Category: TRAINING

#grtwproject26.2 ‘Having a virtual coach keeps me accountable - and running even when I don’t feel like it’

Posted on 12/02/201920/08/2019 by Rachael Woolston

The final of our four winners of #grtwproject26.2 winners, Rachel Sparkhall, 43 reveals how accountability and b-run-ches have been so important for the first four week block of her Paris Marathon training… Race: Schneider Paris Marathon Target: 3 hours, 59 minutes I read a quote this week, ‘the marathon is the victory lap’ and this struck a chord – it will be the culmination of 14 + weeks of not only running an amazing amount of miles but also the thinking time and juggling of work/life as well – I think the mantra ‘this is the victory lap, enjoy it’

Inspiring websites

#grtwproject26.2 ‘Having different training zones has transformed my running’

Posted on 07/02/201920/08/2019 by Rachael Woolston

Our third #project26.2 runners, Kerrie Flippance, shares how recovery runs and training zones has transformed her running…while she contemplates a 5am start as she juggles marathon training and motherhood Manchester Marathon will be my first marathon and I ‘panic entered’ last August after reading a friend’s Facebook status which led me to believe it was about to sell out. To date there are still places left! After I entered, I tried to forget about it, ignoring all my friends’ excited social media messages about who was training on what days and where could we run to vary our training. I was

#project26.2 ‘Marathon training is the same as any other running, just longer, right?’

Posted on 06/02/201920/08/2019 by Rachael Woolston

In her first block of virtual marathon training as part of Girls Run the World Project26.2, Catriona Ward Sell, 31 has learned that running longer distances requires a totally different mindset… I recall, at about age 8, going to football practice with my wee neighbour, John. Unable to kick the ball hard and fast, he became frustrated. “The trouble with practising…” he exclaimed, booting the ball away, “is that you have to practice and practice and practice, just to be any good at practising!” Surely no truer words have ever been said about marathon running, either. I am a

#grtwproject26.2 How running slower is making me faster

Posted on 05/02/201920/08/2019 by Rachael Woolston

After winning a virtual marathon coaching package as part of the Girls Run the World project26.2, Marie Knight reflects on her first month where she discovered the value of recovery runs… I can’t quite believe it’s the end of week four of my training plan, and it’s been a learning curve; getting to grips with new running shoes, new training app (Girls Run the World use Training Peaks to deliver personalised plans from their team of female coaches), a new approach to nutrition, not to mention learning to programme my Garmin watch correctly, which I’m ashamed to say I’ve owned

Project 26.2 - who will win our marathon training package?

Posted on 10/12/201820/08/2019 by Rachael Woolston

In November, we launched #project26.2, which is going to provide four lucky women with the chance to win virtual marathon training and mentorship with GRTW founder, Rachael Woolston and head Brighton coach Tara Shanahan. Between them, they’ve run around 15 marathons and have seen their times drop to just under 3 hours 16 minute. We thought we’d share some of the entries out of the hundreds that we’ve received so far. There’s still time for YOU to apply yourself though. Entries close 17th December. To read about the terms and conditions and to enter, click here. Mona, is

Why strength training can transform your running

Posted on 26/11/201820/08/2019 by Rachael Woolston

If you want to avoid injury, improve your running form and fast track your running progress, the missing ingredient is strength training If you were to ask hundreds of runners - and sport scientists, the single thing that makes the biggest different to improved running, it would be strength training. Imagine a ball that is pumped up and one that is slightly flat; the pumped up one rounds off the floor quickly while the flat one barely leaves the floor. That’s the difference that a conditioned muscle makes to your running form compared to a running body that has not