Challenge: 25 Days of Fitness

My favourite photos from last year's challenge

It's that time of year again! My office is already full of Christmas cheer and chocolates which are having a disastrous effect on my waistline (I had to undo the button on my jeans today before 10am), and it's too dark and cold to find the motivation for exercise. As you may know I'm not one to accept that sort of thing and instead of falling into a pit of gooey despair, I thought I'd revisit last year's Christmas-time challenge: to exercise daily from 1st-25th December.

I wasn't sure initially whether it would be a good idea to do this challenge again given my old-lady hips. On reflection it occurred to me that it's perhaps even more important to do it now, than it is when I'm at full fitness. Being on the bench (so to speak) has been hard, but it has also been a blessing in disguise. I think I'm more aware now of how my body works as a whole and how essential it is to nuture the whole thing, not just my thighs. There will be a run at the end of this challenge, but for the other 24 days it's all about learning how to cope without running and how to look after my whole body.

There are so many benefits of this challenge, both mental and physical, and I personally hope it will help me:

Sleep better
Feel calmer and less stressed
Accept my body
Gain strength
Get more fresh air
Heal
Feel happier
Feel healthier
Have more energy

The goal is to do some form of exercise for at least fifteen minutes a day from 1st December up to and including Christmas Day. I realise that working out on Christmas Day isn't exactly everyone's cup of tea (don't feel pressured if you join in!), but my mum and I have a Christmas morning run tradition that I'm not planning on breaking. There's something magical about running on Christmas Day when everything is so quiet and the only people on the roads are runners and dog walkers. Apologies to all those dog walkers who may have thought I was running after them for their dog - obviously that's exactly what I was doing, but y'know...dogs.

To make sure I don't get bored during this challenge I'm going to make sure there is plenty of variety in my workouts. I think a mix of yoga, strength work, the gym, swimming and long walks should keep me motivated throughout. Plus there is the added bonus of always having something I can do if I'm tired, if it's raining, or if my body needs something low-impact.

Who's with me? Let me know in the comments if you fancy joining in and how you think it will benefit you! It's a very relaxed challenge and there won't be any check-ins if that sort of thing puts you off. I'll be sharing my daily pictures on instagram and twitter using the hashtag #25daysoffitness so feel free to follow along and share your own - I can promise you will get plenty of enthusiastic cheering on from me!

twitter | facebook | instagram

On Running and Not Running

Over the last two years I have slowly fallen out of love with running. I had a serious niggle in one hip that slowly became a serious niggle in both hips and now standing for too long or walking too far results in serous soreness.

I've known for a while that I've been making it worse by not stopping, by ignoring the pain and carrying on, but I'm stubborn and haven't been able to stop. I think I had a fear of not running, of not having that escape, but also a fear of being laughed at and my injury being seen as nothing and me being seen as a hypochondriac. It was actually almost a relief to be told that I should stop running because I then felt justified in my pain (and waddling gait).

Having had two months off now and still counting, I realise how heavily I identify with being a runner. I am a runner and running is my jam. I'm desperate to get back out there again and get some serious miles behind me. I'm desperate to sweat out the frustrations, stresses and worries of life so I can revel in the endorphins. I know I can get those endorphins from the gym, from yoga and from other types of exercise, but there's something special about that post-run feeling that the gym never quite reaches.

Running is my crowning glory and my main achievement. If I don't have running and the ability to run races and chase down a new personal best, then what do I have? Although I'm aware that there are probably things I'm achieving all the time, none of them quite register with me. I've never felt as good as I DID when I crossed the finish line of the Taunton Half Marathon in April 2013 in a time of 1 hour 54. Nothing has ever come close to that rush of emotion.

There are a lot of things about me that suggest I shouldn't be a runner. I certainly do not have the physique of a runner: I'm short and a little on the chubby side, but I have powerful thighs, a strong core, and glutes so solid I shocked the physio (that was a proud moment). The utter shock on people's faces when I tell them I enjoy running half marathons is, aside from a little insulting, always a source of amusement for me.

I've run up mountains in Tuscany, through parks in Amsterdam, along the river in Glasgow, around Central Park, and past the White House; if I could I would run in every place I visit. Running takes you places, it lets you see things differently and experience a different side of a culture. It's my goal to run in every place I visit - whether that's in the UK or abroad - and I look forward to getting back to peak strength so I can realise this goal.

I'm determined not to have to find another sport. My determination has got me round many difficult routes, so it will definitely get me through this. I will run again and I will get that 1 hour 50 half marathon best that's been my goal ever since I realised it was plausible. I'm going to keep going to the physio and having pins stuck in me, I'll keep doing my stretches and exercises, I'll continue to cross-train and I will not run. A few months of not running is a small price to pay for a lifetime of post-run highs.

I'd love to hear if you've had similar experiences or have any thoughts on running! Let me know in the comments.

twitter | facebook | instagram

Autumn || Fitness

I've been holding off writing this post for a while as I didn't think it would be quite right to talk about fitness and exercise when my routine is so off kilter. Since starting my new job at the end of August my exercise routine has disappeared and it's only been in the last couple of weeks that I have started to fall back into some semblance of one again (after some news earlier this month which has had a huge impact on what I can and can't do).

As you're all aware running is a massive part of my life - I know I've banged on about it often enough! I've now been told that I should stop running until my hip recovers and I've finished a program of physio. This was devastating news, I tell you, even though it's been a long while since I've been able to comfortably run even 5km. Thankfully there is a lot I can still do and I've been encouraged to try different things to build up strength in the area and speed up recovery. He suggested swimming and I very quickly jumped on that so I've decided to add one swim per week into my routine. Thankfully there is a pool near my work so I can still fit it an early morning workout.

To build up strength I've been going to the gym once or twice a week, practicing yoga twice a week and I try to do fifteen to twenty minutes of either stretches or strength work every morning. Doing shorter bursts like this and focusing less on getting to the gym or doing long runs multiple times a week has been really helpful. I already feel stronger and doing a burst in the morning seems to give me more energy - who knew?!

Now it's all well and good me listing off what I do (or try to do, let's be realistic), when actually even getting enough motivation to get out there is much harder as the days become shorter. I try to get up at around 6am on a week day and it's getting tougher by the day. Without my sunrise alarm clock I'd still be lost in the land of nod come 7.30am. I'm pretty sure I'm not alone in this.

So on those days when you've just snoozed your alarm for the fifth time or you get home from work and donning your slippers seems a better idea than donning your trainers, try this:

Keep it short no one wants to be running for hours before or after a long day at work so don't try to, or you'll risk setting yourself up for failure. Keep it short and snappy - enough to get a sweat on, but not enough to put you off entirely.

Get prepared you know the whole 'fail to prepare/prepare to fail' thing? Well, it's actually pretty accurate. Make sure you have everything set up for your next workout, your kit bag packed, your clothes laid out on the bed and even leave your trainers waiting patiently by the front door if it works for you. Being prepared means you can get straight into the sweating, instead of risking a half an hour deliberation about whether to do exercise or just get into your pjs.

Build it into a routine you'll know from the above ramble that I'm pretty much all about the routine. Although I do worry about routines on occasion, they are the best thing to ensure a workout is actually going to happen. If you know Monday night is swim night or Wednesdays you need to get up early to do some yoga, then it will not come as a surprise and you'll slowly start to accept it as a given.

Visualise nothing beats that post-exercise endorphin high. That rock-star feeling. That 'I've got this' feeling of triumph, achievement and determination. Think about that when you're dragging yourself out of bed in the dark. It helps, I promise.

Mix it up don't stick to the same old thing day in and day out. Try something new (swimming is new for me at the moment), and be sure to have some variety in there. After all, variety is the spice of life.

And finally, just go ahead and dive in! Pull on your sweat pants, your lycra or your swimming costume and go for it. You'll never know how good it feels until you try.

Do you have any tips for exercising as the days get shorter?

twitter | facebook | pinterest | instagram

#activeaugust

This challenge didn't quite work out as I hoped. It turns out that changing jobs mid-month is quite  stressful and very busy socially - goodbye drinks at one organisation and hello drinks at the next. Suffice to say I didn't achieve the main goal of #activeaugust which was to be active every day. Having said that, I realised that I am active each day in one way or another. I move constantly. I always take the stairs, I'll frequently get off the tube a stop early or get on a stop late, I spend my lunchbreaks moving and my weekends always include a plethora of activities that have me walking the length and breadth of London (or so it feels).

For that reason I will not call this a failed challenge, I'll call it a learning curve.

I need to accept that I cannot do a full workout everyday. I need to accept that my body needs rest. I need to accept that a missed session does not equal a stone gained. I need to accept that being active makes me happy and that to force it will lessen its power.

I am happy with the amount of exercise I have done this month, particularly given how busy it has been. I've changed things up at the gym and fit in more runs than I've managed in a long time. I feel stronger, I feel healthier, I feel happier. If that's not a successful challenge then I don't know what is.

It's time to give myself a break and remember why I aim to be active in the first place - because I love it.

Here's to being active for the right reasons.

twitter | facebook | pinterest | instagram

Be Active in August

Those of you who have been listening to me warble on for a while may remember that back in December I set myself a 25 Days of Fitness challenge. The crux of the challenge was, as I'm sure you can imagine, to work out for the 25 days running up to and including Christmas day. I nailed it, as you can see here.

This year has brought a number of huge changes to my lifestyle. The most difficult being a change from regular 9-5 work to shift work. I thought shifts would be good for me in terms of shaking up my very rigid routines, but it's not quite worked out as I hoped. So before it had a severe impact on my lifestyle and well being I started the job hunt again and at the end of August I'll be starting a new role with regular hours (excitement levels are through the roof, guys). As preparation for this change and to get me in the frame of mind to set new, healthy routines, I'm going to be rejuvenating the 25 Days of Fitness challenge for August.

Starting on Saturday 1st and ending on Monday 31st August I'll be aiming to be active every day. Whether that's a run, a gym session, yoga, a long walk or something different - maybe I'll go climbing again or try something entirely new.

This isn't a weight loss thing - though I can't deny that would be welcome - it's more about finding that activity sweet spot and working out what level, frequency and intensity of activity I need to keep me feeling good.

I know so well what a positive impact being active has on my well being, but I so often chose to ignore it. If I'm not ignoring it, I'm guilty of prioritising other things which I think make me feel good, but which in reality are only short term boosts. It's about time to put a stop to that habit and I this is the perfect time to do it - it's summer, there's change coming, and I've got things to look forward to socially and personally. Let's see, shall we?!

As before I'll be sharing my progress on twitter and instagram so fellow alliteration lovers can follow my progress via #activeaugust. If you're active in August be sure to tag me or use the hashtag!

twitter | facebook | pinterest | instagram

Things That Made Me Happy This Week #17

1// Early morning runs Now that I'm working shifts I'm trying to squeeze in workouts wherever I can, even if it means 5.30am. I've done a couple of early morning runs this week and I've decided dawn is my favourite time to go. It's quiet (well, as quiet as London can be), there's a refreshing chill in the air, and everything just looks beautiful. Plus, the energising properties of an early run cannot be beaten.

2// Alice Hoffman As I mentioned on Friday, this week I've been reading a book by one of my favourite authors. It has been so good to sink into Hoffman's prose and lose myself in her particular brand of magical-realism.

3// Trying new recipes On Tuesday I tried out a new recipe for Moroccan chickpeas with roasted tomato and aubergine. It was SO YUMMY. I always forget that cooking can be the perfect mood-booster at the end of a long day.

4// Book post At the end of last week I placed an order on The Works for a diary (shift work makes a diary a necessity so I'm realising), and as I browsed the website I came across a book I'd been meaning to read for absolutely ages: 'Dorothea's War'. It's a nurse's diary from the First World War and obviously right up my street. It was super cheap so I couldn't resist (any old excuse) and it made me very happy when it came through my postbox. 

5// Doing nothing I've not done anything this week. No theatre visits, no gigs, no meals out, absolutely zilch. As much as I love being busy and experiencing what London has on offer, sometimes it's nice to have a week enjoying your own company.

What has made you happy this week?

twitter | facebook | pinterest | instagram

Things That Made Me Happy This Week #11

1// Yoga Starting back at work after almost two weeks of not sitting at a desk for eight hours a day has been painful, to say the least. Most evenings this week I've got home and my shoulders have been tense, my back twingey, and my hips unbelievably stiff. Fifteen minutes of yoga later and I'm feeling relaxed, stretched out and seriously chill.

2// Writing this post on art in Station Eleven It's been a while since I really got stuck in to writing about a book. I loved writing this almost as much as I loved reading the book.

3// In Your Eyes I watched this film on Netflix last night and loved it.

4// Monday night takeaways It was my brother's birthday on Monday so he came to London to celebrate with a cider and a takeaway curry. Yum.

5// Reading from my sister's TBR I realised this week that I have a lot of classics and serious literary fiction on my TBR, but at the moment I'm in the mood for a good story that isn't too taxing and has a good cast of characters. I settled on The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern and I'm really enjoying it so far.

What has made you happy this week?

twitter | facebook | pinterest | google+

Race Recap: RunThrough Battersea 10K

As many of you who follow me on twitter will already know, yesterday I dragged myself out of bed disgustingly early for a Sunday morning and made my way to Battersea park to run a 10k. Is that dedication to my sport? Yes, I think so.

Last November I made the decision to start 2015 off with a race - just to get things moving - and this one in Battersea Park organised by RunThrough was the first one I came across. I swiftly booked my place and put it in my diary without a second thought. Until, of course, this week came around and the universe seemed to be aligning against me. I've had a cold, a chesty cough, and my usually ailing hip has been recovering (slowly) from a rough patch.

Basically by the time I made it to the start line, frozen to my bones, wiggling and jiggling to try and get even the tiniest bit of feeling back in my toes, I was not in the best frame of mind to run.

Time for an action shot:

Despite the cold, it was a beautiful sunny day.

Fast forward 51 minutes and 20 seconds and I was crossing the line, about to burst into tears (finishing always makes me really emotional for some reason), knowing that my thighs had just carried me round the course in my fastest ever 10k time. Wow, that feeling though! It's an exciting concoction of triumph, elation, disbelief and happiness that I have never experienced at any other time.

The event itself was well-organised without being clinical, I knew what I was doing and when I had to do it, but I didn't feel like a sheep being herded this way and that. Organisation is an important element of taking part in races for me personally, as I need it to be a stress-free as possible. Everyone was really friendly and helpful and the atmosphere at the start and finish of the race was invigorating. The general atmosphere around the course was a bit lacklustre, but I can't really blame anyone for wanting to stay inside on a freezing Sunday morning in January rather than cheer a few runners on. Still, I had a good time plodding around the circuit, listening to my playlist and minding my own business. I did get a cheer on every lap as I passed my sister who braved the cold to provide emotional support and potential physical support at the end (thankfully, not needed).

Sometimes I kick myself for entering races, particularly if I'm not physically prepared for the training or the distance, but every single finish line I cross gives me that unbeatable feeling of being unbeatable and I know I'll never stop.

When's the next one?!

twitter | facebook | pinterest | google+

Things That Made Me Happy This Week #10

1// Time with my sister With the New Year bringing a quieter time in the catering business, my sister has been having a little more time off work, which means more time with me. Before Christmas the time we did have together we spent going out, being busy and exploring places. Now that we have a little more time to do that, we have also been enjoying some lazy evenings in front of movie in our lounge pants. Bliss.

2// Reading from my shelves So far this year all the books I've read have been from my shelves (I realise that's not saying much seeing as we're only on the 11th day of the year!). Not only that, they're also books that have been on my shelves for 6 months or longer (one had been waiting for 2 years - shocking behaviour).

3// Broadchurch The long anticipated second series of Broadchurch started this week and I couldn't be more excited. I don't often watch TV (I usually watch films if anything), but I could not miss this. It was a tense and emotional first episode and I'm looking forward to the rest. I do have to watch it on ITV player the following day, though, because 9pm is just too late for an oldie like me. Do you watch Broadchurch?

4// Getting back into a routine Being on holiday was absolutely wonderful, but after a while I always start craving my routine - mostly so I can keep on top of my exercise and eating habits. It's been tiring going back to my 6am wake-up call but I do secretly love it.

5// Pre-race nerves Today I am running a 10k locally and all week I've been really nervous about it. It's not an unknown distance for me or an unknown route, but because I've had a chesty cough I've not been able to train properly. My fitness is consistently at around a 10k level yet, even though I know I can do it, I've still been worrying. It didn't help when my physio heavily suggested that I should take it easy...oops. Nevertheless, just as I secretly love 6am starts, I also secretly love pre-race nerves. Weirdo, much?

What has made you happy this week?

twitter | facebook | pinterest | google+

Challenge Completed: 25 Days of Fitness

Way back in December (it feels like so long ago) I challenged myself to do some form of exercise every day up until and including Christmas Day. Aside from a couple of small blips - well, it was the end of the year and I was tired - I did surprisingly well. Given that tomorrow I will be running my first race of the year (a 10k in Battersea Park), I thought today was as good a day as any to take a look back at the challenge and see whether I achieved what I hoped I could.

I feel like the challenge achieved it's goal of helping me remember that I love exercise. Now I'm in a place where I can continue to exercise for the joy of it, rather than as a chore. Now we're well and truly into 2015 I've decided that my approach to exercise is going to be much more chilled, and I have this challenge to thank for that. No more beating myself up and feeling guilty if I don't make it to the gym after work and no more running through the pain. It's time to look after myself a bit better and do less frequent, but more effective, exercise. I want to run more for the fresh air, gym slightly less and spend more time practicing yoga.

I'm going for healthy, not obsessed.

I'm sure 25 Days of Fitness is something I will do again even though my thighs felt like lead by the end of my run on Christmas Day. I am a serial goal-setter because I love the satisfaction it brings when you succeed and the satisfaction I got from this, paired with some serious exercise related endorphins and a delightful thigh-burn, certainly made the challenge worthwhile. Time to think of the next one - perhaps training for my next half-marathon or getting that little closer to touching my toes (the latter is a life goal)!

I shared most of my progress on Twitter and Instagram and here is a roundup of my favourite photos. I did warn you at the beginning that it would mostly be my feet!

Running through Battersea Park | Running home from physio (not my best idea) | Yoga | Abs at the gym | A day walking around London | More yoga | A killer plank workout | I'm definitely a walking advert for Nike Dri-Fit | The tastiest post-gym salad | The tastiest post-run smoothie | Onto my emergency lycra | I love the stepper | Tired legs | Getting by with a little help from Rudolf | A walk in the country complete with rainbows | A Christmas morning run

Do you have any fitness goals for the new year?

twitter | facebook | pinterest | google+

2014 in Review: Moments

2014 has been a tricky year to say the least. I have been struggling with my mood which overshadowed everything and led to some pretty dark patches from around July onwards. I feel like I'm slowly digging my way back to the surface now and I can put a lot of it down to working hard to change the way I think. For the last two months I have been writing my 'What Made Me Happy This Week' posts and that has been the perfect way to hone in on the good and remind myself that there are still things that are making me smile.

I've decided to do the same for the year and list the moments that really stood out and gave me that warm fuzzy glow of contentment.

1// Trips This year I've been to Amsterdam and Italy, camped for the first time ever somewhere near Lowestoft and had a wonderful day trip to Hastings with some work friends.

2// Gigs My sister and I are huge music lovers and we made it our mission to see some of our favourite bands live this year (some for the second/third/fourth time). My favourites were You Me At Six, Bastille, and New Found Glory.

3// Discovering Yoga I have a running injury that I have never quite let heal properly and I thought yoga would be the perfect way to stretch out and gain some more flexibility to help ease the pain. I was right, but it has also given me so much more than that. It is an amazing way to relax and has given me goals to reach for.

4// Literary Pub Crawl Pub crawl? Books? What could be better?! My sister got us tickets for this organised tour which started in Fitzrovia and ended in Soho. It was so exciting (for me) to walk in the footsteps and drink in the locals of London's literary greats and the tour guide was wonderfully enthusiastic.

5// 10k Finsbury Park After having a disappointing year of running due to said injury, I decided to sign up for a10k in September. It hurt like hell, but I smashed it in just under 56 minutes and it gave me my running confidence back.

6// Family time My family come up in my weekly posts regularly because time with them never fails to make me happy. There have been some amazing moments spent with them this year, whether for big celebrations or quiet evenings in.

7// Interviewing people for CN In December last year I started volunteering for the website Centenary News to help them create a books page. It launched early this year and has been going from strength to strength. The highlight for me has been interviewing Taylor Downing and Paul O'Prey about their new releases. Not only was it ridiculously fascinating discussing science with Downing and poetry with O'Prey, but it also was quite the personal achievement to get past my fear and worry to actually have a conversation with someone.

Next year I'm going to take a better note of everything I do because my memory is the worst. I'm certain there have been so many other moments this year that I just can't remember. But I am also aware that I have done a lot less this year than I usually would so that again is something I will be working on in 2015. Yay for new goals!

How about you, what were the best moments of your 2014?

twitter | facebook | pinterest | google+

Don't forget to enter my giveaway or fill in my reader survey!

Things That Made Me Happy This Week #8

1// A two-day work week and Christmas tunes in the office Tuesday was my last day at work before Christmas and we celebrated by blasting a variety of Christmas classics. I managed to restrain myself from dancing and singing at full-volume to Wham as I'm pretty sure there would not have been many appreciative faces in the room. Now I don't have to look at or speak to a single therapist until 2nd January and you have no idea how happy that makes me.

2// Planning for our European Adventure My sister and I decided a few months ago that we were going to travel next year. We have both booked just over two weeks of annual leave for June and have a vague idea of where we want to go. We booked the Eurostar for the first leg of our trip at the weekend and now I'm getting into full on planning mode and loving it. I'll be talking more about the trip in the New Year.

3// Etta and Otto and Russell and James by Emma Hooper I started this at the weekend and very quickly plowed my way through. It's a wonderfully sad yet uplifting novel which to me seems to be the Canadian version of Harold Fry.

4// Deciding my Christmas Read I don't actually know why I make such a big deal about choosing the book I'll read over the Christmas period. I guess I think that Christmas is a time for happiness so it's only right that I chose an extra special book that I know will make me smile from ear to ear.

5// Being home Home cooked food, a roaring fire and family. It doesn't get much better than that.

6// Finishing my 25 Days of Fitness and knowing I'm not going to stop On Christmas morning I finished my 25 Days of Fitness challenge with a run. It was the perfect way to start Christmas Day and I'm so proud of myself for completing the challenge. Although I gave myself a break on Boxing Day, I got back to it yesterday and I can safely say it's become a habit.

7// Christmas Manicure I took my own advice and gave myself a Christmas manicure on Christmas Eve. Red and gold is always my standard and I love how it's turned out.

What has made you happy this week?

twitter | facebook | pinterest | google+

Don't forget to enter my giveaway or fill in my reader survey!

The Christmas Read

Merry Christmas Everyone! 

I hope you are all having the loveliest of days however you are spending it.

I'm just here with a quick post today because I know you have all been dying with anticipation to find out what this year's Christmas read is. I've mentioned that the book I read over the Christmas period is quite a big deal and that I take the decision very seriously, but I've been keeping it very quiet which book made the cut for this year. Although that is only because I just decided yesterday after finishing Etta and Otto and Russell and James (more on that later, it is beautiful). What can I say, I fly by the seat of my pants!

Before I get on to the big reveal I just want to really quickly let you know that I succeeded in my 25 Days of Fitness challenge. I finished off the challenge this morning when I was reunited with my favourite running partner for a pre-bucks-fizz run. What could be better?

Without further ado, the book which has been crowned my Christmas Read 2014 is...

[drum roll please]

Ta-da!

I went with New Grub Street by George Gissing and I couldn't be happier with my choice.

I'll leave you to your festivities now - I hope your day is filled with happiness, love and plenty of mince pies!

Which book was crowned your Christmas Read 2014?

twitter | facebook | pinterest | google+

Don't forget to enter my giveaway or fill in my reader survey!

Things That Made Me Happy This Week #6

1// Mince pies So many have been consumed and I'm not even sorry. I can't wait to indulge in one or two (definitely way more than that) of my Mum's homemade mince pies when I get home on Christmas Eve.

2// Wilkie I was heading back into another DNF daze earlier this week, but I decided to put the book down immediately and head to Wilkie for a quick pick-me-up. He never fails me, and that's why he's my main man. I read the novella 'Miss or Mrs?' and (obviously) adored it, so next up will be 'The Guilty River' for more mystery, intrigue and questionable feminism.

3// Bobble hats It is finally cold enough for me to crack out my selection of bobble hats. I look like a nerd, but my head is cosy - you win some, you lose some. A colleague asked me if my reindeer were parked outside, but I let that one slide.

4// Walking On Friday I knew doing a workout when I got home would be next to impossible (it's been a hard, exhausting week), so I did the next best thing and walked the four or so miles home. I go by way of Leicester Square, Trafalgar Square and then across the Embankment footbridge to the Southbank and on past Waterloo. It was a beautiful walk and one I will never tire of.

5// Planning In trying to keep my head above water I've starting planning things for later this month and for next year. I've got something exciting in the pipeline coming up on the blog soon, and I'm also planning a trip to Oxford in January. In my 25 before 25 list I said I want to take a solo trip somewhere and I think this will be it (not nervous at all). If you have any recommendations for Oxford (bookshops always welcome) then do let me know.

6// Etta and Otto and Russell and James by Emma Hooper This novel looks set to be one of the top debuts of 2015. I've heard rumblings about it around the internet and this week I realised why when a very special package dropped through my letter box. Published by Penguin and due in January, this is a novel about a journey, memory, longing and love. I've read the first few pages and they're beautiful so I can't wait to read more - this may be my Christmas book for this year.

How about you, what made you happy this week?

twitter | facebook | pinterest | google+

Don't forget to fill in my reader survey if there's anything you'd like to see more of on Lit Nerd.

Things That Made Me Happy This Week #5

1// Yoga I started doing bits of yoga here and there a while ago in an attempt to loosen up my hips and become more flexible. Even though I still find it incredibly hard as my muscles seem to be ridiculously tight, I'm loving the sense of calm it gives me. Plus I'm a sucker for a bit of muscle ache. Better than the calm and the aching though, is the opportunity to work towards a goal - one day I'll be able to do a downward dog with my whole foot touching the ground.

2// Taming the mane This week I finally had my hair cut for the first time since the start of the summer. It really needed it. I go to a walk-in place near work where they wash and cut with absolutely no extra fuss - I do not need my head massaging, thank you very much. Going to the hairdresser to me is like going to the dentist to others, but this place has such a 'bish bash bosh' vibe that I can almost handle it.

3// Station Eleven It seems to have been a week for this novel and I've certainly not been the only person reading it. I can barely put into words how incredible I think it is (I will try because I want to review it), even if it did freak me out a lot and make me worry that a sore throat I thought I was getting was actually the Georgia Flu. Yeh, I thought we were doomed for a moment there.

4// Writing You may have noticed that thing's have been a little more active around here recently and I think I'm almost ready to say that I've got my mojo back. It's been a difficult few months and it feels so good to be writing again and not only over here - I'm slowly starting to exercise my creative brain by writing a couple of other bits and bobs. I'd like to say that I'm so grateful you have all stuck around - thank you so much for always brightening my days.

5// Family time Seeing my family is starting to become a bit of a habit and I have to say it has been lovely. I've been back in Somerset this weekend for a wedding - the reception was in a marquee in our field (!) - and it's been brill to dress up and have a boogie with my nearest and dearest (even if some of the dancing should probably not have happened).

6// Compliments from elderly men At the wedding a lovely, if inebriated, chap I was stood by at the bar told me I had beautiful eyes and a beautiful smile. You've got to grab those moments whenever you can.

What about you, what made you happy this week?

twitter | facebook | pinterest | google+

25 Days of Fitness

It's no secret that I'm a big fan of fitness. I love the gym, I love to run and I love to cook up healthy meals (though I like a bit too much chocolate at times, too). I work out because I enjoy it and because nothing beats the feeling of a post-workout shower or those endorphins buzzing around. But even though I know I'm going to love it when I'm sweating on the stepper or sprinting my last kilometre, actually getting out and doing it can feel like a chore sometimes. I think that is in part because of the way I think about exercise when I'm not doing it - that is, that it is a weight management tool and must be done or I will balloon up several dress sizes. It's easy to see how demotivating that mindset is.

On Monday, after finishing a very satisfying yoga session, I decided to set myself a challenge. I want to make exercise a part of my daily routine that I look forward to. I don't mean that I'm going to spend an hour plus in the gym or casually knock out a 10k run every evening because, really, that's a little much. Instead the goal is to carve out at least fifteen minutes a day to do some form of exercise - whether that's some yoga, a run, the gym, or even a home workout. That's do-able, right? I'm aiming to exercise every day up until and including Christmas day. That's 25 days in a row and sounds pretty menacing, but we're already on day 4 and I'm still feeling motivated so there is hope for me yet.

I currently work out between three and five times a week so, for the most part, it won't be a huge change, but it will make an enormous difference to my health and happiness. I tend to struggle with motivation when winter hits and I'm starting and finishing work in the dark. Walking home in the dark and then dragging myself back out again in the freezing, blustery weather is just as hard as you'd think and I often fall prey to the comfort of my hot water bottle instead. Now we're in the countdown to Christmas it will be even harder and the lure of mince pies and stollen is often just too great (she says whilst chowing down on a mince pie).

So far this week I've done yoga, an at-home ab blast, and a session at the gym which included a run to and from. The secret is to mix things up, so the plan for today is a run followed by a yoga cool-down. And then tomorrow, well, who knows! Keeping it fresh, y'know.

They say it takes 21 days to build a habit, so here's to building a new healthy habit that will do wonders for my wellbeing.

I think I'll be tracking my progress with numerous trainer shots over on Instagram (I'm ellielitnerd over there) - the accountability should keep me from wavering.

How about you, do you have any goals to move more?

twitter | facebook | pinterest | google+

Things That Made Me Happy This Week #4

Waiting for NFG

1// Watching this documentary about happiness This documentary was some serious food for thought and put a lot of things in perspective for me. I'd really recommend a watch.

2// Bookish discussions in the staff room I had a lovely chat with one of the clinical team this week about books and the pleasures of reading. She was telling me that her mother still sees reading as the sort of activity you indulge in after 6pm and not before. As someone who indulges in reading at any time of the day or night I found this discussion really enlightening.

3// Cocktails with my parents My parents were in London again this week for a concert so my sister and I met them for a cheeky pre-show cocktail and dinner. There's nothing like a cocktail to perk the week up.

4// New Found Glory On Friday I went to The Forum in Kentish Town to see one of my all time favourite bands. I've been seeing NFG live for something like 10 years (I think I first saw them when I was 14) and I've actually lost count of how many times I've seen them. It was such a good show and the perfect way to re-live my teens.

5// Body confidence I'd be the first person to say that I really dislike the way I look. I could write a list as long as my arm of the things I don't like, but it occurred to me in the gym yesterday that I actually love my body because of how strong it is. I may not have the best figure or be the smallest in the room, but my body is undeniably powerful. I'm so quick to disregard the small things when I should really celebrate them. Last weekend, for example, I woke up and ran 9 miles. Given that I'm in physio for a dodgy hip and that I've not run more than 4 miles since September, I think thats quite a big deal. So from now on I'm going to forget about the outside and celebrate what's inside: strength.

What made you happy this week?

twitter | facebook | pinterest | google+

5 Reasons Why I Love Running

My favourite route along Albert Embankment

Tomorrow morning I am doing the Women's Running 10k in Finsbury Park. It will be the first race I've run since my last disastrous half marathon a year ago. I have a dodgy hip, a leg which insists on going dead somewhere around mile four, and my training has been painful to say the least. And yet, I am unbelievably excited. I might not get the time I hope for and I might exacerbate my dodgy hip and end up walking funny for while, but I don't care because I'll be pounding those pavements doing something I love and proving to my non-runners physique that I can, and will, do it.

I have been asked before why I like to run so much and it's actually pretty simple. Let me break it down for you.

1. The Quiet Waking up at stupid o'clock in the morning, lacing up my trainers and heading out before anyone else is even thinking of stirring is such a peaceful feeling. Although I live and run in London where you're hard-pressed to find any kind of solitude, it is surprisingly quiet running along the South Bank at dawn. Quiet and so very beautiful.

2. Anger Management Running is an excellent way to release any pent-up frustration. I tend to do short fast runs when I'm particularly worked up as I find channelling my energy into speed is a really good way to let go of any unwanted thoughts. You can't really focus on anger when you're busy trying to run your fastest mile. Starting arguments with people in my head is also an excellent way to get up a big hill.

3. The Buzz This is probably the most obvious reason for loving running: it makes you feel so darn good. If I do a really good run - hell, even if I do a really bad run - I feel like I can take on the day. 

4. Strength I run to prove to myself that I can. I run to improve to remind myself that I can do things, that I can achieve something if I put my mind to it. There is also an element of needing to prove to others that I can which probably isn't healthy. But for the most part I run to know that I can, and knowing that I can makes me stronger, more confident and a lot happier. This is the main reason I run.

5. Thinking Time Running is pretty conducive to thinking. I think about all sorts when I'm out. Sometimes really mundane things like what I'll cook for dinner, but other times I'll think about the big stuff, like what my life goals are. Goal setting whilst running is a good way to allow yourself to aim high - if you're on mile seven and still feeling strong then your motivation levels are probably taking quite the boost. There are days though when I don't want to think about anything except my legs, my lungs and the way my feet feel as they hit the floor. And that's alright too.

Running for me is more mental than physical. The physical aspects are huge and can't be ignored (hello, thunder thighs), but what I take from running and the many positive results are all mental. I run to feel good, to feel strong, to feel confident and, most of all, to have faith in myself.

If you're a runner why do you run? 

twitter | facebook | pinterest | google+

Review: Running Like a Girl

Running Like a Girl

Alexandra Heminsley

2013

'Every time I looked down to check I was confronted with the expanse of my thigh looming towards me'

Being quite the enthusiastic runner myself I was really quite excited to read this. Last year I read Murakami's 'What I Talk About When I Talk About Running' which completely merged my two favourites: reading and running. Since then I've always been on the lookout for similar memoir-type-things and I think I found a winner in this one. I can't say it is completely without fault, but any problems with it are only my own little issues and not actually important (mostly, I am a book snob).

So. Running Like a Girl. One thing I will completely praise about this book is its ability to ignite (or re-ignite) an enthusiasm for running as you read it. Every time I picked it up I felt like whacking my trainers straight on and heading out to pound the pavements. Which I did, by the way, but in horrendous heat so my enthusiasm quickly died or rather, melted away. I ran my first half marathon last year, my second in April and will be doing my third in September and I consider myself to be 'a runner'. I have been running since I was about 14 and even though to start with I disliked it (with a passion), something clicked in my second year of uni and I began running everyday. Initially for weight loss purposes but then as I realised the distances I could run it became more a way of challenging myself and proving to myself that I could do something. Something which she puts into words very well:

'The secret that all runners keep is that they don't do it for their bodies, but for their minds.'

The book is split into two parts. The first is Heminsley talking about her running journey and how she came to be a marathon runner. The second is more practical and includes some very interesting history on women in running and some less interesting advice and such on injuries, buying running kit etc. I found this less interesting because it seemed aimed at newer runners but it is a quirky and useful little addition to an entertaining book. The best bit of the second part is the history. Being a history lover, particularly when it comes to the ol' females, I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the obstacles that were placed in the way of women who wanted to run. Seriously, guys back then had the WEIRDEST ideas. For example, did you know that distance running could cause the uterus to fall out? No, me either...It never actually occurred to me that there would have been a time when women were not allowed to compete but it was not until 1972 that the Boston Marathon accepted women runners. 

I loved reading about Heminsley's journey. She does not hold back and really speaks the truth about the ups and downs of running (including some very amusing and oh so truthful anecdotes about underwear situations...I've had a few of those). She highlights the hardships of long-distance as well as demonstrating how much you can get out of it...be it weight loss, a sense of achievement or just an improved outlook on life.

I would recommend this to runners and non-runners alike. It is moving (seriously, I had to try and control myself on the tube more than once), funny, informative and most of all, honest (which I love). HOWEVER, I am (as yet) still adamant that I will never run a full marathon. It's the only thing I intend to do by half.

Insert shameless plug: I mention further up that I am doing another half in September (the 8th, to be precise). This one will be different though because it is in London and I am a charity runner. I applied for a place as a runner for Leukaemia and Lymphoma research and was accepted (WOOHOO). It is awesome and scary and I will probably tear up as I cross the finish but it will be SO WORTH IT. Anyway, if anyone fancies maybe supporting me, I have put a link to my justgiving in the side bar. End shameless plug.

twitter | facebook | pinterest | instagram

Copy received via NetGalley