Tag Archives: #Running #WomensRunning #LondonRunners #Fitness #Health #GoalSetting #UKRunChat

30 Before 30

As requested by all my fans #blessed, here is my official 30 Before 30 list.

I started pulling together this list together around 3 years ago, back when completing a 5K seemed absurd let alone completing a marathon!

Some of these ‘goals’ are cliché, some are slightly ridiculous (no. 10 – please don’t judge. I still don’t think I have completed this, as I did have a fair amount of assistance.)

Apologies for the one that is marked as CONFIDENTIAL, I am not trying to be mysterious/really irritating! And no, it’s not vulgar/inappropriate/gross.

  1. Complete a Half Marathon – DONE
  2. Complete a Full Marathon – DONE
  3. Complete an Ultra Marathon
  4. Join a running club – DONE
  5. Complete one of the Three Peaks Challenges – DONE
  6. Get 1st lady at ParkRun – DONE
  7. Complete a Tough Mudder
  8. Complete a Triathalon
  9. Learn how to play pool and beat all the men
  10. Change a lightbulb – DONE
  11. Volunteer at a homeless shelter at least twice per year – DONE
  12. Learn how to apologise to people – DONE
  13. Level 2 Gym Qualification & Level 3 PT Course – KIND OF DONE
  14. Hold a tarantula at London Zoo
  15. Own one of the following dogs: Chow Chow, Great Pyrenees, Daschund, Old English Sheepdog (only if I have suitable accommodation and am in a secure enough financial position to do so. If you can’t afford to care for your pet, you shouldn’t get one.)
  16. Host a massive dinner party. The mother of all dinner parties. How am I 27 and still unable to roast a chicken or poach an egg?! Basically, learn how to cook PROPERLY
  17. See Fleetwood Mac live (ASAP – they’re getting on a bit)
  18. Visit Dublin and drink ALL the wine
  19. VISIT ICELAND (and see the Northern Lights whilst sober)
  20. Trek the Inca Trail
  21. Visit the Yukon
  22. Visit Vienna – DONE
  23. Visit Dubai – DONE
  24. Spend Christmas in a snowy log cabin drinking mulled wine and other pretentious pastimes – DONE
  25. CONFIDENTIAL
  26. Start a blog – DONE
  27. Eat at one of the world’s best restaurants
  28. Produce my own podcast/vlog
  29. Buy house/flat
  30. Pursue my passion. BE BOLD BE BRAVE

Despite the multiple clichés, I am very content with this list. Am I missing anything essential?! Let me know your thoughts!

Also, if anyone has been to Iceland, any recommendations would be much appreciated!

Running & Personal Goals (Mid-Year Check-In)

As we are halfway through 2018 (which is mildly horrifying, and I don’t understand how this has happened), I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to discuss my running, fitness and personal goals for the remainder of the year.

Running & Fitness Goals

  1. Great North Run

The GNR has been on my to do list for a while, and this year I was lucky enough to secure a place through the ballot. Out of all runners I know who entered the GNR, somehow, I was the only one who was accepted, so please do let me know if you’re racing! We can go for post-race wines.

  1. Race outside of the UK

I am yet to participate in a race outside of the UK and have chosen the Frankfurt Marathon relay in September as my first race abroad. I will be running this in a team of four, and am EXTRA EXCITED as I am the fourth leg which means that I get to finish on the red carpet.

  1. Commit to my first Ultra-Marathon

This may seem like a bit of an odd goal, as I simply want to commit to signing up to an Ultra as opposed to completing one this year. My aim is to run my first Ultra in early 2019, although I’m concerned that this may interfere with marathon training – any ultra-marathoners, please can I have some advice on this?!

  1. Be braver on the bike

One of my goals this year was to start cycling as a form of cross-training, in addition to weight training. Unfortunately, I still LOATHE steep descents (and gentle descents. And all the other descents.) By the end of 2018, I would like to be at a stage where I am not riding down hills squealing like a deranged warthog.

  1. Improve upper body strength

I don’t really need to explain this one but can confirm that I am well on the way to achieving this goal with the help of my PT!

Personal Goals

  1. Be kinder to myself

SORRY this is such a cringe/predictable goal, but I think self-compassion is so important – and it is something I’m terrible at. This is probably the most challenging of all my goals, and one I shall elaborate on in a later post.

  1. S L E E P

I wake up at between 4:30am – 6:00am, as I prefer to do most of my training before work. On average, I get around 6 hours sleep per night, and therefore by 4pm often feel like the FIERY PITS OF HELL (slight exaggeration, but I do get grouchy and headachy.)  I also frequently fall asleep on the train home, and occasionally end up in rather inconvenient locations such as Brighton and Southampton. Therefore, prioritising sleep is of upmost importance!

  1. Make a hefty dent in my 30 before 30 list

I created a ’30 before 30’ list* around 3 years ago and have completed approximately half of the list. Time is of the essence and other such clichés; therefore, I feel I need to get cracking!

*This is essentially a 30 before 30 bucket list. I am more than happy to share this in my next post, so if anyone is interested please do let me know!