Inspiration!

"Running isn’t a sport for pretty boys…It’s about the sweat in your hair and the blisters on your feet. Its the frozen spit on your chin and the nausea in your gut. It’s about throbbing calves and cramps at midnight that are strong enough to wake the dead. It’s about getting out the door and running when the rest of the world is only dreaming about having the passion that you need to live each and every day with. It’s about being on a lonely road and running like a champion even when there’s not a single soul in sight to cheer you on. Running is all about having the desire to train and persevere until every fiber in your legs, mind, and heart is turned to steel. And when you’ve finally forged hard enough, you will have become the best runner you can be. And that’s all that you can ask for." http://tcat.tc/1bfRGQT

xxx

HIV may cure cancer!

With World AIDS Day (1st Dec) being so close..here is a video showing some wonderful and heartwarming news. You may need to reach for your hankerchief.

http://youtu.be/nslinX6C1ZM


xxx

Barefoot running

I just found this great article on Barefoot running. It has given me renewed inspiration and is very interesting, well I think so :)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/outdoors/outdoor-activities/10355867/Barefoot-running-a-walk-in-the-park.html

Sarah x

Running is the only sport

I have just found this great blog post about sport being by and large, not good for us. All except running that is.It gave me great delight to read this. Thank you to that fantastic blog which I recommend you all read, called 3 quarks daily

http://www.3quarksdaily.com/3quarksdaily/2013/09/why-nearly-every-sport-except-long-distance-running-is-fundamentally-absurd.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+3quarksdaily+%283quarksdaily%29&utm_content=FaceBook

So you've no excuse now, have you? :)

Sarah

Sunday 15th September

Well 11 weeks down the road and I am happy to report that I have lost between 12lbs and 1 stone. It fluctuates but I am maintaining the weight. I am pleased with this and didn't find it too tricky as I had mentally prepped for it. I shall keep going and it would be nice if I lost a few more pounds but as long as I keep what I've already lost at bay and keep on exercising then I shall be fine.
In running news, I am keeping my eye on a couple of half marathons, one of which I shall do next year. I am just waiting to see which one opens for registration first! It is between Sheffield and Chester :) Thank you for reading.   

A summer of being good to myself

For a couple of months now I have decided that I would go on a health kick over this summer holiday period just to see how I look at the end of it and wether it will make much difference at all. This makes sense to me because just like alot of people I don't eat as much during this season, so in theory it should be easier. Also, I like all of the usual healthy foods, such as jacket potatoes, pasta, cottage cheese and I never get sick of salad or veggies. The start date I had in mind was 1st of July which was last Monday. Ideal as I like to start at the beginning of a month and weigh myself each Sunday. It does seem to have been a long first week but that is due to personal reasons I don't wish to go into rather than it being my first week honest! Whilst I have kept up swimming once a week and gentle running once a week, this also means that I am stepping up the exercise too and even did some weights today whilst sitting in front of my laptop. So I am enjoying my early morning swims and feel blessed to have a leisure centre/pool just across the road from where I live. I would like to give thanks to my lovely aussie pal Rina Dolan for her enthusiatic support and delicious recipes.Thanks hon xxx Anyway, a week later, before I went swimming this morning and of course before breakfast, I got on the bathroom scales and lo and behold I'm very happy to say I'm 6 pounds lighter. Maybe I'll report in next sunday er....depending on how it goes. Thanks for reading :)   

Running terminology

I have stumbled across this link which makes interesting reading for us runners. I thought I'd share because I think some words will amuse you. Can you guess which? I'm thinking of one in particular ;)


http://runnersfeed.com/running-terminology/

Sarah

My Website

and here is my updated website. http://sarahstracks.webplus.net/

Thanks for visiting xxx

Liverpool Half Marathon 2013

Well, truly no rest for the wicked it would seem. On Saturday 16th March, I discovered early, thankfully, that there were no early morning trains from Manchester to Liverpool Sunday! So I booked a hotel, The Adelphi which is pretty central, and not too far from the run start at pier head Albert dock. We were on the top floor and we’d paid for a continental breakfast which was fine but the full english looked pretty spectacular. It was raining rather heavily but fortunately Sunday was dry and we found the start/finish area easily enough. No warm up on this half marathon but I found out that in this half marathons 20 year history this was the biggest with 8400 runners. I am used to more than that but the route was never devoid of runners. The run started at 9am and I didn’t get across the timed starting line until about 9.10am. Weatherwise it was good but still cool and I could see that the other runners were taking it gently too so as to avoid any injuries. I thought about Amsterdam last year. I also thought about Starfish, Rutger and all my friends and lovely people who have continued to sponsor me, making this all the more worthwhile. There were plenty of water stations but no sweets and not many portaloo’s. I was surprised to see these loo’s never had anybody queuing up to use them as one normally see’s. I developed a few blisters but they didn’t hurt or affect my performance. I ran across the finish line at 2 hours 43 minutes which I am happy with but I can certainly improve. I want to get it between 2 and 2 half hours b4 I consider stepping up to a marathon again. We have to challenge ourselves don’t we? I’m considering being more physically active even when no officially training for a run, that should help. I collected my medal and a kind soul gave me his last banana.  We went to a cafe for a drink and to the hotel to collect our stuff before jumping on a train. I was very perky and happy shall we say, for a few days. Thats what I call an endorphin high! Loved it, would do it again. Certainly felt like I could keep on running and that I would sleep well. Oddly not much aches in calf muscles. Enjoy the photos.....

Sunday 17th March  

Info and race details can be found here: URL: http://www.btrliverpool.com/event/half-marathon/

My t-shirt this year was designed by my friend Tori Ratcliffe who has a splendid online shop and is a fantastic artist. Go and look for yourself to see what I mean.

http://www.cafepress.com/domesticblend  If you visit my website and/or Starfish's official site, you will see what a truly magnificent job she did of my t-shirt ;D .

I can now tell you that this year we raised £300 and Starfish of course have these funds now.This is definitely the most important and most rewarding part, so thank you all so very much for your faith in me and your constant sponsorship. I have plans for next year's run and will let you know as soon as its all official.Take care, and run well <3 br="">

Run for your life, but not too far...

I have just stumbled accross this great TED talk about running. It is fascinating to a runner like me and I am relieved to know I am doing it right. Its just like everything in life though, moderation is the key. This has always been my personal philosophy anyway. I just thought I would share this video for other runners who are reading this and perhaps don't realise that extreme running in the long term can be a very bad thing for your heart. I hope you enjoy watching this TED talk though :)




Please leave a comment and let me know what you think. Thanks xxx

Not long now...

Well I cannot believe it. My Half Marathon is now only 2 weeks away! I am excited and feeling fit enough. I have had good days and bad days when out training but that is how it goes. I have updated my website, please take a look in at it, the link is on the right. There will be video's there in future too. Here is a link to my Liverpool Half Marathon Facebook page.

 https://www.facebook.com/SarahsLiverpoolHalfMarathon2013

As they do every year now the wonderful Rutger Hauer Starfish Association has a webpage for me. Truly honoured by this.

http://www.rutgerhauer.org/rutgerhauer.org/sarahmarathons.php

I cannot tell you enough how much each sponsorship means to me and to the women and children whom Starfish ultimately help. Please do consider sponsoring my run. If you have any questions at all about this please just ask.

Also for Rutger's fans, a new discussion forum has just been set up where we can have fun discussing his work and his career. I am not a moderator but I appear to be the first person to have joined so just wanted to clarify that. I am knowm as Minty there. I hope to see you there!

http://www.rutgerhauerforum.net/


Lots of Love Sarah xxx

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! I am optimistic about this new year. I hope it is a good one for us all. I wish you much happiness and good health. May your plans and dreams come true xxx
I am also very pleased to tell you that I have now registered for a half marathon. It takes place in Liverpool on Sunday 17th March. So I am now accepting sponsorship and hope to raise some funds to help Starfish. I am currently enjoying the xmas break and have only been for one swimming session and haven't been out running at all. No excuse really but I had a nasty virus and am still sniffling abit. Didn't want to go out in the mancunian weather and get worse again. I shall start my training very soon though and will go out to run whatever the weather. Good luck in 2013 to my fellow runners and of course non runners alike ;) xxx