Blue Sky Running UK

Very excited to be part of The Bristol Running Show 2024 😊

I'll be in the Concorde Room at 10:20, talking Chi Running and giving you some ideas to play with in your running. Come and say hi!

'Get your free ticket here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/742275224177?aff=oddtdtcreator

New on the blog: how much does posture matter for your running? Plus 3 of my favourite posture focuses. Give them a try and let me know what you think! 😊

3 posture focuses to help your running feel easier — Blue Sky Running How important is posture to your running? And how can you change it? In this post, I share 3 of my favourite posture focuses to make my running feel easier.

My latest newsletter is out…🙂

BlueSkyRunning News: a simple breathing exercise for better rest and recovery I’m not a big fan of resolutions, but I do like to use the fresh shiny start of a new year to review the last 12 months, figure out what’s working well, and what I want to do differently. 2023 was a year of big changes for me, including a return to full-time, permanent work after 17 years freela...

“We need to move away from pace as the sole marker of success and find other ways of interpreting or rating running experiences...I’ve no problem with people chasing times, but let’s also talk about what else we value about running.”

I love the idea of 'sexy' pace! And good to hear that the London Marathon is doing more to create a great race day experience for ALL runners 🙂

The slow running revolution: how to move at a ‘sexy’ pace – and really enjoy the race Forget personal bests, stopwatches and numbers on the scales. More and more people are taking up running to enjoy time in nature, chatting with friends and stress reduction

Counting down the hours now…

Good luck to everyone running London tomorrow, whether in-person or virtually. Have fun and enjoy! 🥰

What a difference two weeks can make! Two chiro visits, lots of lower leg TLC, and by last Friday I was running not far off an hour with no calf ni**le.

So today I decided to properly test it. 15.5 miles done. Not a murmur from the calf. And cautiously optimistic that London training is back on track. 😊

Lunch Run Check out my run on Strava.

It was all going so well... Until it wasn't 😕

When things don’t go to plan — Blue Sky Running It was all going so well…. Until it wasn’t. I’d bagged my first ever good-for-age place in April’s London Marathon. Training was going as smoothly as tempered chocolate. My body seemed able to handle everything I threw at it: capoeira classes, kettlebell workouts, and a higher weekly mileage...

This is spot on from Mary Jennings at ForgetTheGym. Avoiding running injuries isn't all about technique and strength/mobility training - there are some really simple things we can do to keep our training on track

For runners, five reasons why you keep getting injured Mary Jennings: There is a lot we can do without great technical knowledge to reduce our chances of picking up an injury while running

8 easy Sunday miles, through sunshine and showers 😊

Taking on a marathon's a challenge, but it doesn't have to be a sufferfest. New from me, on the blog.

6 ways to have a more enjoyable marathon — Blue Sky Running Taking on any marathon is a challenge. It’s why we do it, right? But while completing 26.2 miles means you have to get comfortable with being uncomfortable, it doesn’t have to be a sufferfest.

So this was a nice way to start a Monday morning…😊

Great advice for newbie runners (and more experienced, too…) from Dumb Runner: “Just go, be patient, and pay attention. Remember those three things and you'll do well.”

The Only 3 Things You Need to Know to Begin Running (Really) — Mark Remy's DumbRunner.com Serious advice that we seriously believe will benefit anyone who cares to read it. Seriously.

Third time lucky! Yesterday, I finally made it to the Ham to Lyme 50K, my first “proper” ultra 😊

Not surprising it’s such a popular first ultra. Brilliantly organised by Albion Running, lovely route with a mix of trails and road, and great support throughout. I’m still a bit of a wuss when it gets too lumpy or steep underfoot, but even I could just about cope.

Big thanks to my running buddy Peta for making it such an enjoyable day. And to all the Running Forever supporters who cheered us home 🥰

And huge respect to all those who did the Lyme-Ham Hill-Lyme double distance. Amazing running 👏👏👏

(For the story of my ultra-that-wasnt, here’s the link: https://www.blueskyrunning.co.uk/blog/ultra-wasnt-part-1)

This Sunday's Swansea half marathon topped off what's been a surreal few months for me. In my latest post, I talk about finding new speed and enjoyment in my running at the grand old age of 55. And a little bit about how I got here 🙂

https://www.blueskyrunning.co.uk/blog/speed-55

Finding speed at 55 — Blue Sky Running It's been a rather surreal few months for my running. In my latest post, I talk about finding new speed and enjoyment at the grand old age of 55, finally achieving a long-held ambition, and a little bit about how I got here

What a day yesterday turned out to be!

Along with a mighty contingent of , I took part in the North Dorset Village marathon

A big reason for us all being there was the amazing Georgina Brice, completing her 100th marathon 👏👏👏

And the support from RFRC was phenomenal, as always 🥰

For me, it was my first for 8 years. And in many ways, I felt like a newbie again

Since I ran my first mara in 1994, I’ve had a little dream of going sub-4

So it feels really special at age 55 to come away having run my fastest time ever, and sneaking in under that magic 4 hour mark 😊

Focusing on improving technique and moving better underpins everything I do

It’s meant I’ve been able to train more consistently than ever before, and build volume and speed work without getting hurt

For example, over the past year I’ve worked a lot on teaching my stiff, tight feet how to shock absorb. Which has helped me find better running form

For sure, it’s not an instant fix. But with practice and patience, it’s the gift that keeps on giving 🥰

The is an event that I’m sure I’ll be returning to

Look out for a more detailed write-up about it on my blog soon. But in the meantime, here’s my super quick review: great race, superbly organised, and a lovely route. With just enough lumps and bumps to keep things interesting. Without getting too lumpy or bumpy 😁

There’s nothing quite like your home half marathon 🥰

With a marathon in a month, my race plan for today was…confused 🙄

Needed to get more miles in after the race, so I wanted to finish with something left in the tank.

But training’s been going well, and was curious to see what I could do.

So…decided to wing it 😂

Funny how the races where you have no set goal or expectation are the ones you enjoy the most.

The weather was perfect. The support, especially from , was stupendous. And ended up knocking 7 minutes off my course best time and coming 3rd in age in a smidge under 1:48.

Sometimes no plan is the best plan 😊

The heart is nothing to do with the Taunton half, btw, but was given to me by a lovely lady after the race.

Slava Ukraini!

Not a bad way to kick off the new year: first in age at the 🙂

Wishing you a happy and healthy 2022 🥳

We did it! 😁

Flat, out-and-back races are not my favourite. So expectations for the were low

And then they shifted the start forward to 8 am 😱

But it was Joel’s first ever half. And the weather was as good as you could hope for mid-October

Great support all along the route, despite the early hour

Joel smashed his goal of sub 2 hours, finishing in 1:56 👏

And I ran my fastest half for more than 20 years, coming 7th in age

Worth getting up early for 😊

Stretching's had a bad rap of late. We're told that it's a waste of time, or worse, might actually do more harm than good.

In my latest post, I take a look at the case for and against. And guess what? It's complicated...

Is stretching bad for you? — Blue Sky Running There’s no topic that divides the fitness world quite like stretching. Is it good for you, a waste of time, or something that should be avoided at all costs? In this post, I’ll be diving into the evidence for and against.

I had myself a little running adventure this morning. Up in London for a short break, decided to do a combo long run/explore.

Planned to do 11. Felt so good, ended up adding another 3.

Running is such a great way to do the city tourist thing. You get to see so much more in half the time.

Unless you keep stopping to take photos and check you’re not lost🙃

What’s your favourite place to explore while running?

If you worry about whether you’re a heel striker, don’t

Seriously

We runners fret a lot about whether we’re coming down on our heels, our forefeet, or somewhere in between

I’m going to politely suggest that what matters more is WHERE you land, rather than HOW you land

Reaching forward with the front leg, and landing ahead of your knee means that:

❌ you’ll experience a bigger reaction force from the ground, creating more impact

❌ you’re effectively putting the brakes on

❌ you’re less stable and balanced as you land

Which all creates more work and more stress for your body

Your foot doesn’t move in isolation from the rest of you. And trying to make changes to how it lands without looking at what’s going on above can create new problems

I regularly see runners who tell me proudly that they’ve trained themselves not to heel strike. But when I see them run, they’re still reaching forward with their front leg

Only now, they’re putting the brakes on with their smaller toe bones instead of their big, meaty heel bone. Ouch! 😬

Learning to organise your body so that it’s supported and relaxed, to keep the step in front short and let your stride open up behind you, and to move from your centre while keeping your legs relaxed will help to:

✅ minimise the impact of your landing

✅ reduce how hard you have to work

✅ create more balance and stability in your posture

And it naturally tends to lead to a more forefoot/midfoot landing 😊

Have to admit, I haven’t been feeling the love for race training lately. Blame puppy-induced sleep deprivation…

So I was in two minds whether to run today’s Granite Way 10. But decided to go and just have fun

Very glad I made the journey to Okehampton. Really friendly event. Perfect running weather. Lovely route. Great marshals. Enjoyed it (even that wicked little hill up to the finish)! 😊

You don’t need fixing. “The best way to improve at something—especially yourself— is to start by realizing that you are already enough” 💕

You Are Enough Right Now: Freedom and Self-Improvement | The Growth Equation The best way to improve at something—especially yourself— is to start by realizing that you are already enough.

Finding yourself falling out of love with running? New on the blog: 6 ways to re-discover a mojo that's gone AWOL.

What are your favourite ways to overcome the training 'mehs'?

6 ways to re-discover your running mojo — Blue Sky Running It can happen to any of us. You fall out of love with running. You find yourself just going through the motions. It all feels a bit ‘meh.’ How can you find a bit more joy in your running and re-discover a mojo that’s gone missing?

After last week’s stifling heat, it’s been so nice to get out and run in cooler weather this weekend

The return of parkrun yesterday was a real treat. Lovely to see so many familiar faces, and it felt quite emotional to be able to say ‘thank you marshal’ once again 😊

And today a making-it-up-as-I-go-along kinda run. Taking a ‘short cut’ across the fields where the path kept disappearing. Passing horses and riders on the country lanes. And ambling back through Vivary Park and Longrun Meadow

Where did your run take you this weekend?

Parkrun is back tomorrow! Woo hoo! The weather's looking a little grim, but still the perfect way to start a Saturday morning 😊

In honour of its return, here’s a post I wrote way back when about reasons to love parkrun. You can tell it’s an oldie, because Longrun Meadow parkrun ‘only’ had 200 runners

With the new parkrun Covid-19 Framework, your local parkrun likely needs extra volunteers, so if you can’t run, you can still help out

Dig out your barcodes. And have a lovely weekend!

5 reasons to love parkrun — Blue Sky Running The idea of parkrun is beautifully simple. There’s no fee to take part – all you have to do is sign up on the parkrun website once, print your unique barcode, and then remember to bring it with you to every parkrun event you take part in

Should you consciously tighten your core when you run? In my latest blog post, I talk about why I don’t recommend it. And what you can do instead to create more balance and stability for your running

Should you brace your abs while running? — Blue Sky Running It’s a common cue while exercising: engage your core by bracing the muscles of the torso, to stabilise your spine and reduce the risk of injury. Here, I explain why I don’t recommend holding your core tight as you run. And what I do suggest for creating a more stable base for your running.

“Hannah is an excellent coach. She is passionate about helping people. Her calm, relaxing manner immediately puts you at your ease. She is detailed yet clear in her approach as she guides you through your practice.

She has a wealth of experience and is constantly fine-tuning her training and teaching skills, keeping up to date with the latest developments in the health and fitness industry.

Joining Hannah’s Restore Your Core classes and also working on a one-to-one basis has made a big difference to my training. Paying close attention to the connection between pelvic floor, hips, deep core muscles and diaphragm has greatly improved my hip and spine mobility along with core stability.

If you are looking for a coach to help support and guide you to improved health and fitness then look no further than Hannah”

That buzz I get from seeing the effect that RYC has for my clients never gets old 💕