Choosing a cause – how to find a great reason to run

At 9am on 31stAugust, I will line up with 1,900 kindred spirits and fellow competitors to compete in the CCC – a 101km race from Courmayeur to Chamonix in the French Alps and cousin of the world-famous UTMB. This is my first mountain race, and with 6100m of positive elevation I am excited and a little […]

What is coaching, exactly?

Coaching is huge. There are apparently 1.3 million sports coaches in the UK, serving over 7 million ‘coachees’. A recent survey found that 81% of people found that coaching improved their enjoyment of sport, meaning it has real impact across the board – from novices and weekend warriors, to GB athletes. So, what is coaching […]

Feeling out of my depth

I’m writing this just after my first ever surfing lesson. I was rubbish and it was exhausting, but I feel exhilarated. I’m going back tomorrow for a second go. Hopefully I’ll manage to actually stand up… It was a bit of a proud moment, watching my family and the rest of our ‘pink’ beginners group […]

A funny story…

A couple of weeks ago, I was catching an 8am flight from Bristol to Dublin – something I do quite regularly as part of my job. As always, I paid attention to the safety instruction demo, which for me includes counting the number of seat rows in front and behind to the emergency exits, and […]

Need a ‘lift’? Hang out with positive people

Have you ever spent time with someone who has bags of positive energy, and come away feeling recharged yourself? I love spending time with infectiously ‘can do’ people. You can’t help but feel challenged and inspired by being around people who achieve things – whatever they are. The older I’ve got, the more self-confidence I’ve […]

What running with a weighted vest did for me

There has been a lot written this year about the value of running with a weighted vest or rucksack. I have been using weighted vests since January, so here’s my take on the option… It should go without saying, that if you have joint problems then you should seek professional guidance before deciding to run […]

Running Rings Round Mental Illness

Two thirds of us will experience mental health problems in our lifetimes. This year, one in four people will experience the symptoms of a mental health problem. These are frightening statistics. All the more frightening is that mental health remains a taboo subject which few of us talk about – particularly at work. I’ve been […]