Run, Rabbitt, Run

I didn't start this blog as a place to marry two of my favourite things - running and reading - however that's the way it's naturally going as I'm learning about running in my typical way of reading everything about a subject. I keep thinking about sub-categories of running books.  I gravitate towards the ones written by women about their experiences of starting from non-runner and building up to serious running.  I have a stack of books about technique and ones about hardcore/professional runners.  I'm on my second reading of the fab The End of the World Running Club which is fiction.  Phil Hewitt probably slots into the first category but the book provides a different experience because, obviously, he's male.  Different issues (bleeding nipples, eeek) but also a different approach to running.  A manly approach maybe.  Phil's is a tale of tenacity, determination and ambition. As he goes from marathon to marathon he is constantly searching for that...

"Exerting yourself to the fullest within your individual limits: that's the essence of running, and a metaphor for life - and for me, for writing as well." Murakami's running memoir is a delight to read, it flows so beautifully and sets a scene so perfectly. Murakami started running after selling his jazz bar to write full time and realising he needed a way to stay active.  This book follows his running journey through training for and taking part in numerous marathons and triathlons but centres around his training for the 2005 New York Marathon.  The book is a jumble of memoir, travel writing, training log and personal thoughts that somehow works perfectly.  Whether you are a fan of good writing and Murakami's fiction or a runner in need of inspiration and advice this book covers it all.  His everyday observations of everything from the changing of the seasons to the dead animals he encounters on his runs open your eyes to the world that you can explore whe...

An inspirational story of incredible feats in running. I can't imagine running a marathon yet let alone embarking on the kind of challenges that the formidable Mimi Anderson has succeeded in.  This ultrarunning legend is not phased by the prospect of running hundreds of miles and working to the strict protocol of the most challenging ultrarunning events. The book has something of a focus on her 2008 Guinness World Record attempt of being the fastest woman to run from John O'Groats to Land's End (JOGLE!), a total of 840 miles.  Interspersed with this are details of other metaphorical hurdles she has jumped, difficulties overcome, the many events she has taken part in and often smashed! Mimi's determination and success are even more incredible when you consider that she suffered from anorexia for much of her teens and twenties, she didn't start running until she was in her 30s by which time she had three children and she only started running in an effort to ge...

I've suffered with 'medial tibial stress syndrome' (aka shin splints) for the last few years and have tried a range of treatments and strategies including physio, sports massage, stretching, taping, acupuncture, rest, expensive insoles, expensive trainers, compression sleeves, gait analysis, altering (trying to alter) technique.  I've taken all the advice from experts and professionals and still struggle with the familiar niggle as soon as my training passes the 5k zone.  I'm told my ankle doesn't flex well, I have a build up of scar tissue on my shin from a mystery previous injury and my balance and core muscles are non-existent.  So I've started strength exercises and yoga to improve balance and core and flexibility and to stretch myself in all kinds of wondrous positions my body doesn't want to go into. My other half spotted the advert for a talk at Leeds Beckett University entitled 'Why do runners get injured and how do we stop it?'.  It so...

I run in my small town, a few different routes, generally on very public roads because I mainly run at night.  I want to improve my running and felt like I'd reached a point where I was bored of my routes and needed somewhere more inspiring.  I've found a new route within 2 miles of my house and it's my favourite place right now.  I wanted somewhere quiet, peaceful, beautiful to look at and flat so I could work on my pace.   Research told me that a loop Ardsley Reservoir is 2.45km (thank you runleeds.co.uk !) so I aimed to run two loops.  It's very flat so this is achievable even for me!  At this time of year the trees are bare allowing an uninterrupted view of the reservoir.  It's an open space so chilly and a bit windy in January but I prefer that to the Summer heat.  Such a lovely route is bound to attract other people; runners, dog walkers, people walkers but it's not too busy.  It's easy enough to get lost in the b...

My relationship with exercise is somewhat fraught.  I'm significantly more active now in the latter half of my 30s that I was in the first 35 years of my life.  My attitude was always: "I can't do it, I'm not sporty, exercise is not for me, I can't think of anything worse."  I'm not sure what the switch was but I started running.  I am a runner, I run.  I have to remind myself of that to combat the doubts that tell me I can't run.  I do run.  I ran a 10k last year in 1 hour 9 minutes.  Not spectacular but for me it was a massive achievement and if nothing else running makes me feel like I've accomplished something...but it's more that that.  It's MY time, I can feel my lungs explode and my legs complain and it feels good.   What no one tells you when you start running is about all those pesky little injuries.  We never got these injuries as kids when running was the preferred method of ambulating, other than the odd grazed knee...