Category: TRAINING

Find out how YOU could get a London GFA place

Posted on 24/05/201931/05/2019 by Rachael Woolston

This week, Virgin London Marathon announced that a record number of applicants, 457,861 had registered for a place in the 2020 event. This is a 10.5 % increase on last year’s record. Yet with just 17,5000 places available (approximately), that’s going to be mean a lot of disappointed runners who be even less likely to get a ballot place than last year. But here at Girls Run the World, we could help you secure a good for age place with the right training*. Want to know whether you’re in with a chance, and if not, how you could be? All

#grtwproject26.2 ‘It hurt but would I do it again? Yes!’

Posted on 25/04/2019 by Rachael Woolston

With less than a week before the London marathon, our #grtwproject26.2 runner, Rachel Sparkhall, who we coached for the Paris Marathon has these thoughts to share for those about to run their first marathon in London… I sit here typing this as a marathon runner, feeling proud as punch even though the Paris marathon didn’t go quite according to plan. Right from the start, my pace was off target but I kept calm because the training that I’ve done with Tara of Girls Run the World has taught me to hold a little back at the start and aim

5 Ways to Tackle the Post marathon blues

Posted on 15/04/2019 by Rachael Woolston

You feel so fantastic after crossing that finish line of the marathon, and it tides you right through to …ooh, about 24 hours later. Then the blues hit. Here’s our guide on how to avoid it – After spending 12 to even 20 weeks training for a marathon, and pretty much the last fortnight leading up to the marathon obsessing over every little detail, it’s small wonder that the majority of runners spend the next week feeling really down. It’s partly because you are left with a huge vacuum where all that training and obsessing used to sit in your diary

Girls Run the World interviews Julia Davis, winner of the South Downs Way 50 2019

Posted on 12/04/2019 by Rachael Woolston

We talk to the astounding runner, Julia Davis, 32 who won the SDW50 2019, smashing the women’s course record on having the confidence to set your sights high and how to deal with race day gremlins…whatever distance you’re running to listen to our first podcast episode, click here.

#grtwproject26.2 ‘I said never again but….’

Posted on 12/04/2019 by Rachael Woolston

With just two weeks to go before the Virgin Money London Marathon, our project26.2 first time marathon runner, Catriona Ward Sell reflects on the unexpected discoveries she’s made on her marathon training journey…. Easy running is difficult! Tara, my coach at GRTW, has probably found my tendency to run too fast concerning. Maybe I can contain my pace on the day – but maybe I can’t. I know she’s right, though; blowing out on pace early on at London will mean disaster. I take encouragement from the fact that I managed my pace well in the Oundle 20 miler

#grtwproject26.2 ‘Five things that have helped me through the taper terrors.’

Posted on 09/04/2019 by Rachael Woolston

If you’ve still got a few weeks before your marathon, read about how our #grtwproject26.2 runner, Marie Knight coped with her first experience of marathon tapering Reviewing all that I’ve achieved Looking back at my training plan on Training Peaks, which GRTW use for virtual coaching, along with my weekly updates on Instagram has helped reinforce how prepared I am for this race…and how far I’ve come in 13 weeks. Six miles felt like a Long Run in the week after Xmas and soon I will be running 26.2 miles Yin Yoga Despite my doubts about this yin yoga at

#grtwproject26.2 ‘I’m riding a rollercoaster of emotions.’

Posted on 09/03/2019 by Rachael Woolston

Pre marathon anxiety is now kicking in, not least what to wear. Is planning your marathon day outfit as complicated as choosing your wedding outfit?!It’s beginning to seem so for Rachel Sparkhall With the second four week block of training provided by Girls Run the World, Tara completed, it certainly feels like the clock is starting to tick fast and training intensity is ramping up. Nerves are rumbling around and whilst I’ve completed all the training and hit the required mileage, I’m riding a roller-coaster of emotions. ‘Can I get my nutrition right on the day and not need to

#grtwproject26.2 ‘Keeping a food diary has helped prevent me chain-eating biscuits’

Posted on 07/03/2019 by Rachael Woolston

For the first time, #grtwproject26.2 runner, Marie Knight, believes that running the marathon really is possible. And how to ensure that she doesn’t eat herself out of house and home as the miles increase When I was growing up, The Wizard of Oz was one of my favourite films and never have Dorothy’s words ‘I have a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore,’ felt more true. I’m writing this feeling very pleased with myself for having finished my long run, 17 MILES. This is the longest distance I have ever run, and more than I’d normally cover in a total

How Yin Yoga can transform your running

Posted on 28/02/2019 by Rachael Woolston

Read about Girls Run the World founder, Rachael Woolston discussing the benefits of yin yoga in Women’s Running magazine. And if you fancy joining our 30 day Yoga Recovery programme for marathon runners, sign up for our launch offer on our NEW digital training platform created for female runners and triathletes inspired by goals HERE. By signing up, you’ll get access to a limited number sign up offer.

How to achieve your running goals by doing less

Posted on 27/02/2019 by Rachael Woolston

Want to know the secret for unlocking your perfect running year? Achieve your personal bests and stay injury with one simple tip… You might assume that the key to having your best year ever is all to do with how you train, how often and how challenging it is. But actually it’s far simpler than this as we revealed in a recent Facebook Live in our FREE Community Group. All you have to do is plan your year. This one simple thing enables you to avoid the pitfalls that can derail even the best runners. Planning your year… Helps you