Finding an easy pace doesn’t come naturally to me.  I’m the one bursting off the starting line, then later gasping for breath whilst everyone else overtakes.  I love the  feeling of being able to run ever greater distances, but I still sometimes find my legs petering out to a walking pace.

I’m searching for that sweet spot between race and plod, where your legs get in to a rhythm and feel they could keep going for ever.  I keep my eyes on the horizon, stand straight and breathe deep while my feet keep pounding.  That perfect rhythm requires all my attention- blissful distraction from the rest of the world.

I could listen to music, but it seems to distract.  There’s enough of a beat in the air already.  Were I plugged in I wouldn’t notice the flock of waders with their bright red beaks, who fly off on the wind; or the rabbit tucking in to the hedgerow beside me; or the splash of my feet in a grass-lined stream.  Perhaps all these little pieces around me will help me find an easy rhythm.  And, if my legs do just drift to a halt, there’s always the photo opp excuse..

There seems no letup in this stormy weather, though our house on the hill remains dry and my heart goes out to all those affected by the floods. Living on the coast, we’ve had our share of dramatic weather. But rain and wind won’t keep me indoors; I’ve discovered that the very best thing to do in stormy weather is run..

Walking or cycling in these winds just feels like a hard slog, but running feels natural. After all, what do you do when you get caught out by a shower without your coat ten feet from the car? This is just a small extension of that.

In the last couple weeks we’ve tramped through thick sloppy mud, slipped down water-soaked slopes, been pushed by the wind along slick chalky paths, and held for dear life on to sea railings against horizontal hail. This is not the time of year to buy a nice new pair of trainers- they won’t survive a month. So grab some old gear and let the wind and rain buffet you about. It really is good fun out there.

It’s that time of year when we leave for work before sunrise and return home in the dark. It’s not the season for impromptu beach barbecues or a sunny spin round the block. Last weekend’s sunshine passed us by as we were busy finishing off our new kitchen (photos to follow!) So, I’ve been sorely lacking in fresh air and decided I couldn’t let the cold dark wind stop me from getting out. I have to admit that if Tom hadn’t been up for a run too, I’d be very happily still curled up the couch with a large bag of M&Ms (and I don’t care what the bag says – they are not for sharing.)

Our route takes us straight up a hill: a good way to warm up quickly and beat the bitter cold wind. I’m grateful for my many merino layers and wouldn’t go anywhere without ear warmers and woolly mitts. There’s no way to look cool in hi-viz. But it sure does make you feel happier to be running down little country lanes in the dark, dancing in front of the bright lights of cars. Once the cars are gone, the darkness feels like running on the spot in thin air. The long flat stretch of seafront feels just as tough as ever, but the lights on the water and across to the city make a change from the sailboats and strollers of the summer months.

This was my first run in the dark (I am a newbie after all).  There’s no denying it’s hard to drag myself off the couch, but it felt great to be outside in the wind, and all the sweeter to get the fire roaring on our return.  Just remind me of that when that bag of M&Ms comes calling..

I’m not a runner. And before you ask, I’ve got all sorts of very valid excuses: I’m not built for it, my knees sometimes twinge a bit, there was that time when my shoulder seized, and I just get way too red in the face. I know, right? All totally legit. But I am married to a runner, and somehow, bit by bit, very slowly, I’ve sort of found myself running. And I *might* even be enjoying it. Actually, after the first 2k of feeling like an injured rag doll and wondering why the fuck I’m doing it at all, I start to enjoy it a lot. So, for any other determined non-runners like me, I wanted to share a few of my discoveries:

It’s fine to stop. Don’t ‘run through the pain’. Just remember that it’s really hard to get going again. So maybe walk for a bit and agree to yourself you’re going to start running again when you get to the next lamppost.

Finding someone fitter than you is a good thing. If only one of you feels exhausted, the other can keep you both going. You might feel cynical about those motivational words now, but when you’re bloody knackered they do the trick. Just one thing- make sure your buddy doesn’t run ahead of you; that’s just dispiriting.

Decent kit matters. Of course, you don’t want to invest in a whole bunch of fancy stuff, if you’re not going to stick with it. But you won’t ever regret buying a decent sports bra. And those bargain basement trainers need to stay in the basement. Plus, a nice top is good consolation for the embarrassment of running around in public with a beet red face.

Off road is easier. This was my biggest surprise. I thought you could only ‘graduate’ to off road running after you’d really nailed the concrete stuff. But concrete feels like a hard slog. Hopping around in the forest, paying attention to rocks and roots, totally takes your mind off the fact that you’re pooped.

Records rock. It’s satisfying to be able to tell people how far you went. And PBs remind you that you *are* making progress, even if it doesn’t feel like it. Get the Strava app and find some friends to sign up too. Lets use our social media inclinations for some good eh?

Too much advice is a bad thing. There’s a lot of ‘couch to 5k’ podcasts and apps out there. I’m sure they give a well-structured programme, created by the experts, but you know what feels good, how far you can go, and when you should stop. For me, following pre-destined run routines just felt uninspiring.

So, don’t follow my advice, just head outdoors and get your sweat on!