Cathy Drew: Runner. Florence: Her bike.

This week I have Cathy for you.  She's nice.  I met her at Write this run and I liked her a lot. Cathy works in undergraduate recruitment for the University of Sussex.  She lives in Brighton, comes from the wilds of Shropshire and has a bike called Florence.  
And a Garmin called Gavin.  
Over to you, you weirdo:

1. I started running 3 years ago and it’s introduced me to some of the best people in the world.

2. I run because it’s fun and free, and I wear a pair of Mizunos. My favourite pair are pink and black check.

3. The last run I did was tonight and I ran with the boy to have a coffee with running friends. It was cold.

4. My current fave bit of kit is, and forever will be, my Garmin, Gavin.

5. I'm not training for anything specific at the moment, but am running the London Marathon in April…

6. Running made me feel when I woke up again after passing out at 21 miles in my first marathon! (Which I did finish, just FYI.)

7. I don’t listen to music anymore when I run. I used to, but now I like to concentrate on my breathing and whether or not I am being chased by bears.

8. I participate in parkrun most weekends, you can find more information on their website if you want to get involved: and I suggest you do as it is ACE!

9. I started using High 5 gels when running marathons, and they’re brilliant. I was convinced I couldn’t handle eating/gelling on the run, but these are light enough even for me.

10. I'm currently obsessed with running as fast as I can, it's keeping my running addiction fresh. That, and triathlons.

11. I'm bringing lifting heavy to this blog, as well as my first loves of running, swimming and cycling. My other half is a Strength and Conditioning coach, and is convinced that lifting things heavier than me will fix all my injuries and make me faster. Both of which I want, so have been faffing around in the gym for about a year now. It’s really ace. 

12. I'm have an ongoing issue with my hip: if anyone has any idea how to make it go away once and for all, please let me know.

13. Finally, here's my inspirational quote: 

Thanks, Ben Howard, for getting me through 3 marathons. 
Now go, run!

You can find Cathy and the rest of her kit over on her blog, twitter and instagram. Bye Cathy! (and Gavin, and Florence)

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!

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. 

Beki Cadd: Runner, geophysicist and book-listener!

Next up is not-so-wheezy Beki, a newbie runner with a mixed bag of 10ks on the horizon.  If you're thinking of starting up running I'm sure she'll make you feel inspired.  She certainly made me want to get off my butt and go for a run. 

Hi! I’m Beki and my blog is called Miss Wheezy- this stems from my asthma, and the noise I used to make whenever I tried to do any sort of exercise!

I’m a geophysicist and work for an Oil and Gas exploration company- I moved from Norfolk to London/Surrey only a couple of months ago, and am still settling in and trying to find new places to run and make new running friends.

1. I started running not even a year ago, and I’m still surprised at my decision!
2. I run because I want to prove I can, as an asthmatic, and someone who hated running for the way it made me feel weak and incapable in school. I’ve been wearing a pair of Mizuno Wave Nexus for the past year, but have recently bought some Brooks Ravennas to try- they’re a similar motion control shoe.
3. The last run I did was 4.5miles around Bushy Park- it’s really nice that there are so many green spaces in London, and I love running past the Queen’s deer!
4. My current favourite bit of kit is my Garmin Forerunner 10- it was a Christmas present from my boyfriend (after much unsubtle hinting!) and it’s made my running so much simpler as I don’t need to try and figure out how far or fast I’ve run.
5. I’m training for several 10ks at the moment, including She Runs Windsor and Nike We Own The Night as well as the Energizer Night Run 5k in London.
6. Running made me feel alive and proud of my body, when I crossed the finish line at the Race for Life Twilight 5k last year- it was my first “race” and while not timed, I ran the whole way – an amazing sense of achievement.
7. I’m currently listening to “The Kingmaker’s Daughter” by Philippa Gregory when I run. I do love music too for boosting my mood, but on longer runs I like to zone out and listen to an audiobook. I get so caught up in the story!
8. I don’t currently participate in any running clubs, but have been to a couple of 5k Park Runs and would definitely recommend them.
9. I started eating a lot of nut butter to fuel my running! My favourite breakfast is porridge with mashed banana, chia seeds and peanut butter; it keeps me going all morning.
10. I’m currently obsessed with new running gear, and am trying to stop myself buying lots of colourful new kit for Spring!
11. I’m bringing foam rolling to this blog and throwing it down on the table. I’ve just discovered it and although painful, I believe it’s really helpful in massaging my muscles and working out any tightness.
12. Finally, here’s my inspirational quote. Now go, run!

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!

Nicola Rowlands: Runner and Drawer

Hello! I'm Nicola.  I'm a designer and illustrator and I live in Manchester, England.  I live with my boyfriend and hope to sometime soon incorporate a cat or dog into our living situation.  You can visit my website, facebook and twitter and I also have an online shop where I sell vaguely mental cards and gifts.  Above is a photo of a run I did a week ago - around Dunham Massey and finishing at my boyfriend's golf course.  Super nice evening - ran past herds of deer! 

1. I started running 10 years ago and it's pretty much the only sport I'm any good at, mainly because I'm somewhat unsociable and hugely uncoordinated.  
2. I run because I'm addicted and it gives me a sense of purpose and acheivement.  
3. I have two pairs of trainers: Nike Lunarlon and Mizuno Wave Runners. I alternate - one pair is muddier than the other so it depends where I'm running which pair I wear! 
4. The last run I did was this morning and I ran 6k. It was muddy and a little tricky because I went down by the canal and the ground is really uneven so it's difficult to concentrate on not falling on your face.  
5. My current fave bit of kit is my nike+ app.  It's seriously made a massive improvement on my distances.  Plus you can score jazzy trophies and if that's not motivation then what is.  
6. I'm training for a half marathon in Peterborough next weekend and I'm eyeing up my first marathon in the spring.  
7. Running made me feel alive when I paired it with open water swimming this year.  Cross training was a wonderful thing and opened up a whole new world of opportinities as well! In September I went on a trip with an old friend swimming and running around the Dordogne, France.  Amazing!
8. I'm currently listening to Uhh Yeah Dude podcasts when I run.  They make me laugh, which is awkward and sometimes confusing in terms of breathing. 
9. I participate in parkrun once a month and have also recently joined a Nike running club.  Parkruns are an awesome way to start the weekend and massive motivation to get a PB.  My running club has really added some variation to my training - my distances and speed have improved as well as the plus side of meeting new people and chatting about running (gah!)
10. I started drinking more water after I started doing Bikram yoga this year.  It sure does get sweaty up in there.  
11. I'm currently obsessed with researching bikes and the idea of doing a triathlon next year.  Just got a shiny awesome helmet from my ma & pa to start my bike kit collection.  
12. I'm bringing coconut water to this blog, and throwing it down on the table.  I know it's super good for hydration and I'll drink it after a long bikram session but I wish there was an alternative natural electrolyte drink that didn't taste of feet.  
13. I'm currently having issues with my hips and I think it's because I need new shoes.  In fact, I'm pretty sure I need new shoes.  I think I'm gonna get the same ones again to avoid getting sucked into the dreaded shoe research.  
14. Finally, here's my inspirational quote.  A little bit of Bruce always helps.   Now go, run!