Products to help you run, race, remember
Conker your goals: What squirrels can teach us about autumn training AUTUMN TRAINING Seasonal scenery (& scampering squirrels) Autumn is a fantastic time of year to run or cycle outside. If you don’t live near a park or any trails, it’s a perfect time to visit some. In contrast to our high tech world[…]
Motivation’s a big deal. It’s one of the things I’m asked about most. It seems to come naturally to some people. To others, I look like someone who finds it easy. But in reality I’ve just thought hard about what works for me, and worked to put that in place. Here I break it down[…]
Most of us are time-poor. Family, work, friends, home; it can be a challenge just fitting the basics in, let alone training. We often wonder how much better we’d be in our sport if only we had more time to train. It’s also common to assume everyone else has more time available. In reality, we[…]
It’s marathon season, from London to Paris to Brighton to Boston, and including the ultimate for many, the Marathon Des Sables. If you’re running or supporting, here’s how to get ready. Runners You can check out my tips on Marathon Prep, Tapering, and Day of the Marathon Logistics. * Write it down! There’s a lot[…]
I often get asked how or where people should watch runners in a marathon. Here are my top tips after years of both running and watching. Picking out your runner If you’re watching on the actual race sidelines, then make sure you know exactly what kit your runner is wearing. A ‘bright shirt’ or running[…]
Spring. A time of daffodils and lambs for most people. But for many runners, the blossom and the lighter mornings signal that Spring marathons are approaching. Even with a few weeks to go, there’s lots you can do to get yourself fully prepped, from your kit, to your race strategies. Here’s 4 steps how to[…]
Racing doesn’t mean you have to be a competitive person. You can race for many reasons. Racing is hard but the rewards are worth it. Running, triathlon or cycling, here’s 5 reasons why you should race. 1. The competition is up to you For most of us, unless we’re elite, it’s unlikely we’ll win our[…]
If you chat to other runners and cyclists, you probably talk about how hard or long your workouts were. Much less-talked about is recovery. Maybe it doesn’t create as good stories of hardship as training or racing can, but it’sjust as important as your physical training. Don’t just take it from me, in her autobiography[…]
Let’s face it, when it’s cold, or cold and raining, cold and snowing, and dark, we just don’t feel as motivated to train. It’s harder to put on your trainers and your kit inside in the warm, to then have to launch yourself into the harsh conditions. In the UK and Northern Hemisphere there are[…]
Personal Best. Those magic words. Most of us love our PBs. Rightly so, we train hard for them. So what if you want your PB to be a bit faster? You’re sure you tried as hard as you could in your last race. Or did you? We all know the feeling of someone passing us[…]
Race checklist – what you need for your race, marathon or long run Most of us get nervous before a race. Even if I don’t think I’m nervous, my body usually is. Last week I was joking before we ran a low key race, that my friend was nervous. He pointed out I must be[…]
When you get an idea for a big goal it can be exciting but daunting. How do you know where to start? I get asked a lot how to start running, or how to improve. Can I ever run a 5k / 10k / half / marathon, can I beat my PB, can I cycle[…]
Most of us want to be motivated, and most of us love to be inspired. But are they different, and do we need them both to get out and run? Do you feel any different when you say you’re motivated, to when you say you’re inspired? Or do you use them as two words for[…]
The Devil, stuffed lions, plastic squirrels and how do they go to the loo?!… You’ve seen how much there is to the Tour – the jerseys, the tactics, the super fast racing. Now take it to the next level and get fully submersed, with full-on fascinating and fun Tour trivia. The Devil There are millions[…]
How teams work + time trials, lead-out trains & crashes So now we know about the different competitions for the jerseys & how racing works , it’s time to look at how the Tour riders do their fastest racing. Who’s in a team? There are 22 teams of nine riders (that’s 198 total men[…]
Tactics, the peloton, drafting, breakaways and attacks So now you know all about the jerseys from Étape 1 of this guide, it’s easier to get to understand how the race works and what makes it exciting. TdF Structure – the stages The Tour follows a standard structure: It’s always 21 stages (1 stage per day[…]
Why I love the Tour de France and how you can too On one of my early cycle trips, we cycled from London and finished by cycling up the legendary 21 bends of Alpe d’Huez, slightly surprised that there were so many cyclists, camper vans and writing all over the road the day before the[…]
Efficiency is key: The first thing is to make sure your bike is properly fitted to you. Hopefully the bike shop did this when you bought your bike, or you can see a specialist for a more bespoke bike set up session. Comfort is key to cycling, and when you’re comfortable, you’re also more likely[…]
The alarm goes. I put on the kit I laid out the night before. Then I strap on my running bag, already packed. All I need to do now is run. The fact I’ll finish at work, feeling calm, and having saved money on travel, are all bonuses of the run commute. I’ve run commuted[…]
Running is easy right? One foot in front of another. Get fitter. Build up the distance. While out running, you see a poster of women smiling and laughing, advertising a running event, and decide to enter a 5k. Run the 5k. Awesome. Time for the first tough truth – you’re now a runner! We all[…]