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All I want for Christmas is....a run !

25/12/2018

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running, trail
Christmas conjures up all sorts of delicious smells for me; roast potatoes crisping in the oven, that strangely appealing odour of crackers just pulled, the sweet smell of warm mince pies and even the slightly dubious ones (Granny!).  But my favourite by miles, is the smell of salty, hot bacon wafting through cold fresh air as my husband and I reach the top of Leith Hill, the high point of our Christmas Day run. Add in the eye expanding view over the beautiful Surrey and Sussex countryside and there is no better place to be.

Escaping the chaos of our packed household on Christmas Day is a custom I have long bought into. Quite frankly all the fuss surrounding what is essentially in my mind an oversized roast dinner and the often conflicting ‘traditions’ imposed by visiting relatives can get all too much. Putting on my familiar running gear and if I’m lucky a new pair of Christmas socks and heading out that door whatever the weather, is my time. The best present I can give to myself (and I didn’t have to wrap it). My family have long accepted that this isn’t some sort of selfish lunacy (sometimes it is) but that it’s a drug free form of medication. I love leaving the warmth of the house and feeling my body adjust to the change in temperature and I love the fact that with a house full of people, these 60 minutes or so may be the only time my husband and I get to chat freely without the demands for batteries, hot water or frowns from parents in law about why our children are still in their pyjamas. Inevitably we bump into friends and exchange christmas wishes, laugh at our respective dogs playing chase and because we are British, comment on the weather. And it is that simplicity and giving my girls big hugs with cold hands on our return that makes my day. 

​And that smell of bacon? - well that is a tradition I am aspiring to and so come this Christmas, I will be heading out with my tiny MSR pocket rocket stove and a packet of bacon in my pack. So if you are out in the Surrey Hills and smell a hint of bacon on the wind, you know where to find us. We will pack extra. 

Happy Holidays
Jude
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10 Ways to keep your running mojo warm this winter

14/12/2018

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We all know that feeling when we are in love with running. We can’t wait to get through our daily routines to put on our trainers and hop, skip and jump out of the door onto the trails. Every run is a joy, we are focused and we are alive. Then suddenly, just as if we have lost our favourite run top, we lose our run mojo. It is as if our previously elastic legs are encased in concrete and we become expert at excusing away our lack of running. Something that we are all familiar with, especially during the winter as the nights draw in, rain hurls itself against the winter and the Christmas chocolates are already out. So if you are in need of a little run’spiration - why not try some of the following ....

 - Inspire someone else - take them running with you, show them a new route, enthuse them over a cuppa or a beer. Giving back to the sport you enjoy is enormously rewarding and can remind you why you do it.

 - Run for adventure, exploring rather than because you ‘have’ to. The day running becomes a task is the day enthusiasm starts to wane. Go run in a new area, find something on a map and go look for it or play the ‘ooo let’s go that way’ game. Nothing like something new to get your brain and legs whirring.

 - Reverse your route. Simple and ridiculously effective.

 - Treat yourself to a new bit of running kit and take it for a run. Whether it is a brand spanking new pair of trainers or a bobble hat from the charity shop it can give you a spring in your step. It’s kit after all!

 - Join a running group/club. Nothing like some friendly banter and maybe a bit of challenge to break you out of your run hum drum.

 - Follow runners on social media and see what daft things they are up to. 

 - Got the fancy watch? Download a GPX route from Strava and follow it.

 - Book a coaching session - winter is a great time to work on your running technique, getting stronger and planning your year ahead. Let us coaches enthuse and motivate you.

 - Sign up for an event. You know that one that slightly scares you or loads of your mates are doing.

 And finally...

 - Take a break. Relax, do something different. Wave goodbye to the culture of the more miles the better. Absence not only makes the heart grow fonder, time off running gives our amazing bodies time to recover and grow stronger.

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    Author

    All round lover of wild running and wild swimming. UK Athletics Fell/Trail Running Coach, SwimRun Coach and Personal Trainer in the Surrey Hills

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  • Home
  • Trail Run Coaching
    • Begin
    • Improve
    • Perform
    • Guided Runs
    • Coaching Packages
    • Swimrun coaching
  • Open Water Swim Coaching
  • Trail Running Escapes
    • FAQ and T&C's
  • Jude & the Surrey Hills
    • Blog