3.  The last race I did was the Bacchus Half Marathon. It was exhilarating because it combined wine tasting with fancy dress and a whole lot of hills.
4.  My current fave bit of kit is my newest Buff, which does a good job of keeping my short hair out of the way when I exercise.
5.  I'm training for a great race at Gosport Half Marathon this weekend, the first race I'll be doing for the second time.
6.  Running made me feel alive the first time I ran outside instead of a treadmill - I couldn't believe I was doing it without keeling over!
7.  I'm currently listening to Gift Horse by Stephen Kellogg and The Sixers when I run.  It makes me smile.
8.  I participate in the BOSH running group on Facebook and it has helped me stay excited about running and meet likeminded people. 
9.  I started eating sweet potatoes instead of pasta after running and it's finally stopped me being ravenous all day after long runs. I definitely recommend thinking outside the box on the carb front. 
10.  I'm currently obsessed with getting focused and calm using the Headspace app and it's making me want to tell others about it.  It's nice to sometimes achieve the quietness I get from running while on the sofa in my pyjamas.
11.  I'm bringing Body Pump to this blog, and throwing it down on the table.  I've just discovered it and it's making me stronger all over in a way that running alone has never done.  
12.  I'm currently having issues with one side of my hip (I think it's my piriformis) - can anyone offer any tips? 
13.  Finally, here's my inspirational quote.  It reminds me that in a week's time, or a month's time, I'll be glad I got off the sofa and started something today.  Now go, run! 

You can find Lucy on twitter, instagram and over at her blog.  Thanks dude!!!

Elinor Butler: Runner, rapper, half the trouble double the smiles.

I'm excited to introduce you to Double Trouble Running - best pals who love running and talking about running (I know, good combo right?!)  Gilly works for a large social media software company, and Ellie works for a medium digital media software consultancy. Together they want to provide a view of running from two sides of the world! 

Today you get to meet Ellie, an Aussie running and living in Durham, UK. 

1. I started running 7 years ago and it’s helped me settle into my new town after moving to the UK from Australia.
2. I run because I am not coordinated enough for team sports, and I wear an old pair of Asics.
3. The last run I did was a trail run on Sunday and I ran 10k in Hamsterley Forest.  It was uncomfortable because there were midges everywhere and I now look like I have the measles.
4. My current fave bit of kit is my new running shorts because I feel like a dude in them.
5. I'm training for a Total Warrior in August – I think I’ve completely underestimated how tough it will be! I only entered cos I liked the title!
6. Running made me feel alive when I ran over the Millenium bridge during a lunch time run at work. It wasn’t the same as Sydney Harbour, but it was still fantastic.
7. I'm currently listening to Dizzee Rascal and Jay-Z when I run.  It helps me learn rap so I can look awesome at karaoke.
8. I participate in the Elvet Striders, a local club in Durham where I live, and it has helped me increase my mileage and enter races.
9. I started drinking/eating chocolate milk after long runs and it feels like an awesome treat and is apparently great for recovery. Definitely recommend it.
10. I'm currently obsessed with trail runs and it's keeping my running addiction fresh and new.
11. I'm bringing drills to this blog, and throwing them down on the table.  I've just discovered them and they’re making me aware of my own style and how to improve.
12. I'm currently having issues with my left hip flexor - can anyone offer any tips?
13. Finally, here's my inspirational quote.  It gets me going when I feel like the run is beating me and I want my revenge:

Stay tuned to meet the other half of Double Trouble, Gilly! She's a Brit, living in Oz. It's confusing right? Like they both swapped places.
Lovely to meet you ladies!!!

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!