Redbush Runner

I'm coming up to my 2nd 'runniversary.'  Bank Holiday weekend of 2016 was when I first laced up my trainers and went for what could loosely be described as a run.  (What trainers they were too - a cheap as chips, thin-soled, utterly inadequate pair from Primark.  It didn't take me long to realise that they weren't going to be up to the job.)  I've come a long way since then and have of course learned that you need a second mortgage to keep yourself in running shoes, not to mention all the other purchases that are required to partake in this 'free' hobby.  But I wouldn't change it for anything and today seems like a good day to reflect on the positive things running has given me. It's not an exaggeration to say running is one of the most important things in my life right now.  It's how I structure my days, my weeks, my months and my years.  Some people plan holidays months in advance; I plan parkrun tourism and races.  There's always som...

'Fake Toe Nails' - that's not something I ever thought I would be Googling.  Alas, I've discovered that bruised and battered toenails are very much a fact of life for runners, especially as you start to increase your distance.  I've had an unstable nail for weeks but the other day it came off.  It looked weird but didn't hurt.  I looked at it with a mixture of revulsion and pride.  I tried to see it as a battle scar, a badge of courage, although I can't pretend I wouldn't have preferred a glamorous, girly T-shirt with 'Half Marathon Queen' written across in glittery lettering. I had a summer wedding invite approaching, so, off to Google I went, hoping to find some miracle product designed to conceal missing nails for a special occasion.  I wasn't really expecting to find a solution, so I was quite surprised when so many options flashed up, offering me the perfect French pedicure in minutes and the promise of flip-flop happy feet.  This prob...

This weekend we managed to tick off two special items on our running wish list - Dalby Forest Parkrun and the Asda Foundation York 10K Race for All. The weekend looked in jeopardy at one point.  We set off bright and early on Friday morning with the intention of a leisurely drive over to North Yorkshire but the car had other ideas and, with spectacular timing, began to make worrying noises.  We decided it would be sensible to call at the Toyota garage en route to see if they would have a quick look at it.  Unfortunately this revealed a split exhaust so we ended up spending a long and boring morning at the pub across the road from the garage before going on perhaps the dullest walk ever around Barugh Green to kill time while waiting for the car to be repaired.  By 2 o clock the part still hadn't arrived so they sorted out a courtesy car for us and we eventually went on our way. Once on the road, our spirits picked up a bit, although the journey was not plain saili...