Pint-Sized Running Girl

So I guess it's not unusual for January to NOT go to plan?  My non-January wasn't through poor choices, more around unfortunate events - mostly health related.  I've prided myself of being super healthy and resilient to bugs throughout 2017, I guess they had to catch up with me eventually! I was struck down with a viral infection mid month and this lead to a secondary bacterial infection which absolutely floored me and left me in bed for the best part of three weeks.  But after some amazing NHS care and some strong drugs, I'm clawing my way back to health now and I'm ready to pick up the pieces of January's shattered goals! RED January - I ran 21/31 days in January which is a pretty poor show in terms of a monthly running streak!  This was about the 4th time I've done a monthly running streak and the first time I've failed to run every day.  I can honestly say, I missed no runs through choice.  I don't feel the need to 'go back' and run ...

This time last year, I was feeling a bit flat and uninspired and I lacked the courage the set big bold goals (fitness or otherwise).  My friend challenged me to run 1000 miles over the year, but I just couldn't see how I could make that work.  By the time March rocked by I was running well and averaging 100 miles per month.  I set myself a goal to run 1200 miles in 2017 and it felt good to have a target which was going to stretch me and I realised I had nothing to lose if things didn't go to plan.  I smashed it and ended the year on 1246 miles and bagged more PBs than I could ever have hoped for.  I am someone who is very motivated by 'having a plan'... if I set my mind on something I very much go after it at about 110% effort!  I like to see a plan of what future me is going to do - I like to visualise all the details, like dates, what time I need to be where, how I'll travel, what I'll eat etc  This can get overwhelming and has definitely prevent...

I can't guarantee I'll always stick to Wednesdays... but I'll try and blog what we're eating at least once per fortnight. I'm currently doing Veganuary and Dylan is a full time vegan (partly down to dietary/health reasons but mostly for ethical and environmental reasons.. and he's also gluten free.  The gluten free bit is quite new.  It's an absolute faff to cut gluten out of your diet, especially if you already don't eat meat, fish, eggs and dairy - plus we aim to not eat highly processed / sugary foods; but we've come to realise being gluten free is essential to keep Dylan healthy and comfortable.  I'm not gluten free, but as we eat the same foods, everything I post will be gluten free, or adaptable. So here's a couple of our recent, successful foodie experiments. Gluten free, vegan haggis (left over from Christmas), served with vegan whisky cream sauce.  Roast potatoes, tamari, maple roasted sprouts, kale and broccoli. The hagg...

I've been absent from the world of blogging for more than two years.  I spend so much time outside running and form so many blog posts in my mind as I run, but I never make them happen.  Guess what.. my main goal for 2018 is to blog and get my ideas down and in some kind of order.  So here we are.   I ran 1246 miles in 2017.  I hadn’t set out at the start of the year to do this – in fact quite the opposite.   I refused to commit to a similar yearly target when my friend suggested we run 1000 miles in 2017 – the thought of it was too overwhelming and I didn’t think I could get anywhere near a monthly average of 100 miles per month.  I’d been running for four years, having taken it up in my late 30s.  I tended to average 300-500 miles each year.  At the end of 2016, I discovered ‘run streaking’ where you commit to run every day for a set period of time- in my case 1 month at a time.  This really boosted my ...