How was your weekend running?

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This was a big weekend for running, with Rome, Rotterdam, Manchester and Paris marathons setting off the Spring marathon series, along with some more unusual races such as the 24 hour track race…   Paris marathon was only my third marathon back in 2013, and so it holds a special place in my heart. Although it was freezing cold on the start line when I ran, so much so that I couldn’t feel my feet (you can read about it here), I know from other participants who that it can often be unseasonably warm, which appears to have been the case

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Marathon Mastery Series: The Mental Game

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We’re now just a few days away from the start of the marathon weekend extravaganza that is Paris, Manchester, Brighton, ending in London. You’ve done the physical stuff, now it’s time to ensure you’ve nailed your mental game.. Some of what you’re going to read now is going to see so obvious, you’ll be thinking, ‘Jeez, I’m not THAT clueless.’ But really, it’s amazing the impact that pre-race marathon anxiety can have on your mind so do everything you can NOW to nail your mental game. Race pace So, you’ve probably been training using your race pace for certain parts

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South Downs Trail Run, Sunday 8th April

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Work off that Easter chocolate frenzy this weekend with a beautiful off-road eight mile route from Rottingdean This is a challenging but stunning route with as many lovely, recovery downhills as uphills to build your strength and endurance on hills (particularly beneficial for those of you joining us for the Girls Run the World get together at Angmering BlueBell Trail Races or the upcoming Snowdonia Maverick Race in September. The hardship will be rewarded with stunning views, gambolling baby lambs and a route that overlooks Breaky Bottom vineyard (who produce some delicious sparkling wine!) before heading down through Saltdean and

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GRTW Recipes for Foodie Runners: Lemon & Turmeric rice

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In celebration of Spring and the carpet of daffodils springing up, a delicious lemon and turmeric flavoured rice that you can serve with meat, fish or a falafel …   Serves 4–6 400g basmati rice 3 tbsp vegetable or corn oil 1 tbsp mustard seeds 1 tbsp chana dhal (split yellow chickpeas) 20 fresh curry leaves (you can get these frozen from most Asian grocers) 2 tsp ground turmeric 1½ tsp salt Juice of 3 lemons Wash the rice in and then leave it to soak in more clean, cold water. Drain. (To be fair, it’s rare that I have time

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How was your Easter weekend of running?

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So, how did you run off the chocolate eggs this Easter? From special Good Friday runs like the Easter Victoria Park 10km in London to the numerous Bank Holiday Monday events, there were lots of opportunities to enjoy some shorter distances runs this weekend. Frustrating though for all the marathon runners out there… you get FOUR days to fit a long run in and you’re on your taper! This was my last weekend taking it easy before my training kicks into a more intense phase for Half Ironman triathlon training and a strength phase for some autumn mountain races, including

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Event Review: London Landmarks Half Marathon

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Last weekend Sabiene North, 39, took part in the inaugural London Landmarks Half Marathon, an opportunity to experience the atmosphere and sights of running in London without having to do a full marathon and with added entertainment en-route     We travelled from Oxford on the morning of the race just when the clocks went forward so it was an early start but as soon as we got off the bus and started walking towards the race village around the corner from Trafalgar Square, we were so excited. The atmosphere was fantastic with thousands of runners, most wearing charity running tops or the yellow LLHM

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Marathon Mastery Series: The Taper

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Are you having the terror tapers? Join the other millions of women who are more than likely feeling exactly the same. Here’s how to handle the marathon taper and figure out what is worth being disciplined about and what you should put down to complete maranoia… I feel so lardy and out of shape. I’m losing all my fitness. Argh. As long as you haven’t just stopped running completely as part of your taper, you will NOT be getting out of shape. While volume should be decreased (and how much you should decrease mileage varies according to what level of runner you

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The Strava Chronicles

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  A recent article in The Times by Peta Bee highlighted the rise of online virtual training apps like Strava. Love it or loathe it (and she was on the fence due to being confronted when meeting her virtual followers in real life - read the article here), being on Strava creates some funny behaviour. Do you recognise yourself in any of these…? I certainly do, I’m embarrassed to say… The one where you spell out every bit of your training regime No, not come across this? Or perhaps you don’t even know what it means and you think it is

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Documentary: Skid Row marathon

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If you’re a runner, you know how transformative running is; it can change your mood in all the time that it takes to run for 20 minutes. And with each goal you achieve, whether a personal best or a new distance target, your confidence to believe you are capable of achieving more encourages you to challenge yourself to be a better you in all areas of your life. If it needed any more proof, this is illustrated by Skid Row Marathon, a new documentary that has won a slew of US film awards and launches in the UK on London

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GRTW Easter South Downs Sunday Trail Run

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Escape the family melee and build up an appetite (or, ahem, create a calorie deficit to make up for those Easter eggs) this Sunday April 1st. We have a beautiful seven mile route planned that will take in all the deans, Rottingdean, Woodingdean and Ovingdean, exploring the South Downs in Spring. Expect lambs, daffodils and a beautiful run that will incorporate some hills for those of our runners who are training for our Get Together Events, the sold out Angmering Trail Run 10km or 10 miles. But if you’re NOT training for anything and simply fancy exploring a new route,

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