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. 

Charlotte Watson: Naked Runner

Our next We Do Run Runner is Charlie Watson.  She's part of the Women's Running Write this Run 10k team and has a soft spot for 13.1-milers.  In her non-running life she works for a magazine and doesn't like pickles. She wants to run a sub- 2 hour half marathon (we think she can definitely do this) and run the NY marathon (we think she can definitely do this also.)  Over to you, Charlie... you pickle-hater, you! 

1. I started running three years ago and it's kept me fit, allowed me to lose weight and make some awesome friends. And mostly stops me eating chocolate for breakfast.

2. I run because I love/hate it and I wear a pair of Brooks Ravennas or Asics.

3. The last run I did was last week and I ran my usual route - 3.5miles  It was awesome because I ran naked (aka without a watch) and just enjoyed it regardless of pace.

4. My current fave bit of kit is my garmin.

5. I'm training for the Ealing Half Marathon in Sept and eyeing up a full next year.

6. Running made me feel alive when I crossed the finish line of my first (and only) marathon. I felt invincible.  

7. I'm currently listening to Naughty Boy La La La when I run.  It makes me sing along out loud.

8. I participate in occasional Nike and Sweaty Betty Runs and it has helped me meet people and speed up - you can find more information here on my blog!

9. I started drinking Nuun hydration before and after runs and it's changed my need to complete every run with water. I would recommend it.  (Although you may need to pee 2-3times before the race!)

10. I'm currently obsessed with the FIRST training plan- (only running 3 days a week) and it's keeping my running addiction fresh and new/making me want to tell others about it. And wanting to push for a sub 2 hour half!

 11. I'm bringing speed sessions to this blog, and throwing them down on the table.  I've just discovered them and they're doing interesting things for me- getting faster whoop! 

12. I'm currently having issues with motivation and inflexibility. Can anyone offer any tips?

13. Finally, here's my inspirational quote. Now go, run!

You can find Charlie on twitter and over on her blog.  Also check out her 10k blog on the Womens Running website. 

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. 

Jen Jahn: Runner, writer, and needer of training buddy

'Dear running, I love you. Yours sincerely, Jen' - She wrote it on her blog and it's clear to see she's not lying! Meet Jen, a run-aholic blogger with very clean feet and a lovely orange coat. 

Hi. I’m Jen and I write over at Two Itchy Feet. No, don’t worry; I don’t suffer from some fungal foot condition. On my blog I get to indulge in my love for writing and my passion for running and other sporty-attempts (like my first pathetic go at doing a duathlon), and top it all off with an inimitable (some would say insufferable) ability to go on and on and on about myself. I’m currently training for my fourth half marathon (Brighton) and third-ish attempt at running it in sub-2-hours.Oh, and a marathon-thingie in April.

When I'm not running or writing about running, I still run around chasing authors and academics to send me their writings (in a strictly professional manner!) but as I'll soon be relocating to the lovely south of England, who knows what kind of life and job will be in store for me. I might just become a beach bum or a surfer dudette (though I hear the channel is rather cold this time of year). And when I'm not running or working or blogging, I'm most likely sat in a corner reading a book or roaming the globe or stuffing my face. There, a simple life! 

1.    I started running almost three years ago and it's saved my sanity, saved my figure and probably saved my relationship, too (ok, maybe I’m a tad bit overdramatic here).

2.    I run because it really does keep me sane, fit and healthy and there’s just no better feeling than the feeling you get after a run, especially if you really didn’t want to head out into the cold/wet/dark in the first place.  I wear a pair of Brooks Glycerin that are in dire need of replacement if I want to survive my first marathon next April!!! If there’s any sponsors out there, help a poor gal out!

3.    The last run I did was a freezing cold running club session last night and I ran 8 x 200m sprints followed by a 200m relay (teams of three, four legs each) with my Sweaty Betty running club. It was one of the coldest running experiences of my entire friggin’ life (I’m not exaggerating for once), hypothermia, anyone????  

4.    My current fave bit of kit is definitely my Saucony high-viz running jacket. The only thing to keep me semi-warm and visible this time of year.

5.    I'm training for/eyeing up a sub-2-hour finish for the Brighton half marathon in February (fingers xed, I really want to smash those two hours, finally!) and then my first marathon: the Manchester one in April. Can you say scurrred….?!

6.    Running made me feel alive after I finally defrosted and recovered from my hypothermia last night following a 20-minute hot shower, lots of food and a glass of wine. What? I’d worked hard….

7.    I'm currently listening to nothing but nature when I run.  It makes me more aware of all the crazies roaming the streets in the cold and dark. And we all know: safety first, right?!

8.    I participate in the Sweaty Betty running club, which is totally free and friendly, at least the one here in Cambridge (though I’m leaving at the end of the year and am in dire need of a new running group down in Brighton/Hove, any suggestions?!) and it has helped me improve my running all around, I’ve gotten faster, more confident and it’s a great social way of running and making new friends. As far as I know most Sweaty Betty boutiques organize free running clubs, though I’m sure they are as good as Alan’s! ;)

9.    I started drinking chocolate-banana-peanut-butter milkshakes as my recovery drink. I love it and totally recommend it. The only thing I wouldn’t recommend is having a big fat burger half an hour before setting off for a run… never a good idea!

10.    I'm currently obsessed with Blogilates workouts. It’s short Pilates workouts that you can put together as you like, make it long, make it tough, or just throw in a quick 10-minute workout and it's keeping my running addiction fresh and new/making me want to tell others about it. What better way to supplement you running or stay active on a no-running day?! Try it. You’ll love it.

11.    I'm bringing ice baths after a 10+ mile run to this blog, and throwing it down on the table.  I've just discovered it and it's totally working. Yes, a seriously unpleasant experience, but it does the trick. Hand on my heart. I don’t even bother with ice but just fill the bath with cold water from the tap. Sit in it for 5 minutes, your legs will thank you the next day!!!

12.    I'm currently having issues with…me, issues? Seriously? NEVER. Then again, if you headed over to Two Itchy Feet right now you’d know I was lying and I do, indeed, have issues with my tibialis anterior and also with the fact that I’m moving down south and I’ll have not a single running bud to train with…. (let the pity party commence).

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