Women's Running September 2021

I’m 47. There, I’ve said it. Yes, it’s a bit of a shock to not be 33 just in terms of who I see in the mirror, but the real shocker is accepting that my body behaves differently now. I mentioned this to a friend recently, and she was genuinely taken aback when I continued to talk about this difference: the difference between my body now and my body as a young woman. She was shocked because I wasn’t talking about the inevitable saggy decline that we’re expected to silently accept: the general droop, the loss of muscle mass, the perimenopausal fog, the weak bladder, or the past PBs spinning ever more out of our grasp. I wasn’t talking about that, because that’s not my experience. I am more fit now than…

Rachel Ifans This picture shows Rachel at her first post-Covid race; it was called Escape Lockdown and it was a joyful, sunny, muddy, hilly, springtime run. Despite saying she’s all about the trails, she’s signed up for the Brighton Marathon so plans are now to work on strength and mobility – especially after speaking to Mike Antoniades about how to keep running into old age on p30. Louise Pyne Louise is a qualified nutritionist and experienced freelance health writer. She is interested in all aspects of women’s health and fitness but this issue, she looked at how our running can actually be as helpful as therapy when it comes to maintaining our mental health. Read her feature on the ways in which we can use the power of running to its best advantage…

MUSCLES, STRENGTH, POWER AND JOY An emotional and unforgettable performance by female athletes at the Tokyo Olympics this summer Team GB made history this summer, sending more women than men to the Tokyo Olympic Games. In a games stripped of spectators, athletes wowed and inspired us, and we loved the new mixed gender events that had everyone on the edge of their seats. Laura Muir’s silver in the 1,500m was jaw dropping. She finally took the chance for a global medal by fighting off Sifan Hassan in the final straight. She also added a new British record of 3.54.5 to her achievements. Having been fourth, fifth twice, sixth and seventh every year since 2015 in global championships, this Olympic silver will hopefully catapult her to gold in next year’s World Champs. It was also…

Ever wondered where your entry for the London Marathon goes? As you finalise your long runs and start your taper for London Marathon 2021, feel proud that your fee helped many of our elite athletes make it to this year’s summer Olympic Games. London Marathon Events (LME) has been supporting British Athletics since 2001, and in 2019 the elite athlete funding programme was set up to support 30 athletes who sit just outside British Athletics’ World Class programme, but who still have the potential to star at major competitions. Keely Hodgkinson (silver, 800m) is based at the Leeds Beckett University talent hub and supported by LME. Other athletes on the Team GB Olympic team to benefit from LME funding were Lizzie Bird (3,000m steeplechase), Steph Davis (marathon), Amy-Eloise Markovc (5,000m)…

After 16 months without the weekly community-driven 5K run, thousands returned to their local parkrun in July to walk or run with their running community for the first time since the Covid pandemic hit in March 2020. Not only is the event free, but any age and ability is welcomed; you can just turn up (with your barcode!) and be assured of a friendly welcome plus lots of support. If you don’t want to run, you can volunteer to marshal, and buggies, dogs and spectators are all welcome too. parkrun gives thousands of people a weekly mental and physical health boost and if you’re looking to push yourself, it can also be a regular time trial. On the day of parkrun’s return, triathlete Michelle Pearson ran the fastest female finisher…

ARNICARE COOLINGGEL £4.29, amazon.co.uk Allow arnica, grapefruit oil and menthol to soothe your tired muscles. It’s non-sticky, easy to apply and small enough to stash in your running belt or backpack. REVIVALSLEEPAID £44.99, predatornutrition.com Essential for maximum recovery and to promote natural sleep onset, it includes magnesium, valerian, l-theanine to reduce stress, 5-HTP and safranal. BLOOM& BLOSSOM LEGSELEVENSERUM& SPRITZYTOESSPRAY £24, bloomandblossom.com Revitalise tired legs and feet with this heavenly peppermint oil and algin serum. Then treat your feet to a foot spray, packed with lime oil and aloe vera.…