Women's Running August 2021

Running can be an exercise in humility. Yes, we’ve all felt the self-satisfied smugness of smashing that early run, and feeling just a teensy bit better than the non-runners around us. And the undeniable bliss of achieving that PB, or from completing that race, or simply running for longer than usual. But, on the flipside, there’s runners’ trots, there are injuries, there are wardrobe malfunctions, there’s sunburn, chafing, GPS issues (GAH!) and other people’s posts on Strava to bring us all back down to earth with a bump. In the spirit of full disclosure, my humiliation knew no bounds recently when an innocent looking bit of tech informed me that I overpronated – this is despite decades of knowing otherwise along with several gait analyses, and countless running coaches saying the…

Keri Wallace Keri is a trail running guide and mountain leader for Girls on Hills, based in the Scottish Highlands. She teaches navigation skills, running with poles and mountain safety courses for women seeking to take up walking or running in the UK mountains. This issue, Keri explores how hiking can benefit your running, from upping your endurance to prepping you for an ultra on page 74. Fiona Bugler Fiona lives and breathes an endurance lifestyle through running, triathlon and writing. She’s completed 17 marathons (five sub-3.15s between the age of 40 and 44) and last year she took part in her first Ironman. Fiona’s a fully qualified running coach, and founder of endurancewomen.com, a site which celebrates women being extraordinary. This issue, she looks at how we can breathe better on page86. Juliet…

British ultra-runner Beth Pascall won the Western States 100 women’s race and placed seventh overall, with a time of 17:10:42 – set in brutal conditions with high temperatures. Pascall, who works as a paediatrician, led the women’s race all day, and managed to keep pushing in the later stages of the race, which takes place from Olympic Valley to Auburn in California. She also set the second fastest women’s time ever recorded, showing the depth of British and global women’s ultra-running. Pascall won the Canyons 100K race in California in April, and also took the record on the Bob Graham fell round in the UK last year. Hopefully she’ll recover well for the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc in September, where she is competing next. Eilish McColgan smashes Paula Radcliffe’s 17-year British…

The latest research by Women In Sport (WIS) on the menopause has shown women want to be more active during this life stage, but are missing out on the social, psychological and physical health benefits of exercise. One third of women aged 41 to 60 are not meeting the Chief Medical Officer’s guidelines of 150 minutes per week of exercise and a fifth are not achieving even 30 minutes per week. The research found multiple physical, psychological and social mid-life and menopause factors prevent women from getting active at this time, even though being more active can have life-changing benefits in relation to happiness, mental wellbeing and physical health. One third of women aged 41 to 60 are not meeting the CMO’s guidelines of 150 minutes per week of exercise To inspire women…

ULTRASUN SPORT RANGE FROM £16, ULTRASUN.COM Long-lasting, broad-spectrum protection from harmful rays all day long, featuring a Sports Gel and Spray, as well as a Daily UV Hair Protector. RESCUE REMEDYDAY & NIGHT SPRAY FROM £10.99, AMAZON.CO.UK Reduce daily worries and combat the stress and sleeplessness cycle. Start and end the day with these sprays to benefit training. ZO SUNSCREENAND POWDER SPF30 £54, ZO-SKINHEALTH.CO.UK Freshen up after your run with Triple-Spectrum Protection and ZO antioxidant technology to protect your skin, with a hint of advanced colour pigments.…

Low-stack speedsters HOKA’s latest release, the Zinal, has a smaller midsole than normally associated with the brand, giving you a racing trail shoe that feels low, responsive and puts you in touch with the ground. The midsole is still a Profly construction, so it feels supple, but there’s less of it. The minimalist upper is a soft, thin mesh made from recycled yarn, there’s ample room for toe splay, extra padding round the heel and the toe box protects well. As a lightweight trail shoe with a Vibram outsole, this shoe feels nimble. It’s made for summer trail running. £140, hokaoneone.eu Open-back beauty The stunning design on the back of the Asquith Diamond Back Vest is right up our alley. The softness of the eco-friendly bamboo viscose fabric is impressive and the longer length…