Running Archives | Life with Scoliosis

10 Tips for New Runners

Posted on April 5, 2020April 13, 2020 by Louise

As this unprecedented crisis has led to a surge of people no doubt new to running, I thought I'd write a post with my top tips for new runners. One positive about the current lock-down in the UK, is that we can still get outside in the fresh air for one bit of exercise each day. This has led to an increase in people running outside, especially as the gyms are now closed and the weather is getting better. I...Read More

Manchester Marathon: Postponed

Posted on March 14, 2020March 30, 2020 by Louise

So yesterday, the inevitable happened. In the midst of the corona virus craze, the Manchester Marathon, for which I have been training for months, was postponed. At the moment we don't know when it will be postponed to and I'm not sure if I'll even be able to run it, as I'm worried it may clash with my planned trip to Machu Picchu later this year. To say I'm gutted is an understatement. The marathon training has taken over months...Read More

Parkrun Alphabet Challenge: Z for Ziegelwiese Parkrun!

Posted on March 9, 2020April 15, 2020 by Louise

So last year, I started getting involved in the Parkrun Alphabet Challenge, with the aim of completing a different Parkrun for every letter of the alphabet. This year, the alphabet challenge has taken a bit of a back seat, due to marathon training. However so far this year, I have still managed to fit in Nobles Parkrun (Isle of Mann) in January and, most recently, Ziegelwiese Parkrun in Germany. I have now completed 68 Parkruns in 21 locations, including 15...Read More

Marathon Training: 10 Essential Items you need during training

Posted on March 1, 2020April 13, 2020 by Louise

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. Training for a marathon can be hard work, but there are some things that can make the gruelling training schedule a little easier. There are several items that have helped me during training for my first marathon, so I thought I'd share them below: 1. AfterShokz Headphones These are a recent purchase of mine but my AfterShokz headphones are an absolute life-saver on long marathon training runs. I think, after my Garmin watch (see below),...Read More

Marathon Training: 10 Tips to Prepare for a Long Run

Posted on February 21, 2020April 13, 2020 by Louise

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. As I'm currently in the midst (and pain!) of marathon training, I've found myself getting into a bit of a pre-run routine when it comes to preparing for a long run, so I thought I'd share on here in case the things I've picked up are of use to anyone else. As some of you may be aware, I'm currently training for my first marathon (Manchester Marathon in April) to raise awareness and money...Read More

Parkrun Alphabet Challenge: Jersey!

Posted on November 4, 2019April 13, 2020 by Louise

Earlier this year, myself and a few others from my run club decided to take part in the Parkrun alphabet challenge. This is basically a challenge to complete a Parkrun for every letter of the alphabet. I love this idea because not only do we get to try some new Parkruns, which keeps it fun and interesting, we also get to see a few new places in the process. We started by doing a few of the different local Parkruns,...Read More

Parkrun Alphabet Challenge: N = Northwich parkrun

Posted on July 21, 2019April 13, 2020 by Louise

One of my challenges this year is to start working my way through the Parkrun Alphabet challenge. For me, this is a fun way to try out some new Parkruns, whilst also seeing a bit more of the UK (and world!!) There are quite a few different Parkruns locally to me (within say an hours drive) and so it seems sensible to tick these off the list first. On Saturday, myself and one of my friends from my run club...Read More

Parkrun Alphabet Challenge: Parkrun Tourism

Posted on July 8, 2019April 13, 2020 by Louise

So... you may know from past posts that I'm pretty much addicted to Parkrun. If you haven't heard of Parkrun, it's a free weekly timed 5k that happens in parks all over the world at 9am on Saturday mornings. I've been going to Parkrun for a couple of years on and off, although last year I went most Saturday's if I could. It's a fantastic way to keep fit and meet other like-minded people and there's just a fab, supportive...Read More

Half Marathon Training with Scoliosis: Training Diary – 9 weeks to go!

Posted on July 8, 2019April 13, 2020 by Louise

Hi everyone, So for my next challenge... I was very lucky enough to secure a place in the ballot of the Great North Run in September! (In Newcastle Upon Tyne) To say I'm excited is an understatement. This is a huge race and a massive event in the running community. Soooo... I need to up my training that's for sure. At the beginning of this year, I got a half marathon PB at the Wrexham Half Marathon (2hrs 2 mins!)...Read More

February Overview: Goals completed…what’s next?

Posted on March 18, 2019April 14, 2020 by Louise

Apologies for the lack of posts, it’s been a crazy busy couple of months. I’ve been working hard on my running and fitness though and trying to achieve all my 2019 goals! So…what have I been up to? Goal – Complete 50 Park Runs and Park Run Tourism Hereford Park Run Since January, I have completed 7 Park Runs and I’m now on 45 in total, so I'm very close to my 50 goal! As another one of my goals...Read More

Manchester Half Marathon

Posted on October 22, 2018April 13, 2020 by Louise

This post is a bit late, but life has been a bit crazy recently! A couple of weeks ago, on the 14th October, I was so proud to complete my second half marathon of the year - the Manchester Half Marathon. It was my goal to complete a half marathon this year, but I never thought I would complete TWO half marathons! I booked onto this second half marathon in a moment of madness after the Great Manchester Run I...Read More

Running Tough Mudder with scoliosis

Posted on September 10, 2018April 13, 2020 by Louise

I’m always looking for ways to challenge myself following my scoliosis surgery, and this weekend was no exception. Yesterday, I completed my first Tough Mudder – a 10 mile mud run with 20 obstacles that you have to see to believe! The obstacles are extreme and include electrocution, being plunged into ice-cold water, swimming/wading through freezing cold lakes, crawling through the mud under barbed wire, climbing (or being pulled!) over huge 12 foot walls – the list goes on! With...Read More

My first half marathon: Great Manchester Run

Posted on June 3, 2018April 13, 2020 by Louise

A couple of weeks ago (Sunday 20th May), I took part in a massive personal challenge - my first half marathon (The Great Manchester Run). I wanted to share this on my blog just to show that with hard work, anything is possible. My first half marathon - training I love to push myself and completing a half marathon was one of my goals for this year. So back in January, I signed up to the Manchester half marathon, which...Read More

Half marathon training – 3 weeks to go

Posted on April 28, 2018April 13, 2020 by Louise

So, at the start of this year I (stupidly) signed up to run a half marathon in May - The Great Manchester Run. I wanted to push myself and see how far I could take my running, and after running several 10k races, a half marathon seemed the next logical step. I must admit, I didn't expect May to roll around quite so fast! It seemed ages away when I first signed up back in December. I thought I'd have...Read More

Running and Mental Health

Posted on April 2, 2018April 13, 2020 by Louise

Running and Mental Health It's Mental Health Awareness week 14th - 20th May 2018, so to raise awareness I thought I'd write a post on the effect running has had on my own mental health. It's well documented that running can be good for mental health, and everyone has reasons why they run. For some it's to lose weight, keep fit or socialise. For others, it's escapism from a stressful job or the strains of everyday life. Personally, I run for...Read More