2017 in Review

Oh, 2017. This year started well, running-wise. I took a lovely lady’s place in the London Winter Run 10K and met some fellow runners; then I took someone’s place in the Tunbridge Wells Half Marathon – an event which I had been avoiding for years due to the severe profile – and still managed to…

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Movember MoRun 10K

I took part in the London Greenwich Park MoRun 10K during November 2014 and 2016 and thoroughly enjoyed both events, labelling it in 2014 as the ‘best way to end a great year of running’. When I saw that this year’s event was still just £22, signing up for round three didn’t take much persuasion!…

Bluebell Railway 11 Mile Track Trek

The Bluebell Railway is a heritage line with steam trains running between four stations, and I know it well. My dad was a huge fan and would often take us there on family outings, so a lot of my childhood memories include the Bluebell. Dad was a shareholder and started volunteering at the railway for…

Virgin London Marathon 2018 ballot

Usually, as ‘ballot results week’ approaches, chatter around the Virgin London Marathon starts up on social media and charities send e-shot mailers wishing participants luck, and ask for consideration in joining their teams as a charity entrant. This year however, it was noticeably a bit quieter, and I didn’t receive a single email from any…

Running the GOSH Race for the Kids

I've known about the Great Ormond Street Race for the Kids event for some years, but had never taken part because it always seemed to fall on the same weekend as my local Cancer Research Race for Life in Tunbridge Wells. I subscribe to the Great Ormond Street e-newsletter and received an email on Wednesday…

Running the Richmond RunFest Half Marathon

I signed up for the Richmond RunFest Half Marathon a year ago after narrowly missing out on the 2016 registration. This event had been in the diary for so long that I’d actually forgotten which day it was on and was convinced that it took place on Saturday 16th September. Emails from the race organisers…

Running On

I didn’t run for four weeks and dropped out of two running events during July –  the Run or Dye Colour Run on 2nd and then the British 10K on 9th. That was probably the longest I’ve gone without running since I started back in March 2013, and the first time I've dropped out of running…

I ruined my Race for Life

I take part in the Cancer Research UK Race for Life event every year because it’s local, my friends and colleagues join in, it's a fun run for charity, and because historically it has a guaranteed great atmosphere with hoards of supporters. The event caters for runners, joggers and walkers and encourages everyone of every…

Loving the London 10,000

I ran the London 10,000 for the first time four years ago and it holds some great memories: it was the first time I experienced a big, well-organised running event, and it had me hooked. I took part during 2013, 2014 and 2016 and couldn’t wait to return in 2017. The trains were all out…

Jawbone vs Fitbit

I’ve blogged a few times before about my love of Jawbone activity trackers - here and here are just two examples. They look good, are super easy to set up and use, have always been pretty accurate and I’ve been loyal to the brand for a few years now. However, last month my Jawbone UP3…

Summery Sevenoaks 10K

I took part in the Sevenoaks Knole Park 10K in both 2014 and 2015, and it was the first event I completed after tearing a calf muscle over Christmas 2013. I’ve previously stated that I wouldn’t take part in this event again purely because I’ve run it twice, but as I hadn’t taken part in…

The terrific Tunbridge Wells half marathon

Spectating at the Tunbridge Wells half marathon back in 2013 is where it all started for me. I watched a double-amputee cross the finishing line along with a number of elderly participants, and wondered why on earth I wasn’t pushing myself too. I loved the whole atmosphere of the event and it made me realise…

The lovely London Winter Run 2017

The London Winter Run has been going for three years now and I participated eagerly in both 2015 and 2016. I had been umming and ahhing about signing up for the 2017 event but with the price at £47 I thought about it for too long and the entries closed before I had made up…

Back on it for 2017!

Last January I was introduced to the concept of Insanity full-body workout classes by my colleague Seb, and LOVED it. I attended religiously, every single Monday from January until June, when my personal circumstances changed. I'd really missed Insanity so made it my mission to return this year. So on the first Monday of 2017…

Magical MoRun for Movember!

I took part in the London Greenwich Park MoRun 10K during November 2014 and thoroughly enjoyed it, labelling it the ‘best way to end a great year of running’. When I saw that this year’s event cost a mere £22, signing up for round two didn’t take much persuasion. Getting up at 5:58am on a…

Time for a new Jawbone!

I love activity trackers. My first was a black Jawbone UP24 purchased spontaneously this time last year, and I loved it. I treated myself to an upgrade - a grey UP2 - after New Year, and loved it a little bit more. Sadly it disappeared off my wrist unnoticed somewhere in London on a night out,…

Blowing away the cobwebs

Summer was a crazy time. My long-term relationship ended quite badly in June, I moved house, helped mum move house, completed a challenging Higher Diploma assignment, had two weeks off work with stress/anxiety, and helped my little sister move house. I haven’t been to a high-intensity Insanity class since June and sadly running had taken…

Virgin London Marathon 2017 ballot

As ‘ballot results week’ approached, chatter around the 2017 Virgin London Marathon started up in the office and on social media. Charities sent e-shot mailers out, wishing participants luck and asking for consideration in joining their teams as a charity entrant. It was revealed that those who would not be taking part in the 2017…

Parktaking in Parkrun!

I first heard about Parkrun a year or so ago when it was mentioned in my Twitter News Feed and then someone asked me in passing if I was a fan. I didn’t know much about the concept – aside from the fact that it involved getting up early on Saturday mornings and didn’t involve…

100th medal!

Never in a million years did I think I would ever earn 100 medals. It was never a goal, really, and was quite a surprise when I realised this figure would be reached during 2016. The fact that medal number 100 would be an aircraft - when my surname is Plane - was the cherry…

Milestones and Moving On

The last running event I took part in was the surprisingly enjoyable British 10K on Sunday 10 July, and since then, life has changed rather dramatically with the whole of August put aside to focus on personal matters. Firstly, I’m assisting with three house moves: my little sister lives in Leamington Spa and is moving…

Time out, and totally obsessed with trainers

My idea of a perfect holiday abroad would typically involve five days spent sunbathing by a pool, and five days spent exploring and sight-seeing. One of my favourite holidays to date was to Sharm el-Sheikh six years ago where I rode camels, quad-biked across the desert, snorkelled, went on a red-sea cruise and visited an…

The much better British 10K

A few months ago I entered a Twitter competition to win entry to the British 10K, plus Brooks running kit including new trainers, sports bra, vest and bottoms. I was lucky enough to win and couldn’t believe my luck, despite my chequered history with this event. I participated in the British 10K during 2014 and…

Amazing avatar!

I was mindlessly scrolling through Instagram one evening when an illustration caught my eye on the ‘Popular’ feed. A marathon runner had been drawn by an artist, https://www.instagram.com/everydayesther/, who had captured the runner’s outfit and the situation in a super cute way. I instantly knew that I wanted one, so clicked on the link in…

Brooks and the British 10K!

A few weeks ago I stumbled across a Tweet posted by Brooks, my favourite brand of running footwear (Brooks Ghost 5s were my first ever pair and I currently run in Ghost 7 ombres, which I had shipped over from America and LOVE): Now, the Vitality British 10K London Run. I participated in this event…

The pretty mundane Pretty Muddy 5K

I’ve taken part in the Tunbridge Wells Race for Life every year for as long as I can remember, even when I wasn’t into running, and it’s become a tradition more than anything. This event is local, my friends and colleagues join in, and it has a guaranteed great atmosphere with hoards of supporters. The…

10,000 LIKES for the London 10,000

The Bupa London 10,000 was my first proper running event three years ago and holds some great memories: it was the first time I experienced a huge, well-organised running event, and it had me hooked. I took part in the Bupa London 10,000 in 2013 and 2014 but missed the registration boat in 2015 by…

Entering the VLM, 88 medals & HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

A few weeks ago I saw a fellow runner displaying his very impressive medal collection on Twitter, and announcing that he had now earned his 100th medal. It was inspiring and had me aching to get my medals out and count them. I purchased a medal hanger a year ago but due to going from…

Filling the weekend with colour!

I took part in London Wembley’s Color Run during July 2013, and my review that followed stated: “The £30 entry fee was excessive for a 5K and included just a t-shirt and headband, no chip timing or medal. The race start was delayed (no reason for this was announced) and all runners were crammed into…

Come back, running mojo!

It’s been an odd month. Along with a very high task load at work and helping my mum move out of our childhood house, I lost my Jawbone UP2 (it randomly fell off my wrist while I was out and about in London; I didn’t feel it come off and have no idea where it…