Running Archives - Life with Scoliosis

I Ran a Marathon!

Posted on April 10, 2022April 10, 2022 by Louise

Hi everyone, I can't quite believe that I'm writing this but.... I completed an actual marathon! Me, the girl with severe scoliosis and spinal fusion. I'm so proud of myself it is unreal. 11 years ago when I was lying in that hospital bed following my scoliosis surgery, if someone had shown me a photograph of me at the finish line of a marathon, I wouldn't have believed it could be true. I think I would have laughed! But what...Read More

Marathon Training: 10 Tips to Prepare for a Long Run

Posted on March 14, 2022March 14, 2022 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

Marathon Training with Scoliosis: VLOG 3

Posted on February 13, 2022February 13, 2022 by Louise

Hi everyone! For those who don't know, I have set myself the challenge of running my first marathon in April. It's safe to say, I'm terrified....! In VLOG 3 of marathon training with scoliosis, I take you on a typical training week with me. This includes my longest run as part of this training block - 14 miles. This week, I had a bit of a niggle in my left calf, and so I missed a session on Thursday to...Read More

Marathon Training with Scoliosis: VLOG 2

Posted on February 1, 2022February 1, 2022 by Louise

Hi everyone, So as you may (or may not) be aware, I'm training for my first marathon in April 2022. At the start of the month I shared the first week of marathon training. Last week I filmed my second marathon training vlog, to show a typical week at this stage - which is 10 weeks until marathon day. I'm now at the stage where I'm starting to build the long run distance, and I am starting to struggle now...Read More

Marathon Training with Scoliosis: VLOG 1

Posted on January 8, 2022January 8, 2022 by Louise

Hi everyone, Hope you all had a lovely Christmas and New Year. So... over Christmas, I started my marathon training. I'm training for my first ever marathon, the Manchester marathon, which is in April 2022! I am working with a run coach and following the plans he sets for me each week, as I really want to do well and give myself the best shot possible. The plans typically involve several run sessions a week, plus several strength sessions per...Read More

Glute Exercises for Runners: My Top 10

Posted on January 31, 2021January 31, 2021 by Louise

Hi everyone, As you may (or may not!) be aware, I love to run. Over the years (post spinal fusion), I have ran 6 half marathons, countless 10k's and over 60 parkruns. Pandemic aside, I'm a member of a local run club and was training for a marathon this time last year. Over the last few months, I have not been able to run due to an injury to (I think) a tendon in my right leg, which causes ankle...Read More

10 Tips for New Runners

Posted on April 5, 2020December 29, 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, 2020December 29, 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, 2020December 29, 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, 2020July 29, 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

Parkrun Alphabet Challenge: Jersey!

Posted on November 4, 2019December 29, 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, 2019December 29, 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, 2019December 29, 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