The right running shoe - Crandon Runs Friday Photo #27

A round up of Crandon Runs in one weekly photo

After the Wilmslow Half a couple of weeks ago, and my recent run with Radcliffe I realised my legs were hurting. I don't mean normal or expected post-run muscle aches and pains, but something else. Something was amiss and I'd experienced it before. 

When I first started running I was in the wrong trainers, leading to painful and tender shins along with other odd aches and pains. It only took a few trips to the doctors, x-rays and physio sessions to tell me I had flat feet, weak ankles and unsuitable trainers which I needed to sort. Oh the shame! 

So when these niggles showed up again recently I realised that whilst I'd been paying a lot of attention to my running and training, I'd completely forgotten to keep a check on what I was running in - my beloved trainers. I'd been running in them for almost a year, including a marathon! Whoops, that's way too long and too many miles for one little pair to cope with. Happily I knew I just needed some new kicks and took to one of my favourite past times with glee, an actual bone-fide reason to be shopping for new kit. Hallelujah. 

Box fresh - Nike+ Zoom Structure

If you're in the market for new trainers, before you do anything get yourself to a Sweatshop and get your gait analysed to make sure you get the right support you need. It's not time consuming, there is no pressure to purchase and it will change your running life. And you'll get to chat about running - happy days!

After a quick chat with Rick at my local Sweatshop I opted for the newest version of my old faithful Nike Zoom Structure, but this time I went for the men's range, literally because they were £30 cheaper and Rick assured me the fit would be fine. I'm cheap, what can I say. I had a little run on the treadmill to test them out and watched back the video to see how my foot fell in them. Lovely, and right for me and my weak ankles. 

With barely any normal coloured toenails left (you're most welcome for that mental image) I also opted for a half size bigger than my usual size. When you're clocking up the double digit miles you need to do this. 

Yesterday I took my new shoes out for a spin. The only issue I have with these is that there isn't a little space in the shoe for my nike plus sensor which I thought was standard these days, so I stuck it under the lining instead. Not a full time solution but it worked. 

Spot the Nike+ Sensor

After 9 miles in the evening light yesterday I was very very happy and my funny little aches and pains have gone. And they look pretty too.

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Running with Radcliffe - Crandon Runs Friday Photo #26

A round up of Crandon Runs in one weekly photo

So the highlight of my running week? New half marathon PB by 6 mins? Nah! Loads of rest days? No sir! Meeting and running with this legend? HELL YEAH!

Crandon Runs meets Paula Radcliffe

That's right, last night I was lucky enough to go for a run with, and briefly meet the World Record Marathon holder, the legendary Paula Radcliffe.

Earlier this year I applied to be one of six Radcliffe Great Runners, a group of women who want to get active and inspire others by taking on the Great Manchester Run. Although I wasn't selected to take part, all those who applied were told that Paula would be attending the Great Run Local at Salford Quays as a reward for applying. I think this just goes to show that you should take every opportunity you're offered, as you never know what might happen and where they might take you.

What I really loved about the run was meeting other women who had applied. I got chatting to a lady who had also run the Wilmslow Half last weekend, her first half marathon at the age of 53 and had recently lost 4 stone in weight through running. Wow! We had a great chat and she was so fun and friendly. I love that although we were in the company of an inspirational world renowned pro, we were also running among motivational and impressive ladies of all abilities. It was great.

The run itself was really well organised with lots of encouraging marshalls. They offer a 2k or 5k route and have a great timing system with a chip on your own personal wristband. The numbers this week were double that of usual (I wonder why?!) and the atmosphere was great and really friendly, with a few kids giving the adults a run for their money too. After a quick briefing, and a few words of encouragement from Paula herself, we were off on a very windy route around Salford Quays.

Great Run local events are free weekly timed runs for all abilities. Register online for your free wristband and then head along to your nearest event.

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Marathon Motivation

...Or 'Where's my mojo gone?'

After running both London and Berlin Marathons last year, I'm no stranger to losing my running mojo. That feeling of being on a constant merry go round of running, working, sleeping, running, running, running; endlessly getting up at what feels like the middle of the night or running at lunch in a bid to get your god damn run in; and the boredom of plodding out alone, on the same old tired routes and wondering where the hell you can run to to get those 18, 19, 20 milers in. We've all been there. 

With the London Marathon in 8 weeks, spring time marathon training is firmly under way and your big day is almost here. But with the normal loss of motivation littering my twitter feed, I thought I would share some tactics I found useful in getting myself out of my running slump and getting excited about running again.

1. New kit, new kit, NEW KIT
It's no secret that I love new kit. Whenever I'm training and start to feel the lack of motivation creeping up on me I visit the Nike, Adidas, or Sweaty Betty website - let's be honest, usually all three - and get spending. There is nothing better to make me look forward to a run than new snazzy kit to try out. So I suggest you head on over to your preferred running brand's website and get purchasing. 
Those new snazzy tights you've been eyeing up? Get them! 
The swanky new jacket you don't need but really want because it's pretty? Get it! 
Hell even a pair of new running socks have been known to get me giddy about a run the following day. And don't worry about the expense, you totally deserve it after all your hard work and seeing as your life is now just constant running, think of all the money you're saving by having next to no social life.

2) Read read read
You may feel like the last thing you want to do is immerse yourself even further in the world of running right now, but do. Become a running geek and throw yourself at it's mercy. Books or articles which share other's inspirational running stories can be so helpful and give you a huge boost to get  back out there and remember why you're running in the first place. 
My favourites are Chrissie Wellington's 'A Life Without Limits' and Alexandra Heminsley's 'Running Like a Girl' which are both inspirational and funny. Hemmo's section on looking good while you're getting your race on is brilliant - hello race day nails! 

If books aren't your thing try out some podcasts. I love Marathon Talk, which again is hilarious and informative and really lets you get your running geek on.

Reading, or listening, to these make me realise I'm not the only one doing all this training malarkey and stoke the fire in me to find my missing enthusiasm.

3) Run with People
I cannot stress this enough, running with others is WAY more fun that running on your own. For starters, I find a good old chat while running makes the miles fall away and you will also discover new routes to run. Making a running date also makes you more accountable to get your run in and if you're strapped for time do what I do and coerce your fellow workers into a lunch run. For free running you can't beat parkrun, which is easy to incorporate into your long runs at the weekend, giving them a bit more of an interest; or join your nearest Sweatshop Running Club. 
If you live in Manchester check out this Time Out guide to free running groups.

4) Reward yourself
Get yourself a massage; treat yourself to a pedicure to help those tired manky feet (boys, I'm looking at you too); go out for a swanky dinner and spend a night not thinking about running; buy yourself that new top; go for a walk; visit a mate you've not seen in a while; basically do whatever the hell you like to do when you're not running. Go and do it, and don't think about your training. A little time off really helps, as does eating cake I find. 

5) Release the pressure
Now this one is way easier said than done, but trying to let go of the pressure you put yourself under while training, really really helps. I'm not saying don't aim for those amazing goals, or stop trying all together, no way! I find that sometimes thinking 'what is the worst that will happen if I don't achieve this and what will be the repercussions' can help and make me focus on the amazing thing that you are doing. Remember, you are training for AN ACTUAL REAL LIFE MARATHON. Don't forget how amazing this is, and in turn how amazing you are for actually doing it.

Hopefully these things will help you find your missing mojo. If you've got any other tactics, share them in the comments below!