Running Wild & Free (2025)

20/04/2025

Feeling a million times better after a beautiful walk yesterday 🤗

Spent far too long talking to the lambs in a stupid voice but look how cute they are 😅

Happy Easter everybody! ❤️🐣🐇🥚

18/04/2025

This week's running didn't go to plan, but that's ok. 🩵
I'm still smiling (or trying to when I can!)

Dialled back on the running this week because there’s been a lot going on behind the scenes - we had a bereavement in the family last weekend. It took everything I had to get out for a run this morning, but I’m so glad I did. March/April has really tested me but I'm coming through it, looking forward to my birthday next week and focussing on all the good things in my life to help me feel more like myself again.

It would be easy to beat myself up for not getting all my runs in, but sometimes life has other plans, and this week has been about emotional rest and regrouping as much as physical recovery. I’m giving myself permission to go gently, with the aim of feeling strong again for Sunday’s 29km.

One thing this loss has brought into focus is the importance of choosing myself. Being kind to myself. Letting people in a little more. And resisting the urge to constantly apologise for feeling anything other than ‘fine’. I’ve had some big thoughts about that which I’ll share soon. 😊

Hope everyone’s Easter weekend is off to a peaceful start - fingers crossed the sunshine sticks around so I can get out in the garden and make it look pretty. 😅🌞🪻💜

11/04/2025

A slightly belated (and very honest!) roundup of last week's marathon training, because I like to keep it real 😅

I have definitely still been struggling with some of the physical effects of anxiety and so the three runs I did do felt like a real slog but I'm so proud of myself for still getting out there and doing what I can.

The long run in particular was HARD 😂
I was meant to do 25km - I managed to run 21km without stopping and my pace was pretty close to my target marathon pace, but then I got a huge stitch which I tried so hard to shift but it just kept getting worse and worse and worse. So I ended up walking a couple of kilometres back to the car, which reflects in my overall pace obviously 🤣 But hey, we move!

I was so frustrated at the time and there were definitely a few tears but I'm trying to look back on it now and remind myself that I still managed to run a bloody long way and it still counts towards my training. This week the distance is slightly shorter and the long run I'll be doing this weekend is 20km - I'm feeling good about it and it'll be my first long run with my new shoes so I'm excited to put those to the test 😊

Onwards and upwards! ❤️

01/04/2025

Gratitude Over Everything ✨

Normally, at this time of the week, I’d be posting a roundup of last week’s running… but today, I feel called to do something a little different. I feel the need to share gratitude.

A few people know this, but over the last few weeks - just after my trip to Tenerife - I had a bit of a health scare. A boob-related one, to be specific. And on top of everything else I already busy myself with, it was a lot. Overwhelming. Anxiety-inducing. One of those things that puts everything into perspective.

I’m beyond relieved to say that I’ve come out the other side and been given the all clear. And right now, I just feel so incredibly grateful - for my health, for my body, for the ability to do the things I love without that extra weight of worry.

One thing I really love about the business I work in is that when life happens and I need to step back, I can. I never fully stepped away - just did what I could when I could - but everything kept running smoothly. Nothing fell apart. And now that this weight has lifted, I feel a renewed motivation to keep working toward the life I truly want. A life where I can get out there, explore, and do the things I love, whilst I’m lucky enough to have my health.

Sometimes life throws things at us that shake us up a little. But if nothing else, it’s a reminder not to take things for granted. Today, I’m choosing gratitude.

Whatever you're facing, whatever's been weighing on you - take a second to breathe, look around, and find something to be grateful for. There’s always something. ❤️

(📷 from my recent trip to Stockholm 😊)

23/03/2025

A few pictures from a very sunny Stockholm 💛
Hoping the beautiful weather sticks around for the rest of our trip 😊

17/03/2025

Well that's a wrap on week 10 of marathon training!
Full disclosure, I only did one run and that was the half marathon 😅

I struggled with period pain a lot for most of the week, and the couple of times I tried to run I felt like I was going to pass out so I decided it was best to just rest up, focus on fuelling and lots of stretching and trust that I'd done enough on my long run the previous weekend.

This worked out pretty well for me because I managed to smash my previous PB by 20 minutes!! 🥳

Yes, I'm not the fastest runner. Yes, I had to walk a couple of times to try and sort out a stitch. Yes I had a little bit of a cry when I thought my knee was going to give way. But I have come SO FAR on my running journey, I know that what I'm doing is working and I know that I'm going to improve and see even more awesome results in the future. For a long time I fell into the trap of comparing myself to others and never feeling good about my running, but I've now learnt to only compare myself to where I used to be ❤️

Going to have a lighter week this week, but I'm feeling really good about the next 10 weeks of marathon training 😊

12/03/2025

A few highlights from my recent business trip to Tenerife...(more coming but this is a little taster 🤣)

1. Gorgeous sunset on our first evening heading to dinner
2. Cute little church
3. Sunset from the restaurant
4. Coffee on the terrace on our first morning with INSANE VIEWS
5. Pretty flowers! We ended up doing a mini photoshoot in front of these 🤣
6. I was weirdly fascinated by the crabs
7. Black sand beach with crazy waves
8. The first of many sessions in the hot tub
9. Sunset on the first night, still couldn't get over the view!
10. See above 🤣
11. The hotel where we had the actual event itself. Cannot believe I get to hang out in places like this!
12. The queue to get in, because there were 500 of us!
13. Another gorgeous sunset because why not
14. Chilling with Lucy, one of my beautiful biz buddies
15. Made a friend
16. Final sunset from the terrace
17. Photo op with the amazing Gary - he was one of the speakers at the event and now has a place in all our hearts
18. Chilling with Jess, another of my beautiful biz buddies
19. The crew. Bloody love these women.

10/03/2025

✨Edinburgh Marathon Week 9 of training done!✨

I decided to switch things up a little bit and post a roundup of my running week at the end of the week rather than the beginning so that I can actually include all my stats properly 😁

I did end up missing the interval session this week as I was just so drained still from being away but I managed to get my other three sessions done. For me it was perfect running weather this week too and I feel like an absolutely different human being when the sun is shining!!

I cannot lie. I found the 17km long run quite challenging and my knee was absolutely knackered by the end, so I need to make sure
I'm doing my physio exercises consistently and probably tape it up a bit more as well. But I'm still proud of myself for getting it done because it's the longest run I've done since the London marathon last year 😊

Things are ramping up a little bit this week as I have Milton Keynes half marathon on Sunday - not aiming for a particular time but as my long run was meant to be 19km I thought it would be a good event to do to keep me on track and just run somewhere a little bit different as well 😊

08/03/2025

✨Happy International Women's Day!!!✨

Happy International Women's Day to every amazing woman I’ve met, those I have yet to meet, and even those I may never cross paths with.

To the ladies I engage with on here, in my business, at the gym, on my runs, on my travels and to the wonderful friends from my school and uni days - thank you for being part of my journey.

A special shoutout to the women who may not be doing "big" things by society’s standards but are showing up every day, doing their best, and making a difference in their own quiet, powerful ways. You are seen, valued, and celebrated. ❤️

I’m so grateful to be surrounded by such inspiring, strong, and brilliant women. It’s impossible to include all of you in these photos, but know that each of you has left a lasting impact on my life.

I can’t wait to meet even more incredible women and continue learning and growing alongside you all. Keep shining - you each make the world a better place. ✨

26/02/2025

Lots more to share from the incredible event in Tenerife, but I am so incredibly grateful to be surrounded by this group of strong, beautiful, genuine, supportive and absolutely badass women 💕

I am eternally grateful to the 2023 version of me who had no idea what the hell she was doing but knew she had found something special and just said "f**k it". Best decision of my life ❤️

23/02/2025

Can't believe I get to attend business events in places like this!

Today has been a lovely chilled Sunday, settling into our hotel, exploring the area and catching up with lots of the ladies in our biz family ❤️

Can't wait for the main event tomorrow and Tuesday!

17/02/2025

Edinburgh Marathon 2025 - Week 7 of training 🏃‍♀️

I'm having to be a little bit flexible this week! I'm flying out to Tenerife on Saturday ready for a two-day business event next week, so I want to get this week's training in before I go - especially the long run! Today was a much needed rest day after my 13km long run yesterday, so I have four days left of this week and I don't think I can manage four sessions in four days 😂 So, I'm choosing to skip the interval run because I know I will likely get to do some interval training in one of my gym sessions this week instead.

I will be taking my running shoes to Tenerife because I'll be there for nearly 6 days and I will need to get at least one session in while I'm away - saying this now to keep me accountable while I'm there 🤣

Running Wild & Free