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!

Polly Farrington: Runner, because walking takes too long

My name is Polly and in the daytime hours I work as a Management Consultant in the city, most other hours I am running, cycling and generally baffling anyone who can’t understand why someone would get up at 5am to go on a pre-work run.

1. I started running 18 months ago and never looked back

2. I run because walking takes too long? I don’t really have a particular reason for running around, I quite like Scott Jurek’s mantra ‘sometimes you just do things’, that’s probably why I started. Shoe-wise I have moved through Brooks and Asics and now wear a rather snappy pair of black/pink/lime Mizuno Wave Rider 16s

3. The last run I did was around 6 miles on Sunday. I had set out with my mum and sister on an 11 miler but after about 30 minutes the weather got a bit apocalyptic and I had dressed very over-optimistically. I turned back to avoid catching pneumonia but the others soldiered on.

4. My favourite bit of kit that I wear both running and cycling is my Rapha wind jacket. Its crazy light, keeps out the wind and looks great. It’s not cheap but on a cost per wear basis I’ve got it down to fractions of pennies.

5. I'm currently training for the Ealing Half, and have just completed the London Duathlon

6. I always try to listen to the Marathon Talk podcast on my long run, and then I tend to just save music for races or particularly painful speed sessions. I like knowing I don’t have to rely on music to get through the distance and being able to pay attention to your breathing makes pacing decisions much easier.

7. I run with the Ealing Eagles and try to always make it down to their interval sessions on a Thursday.

8. I'm currently obsessed with all things Duathlon. I love cycling (I was cycling before I was running) and training for the London Duathlon allowed me to combine my two great loves.

9. I'm bringing mountain running to this blog, and throwing it down on the table. I recently read Moire O'Sullivan’s ‘Mud Sweat and Tears’, and there is nothing more hardcore than being able to run up and down mountains.

10. I'm currently having issues trying to fit everything I want to do into the week. Bernard’s watch anyone?

11. I’m not a big inspirational quote kinda gal, but Jens Voigt’s ‘Shut Up Legs’ (see photo below) seemed to do the job pretty well during the last couple of bike laps and the final 5k of the London Duathlon.

Polly is on twitter and writes a blog about all things cycling and duathloning.  Go forth and be inspired.

Gillian Power, Runner. The last name says it all!

I'm happy to introduce you to the second half of Double Trouble Running, Gilly!  She's an Irish chick living and running in Perth, Australia.  She works for a large social media software company and I'm instantly a fan because a) She says she's addicted to running and b) She says we should all do more Bikram yoga.  (She did say that, I swear!)  Here's a pic of Gilly and her coach finishing her last marathon.  What an amazing photo! Those legs!! 

Over to you Gilly:

1.      I started running four years ago and it's become my passion!
2.      I run because I think I am addicted (but the positive kind) and I wear a pair of Nikes.
3.      The last run I did was a progression run yesterday morning and I ran 6 sets of 2km, dropping 10 second per km each set. It was really hard and wet because we dropped to a fast pace but a great feeling at the end!
4.      My current fave bit of kit is my club fleece – we train at 6am and the winters are cold in Australia. Who knew!
5.      I'm training for/eyeing up the Melbourne Marathon in October. My third one.
6.      Running made me feel alive when I was trying to find a new hobby and passion.
7.      I'm currently listening to Freakonomics podcasts when I run.  It makes me stay at a slower pace for recovery runs and I learn something.
8.      I participate in BT Run Club and it has helped me drop my marathon time from 4.02 to 3.36. They introduced me the wonderful world of intervals! 
9.      I started drinking protein shakes after my hardcore running sessions but I can’t tell if it’s working!
10.   I'm currently obsessed with strava and it's keeping my running addiction fresh and making me want to tell others about it. 
11.   I'm bringing bikram yoga to this blog, and throwing it down on the table.  I've just discovered it and hopefully will aid with recovery.   
12.   I'm currently having issues with legs and am visiting my physio. It’s down to weak muscles so need more strength training - can anyone offer any tips? 
13.   Finally, here's my inspirational quote..it’s not really a quote, it’s what I say when it’s getting hard! 

You can find both Gilly and Ellie over on Double Trouble Running blog.  Gilly's twitter is GillyPerth.  Thanks ladies!

Runner and cured widow

Cat's my go-to twitter-er whenever I want to chat about brightly coloured jazzy running gear.  She's fast, ladies and gents, and I know for a fact does not ever, ever eat layered rainbow cake for breakfast. Meet wonderwoman Cat!

Hi, I’m Cat, and I write a blog, Diaries of a Marathon Widow. For anyone that follows me on Twitter, this might seem like a bit of a lie, but a couple of years ago I stopped just watching my husband run marathons and started doing them myself. I still love travelling to European cities to support him on races, but since catching the running bug I’ve run twelve half marathons, am currently training for my fifth marathon and have just signed up for my first ultra race (50 miles!!).

By day, I work in a Whitehall healthcare policy role, but when I’m not bullying the nation into changing their habits and lead a healthier lifestyle, I love cycling in London, eating out and going to gigs.

1. I started running two/three years ago and it's taken me around the world – to Marrakech, Istanbul, even Margate – I’m not fussy.

2. I run because I love it and am totally addicted to the endorphins. Plus, while I don’t run to lose weight, if it means I can eat and drink until my heart’s content, that can only be a good thing.

3. The last run I did was last night. I ran around my local running track (4 mile interval session). It was hard because intervals always are, but also because I’m training to run a super-fast marathon time and qualify automatically for New York.

4. My current fave bit of kit are my new patterned Adidas ¾ leggings. I also love bright, lightweight trainers and currently race in a pair of neon Adidas Adios trainers (I’m convinced bright colours make me run faster).

5. I'm currently training for the London Marathon and eyeing up ultra races for Autumn. I’ve just entered the Round Rotherham 50 mile race, which I’m hoping to do with running legend Simon Wheatcroft – what a privilege that will be!

6. Running made me feel alive when I recently ran along the Thames path at dawn and watched mist rolling over Richmond Lock. It made me feel truly at one with the world.

7. I'm currently listening to an indie/dance playlist with some drum ‘n’ bass thrown in for when I want to run faster. Music is my second love and nothing beats running to amazing tunes.

8. I’m a member of my local running club, Sheen Shufflers, although I’m very bad at finding time to go at the moment. But since joining Twitter last year, I’ve found such a lovely community of likeminded running bloggers and tweeps that offer oodles of motivation, encouragement and support.

9. I recently started drinking smoothies after runs in a recent attempt be more healthy, but nothing beats a glass of chocolate nesquik after a long run. I would definitely recommend both though!

10. I'm currently obsessed with running to work and it's keeping my running addiction fresh and new and making me want to tell others about it. It’s also a great way of fitting running around a busy lifestyle while avoiding London’s crowded public transport system.

11. I'm bringing avocados to this blog, and throwing them down on the table. They’re the tastiest and most versatile fruit ever and are great in everything from bacon sandwiches to smoothies.

12. Finally, here's a quote that motivates me on long runs. It really gets me going and helps block out feelings of physical and mental fatigue.  Now go, run!