Emily in the outdoors

09/01/2024

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐚 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞?!
Due to illness and festive times I haven’t been cold water swimming in two weeks so this morning it was back to the reservoir for our morning swim and it was glorious.

Deliciously cold, the air felt so still and the stars were sparkling - stunning!! Now there was a lot of “oh god” and “I don’t think I can do this” but once in, I had to force myself to get out!

Lots of people ask why I do this, but these photos show you why. Taken 2.5 hours later I was still on a high and buzzing from the swim.

I started my day productively and in the best mood! I also felt pretty bad ass for the rest of the day 🤣🤣

06/01/2024

𝐁𝐞 𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞, 𝐛𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐥𝐝 🎀
Stealing post idea I thought I’d do a little post about the first long run taking place tomorrow of 2024.

𝐃𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐬:
📍 Meet at Lululemon, Royal Exchange Square
⏰ 9.20am meet for 9.30pm start
🏃🏼‍♀️ Sub run, approx 10 miles but you can run less than that and jump on a subway. Full details on strava!
🚘 If driving, St Enochs parking is reasonable at £3 all day Sundays.
🎒 Bag drop available at Lululemon
☕️ Coffee afterwards .uk

So with the info out the way, I want to encourage anyone reading this who is nervous, unsure or feels they may back out - please do come along.

Feel free to come over and chat and say hello, I really am that chatty in real life! If I hadn’t motivated myself to go along to an event previously I wouldn’t be in the position I am in now - having all these awesome folk as friends 🩷

I’ll be running approx 10:30 min/miles but I also love the party at the back crew so I may be there too 🤣🤣

If you’ve any questions please drop me a comment, slide into those DMs or just come along. You’ll know me, just prepare yourself - I’m a hugger 🤗

06/01/2024

𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐫𝐮𝐧 𝐩𝐚𝐥𝐬 & 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬
A lovely and icy morning at Elder parkrun seeing lots of my favourites. I wasn’t sure how the run would go but I decided after 30 seconds of running that I was going to push myself a little and enjoy the run.

Todays quick catch uk has made me super excited for tomorrows sub run where hopefully I’ll be seeing lots of lovely faces and we have a bit of sunshine like today.

Thanks to for the lovely gift of Nike trainers. Now look how trendy I am….surely a PB will be in sight soon 😝

02/12/2023

𝐆𝐲𝐦 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 🏋🏼‍♀️
I’ll tell you a secret 🤫
There is no magic gym hour it’s only what works for you. That goes with running, swimming or whatever you choose to do.

Actually the times when you really can’t be bothered are usually the best times. Don’t give yourself a hard time for not getting to the gym 4 times a week, or hitting 20 mile run weeks.

You do you. Simples.
We’re not professional athletes, we’re just trying to keep our bodies strong and healthy and be kind to our mind.

So don’t feel bad if you’re not a 5am athlete, or hitting the gym on your lunch hour. You find what works for your life and I’ll bet it fits in much better than you’d think!

Keep smiling 💕

Leggings are by called Purple Terrazzo and they’re fabulous 💜🩵

30/11/2023

❄️ 𝐄𝐥𝐟 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐟 ❄️
So the amazing are back with this year and I can not wait to get involved yet again.

I started wild swimming during covid times (mind those days?!) and it brought me a lot of joy, clarity and new friends. I also discovered the buzz of the cold water, the fact that it soothes my muscles after long runs and calmed my anxious mind of worries and stresses.

Last year I hung up my wetsuit for good and embraced the cold water in swimsuits alone. By 1st January 2023 I was hooked and not wanting to give up and carried on for another 70 days taking me to 100 dips.

This year by participating in Dipcember you can support the fantastic charity, a mental health peer support community, which has lots of swim meet ups available to you.

Now you don’t have to rush out and buy a tub for your garden, you can have cold showers, a cold bath or a wild swim….but remember it’s every day! And if you’re doing then this could be ideal for soothing those tired wee legs 💕💕

If you fancy joining in, head over to to sign up…donate a fiver, raise more and get dipping 🥶🥶🥶🥶

28/11/2023

𝐆𝐲𝐦 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲!
My Achilles has been a rotter this week so no running for me, instead it’s resting and gym work. Tonight I headed over to the gym to do my workout with some substituted movements to keep the Achilles happy.

I followed up with a 600m swim in the outdoor pool which was fantastic. I deliberated going to the gym tonight as I could smell dinner being made, it was cold and dark outside but it’s these moments where I’m glad I went. It was 100% worth it and now I’m home, having my dinner and relaxing with a big smug grin on my face!

Outfit kindly gifted by - absolutely obsessed with the Apex sneakers 💕💕
Definitely makes going to the gym easier when you have new gym wear 🫶🏻

26/11/2023

𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐮𝐧 𝐂𝐥𝐮𝐛
A collection of photos from a lovely little morning spent with some awesome humans. Today the ran for two hours (1 hour out / 1 hour back) along the River Kelvin and canals, taking in that early morning cold air and lots of chat. We followed up with coffee and more chat and basically had to prize myself away to head home, that’s how awesome it was!

It’s been no secret to those who know me that I’ve been struggling for a little while. It’s been a culmination of being tired, post event blues and a few other things which has made me retreat into myself a little, worry that I’m too much for a group and also that I’m not welcome. I wanted to share because it’s not always a smooth journey, there are ups and downs and sometimes confidence can be dented. I’d like to say I come out stronger on the other side but it’s a work in progress but one I’m happy to say is looking positive.

But thank you to & for being an absolute support, letting me vent and cheering me up. I really am thankful 💕💕

Happy Sunday 🫶🏻

24/11/2023

𝐈𝐭𝐬 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲!!!
The end of the week is here, and I’m happy about it! I’ve wrote a couple of tips to keep myself motivated and on track and am sharing with you because I like you so much 🩷

💕 Do something for you - whether it’s a nice walk, a bath or treating yourself to a coffee. Have at least 30 mins where it’s all about you.

🏃🏼‍♀️ Keep that easy run easy. This helps my nerves if I repeat this as a mantra. For some reason I get nervous before longer runs so reminding myself that it’s easy social pace for me keeps the head straight.

🧘‍♀️ Rest! Christmas is approaching and with shopping, nights out and general stress it’s a busy time of year. Use this time to rest before it does get a bit manic. Even better if you use this time to plan so you’re not last minute sally!

🤗 Friends! Get yourself out with friends, run or walk. And if you fancy, the run club will be out on Sunday morning - it woll@be great to see you there. I’ll be so come join 💕

Whatever you do have a fabby weekend, keep running and smiling ✌🏻

19/11/2023

𝐀 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐤𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐋𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐧
Another fantastic weekend with my amazing friend Steff visiting her uncle in London. We always have an amazing time, end up doing something completely different each time and having an absolute blast!

Little rundown of the pics 📷:
1. Run along Thames path
2. Covent Garden Christmas tree 🎄
3. Visiting the temple of Mithras
4. My new obsession - Pastel de Nata 💛 😋
5. At the Yayoi Kusama installation at the Tate Modern
6. The view of St Paul’s from the Tate restaurant
7. Posing with Emperor Trajan
8. Cocktails and fun at Benihana
9. At the footprint of the Roman amphitheater
10. Some Roman wall chat

London is one of my absolute favourite cities, i am always in awe of the buildings and the history and still act like a proper wee tourist every time I’m here. However now I’m home, I’m ready for some quiet time but am very grateful for a brilliant weekend 🩷

16/11/2023

𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞
Even though said all the right words I still wanted to share this on my feed.

Why?
Because these folk are top people 💕 it was also a fabulous night reflecting on the year we’ve all had, the things we’ve done together and how fab this little community has grown.

If you’ve ever thought about going along to a social run, run club or running event but then pulled out because you were too nervous, worried about being too slow or didn’t know anyone then this photo is proof that putting yourself out there is worth it.

Making friends in adulthood is daunting however it’s easier than you think. The people I’ve met are super friendly and always welcoming. If you’re wondering where you fit, try on different groups on for size…you’ll find the right fit soon enough 🫶🏻

16/11/2023

𝐊𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐮𝐩 ⬆️
Picture the scene, it’s 6.30pm on November 16th….it’s raining, cold, dark and you’ve spent all day at work - but you have a run scheduled on your plan. Are you going out, or is the lure of the home too strong? Yep I hear you….getting out at this time of year can be difficult, motivation drops due to weather and also just how busy and stressful the lead up to Christmas can be.

However exercise can boost your mood, help you think clearer and also keep you fit for all that jostling about in those high street shops 🛍️

A few tips from me:

☀️ Try and get out in the daylight. Not possible for all, but a lunch run or even a morning run when it gets lighter is brilliant. Plus then it’s done and you’re in for the rest of the night.

📅 Plan!!! It’s the biggest part of any routine, get your week mapped out and you’ll tend to stick to it.

☔️ Get comfortable with the weather. If like me you like in Scotland (or the UK) then it’s going to be cold and wet. If you can get out in that weather, you’re winning in life and can tackle anything 💕 invest in a decent jacket, or just get layers on. The hot shower is your reward!

🫶🏻 Got a target for 2024? Well don’t stop your running / exercise routine now. Keeping that focus, fitness up will help when your plan “officially” starts.

🚨 Bonus tip ‼️
Running in winter and horrid weather makes you feel good and others will be in awe. I mean, isn’t that always a little benefit 😜

12/11/2023

𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐥
This morning myself and two friends headed to Luss for a swim. It took me back to lockdown times when we had less rushing about to do and this morning we sat on the beach prior to our swim, chatting and just watching the water.

Times like this remind me of being thankful:

🩷 Thankful for these little moments

💙 Thankful to be able to appreciate this view

🩷 Thankful to have great friends who support me in the crazy adventures I start for myself

💙 Thankful that I have made the time for this.

I hope you have an amazing day and you’re able to take a moment for yourself. Look around and name something you’re thankful for. Life can be so fast and so busy and it’s hard to see the good bits as we’re always looking ahead or behind.

Much love ✌🏻

12/11/2023

𝐏𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
Want to improve your pace? Then stop doing only one type of run. Bring some variation to your workouts and you’ll start seeing the difference!

🏃🏼‍♀️ Practice - yes regular running will help your cardiovascular fitness, making it easier for your body to adapt to training.

⏱️ Interval sessions. These are key in improving your fitness but also recognising and understanding when to push on your chosen race. If you don’t practice raw speed how will you find it during that last mile in a race?

✍️ Tracking. Whether you’re old school paper and pen or you use strava, be truthful about your sessions. See what worked, what didn’t. That way you can work out where you’re improving and perhaps why you’re not. For me…mornings are a no go for speed, but yes for keeping to easy. I do my speed sessions at lunch after I’ve eaten and I’ve warmed up a bit!

🍽️ Nutrition and hydration. You can’t out train a bad diet. And let me tell you I’m not here to say step away from the chocolate - far from it. However everything in moderation, but if you’re feeling sluggish on runs, not sleeping well, or have no energy- have a look at how you’re fuelling your body. It can be an eye opener!

09/11/2023

🩵 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐧 𝐛𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐬 💙
Now that I’m on the other side I wanted to share with you how I was feeling post marathon. ROUGH!!
I was beyond exhausted, didn’t have any va va voom for running, races or even getting that running bug again. I actually thought this is it….my running journey has ended. (I have a flair for the dramatics!)

But what I had was a post event comedown - natural and my body also needed time to recover. Now I’m almost a month later I do feel more myself, eager to get out there and looking at events for next year.

So if you’re interested, here are some tips from me:

🍁 GET OUTDOORS. Okay running for me wasnt on the cards and I took advice and gave myself a fortnight off and swam loads! I also walked most lunchtimes and it was awesome. I got that hit of fresh air which stops me from going stir crazy when working from home.

🥅 GOAL SETTING. I set myself two goals. I would set out to better my 5k time and I’d get back into my cold water tub. I haven’t yet ran the 5k race but I’m training for it and actually enjoying it so far. I’ve also been really lucky to work with winning a month coaching from the retreat 💕 Getting back to the gym and focus on building some strength is quite exciting!

🥲 FEELINGS. You’re allowed to feel the feelings. Give yourself that time, write it down. Journaling has actually helped a bit, because now seeing how I felt will remind me that it’s normal if I feel like that again 🫶🏻

💕 LOOK AFTER YOURSELF. Take your time in being good to yourself. You’ve just embarked on 16-18 weeks of tough training, don’t rush into anything else. Let yourself recover and do things that you want to do. Go catch up with friends, prioritise spending time with family rather than hitting your race miles that week. Or be like me and take yourself canyoning with 🤣🤣

I hope this helps anyone feeling a little bit rundown, honestly you’re doing better than you think you are! 💕🫶🏻

05/11/2023

𝐇𝐲𝐫𝐨𝐱 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫
I was kindly invited along to to try out a hyrox session today which I was excited/nervous about…..but I needn’t have been! The gang were super friendly and I absolutely loved the workout.

It was great to participate and see what I need to work on, but also start to think about keeping energy consistent through each stage. So todays workout was:

🏃🏼‍♀️ Run 800m
🚣 Row 800m
🏃🏼‍♀️ Run 800m
🤸‍♀️ 10 C2F Burpees
🏃🏼‍♀️ Run 800m
🛷 5 x sledge push & pull 100kg
🏃🏼‍♀️ Run 800m
💼 Farmer carry 200m 2x16kg
🏃🏼‍♀️ Run 800m
⛷️ Ski erg 800m
🏃🏼‍♀️ Run 800m
🏀 60 x wall balls at 4kg

….and lie down!
It’s definitely gave me a boost that my fitness is pretty good after a few weeks of feeling a bit flat. As my friend says….I seem to always forget that I go through this exact stage of feeling sluggish/unfit/demotivated straight after a marathon.

Maybe I should keep a diary 😝😝

Happy Sunday 🩷🩷

05/11/2023

𝐀𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐯𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲
We all do it, take a pic from above….on our best side….stand with our legs apart to make them look thinner. It’s actually ridiculous!
So for that reason here’s an insta photo vs how I really look in a costume.

It’s just important to remember that what you see on someone’s Instagram isn’t always factual. They want you to see the best sides because well who doesn’t! But there are some sides that will keep showing up because that’s who you are!!

I’m trying to be more comfortable with how I look and accept my body for how it is. I’ve a lot to be fortunate for, this body and mind gets me through some of the crazy running challenges I put myself through however I do have my moments when I’m hyper critical and can feel pretty low about how I look and feel.

So instead of picking myself apart I’m going to focus on what I do like…

❤️ My hair! From being teased as a kid I never thought I’d get here….but here I am 👩🏻‍🦰

💕 My personality. I’m loud and I’m quiet. I’m impatient and a worrier, but I’m also quite funny, generally happy and a genuinely nice person.

😝 My eyes. I quite like the shade of them, and when I wear mascara they definitely look a lot brighter 🤣🤣

Now this could come across as big headed, but I’d happily give compliments to other people but never myself. Let’s change that, tell me something you like about yourself…or tell me 5 🤩

01/11/2023

𝐍𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐩.....𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 🥶 ❄️
I’ve been lacking in a goal so I’ve set myself a challenge of 20 dips this month to get my head back in the game and also to get me ready for the challenge!

As a welcome surprise I saw post about their cold water challenge this month so I’m going to join in as much as I can 🥶❄️

So why am I doing it…

❄️ I find the cold water helps my mental health. I feel resilient when I do it, and the buzz is unreal!

🧜‍♀️ Keeps inflammation down and that helps being a runner!

❄️ Reduces stress. I don’t have that much of a stressful life but I am a worrier!

🧜‍♀️ Improves my sleep

❄️ Gives my neighbours something to talk about 😝

If you fancy joining me get in touch and we can keep each other motivated 🩵🩵

30/10/2023

𝐒𝐰𝐢𝐦 𝐤𝐢𝐭 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐬 🌊🧜‍♀️💕
I’ve been wild swimming for just over 3 years so I thought I’d put together this post to highlight some of my must have swim items!!

Firstly I’d like to give a shout out to Zoe who organised this weekends walk and dips (free of charge). This small business is encouraging an amazing community to come together, explore and try new things! 💕

🩱 A swimming costume is essential and I buy most of mine from such as my watermelon 🍉 ! They’re beautifully made, designed and sustainable! And if you’re dipping in gorgeous places then you should wear a stunning suit!

🧥 Dryrobe / towelling robe. Again I have both from Dip & Dales co. These are amazing for keeping you warm pre/post swim and the towelling robe (the dip and dry….that was actually my name suggestion - fun fact!!) is amazing for getting changed under. It’s long, thick and protects your dignity 🤪

🧤 I’d highly recommend neoprene boots and gloves especially in the colder months. I order mine from and they’ve lasted really well and I feel a massive difference when I wear them.

🎒 I have a bag that I use for swimming. It fits in everything you could possibly need, it waterproof and stylish. 🩶🤍

🎩 Wooly hats - I always bring two…one for the swim and a dry one for after!

❗️ Another key item would be a tow float. This can help you be visible in water, and acts as a float if you need a little rest!

My last and it’s not something you can buy is community. If you can find a group, they will encourage and inspire and you’ll never look back. Groups like are exactly this! 💕

Feel free to add your swim must haves!

30/10/2023

28/10/2023

𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐈 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐨𝐧? 🌊 🧜‍♀️
Yes I can!! What an absolutely fantastic day organised by and lead by Crags Adventures! So many laughs, smiles and falls!!

This was so far out of my comfort zone, I have a bit of a fear of heights and I was super nervous beforehand however (apart from one jump that I took the shortened version of) I did everything and I even managed the biggest jump, went in a cave and did the super slide at the end.

Craig was a fantastic leader, funny and supportive. The group was amazing and a huge thank you to Zoe for getting us all together 🩷🩷

A massive thanks to my gal for checking in on me, giving me a hug and telling me to get my face in the water and dry my eyes 🤣🤣

26/10/2023

📣 𝐂𝐨𝐨𝐩𝐚𝐡 𝐀𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐫 📣
Delighted to be asked to be an ambassador for . I started using the app earlier this year and haven’t looked back. It’s been awesome for:

🏃🏼‍♀️ Getting me marathon ready
🏋🏼‍♀️ Giving me easy to follow strength sessions
🗣️ Having a coach available to chat to!

𝐎𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬…..
🧠 It does the hard work for you…all the sessions can be sent to your watch pre programmed so all you need to do is press start….oh and run 🤪

💰 It’s awesome value for money. £9.99 per month and for that you can have plans, chat to coaches and become part of an awesome community.

📱 It is THEEEE app for 2024….so if that doesn’t say awesome then I don’t know what will.

👫 The people! Start following and you’ll know what I mean!

🌎 They created a refugee run club and work with charities to help people feel more at home in this country….through running 🫶🏻

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐥?
You can get two weeks free by using my code: Emily2. There’s also a little direct link in my bio if needed too! I’d love it if you gave it a try, let me know what you think and if I can help - let me know 🩷🩷🩷

Ps thanks for making my wee pic.

23/10/2023

𝐌𝐲 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐮𝐩 𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬!
I do love a coffee date, and chatting over cakes and tea is awesome but when your pal says - fancy a run later and a blether.….well that’s right up my street!

It was nice to see that shared my shorts agenda for tonight, it’s cold but it’s not that cold yet 🤪

And of course for night time running I wore a nice bright jacket (courtesy of ) and my trusty chest light 💡

22/10/2023

𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐬
First run back post and it was a mixed bag. I was delighted to listen to the announcing as a new cohost (my prayers have been answered 🤪) and to interview which was fab 🩷

3 miles covered and it went a bit like this:

𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐞 1️⃣ : Whose legs are these? They’re not usually made of lead.

𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐞 2️⃣ : Feel slightly better, and this pace of 10:30min/mi feels less strenuous now.

𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐞 3️⃣ : Oh hey there, let’s run all day 😎

I planned two weeks off but todays weather made me want to get outside. No plan, just run to feel and actually ran the most consistent I have in a while!

Now to brace myself to return to work 😳

22/10/2023

𝐑𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 ‼️
It’s always good to keep yourself in check….

🏃🏼‍♀️ Missing a run is not the end of the world. I know we’re committed to the plan but sometimes life gets in the way. Can you change your training days around…great. If you can’t, move on.

🏃🏻‍♂️ Keep showing up. Consistency is key! Missing the odd session won’t be an issue but if you are putting your training as a priority it will pay off in the long run .

👣 Feet! Mine are a mess no matter how much self care I try! I’ve been lucky to never lose a toenail but I know plenty who have. If you’re a regular runner make sure you’re letting your feet breathe and shoes dry out between runs!

👟 Trainers. No runner will ever tell you you don’t need them…so be mindful who you ask for opinions 🤣