tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16191821849856766102024-03-13T09:04:32.158-07:00Stubborn BlondieA mildly competitive, stubborn blondeHelen Mortimerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694194632797282806noreply@blogger.comBlogger49125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1619182184985676610.post-49056058308157497912022-12-15T05:28:00.000-08:002022-12-15T05:28:24.697-08:00Interview with Pro Trail Runner Francesco Puppi<p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> <span style="color: #222222; text-indent: -72pt;">I am SO happy to announce my new interview with pro trail runner, Francesco Puppi.</span><span style="color: #222222; text-indent: -72pt;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-indent: -72pt;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Francesco is someone I have followed on social media for a long time, being an <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-indent: -72pt;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">extremely accomplished athlete, but also just a genuinely lovely, intelligent guy. He<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-indent: -72pt;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">is now 30 years old, living in Como, Italy where he is from. I was interested to hear<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-indent: -72pt;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">his take on environmentalism within the sport, something he has been quite vocal <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-indent: -72pt;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">on, at least in comparison to other athletes, so I hope you’ll enjoy this<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-indent: -72pt;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">chat as much as I did.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-indent: -72pt;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-indent: -72pt;"><span style="color: #222222;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnaE6Evlt3v9ha8T1_VVRpeQhZmIJyJFXC4eW_qE98DbXWePNFa-SRLYm7Of5cXacOUTqSe1q6t6Osu59RsclqX-dzjsncZbPm0-qK_vOriIC2BmbiCUeLAQ9MfGrTOLh_okElwifG9ARZ-InfsQCfP1-SJlo7s28tO92CC_7lCxbKwY_0JtOk7Wb6vw/s2000/IMG_4270.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnaE6Evlt3v9ha8T1_VVRpeQhZmIJyJFXC4eW_qE98DbXWePNFa-SRLYm7Of5cXacOUTqSe1q6t6Osu59RsclqX-dzjsncZbPm0-qK_vOriIC2BmbiCUeLAQ9MfGrTOLh_okElwifG9ARZ-InfsQCfP1-SJlo7s28tO92CC_7lCxbKwY_0JtOk7Wb6vw/w421-h280/IMG_4270.JPG" width="421" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-indent: -72pt;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-indent: -72pt;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The format of the interview is slightly different this time. I sent Francesco a list of 7 <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-indent: -72pt;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">questions, which were responded too via an audio message, so please expect my<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-indent: -72pt;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">first ever podcast-type recording to be released soon if you’d rather take a listen!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-indent: -72pt;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-indent: -72pt;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-indent: -72pt;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Helen: Could you give a brief run-down of who you are, what you're about and your history in running, i.e., some of your achievements which stand out to you.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-indent: -72pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #222222;">Francesco: Hi Helen, thank you for sending me this email with these great questions, and yeah, of course I’m happy to answer and I hope this helps. So about me, I’m an athlete, I’m 30 years old and I’m from Italy. I live in Como, that is in the North very close to the Alps and I’ve been running since I was 6 years old. I’ve always had a very strong passion for running but it wasn’t until my twenties that I started trail and mountain running, so my background is on the track, cross-country and on the roads. I wasn’t the most incredible talent when I was young, part of it is because I grew up really late, like when I was 25 years old, so the age gap was pretty big when I was in my youth and I think my passion was not linked to the race results or anything like that, but just the passion for running, for improving myself and to be able to get satisfaction and really see the results of the work that I was putting in. So, I have been used to running pretty good mileage since I was like 10 or 12 years old, like I started running long distance. I ran a half marathon when I was 13 for example. Maybe it was a little bit too soon but just to point out that, you know, I’ve always loved to run long distances. And some of the achievements that stand out for me…so I consider my best race the 2<sup>nd</sup> place that I took in 2019 at the World Mountain Running Championship in Patagonia, Argentina. That was a race around 40km with 2200 m elevation. I was 2<sup>nd</sup> behind Jim Walmsley and I think it was the best race of my career so far. Then last year for example, I won the Golden Trail Series world final in El Hierro in the Canary Islands that was another great achievement for me and this year I was second at the World Trail Running Championship behind </span><span style="color: #313640;">Stian Angermund</span><span style="color: #222222;"> and in front of J</span><span style="color: #313640;">on Albon</span> <span style="color: #222222;">on the short trail distance in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Besides that, I also wanted to point out, because for me it’s important, because I still put in effort to run well on the roads I ran 2 hours 16 mins in the marathon last year and I ran a 64 mins 40 s half marathon in 2020 and I’ve got a 29 mins 47 s pr on the 10km.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-indent: -72pt;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Helen: Tell us a bit about your career history - I understand you studied physics at university (as did I!), then became a teacher. Is this still your job or have you transitioned now to a full-time athlete?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-indent: -72pt;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Francesco: So, regarding my career history, yeah, I studied physics at university and then I became a teacher in high school. After university I didn’t really know what I wanted to do and the transition from my studies to getting a job wasn’t the easiest one. So maybe going back to school as a teacher was the most natural choice for me, in part because it left different options open. And then I’ve always enjoyed working with kids and inspiring other people and teaching them why physics has been important for me and has inspired me, like the very basic and simple ideas that it is based on; that of course get very complicated the deeper you get into it, but I think it’s a fascinating subject for very different reasons, so I wanted to try to pass on to the kids some of that. And that’s one of the reasons I became a teacher. Then yeah, I had an opportunity to become a professional athlete. I still keep a job as a freelancer because I cooperate with vert run, an app for trail runners, a platform for training, resources, community, podcasts and different things. I take care of some coaching for them, I host a podcast and I also take care of some content creation. So besides running and having a professional contract with Nike that is what I do on a daily basis. I also have a collaboration with the World Mountain Running Association and I take care of the World Mountain Running ranking basically keeping in touch with the different races and their organisers, updating the calendars the athlete’s profiles and everything so yeah. My days are quite full but the good thing is that my work is flexible, I can work from anywhere so it’s never difficult to find the time for training and to travel to the races and everything. But yeah, I would’ve never imagined 4 or 5 years ago to become a professional athlete and I’m really grateful for this opportunity, like getting paid for something that is my passion, that I love, you know, to get recognition for that, someone that trusts you and believes in what you’re doing is pretty special to me so yeah, I’m really happy about my situation now. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #222222;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjokItFjt3v6slQOHUPYQvN_h4nZMokUUAhIbAQYk_9hAFZyZ_1b3nYCWUaKZ4DBjfNTkC7fa79h9v7U6Q4Twildb9hfDJPFBYDKqPyZ-1tF389CE0U0wRhDAP07SckBZS-vKIJp_brxhrVU4UYRk4dnSA4NjdLMGCnjF2l2tu4apw94h77eIndYLayxg/s3750/1_francessco_nike_sa701066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" data-original-height="3750" data-original-width="2500" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjokItFjt3v6slQOHUPYQvN_h4nZMokUUAhIbAQYk_9hAFZyZ_1b3nYCWUaKZ4DBjfNTkC7fa79h9v7U6Q4Twildb9hfDJPFBYDKqPyZ-1tF389CE0U0wRhDAP07SckBZS-vKIJp_brxhrVU4UYRk4dnSA4NjdLMGCnjF2l2tu4apw94h77eIndYLayxg/w191-h287/1_francessco_nike_sa701066.JPG" width="191" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin99mY3HlxhZj4ZL0HkPUyB43Y7mpbuAksoPUxjQZUmuSBEhHeTVryLFl9TUAa9fV220QT5snxQj6beCTxS9YWDgqkHyc7whgHbdMgzT2nYOTfP5dpUyqr6T_i7Qbid0yZKVDJsm72ODutmRSfI3w1-2Dwn7Xw_oodWY8CF7Ax6VXicvTQONdMB6FNxQ/s2500/055_@jsaragossa.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2500" data-original-width="1666" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin99mY3HlxhZj4ZL0HkPUyB43Y7mpbuAksoPUxjQZUmuSBEhHeTVryLFl9TUAa9fV220QT5snxQj6beCTxS9YWDgqkHyc7whgHbdMgzT2nYOTfP5dpUyqr6T_i7Qbid0yZKVDJsm72ODutmRSfI3w1-2Dwn7Xw_oodWY8CF7Ax6VXicvTQONdMB6FNxQ/w191-h286/055_@jsaragossa.JPG" width="191" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE8xW97Bxu0LxteAAA4BGYceGVQw4Zy8VCkrJaC4qZx5gu5bf0hhPB45T5e8uXoVkBMFshSbhYEnKW8LyD_H0nQj9lWdUXSrYxIg5x5idyXy8bMdMmxSxhXKUudXHodMcwSZRsMHWLUTUDA4dxBMx9Vk8l8VBQvfneiTV7l2XFZykobGlJR43uFXLxFg/s2500/148_@jsaragossa.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2500" data-original-width="1666" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE8xW97Bxu0LxteAAA4BGYceGVQw4Zy8VCkrJaC4qZx5gu5bf0hhPB45T5e8uXoVkBMFshSbhYEnKW8LyD_H0nQj9lWdUXSrYxIg5x5idyXy8bMdMmxSxhXKUudXHodMcwSZRsMHWLUTUDA4dxBMx9Vk8l8VBQvfneiTV7l2XFZykobGlJR43uFXLxFg/w190-h286/148_@jsaragossa.JPG" width="190" /></a></div></div></div><br /><br /><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-indent: -72pt;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Helen: Who are your biggest inspirations in either the running world or more generally, and why?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-indent: -72pt;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Francesco: I think I get different inspirations from many, many athletes for different reasons. It’s not that I have like an idol or anything like that whether that’s in trail or road running, but there are a lot of athletes that inspire me a lot for different reasons. One athlete that I really look up to is Molly Seidel, she’s a marathoner, she took 3<sup>rd</sup> at the Olympic games last year, for the way she runs and also for her voice in the sport. I think she’s brave enough to share her weaknesses and her struggle sometimes and just to take running seriously but at the same time not being too serious about herself and to me that has been really inspirational, like she is an athlete that I really admire in this particular moment. Then of course it’s easy to be inspired by Kilian Jornet, by Eliud Kipchoge, by Jim Walmsley, by Courtney Dauwalter, you know, Ruth Croft, so many great athletes, um, Emily Fosberg. Each one of them has tonnes of reasons to teach us something, so it’s hard for me to pick one. But yeah, maybe I’d choose the name of Molly Seidel who you know is someone that is maybe not the most typical athlete that people see as an idol or a person to look up to, but for me it’s been really important. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-indent: -72pt;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Helen: You've been quite vocal about environmental issues and how these relate to athletes. You are part of the Outdoor Friendly Pledge and the Kilian Jornet Foundation. Tell us a bit about these and why you joined them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-indent: -72pt;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Francesco: Yeah, I’m part of the Outdoor Friendly Pledge that was launched by the Kilian Jornet Foundation and to me it’s really important to be a part of this project. I think as athletes we have a voice which is important to share. Of course, it’s important to take action as individuals and I try to limit in any way I can my impact on the environment, but I am aware that I can use my voice and my recognition to inspire other people to do the same. So, for me, it has been really important and to feel part of a community that values that within my sport is also really important. So, I think it’s important not to pretend to be perfect because nobody is and the to realise that running is ultimately a good thing, we are not impacting the environment that much. Of course, most of the impact comes from travelling to different places and to competitions, so it’s important to pay attention to that but also to realise that we aren’t the bigger problem. But we have this power to speak up and inspire other people, other sports and people who are maybe not involved with trail running to be more outdoor friendly. I think this has great value. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-indent: -72pt;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Helen: How do you think large brands in the sport can pave the way in environmentalism, such as through their regulations and ethics, for us as athletes? International travel is clearly an issue, but as you phrased it, 'no athletes= no competition = no sport'.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-indent: -72pt;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Francesco: I see a lot of possibilities for athletes that are opening up in the outdoor sports, particularly in trail running. I think that athletes are starting to have more power to influence the way that brands and sponsors work. So, I think if elite athletes have clear values of environmentalism and the fact that we put it at the centre of our attention, the climate issue, just trying to limit our impact as athletes we can also influence the way that brands produce, and they work basically. We can really push them to be more environmentally friendly, we can really influence their regulations and ethics. That’s one important thing because are just a few people, but we have a powerful voice, especially when we unite because we have a great influence on the community I think, and ultimately, we are what drives the sport forward. So again, this goes back to the previous questions I answered, like if you know elite athletes are the driving force for this change then the community will follow, and the brands will be forced to follow our priorities. And if among our priorities are environmentalism and respect for our planet, limiting emissions and everything like that then I think we can strive to build a better economy. Then of course, I see it’s very political. Our greatest influence comes by far from the way we vote so we should always pay attention to that from political leaders. Then just the way our economy is built that unfortunately so far has not taken into account the fact that our planet is limited. We still believe an idea of an endless progress that is just not possible, not true, not compatible with the planet where we live, so yeah, I think this is a really vast, broad topic but that’s pretty much what I think. And yeah, international travel is clearly an issue but of course we are athletes, this is our job, we need to compete. It’s important to plan a calendar and pick our races wisely because it’s always possible to limit international travels, like we don’t have to do 5 or 10 international travels per year but maybe just a couple are enough. And that has some impact on the planet but it’s not as big as many other things that we do and its one way to still compete at the highest level, and at the same time limit our impact on the planet. Because of course, no athletes means no competition, means no sports so we would be talking about nothing.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-indent: -72pt;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Helen: What do you think athletes, both amateur and elite, can do to reduce our impact on the environment through our sport?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-indent: -72pt;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Francesco: So, to reduce our impact, as I said, mainly is travelling to the competitions and I think the points that are on the Outdoor Friendly Pledge under the athlete’s tab, they’re really good, so I would suggest checking out those. Then, more in general, think about the way we live, the way we eat and the way we consume. So like try to buy only the things that we really need when it comes to equipment, cars, our homes and everything we use to live. Of course, we are immersed in a culture and business model that encourages us to buy more things, more and more things that we don’t need. You know, Black Friday was just a few days ago and it’s the festival of consumerism, so we should have the courage to go against these trends and realise what we really need because that can have the most impact on the planet. And then of course, the way we eat is also really important. I’m not saying that everyone should go vegetarian or vegan but you know there are some behaviours that we can do to reduce our impact on the environment, of course, like limiting our consumption of meat and then, yeah, just try to buy local products, support local farmers, find sustainable protein sources and also realise that we may not need as much protein as a lot of people say. My diet is actually mostly based on complex carbs I think, so, I think for athletes its really good. So yeah, as always, it’s very basic things, it’s important to take care of them every day. And then I’m thinking about travelling, a lot of times I see people that want to travel to exotic places and go on vacation to the other side of the world, without maybe realising that we have so many amazing places close to where we live and we don’t need to go to the Maldives Islands to have a great vacation, cause that’s maybe not a good option for the environment. So yeah, just think about different ways to reduce our impact on the planet in everything we do. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-indent: -72pt;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Helen: If you had not become a pro runner, what would you have pursued instead?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-indent: -72pt;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Francesco: I think if I had not become a pro runner I would’ve still liked to work within the sport or in the field of physics. I think I could exploit my degree in physics in different ways. One of the things that I really wanted to do was to work for an energy company, for example, to develop some kind of renewable or work in that sector. Of course, doing something related to the environment, improving energy efficiency, ultimately doing something good for people and the planet. So, I would’ve probably ended up doing something like that or I don’t know, just working within the sport of trail running, for a federation, a brand or just the same as I’m doing now. I’m working for Vert, I’m a freelancer, I’m working for different, not brands, but a federation, a start-up and then sometimes I write articles for different magazines. I don’t know if I could’ve made a living just on that, but it would’ve been kind of nice. So, I think this is all I had to say and thank you again for your questions, they’re very insightful and I hope this helps.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-indent: -72pt;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-indent: -72pt;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-indent: -72pt;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-indent: -72pt;"><span style="color: #222222;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMR1k4NMdqU6--7f8Gp5IOXX8WH1b1d_-tmDtPVOtOHICU5lrc9Ffs7ON83EAUokDByWItTwlcDzHrkxk0vaAU5Em3TkobjPIEB3yHytTHmAJY8X9y-h7X-Nsj3gqqHiBWGzBmW-Rs0jjJS_klL9CYdrtCbnkSQzxkRo5Ew6-OOMgVyNDBuE04A8HyKg/s2000/IMG_4277.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMR1k4NMdqU6--7f8Gp5IOXX8WH1b1d_-tmDtPVOtOHICU5lrc9Ffs7ON83EAUokDByWItTwlcDzHrkxk0vaAU5Em3TkobjPIEB3yHytTHmAJY8X9y-h7X-Nsj3gqqHiBWGzBmW-Rs0jjJS_klL9CYdrtCbnkSQzxkRo5Ew6-OOMgVyNDBuE04A8HyKg/w438-h291/IMG_4277.JPG" width="438" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left; text-indent: -72pt;">Thanks so much for reading guys!! You can find Francesco at <a href="https://www.instagram.com/francesco.puppi/?hl=en">@francesco.puppi</a> on Instagram, Any </span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-indent: -72pt;"><span style="color: #222222;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left; text-indent: -72pt;">Surface Available podcast on Spotify and if you're nosy like me, at Francesco Puppi on Strava. Keep an eye out for the podcast version coming out soon :) Lovely to speak to you Francesco!</span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-indent: -72pt;"><span style="color: #222222;"><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm;"><o:p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></o:p></p>Helen Mortimerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694194632797282806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1619182184985676610.post-88681951847898718092022-06-24T08:55:00.001-07:002022-06-24T08:55:42.438-07:00Interview With Abby Hall<p> <span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>Interview with Ultrarunner Abby Hall:</u></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">I've been fortunate enough to land an interview with yet ANOTHER prominent ultrarunner, Abby Hall. Currently residing in Flagstaff, Arizona, as is a classic for elite ultrarunners it would seem, Abby was introduced to running at school through track and field. Although not originally planning on pursuing this as a career she was later introduced to the world of ultrarunning whilst working as a (very talented) graphic designer in Boulder, Colorado, where she met her now-husband, Cordis Hall, both professional trail runners for Adidas TERREX. Some of you may in fact know her work if you own a copy of Jason Koop's book, 'Training Essentials For Ultrarunning' (second edition), for which Abby was responsible for making look so pretty and well laid out. Some of Abby's notable running achievements include 2nd place at UTMB CCC 100k back in 2021 (an extra-special race given she had originally placed 8th there in 2019), 2nd woman at Canyons 100k in 2021 then in two races only recently, 2nd woman at the 125k Transgrancanaria in March and 1st woman at the Innsbruck Alpine 65k just last month. So you could say she is...ehem...*somewhat of a big deal*.</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNeztLVboevx3Tag6b9Iip7XAR4cgCL8cXhCQUGTQN9QUSG6Vsaauz1br7Zxv7lzJU4mYTvLGfVRFPWhqnueFd83h7aFMQ0Zh7WYgfnr2W8Xnqx_asVCrOdXAo7uVWPScMpR_ARjxXR3OlS0rOPLTwzmij0zYD3mzqs2VhUxQK1pg1LQFvAbyxrOj-Vg/s1087/Screen%20Shot%202022-06-01%20at%2015.58.12.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="725" data-original-width="1087" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNeztLVboevx3Tag6b9Iip7XAR4cgCL8cXhCQUGTQN9QUSG6Vsaauz1br7Zxv7lzJU4mYTvLGfVRFPWhqnueFd83h7aFMQ0Zh7WYgfnr2W8Xnqx_asVCrOdXAo7uVWPScMpR_ARjxXR3OlS0rOPLTwzmij0zYD3mzqs2VhUxQK1pg1LQFvAbyxrOj-Vg/w383-h255/Screen%20Shot%202022-06-01%20at%2015.58.12.png" width="383" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo credit to Ian Corless</td></tr></tbody></table><span></span><p></p><a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Something also worth a mention is Abby's two attempts on the FKT (fastest known time) for the John Muir Trail in California which stretches 223 miles from Mount Whitney all the way to Yosemite Valley with a mere* 44,000ft of climbing. Having attempted this record first in 2016 unsuccessfully, if you can really describe even an attempt at such a feat unsuccessful, she returned in 2020 for a second attempt unsupported (carry all gear by herself and not meeting any crew along the way for any help). Although narrowly missing the record by 6 hours, 20 minutes, Abby completed this enormous journey in just 4 days, 11 hours and 20 minutes becoming the second fastest woman and 6th fastest person ever to have completed this route. Running such a distance in such a style of an FKT puts your body and mind under unimaginable stress which is shown by the hallucinations Abby had to battle on day 4. Just finishing is a very rare achievement I hope others can aspire to as much as myself. If you are interested in a short video about this FKT attempt you can find it at: </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxnG3svwamw">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxnG3svwamw</a>.</p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">*a shit tonne</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">So getting into the interview...</span></p><div><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">"You were introduced to running in 5th grade through a series of races ran with your family in Vermont. Was it instant love and obsession or more of a natural slow progression through to now?"</span></i></div><div><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"The love was instant; the progress was slow and steady! I would consider myself obsessed right out of the gate. I started a training log as a 5th grader and would go practice running the contours of the turns at the county meet so that I could nail it on race day. I had a desire to be excellent at running from a young age. The pursuit of what I might be capable of has kept me going for over 20 years now, which is crazy because in some ways I feel like I'm just getting rolling. "</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><i>"If asked for a summary of your running career, what would you say?"</i></span></div><div><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"Great love > clinging too tightly to outcomes > heartbreak > continuing because I loved it > letting go of outcomes > prioritizing consistency and process > performance from a place of love and presence. Repeat as necessary. "</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">"A lot of runners are very data driven, would you say your training is orientated around numbers or are you more of the 'run by feel' type?"</span></i></div><div><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"The main number I consider is duration. The main feeling I consider is RPE or rating of perceived exertion. I definitely enjoy reviewing my workout splits and numbers, but I've found it's important to know when to throw it out the window and not read too much into it. Above all, I think a properly-calibrated scale of RPE is the most valuable tool you can bring into racing an ultra."</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><i>"I think it was in 2016 you met your now husband Cordis. Tell us about the first meeting and the progression of your relationship. You seem like such a power couple!"</i></span></div><div><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"Thank you! Cordis and I first met at a group run in Boulder. I was doing a lot more technical climbing and scrambling at the time, and was telling Cordis I planned to go do the Kiener's Route on Longs Peak by myself that weekend. Cordis was worried about me onsighting the route without being shown the proper line, so he told me if I waited until he was done with work at 5:00 that he would go with me and show me the way. I don't think either of us thought of it as a date until we were suddenly on the North Face of Longs at sunset sharing our own little corner of paradise together. After that, we never stopped adventuring together, moved in together shortly after, and the rest is history! We got married in 2019. "</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><i>"How do you balance supporting each other for races? I notice you have run a few together, are they mostly joint goals that you share or do you take it in turns to make big goals?"</i></span></div><div><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Overall, I would classify them as individual goals that we support one another towards. For example, if I'm crewing Cordis, I see it as his goal that I want to do everything in my ability to help him achieve. Sometimes our goals collide in similar timeframes and we've got to divide and conquer, like during UTMB week for example. This past year, Cordis ran TDS which goes from Tuesday-Wednesday, and I ran CCC on Friday. Even though I wanted to crew him through the night at TDS, I had to get a full night's sleep before CCC to set myself up for success. It's those moments where it takes a lot of trust to be able to let go and say, "see you on the other side!" </span></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbgsUogEms-WdxNyzycE1JE5B6sPbJVGQ_rboK3XiiNPJS-O5QBsjtB31WnKX8lNRP-SbkONej5mJeQC9aypPy_8hWwVNAWmzzE0tsqg0ta8mNUfAzJsceX4DMMqPP9MRfnUxVASwcBRlh0G6SJ4DEdJ-kmDN1_9x-S0Cy-RpKH4i1AgxONXESswyBWg/s1087/Screen%20Shot%202022-06-01%20at%2015.57.59.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="724" data-original-width="1087" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbgsUogEms-WdxNyzycE1JE5B6sPbJVGQ_rboK3XiiNPJS-O5QBsjtB31WnKX8lNRP-SbkONej5mJeQC9aypPy_8hWwVNAWmzzE0tsqg0ta8mNUfAzJsceX4DMMqPP9MRfnUxVASwcBRlh0G6SJ4DEdJ-kmDN1_9x-S0Cy-RpKH4i1AgxONXESswyBWg/w408-h271/Screen%20Shot%202022-06-01%20at%2015.57.59.png" width="408" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo credit to Ian Corless</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">"What would you say the best and worst parts of van life have been for you so far?"</span></i></div><div><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The best part without a doubt is the combination of simple living and immediate access to wherever it is we want to be. To wake up and open the door with a big cup of coffee and know that we've got a bed, a little kitchen, and a hot shower has a way of instantly rooting me down every time. The worst part has been figuring out how to winterize our water system, a meticulous, but important detail! </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">"Do you have any philosophy you follow on nutrition? I know you are vegan, are there any other (for lack of a better word) rules you follow?"</span></i></div><div><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">For me being vegan is not so much a rule around food as it is a moral framework. Another way I put it to myself, "eat whatever you want, just don't bring animals into it." Because I am able to go to the store and make a choice about the food that I eat, I feel like it's an easy choice to opt for one that doesn't exploit animals. I've been vegan for about 8 years now and I don't really think about it anymore. </span></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222; font-variant-caps: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="im" style="color: #500050; font-family: inherit;"><div><i>"What does a typical week of training look like for you?"</i></div><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><b><br /></b></div></span><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"I often take a rest day on Monday. I usually have two workouts per week, sandwiched between easy endurance runs and a long run on the weekend. Beyond that, I do two sessions of strength work per week, plus some yoga as I crave it. I see my physio every other week for body work and it's not uncommon for me to also weave in sauna sessions after my runs. "</span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><i>"What are a couple of either your favourite memories from running or people you have met through the running community who inspire you?"</i></span></div><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="im" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #500050;"></span><span class="im" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #500050;"></span><span class="im" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #500050;"></span><span class="im" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #500050;"></span><span class="im" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #500050;"></span><span class="im" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #500050;"></span><span class="im" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #500050;"></span><span class="im" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #500050;"></span></span></p><div style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"Some of my favorite memories from running are: my first date with Cordis on Longs Peak, my four all-nighters on the trail while going for the JMT FKT and running through Chamonix on my way to finish 2nd at CCC. There are so many people in this community who inspire me, but what immediately comes to mind is our adidas TERREX team. We're a group of trail runners from all over the world and all walks of life who come together and support one another. Most of us speak different languages and run different kinds of races, but the trails bring us together like a family. That's about as good as it gets to me!"</span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">That concludes our interview, if you'd like to follow along with Abby you can find her at @abby.k.hall on Instagram (</span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/abby.k.hall/)">https://www.instagram.com/abby.k.hall/</a>). Her Strava is also worth a follow :) Keep an eye out for the next race in Abby's calendar, UTMB CCC 100k which I am very excited to watch. I really hope you enjoyed reading, I'd like to thank Abby for the privilege of speaking with her and for her amazing patience in me actually writing this interview up whilst I completed my final year university exams, it's really appreciated and has been a pleasure!</div><div style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;"><br /></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;">Lots of love as always,</div><div style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;">Helen xx</div><div style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;"><br /></div><div style="caret-color: rgb(34, 34, 34); color: #222222;">p.s. let's get after it</div>Helen Mortimerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694194632797282806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1619182184985676610.post-21360342719649645052022-04-18T02:04:00.000-07:002022-04-18T02:04:07.720-07:00Interview with Ultrarunner Adam Peterman<p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span>Those of you who haven't heard the name Adam Peterman before would be forgiven. At only 26 years old, he has somewhat exploded into the trail/ultra scene in the past year or so, without much prior warning, although already a reasonably accomplished runner. Having ran through High School at Hellgate (Montana, US) and then collegiately at the University of Colorado where he majored in geology (accompanied by environmental science), his background makes perfect sense to pursue trail running. With a love for the outdoors cultivated at home by both friends and family, a degree quite literally studying the outdoors and having been extremely active his whole life, there couldn't be better candidate. His resume now includes several wins and a course record at the Moab Trail Marathon, the speedgoat 50k course record (he set this in 2021), a win and course record at Chuckanut 50k only last month amongst many other impressive achievements. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmtweHwra6OpStW_X1bvqRVwijX7XMQo6zmBscEf83EJKd_bqa6zr9gYPHx89jOWqNtCZvTOUWOR2dehuRX_gRFzE1HZ3fyw2eZqtrsyw0tDkaLHigqYIBM1Aq2HYK2lSlJnVtKlqZPW1WHA2h3ccQENLthfog3_s8VjiAvLOkwkIa0pzv0t9MlodSJw/s1080/Peterman_Hoka_action.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="864" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmtweHwra6OpStW_X1bvqRVwijX7XMQo6zmBscEf83EJKd_bqa6zr9gYPHx89jOWqNtCZvTOUWOR2dehuRX_gRFzE1HZ3fyw2eZqtrsyw0tDkaLHigqYIBM1Aq2HYK2lSlJnVtKlqZPW1WHA2h3ccQENLthfog3_s8VjiAvLOkwkIa0pzv0t9MlodSJw/s320/Peterman_Hoka_action.jpg" width="256" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0NixjEqXEDtCGIOipVQOnCqyiEVpJgsuCH5OorSYTkn5PsLJ5vEBNbXrAA3o_tf76pZLdsS-J3JgQruYbQp7vqEAbNX7J9TE9-w3-0Hb5aFZ3VkCKDUEuZzRGzlKH2EFmhG5TAyUpY6ASbkROjfn_4Xycttak_Sc-hAEpnw7ZJ7gJUe15UmQLmRhd8A/s6240/Peterman_Hoka_Headshot.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6240" data-original-width="4160" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0NixjEqXEDtCGIOipVQOnCqyiEVpJgsuCH5OorSYTkn5PsLJ5vEBNbXrAA3o_tf76pZLdsS-J3JgQruYbQp7vqEAbNX7J9TE9-w3-0Hb5aFZ3VkCKDUEuZzRGzlKH2EFmhG5TAyUpY6ASbkROjfn_4Xycttak_Sc-hAEpnw7ZJ7gJUe15UmQLmRhd8A/s320/Peterman_Hoka_Headshot.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Photo credits: Left, Seth Orme (IG: seth.orme), right, Evan Barnes (IG: evanbarnes__)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div> Adam was kind enough to sit down with me over Zoom (Montana is quite far away from Glasgow) and allow me to pick his brain. We talked about High School, road and trail running, his training and goals, nutrition as well as some favourite memories. I always like to ask interviewees their most embarrassing moment (just to remind us they are human too, despite their accomplishments) and I think Adam's might be one of the best I get! The next big race on the calendar for Adam is the Canyons 100k April 23rd, which could land him which, if successful, will give him shot at running either the OCC, CCC or UTMB, as well as a possible ticket to Western States, none of which he has competed in before, but as discussed in our interview, he would prefer to do a UTMB race first to protect his longevity in the sport being only 26. It was a pleasure meeting a guy with such a head screwed on, in no rush to compete at every distance/event just yet, but crushing goals he sets one step at a time with a long term perspective on the sport. Please feel free to tune in and follow his progress at the race through their Facebook page: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/runcanyons/">https://www.facebook.com/runcanyons/</a>.<span><a name='more'></a></span><div><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span>So let's get into it :) Some of my questions here are paraphrased from the actual interview, as are a couple of Adam's responses. I realised looking back on the recording that we both like to say the word 'like' and 'um' rather a lot!</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span><i>When discussing trail/ultra running in general, I mentioned the community and how this is the group I identified most with myself, to which his response was:</i></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span>"It's a unique community for sure, cause I always ran when I was younger and I always thought that of all the sports, running was really tight knit, and then I really liked trail running as well because at these longer races, no matter if you're really fast or at the back of the pack, everyone's really happy to be done. Cause it's like this big challenge for them and you don't always see that, like when I was running at college, it's not that hard to run a 1500m race right? So not everyone who finished is very happy with their performance. I like that in these longer races, you might have someone who had a pretty rough day out there, but they're like 'I still ran a 50k so at least I finished'...I like that aspect of it."</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><i>"I tend to find road and track runners to focus very much on the small details, which makes sense as you're trying to shave seconds not hours off of your times, but that's not the type of person I am. Is that why you made the transition to trail?"</i></p><p style="text-align: left;">"With road running or running on track, it was really easy to start overthinking things and I don't know why cause running's quite a simple activity. But yeah, I definitely felt like when I was in college I gave running too much thought, to a point where it wasn't helpful...I like trail running and UltraRunning because it's a lot less specific, not to say...I still write my training like everyday and stuff like that, but I found that it's a lot easier to coach yourself and train yourself...in college I felt like everyday was so important and all these workouts you had to nail"</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNQIXlkTvz7dkwDun7CXwU3NNakHXqHOVr5bY1xuXHFqByuhDtLjSKbpGLLjsXeRGwLcRAbWtXPvVr11ipg25iz4ikrWdpNqCpHiHcSSDoAVNHvkNgRbUkzk14fH-4L36stP8CNkV1fEJuQRo24UootXQQyrlQU7dU8sfCu1FyF_XTdgl2sFdnO2C8Kw/s788/Screen%20Shot%202022-04-13%20at%2023.08.15.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="725" data-original-width="788" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNQIXlkTvz7dkwDun7CXwU3NNakHXqHOVr5bY1xuXHFqByuhDtLjSKbpGLLjsXeRGwLcRAbWtXPvVr11ipg25iz4ikrWdpNqCpHiHcSSDoAVNHvkNgRbUkzk14fH-4L36stP8CNkV1fEJuQRo24UootXQQyrlQU7dU8sfCu1FyF_XTdgl2sFdnO2C8Kw/s320/Screen%20Shot%202022-04-13%20at%2023.08.15.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">"<i>I was gonna ask about your training actually. Is that like a training...philosophy? Some people run by feel on the day listening to their bodies, but you said you write it all out?"</i></p><p style="text-align: left;">"Yeah, I've been coaching myself ever since college, I write my training at the beginning of each week and have like an overall plan for each block leading into a race. But I really like the fact that I coach myself because I'm not really letting anyone down if I pull the plug. I think that's been successful because it allows you to definitely listen to your body a little bit more. Then on the other side if I feel really good I might push it pretty hard and I think if I had a coach they would be frustrated that that would happen sometimes when they didn't prescribe it.</p><p style="text-align: left;">I try to have one day a week where I run a little bit faster, hopefully closer to 6 minute pace for like 90 minutes, and then I try to do one day, I call it 'vert day', I just try to get a bunch of climbing and it's relatively long and then I usually do a long run. And yeah, that's my philosophy."</p><p style="text-align: left;">"<i>What types of races do you have coming up now? Obviously you just smashed the 50k into pieces..."</i></p><p style="text-align: left;">"So in 4 weeks I'm doing the Canyons 100k, it'll be my longest race and the big one for the spring. What's exciting about that race is if you get top 3 there, you qualify for Western States, or in my case, I don't have any UTMB points so if I get top 3 at Canyons I'd actually qualify for UTMB or OCC or CCC. I really do want to run Western States but I'm only 26 so I just don't want to burn myself out".</p><p style="text-align: left;"><i>"Do you cross-train at all to help you not burn out?"</i></p><p style="text-align: left;">"Yeah, I really like cross-training, I try to get out on the bike maybe 3 times a week in the afternoons, but I just really like biking. I'd guess I get about 5 hours a week biking and a lot of my friends here bike too. I started doing this thing where I have this backpack that's full of 50 lbs of sand and I just hike up the local hill and walk back down and that's my strength training for the week."</p><p style="text-align: left;"><i>" What would you say were some of your favourite memories from running?"</i></p><p style="text-align: left;">"I feel like probably my favourite memory from running would be High School. The first and only time I broke 9 minutes in the 2 mile. It was just a really big deal to me. So that was my senior year, by my 3rd year we had travelled down to California to do this big meet and I ended up doing terribly in the 2 mile. We found out that I had anaemia, like I'd been training too hard or something maybe just cause I was growing. So I was really frustrated the entire 3rd year. To show up at the same meet a year later and break 9 in the 2 mile was something that seemed so far off the year before, so that was really cool. </p><p style="text-align: left;">Then I feel like in this last year I've had some really good memories from races and like I was saying, these training runs I do with my friends where we just go for some long run, share these really great views and kind of tough runs then we all pile into the car and go get fast food".</p><p style="text-align: left;"><i>"Are there specific people in the trail running world that have been an inspiration?"</i></p><p style="text-align: left;">" I think the biggest one is the guy I was talking about earlier (I have not included this part of the conversation actually to prevent too much text! I asked him about how he had so much time for training earlier on in our chat, to which he replied he had a particularly understanding boss being a professional runner for North Face himself, as well as only working part-time...), Mike Foote. He is the race director for The Rut so he's one of my bosses, but the unique thing is that when I was in High School running at Hellgate (where Adam now coaches), he was an assistant coach there. "</p><p style="text-align: left;"><i>"Is he the one you did Death Valley to Mount Whitney with?"</i></p><p style="text-align: left;"><i>"</i>Yeah, he's that one!"</p><p style="text-align: left;">**CONTEXT: For Adam's senior project in High School he completed a human powered (bike and run/hike) trip from below sea level in Death Valley, 135 bike ride then summited over 14,000 feet up Mount Whitney all with his coach, Mike Foote**</p><p style="text-align: left;">" He was a great mentor for me during High School. I looked at his lifestyle like the type of running he did (ultrarunning) and though that's what I wanna do when I'm older. Then in college I got more removed from that cause your just not surrounded by trail runners and ultra runners in a team like that. Then I also look at Jim Walmsley. I was definitely inspired by him because I felt like he was a runner in college and put up some pretty good times and then just the way he transitioned into trail running, really attacked it and went for it I thought was pretty cool. I feel like a lot of people say 'oh, it's insane what he's doing' but he knows what he's doing andI just look at him like that's really cool he did that, and I think it paved the way for some of us. We raced a mile when I wa sin college and he was in the Air Force. That was before he was well known, like before he was the guy he is now, so that was pretty cool because I felt like I knew Jim before he blew up."</p><p style="text-align: left;"><i>" Ah, did you beat him though?"</i></p><p style="text-align: left;">"Yeah but it was a mile! And I was a collegiate runner!"</p><p style="text-align: left;">"<i>One last question I like to ask everyone, what's your most embarrassing moment ever?"</i></p><p style="text-align: left;">"I feel like the most embarrassing thing, I guess it's not really a moment, but I made a YouTube video...yeah unfortunately it's not on the internet anymore, I don't know where it is, I think I deleted it off the face of the Earth. I actually think some of the High Schoolers I coach filmed the video with their phones before I deleted it, so it's on a few phones across the state. But yeah, when I was in 6th grade I made this YouTube video and it was essentially on how to make a didgeridoo and I remember, I made it in like one take, just filmed on my parents big computer, then submitted it...years go by and then I check it when I'm in college, it has like 90,000 views and all these people I know had watched it and stuff."</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">This is only scratching the surface of what we talked about, but all I could share with you as I don't want to send anyone an essay! I had such a lovely time chatting with Adam and look forward to watching him grow as an athlete and an inspiration to many others. Remember to follow his progress at the Canyons run on the 23rd April, and his Instagram can be found at: @adampeterman_. I hope you've enjoyed reading our chat as much as I enjoyed it and keep your eyes peeled for the next interview I've already conducted but just not shared! Oooo secretive...</p><p style="text-align: left;">Lots of love, </p><p style="text-align: left;">Helen xx</p></div>Helen Mortimerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694194632797282806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1619182184985676610.post-50502512173892221082020-10-23T12:18:00.000-07:002020-10-23T12:18:25.754-07:00Amenhorrhea in Runners<p><span style="font-family: times;"> I am going to try and write this post in laymen's terms, as after all I am no biologist, I am a physicist, and shall not pretend to understand all of it. Put in it's simplest form; secondary amenhorrea in female runners is the absence of your menstrual cycle due to not fuelling your body with enough calories for the stress you are putting it under. It does not necessarily mean you have an eating disorder, or a negative relationship with food, although it is often linked to disorders such as in my case. It simply means for your body to be happy enough to undergo one of its primary functions as a woman, you need to give it more fuel, because otherwise it prioritises other bodily functions which are necessary for life with the fuel it's got. </span></p><p><b><span style="font-family: times;">My story:</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">When I was 17, I had been on birth control (the patch, I am allergic to the pill because it has dairy in it) as I had a boyfriend at the time, but when that ended I came off it. This coincided with a time that I began to lose a lot of weight quite fast as my complicated relationship with food began, and I also soon found out that my dad had lymphoma (cancer of the lymph nodes). So not the best time for Helen. This was when my period decided to go walks, and didn't end up finding me again until 4 years down the road...initially when I went to the doctor I was told it was quite a common side effect for stopping the birth control, and that they would most likely come back within around 3 months. Now, I'm sure that's true, but in my case it didn't happen. I suffered with bulimia for a short period in school, although I joke now that I wasn't even capable of that. It turns out that forcing your fingers or a toothbrush down your throat to throw up the food you just ate is actually pretty difficult, especially if you have a strong gag reflex, so this usually just resulted in me having quite a sore throat a with swelling from the forcefulness. not for me. So I turned to the gym, where I started to track calories, run on the treadmill until I had burnt 500kcals then move onto weights on the floor. This was on top of a sports club each day, or sometimes 2, while on a restricted diet.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY6xtRhvES9pvFgfk_-yNHWjwXFtvxVatvAlxvvkBfxOu_HPCMcPgwcXx0NSXbIOOxFuZM7vCocP8QoVdoO6b59GwVQTNQ8h8D4VlWVpaZ1wgxpw-C3xXu9rb6KTn2La9cYWQYyP9XaOIF/s1024/20201023_161152-COLLAGE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY6xtRhvES9pvFgfk_-yNHWjwXFtvxVatvAlxvvkBfxOu_HPCMcPgwcXx0NSXbIOOxFuZM7vCocP8QoVdoO6b59GwVQTNQ8h8D4VlWVpaZ1wgxpw-C3xXu9rb6KTn2La9cYWQYyP9XaOIF/s320/20201023_161152-COLLAGE.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amenhorrheic to healthy cycle</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">The stress of a family situation at home, body image issues and a growing eating disorder all combined to make sure I didn't get my period back for a long time. And even when I started running and began to feel better in myself when I was 19, I was still restrictive in my eating, so although my diet may have looked normal by this point, it wasn't enough to account for all the activity I was doing, especially at the start of university where I'd often go straight from a speed session at the running club to 2 hours or gymnastics without so much as a banana for sustenance. Second year of university saw my father's condition get a lot worse at home, my boyfriend at the time dealing with suicidal thoughts and I got tendinitis in my hip for around 6 months meaning I couldn't run, which for anyone with the remains of an eating disorder is the worst thing in the world. How am I going to burn all the calories I eat?? So I'd train for 3 hours in the gym, most likely just making any injuries worse, to cope with the stress I was dealing with. So from an outside perspective, or even just myself looking back, it's pretty easy to see why my body was in no condition to even consider having kids. But what I'm worried about is the effects it has on my future.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></p><p><b><span style="font-family: times;">Back to facts...</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">Functional hypothalamic amenhorrea is a common form of secondary amenhorrea resulting in oestrogen deficiency in young premenopausal women. It is very common amongst female athletes, as a very low body fat percentage or low BMI are big contributing factors. It is especially common in distance runners.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">This disorder is related to psychological stress, excessive exercise, disordered eating or a combination of these. The significance of oestrogen in women extends way beyond fertility. It plays a role on most tissues and organs throughout the body. Loss of oestrogen effects the cardiac, skeletal, psychological and reproductive systems in the body...let's just let that sink in a minute. What we've just unearthed is that, not supplying our body with the correct amount of fuel for the level of activity that we do, whether that be 20 mile weeks or 100 mile weeks, not only effects whether our body feels capable of producing a child, but also how stressed we might feel psychologically, our bone health in older age (leading to osteoporosis), and all the factors of the cardiac system that we care most about as runners. So it is definitely not aiding you in becoming a better runner, which is what I'm going to assume you want.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">There is much research yet to be done on this condition. A lot of research has been done on the effects of low oestrogen in menopausal women, but not premenopausal, so there are a lot of information gaps. However, the little research that has been done concludes that the long term health effects of secondary amenhorrea are far-reaching, including being related to cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, fertility, and cortisol levels, and these are just in the long term. The effect on your body while still in this state of stress is even worse. I am going to insert a quote from the research paper I found on this which I feel underlines the issues that need addressing amongst young runners...</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white;">"The term “female athlete triad” is a syndrome used to describe a type of FHA with three interrelated conditions: amenorrhea, osteoporosis, and disordered eating. </span><span style="background-color: white;">These components are becoming increasingly prevalent among competitive female athletes, especially among those who participate in strenuous sports where leanness is highly encouraged such a competitive runners and swimmers.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> After the passing of Title IX of the Educational Amendments Act in 1972, the term female athlete rose in popularity as more women took part in routine exercise. </span><span style="background-color: white;">In one study comparing 669 female athletes to 607 nonathlete controls, athletes reported more stress-related fractures and menstrual irregularities compared to nonathletes (p<0.05).</span><span style="background-color: white;"> Despite the fact that these at-risk factors have been frequently observed in women trying to excel in their sports, the female athlete triad remains an under-recognized concept, which puts more women with these factors at greater risk of worsening their symptoms if they are not detected early. Therefore, more awareness is needed to expose the detrimental impact of excessive exercise, stress, and disordered diet on bone status."-</span></span></i></b><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6374026/">https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6374026/</a></span></p><p><br /></p><p>So although I understand that if you are as stubborn as me, you probably aren't going to listen to the people who love you, and might have already brought up this issue with you and urged you to see a doctor. You're probably ignoring the fact you don't have a period, because let's face it, who wants to bleed for a week every month out their vagina anyway, and sit hunched over in pain as you wish for death. But the thing is, it may be pretty sick not having to deal with them for a while, but you're gonna regret not eating that bowl of pasta at 50 when your bones are becoming weaker than they already are and you are at greater risk of premature death. I know that sounds dramatic but it's the reality. You have people that love you and want you around for as long as possible, and by that time you might even have little ones depending on you, so please, I BEG YOU, at least do some research on what you're going through and then figure out the best plan or action to getting your oestrogen levels back up. This could be by eating enough for your activity, or dealing with the psychological stress you are dealing with in a more constructive manner.</p><p><br /></p><p>MUCH LOVE,</p><p>HELEN XOX</p>Helen Mortimerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694194632797282806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1619182184985676610.post-85010905531426483242020-04-17T03:45:00.001-07:002020-05-01T09:13:42.858-07:00Preventing Foot Injuries <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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There are a wealth of products on the market claiming not
only to make you a faster runner, but to decrease your risk of injury, a
somewhat plague amongst the modern running community. Cushioned soles,
stability controls, barefoot mimickry and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>counter-pronation padding is the jargon we are sold as we approach the
cash desk in the large sports chains. Or if you choose to visit a more
independent running store you might be set up on a treadmill to be told you
have multiple body mechanics issues and be sold a shoe that will apparently fix
all of them. 10% off for customer loyalty. What maybe hasn’t been considered is
the more protection, awkward positions and support we give our feet, the weaker
they will grow and the more reliant on orthotics we become.<o:p></o:p></div>
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This isn’t to say you should start rambling through
woodlands barefoot (although each to their own), but why don’t we start at the
root of the problem. Our feet. </div>
<a name='more'></a>The landing point of each step we take which
takes the majority of impact and will determine what goes on throughout your
whole body above for a smooth journey. These are 5 of the best exercises for
your feet and ankles to allow more stable, strong and natural running form.
Without the jargon.<o:p></o:p><br />
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Make sure to warm up your feet and ankle by walking a little
and doing some ankle rolls before starting…<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Heel raises<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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An oldy but goody. Find a suitable step and bring only the
balls of your feet and about half an inch behind that onto the top of it,
allowing your heels to drop below as far as you feel comfortable. Now lift
yourself onto your toes, being careful not to allow your ankles and knees to
roll in, but keeping a straight line through your legs. Start off with 10
repetitions and work your way up by 5 each day.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Toe walks</b></div>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]-->This is as simple as it sounds. Bring
yourself up onto your toes, again being careful to keep a straight line through
your ankles. Start with 10 steps on each foot then increase by 5 on each foot
as you progress day by day. They will only be baby steps so don’t worry you’re not
going very far, just focus.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p> </o:p><b>Heel walks</b></div>
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Same as above, but this time reach your toes up towards your
shins as far as you can and begin to walk. I found this even harder than toe
walks, you will feel the burn in the muscles surrounding the front of your
legs.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<b>Toe Resistance</b></div>
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Find an elastic band (I used a hairband) and place this
around your toes about halfway up. Not try and spread your toes as far apart as
possible and hold in this position for 5-10 seconds. This exercise increases
balance in landing from running and walking, both majorly important for your
kinetic chain. Repeat 3 times and gradually build up the time you hold by
approximately 3 seconds each day.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Single leg hops<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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This exercise is best performed in a mirror to ensure you
are keeping a straight-line form with the leg you land on and not rolling your
ankle either in or out. Bring your left knee up to hold the foot next to the
knee of the right supporting leg. Now, using your arms to help pump yourself up
just like on the trails, perform a small hop on the right leg. Allow time for
balance to be achieved from the landing and hold. Now repeat 10 times. Switch
sides.<br />
You can progress these a little faster than the other
exercise, keeping a close eye on form, by up to 10 each day.</div>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
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I hope these help you prevent the nagging injuries us
runners are prone to. Please allow up to a month to start noticing drastic
results, although you should notice a difference after the first week.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Love Helen</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
xx</div>
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Helen Mortimerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694194632797282806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1619182184985676610.post-82259465458130087452020-04-17T01:10:00.000-07:002020-04-17T01:10:05.007-07:00Jared Hazen<br />
Those who follow the World of ultra running will know who I'm talking about when I say Jared Hazen. But just in case you don't, here's a brief introduction. Jared grew up in a small town in Pennsylvania, where he found cross country and track at high school, triggering his passion for running. After graduation, he bounced around a couple places, working hard and training even harder to have a shot at going pro. After meeting Jim Walmsley (Western States record holder) during a race, the two soon became friends, and would soon enough find themselves roommates in Flagstaff, AZ.<br />
<br />
Now onto why he has earned my 'Inspiration of The Month'... Jared began running ultras at the tender age of 17, and has pretty much had success at this since, with the odd DNF thrown in here and there, just like everyone else. Also just like everyone else, is the odd battle with injury. He's seen significant improvement through hard training, both before and after he became a member of the notorious Coconino Cowboys. Being a member of this group however, should draw nothing away from the credit given to Jared as an individual for the drive he has to be the best and train hard.<br />
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieb73zeRsQj3fp7kPfXUhVIgsfvCZ3_98dR314yXw0h9_rI5z9KkVKUPoHgcPezsKtr_v0Dk_ClPi6x9A7tHO0oxRax7oLPInpinGsKGhK_bWIGFg7ChQKGtitfJobfNGgucb1Eu4peVHb/s1600/drymax_flagstaff-218.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieb73zeRsQj3fp7kPfXUhVIgsfvCZ3_98dR314yXw0h9_rI5z9KkVKUPoHgcPezsKtr_v0Dk_ClPi6x9A7tHO0oxRax7oLPInpinGsKGhK_bWIGFg7ChQKGtitfJobfNGgucb1Eu4peVHb/s400/drymax_flagstaff-218.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jared in action. Shot taken by Rabbitwolf Creative</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Just a few of his achievements include a 14th place finish at Western States at the age of just 19 with a time of 17:29:59 (pretty impressive for <br />
<a name='more'></a>2 years of ultras so far if you ask me), his first win at Bigfoot 50k back in 2012 aged just 17, and the now famous 2019 race where he placed 2nd only to Jim Walmsley, his training partner, at Western states in a record-breaking time of 14:26:46. That's over 3 hours shaved off his original time!! Now 25, he continues to train in Flagstaff, but currently somewhat without focus due to Coronavirus cancelling most our races.<br />
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Thanks so much Jared, for allowing me to ask you a few questions on training, life and your social mishaps!<br />
<br />
<h4>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Here's how the interview went...</span></b></h4>
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<b>1) Tell us a bit about your family and growing up. Have sports always been important to you?</b><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm the youngest of 3 siblings. I have an older brother and older sister. We grew up in a small town in rural Pennsylvania where there's really not much going on. From about age 10 on we lived on an old farm well outside of town so really the only thing to do was things outside. I played all sorts of sports growing up but really enjoyed hunting and golf the most. Both activities that my dad introduce me to and we did together. Around age 13 I stumbled upon cross country at our school just as something to do after school. From there running really took hold and that became what I did all the time. </span></span><br />
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<b>2) Did you come up against a lot of resistance, starting ultras at such a young age? There has been pretty conflicting opinions on whether young bodies can cope with the pounding and injuries caused by the sport.</b><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Only a little bit of resistance. Everyone once in a while someone would have a negative remark about me running ultras at a young age. Usually it was just through the internet and never meant much to me. I had much more support getting in to ultras at a young age than pushback. </span></span><br />
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<b>3) Would you say you've always had the confidence to compete an elite level, or have you experienced more of an imposter syndrome feeling?</b><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> I haven't always had the confidence to compete at an elite level, but I gained the confidence in time. Through the hard training is where I gained a lot of confidence. I always felt like if I put in the work that I deserved to be contending for the win in a race. When I started running ultras I would always run a conservative race and had some success finishing on podiums, but eventually I knew if I wanted to be winning races I needed to be taking more risks. My desire to win finally grew strong enough to where I was willing to go out and take some big risks. I've had race wins and major blows ups. At this point I would say the blow ups don't bother me as much, I realize that they're part of my journey to accomplishing bigger things.</span></span><br />
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<b>4) Would you say you are a ritualistic person (ie needing to use the same coffee mug each morning like me), or are you able to go with the flow?</b><br />
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<div style="color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm very much a go with the flow person. I think in ultrarunning its an important quality to have. </span></div>
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<b>5) What's one thing not many people know about you?</b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">One thing people probably don't know about me is that only a couple days after graduating high school I packed a couple of bags and had a one way flight to Jackson Wyoming where I would work as a housekeeper in Grand Teton National Park for the summer. From there I moved to Colorado Springs, CO and began to have some success in ultrarunning, but I think that first move I made was pretty critical for putting me on the right trajectory. </span></div>
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<b>6) Would you say nutrition has played an important role in your successes, or do you take a more relaxed approach to diet?</b><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I definitely have a relaxed approach to diet. My approach is to try to get in some good stuff and restrict nothing. I focus on having healthy meals, but at the same time will finish a lot of nights with ice cream before going to bed. So, I think there's room for everything.</span></span><br />
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<b>7) What would be your top tip to a person just starting out in ultra running?</b><br />
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<div style="color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I would say don't complicate things. 95% of it is just getting out and running. There's no need to stress over what specific workouts to do or the latest recovery tool. Ultrarunning is a simple sport. </span></div>
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<b>8) You are currently a student at Northern Arizona University. Any advice on balancing studies with running?</b><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm probably not the greatest at balancing it all, but I think its all about what you make a priority. For me I make the time for running first and then find the time I need for studying. I would also say that when I study I use my time very efficiently. I put my phone down and focus on doing work. Also, I always look at how I get a grade in class. Sometimes the assignments that aren't worth much percentage of your grade aren't worth stressing about. I skip assignment like that all the time. I'm less worried about doing everything perfect and more concerned with doing the important things well.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<b>9) How are you currently coping with the lockdown due to covid-19? Have you needed to change anything training wise?</b><br />
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<div style="color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm coping with the pandemic much like everyone else. Staying home and avoiding unnecessary trips out. Luckily here in Flagstaff we are still able to go outside to run. There are so many trails here it is easy to stay away from people. None of the trails have gotten too crowded yet. As far as training adjustments, I'm just trying to keep things at a sustainable volume for the time being since I don't know the next time I'll get to race. </span></div>
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<b>10) What was your most humiliating High School moment? I'm sure we've all had them!</b><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I always had to catch a bus pretty early in the morning just after 7 o'clock so morning were always pretty rushed. One day I grabbed my backpack and got on the bus, by the time I got to school I realized my bag was soaking wet. Turns out my dog peed on it the night before so I walked around school that day with a bag and notebooks covered in piss.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Thanks so much again, Jared, for allowing me to nag you with questions. I hope this forced period of rest recharges you for when we can watch you race again! Thanks for being an inspiration.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Hope you enjoy everyone, get out there and enjoy a run (unless it's against your lockdown rules)!</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Love Helen</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">xx</span></span>Helen Mortimerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694194632797282806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1619182184985676610.post-77260136915570664862019-05-05T14:29:00.003-07:002019-05-06T02:00:38.415-07:00The Emotional Side of InjuryInjuries in running seems to be both a growing plague and something which is widely accepted as normal. The cliche of being told by the overweight, bearded man in the pub holding a lager, or your inactive grandmother that you'll wreck your knees, or the has-been athlete telling you your hamstring will never be the same after that tear all course through my mind, along with a long list of problems I've learned runners go through during my research into injuries. Many friends in my University club are either currently injured or have been this year. It's the silence around the matter which has intrigued me. It seems to be shunned with the eating disorders and mental health conditions.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
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I'm just coming out of a 4 month injury myself, which is what I'm going to share with you. I'm still regularly in pain with the injury, not only physically. I'm going to start at the beginning and use this story as an outlet for myself as well as hopefully reassuring others that if you're currently an injured athlete (yes I am allowing myself to be called an athlete) that what you're feeling is completely valid and understandable. And that you are most definitely not alone. And I understand that that doesn't make it any easier to live with but there are things you can do to help.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFG0CtlMxjA-IzWeYb2_Hdc63YHFxKe-MFiUlEBFN5sRLWsroKPamm57w1VnbcZoVjYKBm7cuhMtWhT4YDMDP5USTyGg2ua-d26RYfXT4eXLl7wAiXJuc2uMlAytw7WVMGlkxm0ugP1BeW/s1600/IMG_4639.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="922" data-original-width="1080" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFG0CtlMxjA-IzWeYb2_Hdc63YHFxKe-MFiUlEBFN5sRLWsroKPamm57w1VnbcZoVjYKBm7cuhMtWhT4YDMDP5USTyGg2ua-d26RYfXT4eXLl7wAiXJuc2uMlAytw7WVMGlkxm0ugP1BeW/s320/IMG_4639.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">let's gooooo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I suppose, if I'm doing the whole 'be super honest to myself' thing it all started with winning my first 5k race. A trail/road race just a 10 minute drive from my house back in Kent, not against a wide field or anything, and not against anyone a typical college/university runner would consider 'fast'. But it was an achievement for me, and the first time I'd properly given my all in a race without being afraid of failing as long as I'd tried. And I won! But what I didn't't realise, was that after a solid week glowing from that one victory, would come an internal pressure to keep progressing in my times and distances. A drive to push myself further than maybe I should have been considering I was on the back of a 4 month injury at the time.<br />
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So the general theme is that I progress extremely well in running and work very hard, but when I become overenthusiastic at seeing such achievements, I overreach in my current abilities and end up breaking myself in some false reality that I'm OK. And I'm sure I'm not alone in this. We are after all an obsessive bunch.<br />
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Another aspect of overtraining is the era of social media and over-sharing. I'm a tap of my finger away from looking at the daily achievements of friends, strangers and loved ones. This is extremely pressurising in itself to always be training and progressing, as comparing yourself to others feeds the frenzy of competitiveness even though I'm also just happy that they're out there running. But the thing is, progress is all relative. You never get anyone's full picture, and although we are now often reminded to 'keep it real', I wonder how many of us actually acknowledge that and let it sink in. Because I know I'm not very good at it. And although it's OK to have a little envy, there's a danger of forming bad habits which lead to overtraining and pushing yourself too hard too soon to try and match paces of schedules. This isn't healthy and certainly doesn't help with injury prevention.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigME7Au1HhUO26aTaIEJYiNYKvKH_4BYlon1YpfSyjEpV5OxsImqCbNZsL_W95H4Q4c9DbUOEAAmNh5GOnKVGi4gRF7o3vJd20B80v99eCDPWKIT9tAD_j8XcpS97kiHJOTZnsTcfKnpDx/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-05-02+at+20.41.56.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="324" data-original-width="815" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigME7Au1HhUO26aTaIEJYiNYKvKH_4BYlon1YpfSyjEpV5OxsImqCbNZsL_W95H4Q4c9DbUOEAAmNh5GOnKVGi4gRF7o3vJd20B80v99eCDPWKIT9tAD_j8XcpS97kiHJOTZnsTcfKnpDx/s400/Screen+Shot+2018-05-02+at+20.41.56.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I REALLY REALLY love beans. Feed the gains to correct the brains</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
I now know from experience how exaggerated and overwhelming these feelings can become when you're injured and feel like all the training you've ever done is being lost. It first sent me into a complete overtraining (on the elliptical) mess, who continued to push and push the injury to maintain what I thought was an acceptable fitness when all I was really doing was preventing healing and wrecking my metabolism. I think there needs to be more information available on how injured runners can cross train and how to form some routine that resembles what your training plans before to gain back some of your emotional sanity. This can help us in the long run (see what I did there) get back to normal so much faster than otherwise.<br />
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Injured runners training plan coming soon!<br />
Lots of love, Helen xoxHelen Mortimerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694194632797282806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1619182184985676610.post-19783504102300356022019-02-06T04:57:00.000-08:002019-02-06T04:57:05.825-08:00Morning Run 06/02/19So I feel the need to explain how I ended up going out to push myself this morning on my first 'serious' run back after so long being injured. I spent the majority of yesterday evening in tears after kinda cracking after hearing some pretty upsetting news from someone, getting yelled at by that same someone, then suddenly thinking about my dad after all that and just losing it. I guess my barriers broke down and it all just came out. I can only be cheerful 99.9999% of the time I'm afraid and I'm OK with losing it occasionally.<br />
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I'm the type of person who likes to push myself maybe a little harder than necessary, so naturally, after being told by the Physio on Monday that it would be OK to start building up my milage and that <br />
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I won't take you through the route I did as some of you won't know Glasgow too well (apparently I don't either), but I got to leap along with a river for a significant chunk of the first half and hit the trails around near that. The second portion was majority road, although there was a canal path that I ended up on for a while too. Wearing road runners was not my best plan, but I'm pretty much limited on my options when it comes to footwear these days, and I should really invest in some Hokas or something...anyway!<br />
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After being told by a girl carrying her yoga mat with her up a hill that I'd been heading in the wrong direction for a couple miles, I lost heart a bit and realised it probably wasn't overly sensible to bang out a half marathon my first run back, so I spotted a guy getting into his car while I was hiking up a small back lane just off a main road (I still don't know where this is). He told me I was way off from where I could even locate, a couple miles out from home, but that he was heading to just a few minutes away from where I live, and that I could hop in if I wanted. I uhmed and ahed about this for a little while, with the voice of my furious mother popping into my head, outraged that I was disobeying probably one of the few pieces of advice she'd ever given me, and a pretty basic life skill of not getting into cars with strangers. But at this point my calves were not up to the struggle of 5 miles home and he seemed nice enough! Had a cool beard too.<br />
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So I get in and managed to learn so much about this man in the 15 minute journey I can't even... he's an artist nowadays, and studied at Paisley University which he does not recommend. His 30s were a 'right-off' as he put it, with some personal struggles and pretty much trashing his body, which he showed me, can do some pretty weird things. He was off to Physio in the afternoon for his hyper mobile joints, which means he could bend his fingers all the way back, pop out his shoulder blades to make it look like he had wings and do all sorts of funny things with his neck. The 30s had also blessed him with a split tongue, where the two halves he could make loop together! His 5 year old daughter was at school locally, and his 40s are a turn around era for him, having some what reformed from the past. He was truly lovely, and I can't thank him enough for saving my butt out on that run and dropping off outside my favourite supermarket (Morrison's) where I stocked up on recovery fuel (biscuits).<br />
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AND THIS IS ALL BEFORE MIDDAY. What a morning ammiright.<br />
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My hip held up pretty well throughout, although I guess I'll see how it feels tomorrow. Gotta make sure I foam roll like crazy this evening and drink enough water etc after that body shock. Can't say road running is my favourite as I really feel is hammer my body with the impact.<br />
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Hope this inspires you to get out and run. Smile at people and be kind on the trails, you'll meet some interesting folk :) xx<br />
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Love, HelenHelen Mortimerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694194632797282806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1619182184985676610.post-5499573293904843392019-02-02T04:55:00.000-08:002019-02-02T04:56:01.882-08:00Eric Schranz<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">So I really struggled to choose an inspiration of the month this time around, which is why it's February 1st and I'm only just writing this. For the past few months I have been obsessively listening to Ultrarunnerpodcast which some of you may also know. Hosted by Eric Schranz, host and Editor-in-Cheif of the show, this is a series of hundreds and hundreds of interviews with inspiring </span>ultra runners<span style="font-family: inherit;"> from all over the world, all with their own stories, advice and tips to tell. Trying to choose just one inspirational person </span>from a<span style="font-family: inherit;"> list of so many that I've now heard from was impossible. For the simple reason that they all are. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">There are so many different characters throughout the history and present days of </span>ultra running<span style="font-family: inherit;"> as a sport, I thought why not choose the man who manages to put these all together, bring the community </span>together and have a laugh while doing so? It takes tremendous skill to ask exactly the right questions to people to extract their stories and emotions without offending or pushing. So without further ado, heres my interview with the creator himself, the friend of ultra running Mr Eric Schranz...</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eric Schranz, host and creator of ultrarunner podcast</td></tr>
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<i><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1) At what age did you first get into running, and was there a single defining moment that had you hooked? If so what was it?</span></b></i></div>
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I started running in elementary school, maybe around age 10, but didn’t go on my first trail run until maybe 12 years old or so. My dad took me out on some trails in San Diego and it changed my life.</div>
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<i style="background-color: white;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2)What is it about the ultra distances that grabbed you, rather than aiming say for a 30 minute 10k?</span></b></i></div>
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While I still like short races, the mental aspect of long runs is what keeps me coming back. Whether it’ a race or adventure run, I like having to use my brain to finish the run and it gives me time to think.</div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">3)What did you study at college? And please do tell the story of getting kicked out…</span></i></b></div>
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Ack! You’ve been listening too closely! I majored in journalism and Public Relations (emphasis in politics) in college and graduated with a BA in the former. I got kicked out of college (actually just the dorms, but whatever) the first week of school for having beer in my room. The beer wasn’t mine, it my roommates, but we triggered the smoke alarm from all the pot smoke, so I guess it was my fault after all.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i>4)Which race would you consider your greatest achievement and why?</i></b></span></div>
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Himalayan 100 miler. I struggle with any amount of altitude, and this entire race was well out of my comfort zone. </div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">5) What's the best and worst thing about working on URP?</span></i></b></div>
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Best is that I work from home doing something I truly love. Worst? I’m my own boss and it’s up to me to stay on task.</div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">6) Who is the most fun character you've met through trail running?</span></i></b></div>
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<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://ultrarunnerpodcast.com/errol-the-rocket-jones/&source=gmail&ust=1549107602112000&usg=AFQjCNFnmvxm040mUTVXK8AUxD3CAYDbuw" href="https://ultrarunnerpodcast.com/errol-the-rocket-jones/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Errol “Rocket” Jones</a> is a guy who’s tough to dislike. He’s an African American vegetarian who’s been running ultras for 35 years and has an infectious laugh and attitude that lights you up regardless of how tired or cranky you are. Truly a gem.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i>7)What is the longest period you've been injured, and how did you cope with that?</i></b></span></div>
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After some knee surgery in 2017, I didn’t run for about 7 months, and in that first month, I gained over 15 pounds! I didn’t cope well with is because I’d convinced myself that “I’d be fine” in six weeks.</div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">8) If you could travel to any place in the world, where would you go?</span></i></b></div>
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Thailand. It looks like the perfect combination of tropical beaches, jungles, exotic cultures, and delicious food.</div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">9) If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be? If you say pizza with sauce I'm not writing that because that's just not OK.</span></i></b></div>
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Fresh fruit. Mangos, apples, bananas, tomatoes…As much as I love prepared meals, there’s something about natural fruit that puts a smile on my face.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i>10) FAVOURITE BEER OF ALL TIME??!</i></b></span></div>
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I’d have to say Athletic Brewing IPA. It’s the beer that really helped me recognize that I could still enjoy delicious beer without drinking alcohol. <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://ultrarunnerpodcast.com/why-i-quit-drinking-beer/&source=gmail&ust=1549107602112000&usg=AFQjCNGhbkOEqJC2AhRjkm-JJ-V29RcB1g" href="https://ultrarunnerpodcast.com/why-i-quit-drinking-beer/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">It’s something I’ve struggled with for awhile.</a></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">I'd really encourage you to have a look at the links he provided me here. I'd have to agree with him the Errol "Rocket" </span><span style="color: #222222;">Jones</span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> sounds like a hell of a guy having </span>listened<span style="font-family: inherit;"> to his interview myself. He's touched and contributed to the lives of so many and with such style and humour. Eric's own article on overcoming (not sure this is the appropriate word here?) his relationship with alcohol is also a completely open, honest review of what it's been like and how it has changed things for him now. </span></span><span style="color: #222222;">Makes a great read :)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;">Thanks so much for reading guys, I hope you're as inspired as I am!!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;">Lots of love, your Heinz enthusiast, Helen xox</span></div>
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Helen Mortimerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694194632797282806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1619182184985676610.post-51046892869980843882019-01-26T07:56:00.000-08:002019-02-02T04:56:33.520-08:00Using Compression SocksHi guys!<br />
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So I just recently started back running after 4 months of injury (hip Tendinopathy) and am trying to take it slowly and gradually get back into things, although as any previously injured runner out there will tell you, theses always easier said than done. The first thing I noticed immediately after my first 5km back was that my calves were totally killing me! I finished the run feeling very tight in the muscles to I stretched and foam rolled them out but the next day, Lordy lord. I finished my maths lecture then held everyone up in the stairs because my calf muscles physically could not function down each step! It was the type of burn that's great because you know you did something, like you used to get when you first got into fitness but it took me out all that week because the lactic acid just wouldn't clear, no matter how much cherry juice I consumed!<br />
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What I realised, while I seem to have maintained all my aerobic fitness and quad/abdominal strength while cross training all that time, I forgot all about my calves and that they weren't getting trained at all. I may have done the occasional set of heel raises but that was pretty much it, so the muscle loss that area must have suffered over such a long break was huge, hence why they were paying now.<br />
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So I got online and ordered myself some compression socks as my obsession with watching running related videos on ultras and marathon training etc finally paid off. This particular tip was from Sage Canaday (go check him out immediately, very cool guy), who said he uses them after his runs to help promote blood flow and recovery to his muscles. I'm sure you must have seen people wearing them an numerous races too, which is a clue to the fact that they must actually do something if so many people are using them. I decided to test them after my first interval training session on the treadmill with a friend, which I'm not totally convinced I should have been doing since I'm supposed to take it slow, but hey ho I went for it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEvXQhILnwhg2UHagWY6uJVOz04qUnfbY3yNwcjw7_x8rVywHfuHGnoXHE7tIS9LZ7CWpNBE_71UuH1oA1xZts91lyyY3Fr-YIllN4kR73UhkDgFJK4FnEEVxUZ_qDlMF_VzrmUqoGYM9b/s1600/IMG_7896.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEvXQhILnwhg2UHagWY6uJVOz04qUnfbY3yNwcjw7_x8rVywHfuHGnoXHE7tIS9LZ7CWpNBE_71UuH1oA1xZts91lyyY3Fr-YIllN4kR73UhkDgFJK4FnEEVxUZ_qDlMF_VzrmUqoGYM9b/s320/IMG_7896.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Felt like I was performing burlesque trying to take this photo</td></tr>
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<br />
I put the socks on straight away getting changed in the gym after our session, walked home in them after then sat eating and stretching for the couple of hours following that. My calves had been pretty sore from the last run still and got a hammering in my workout, so I have to say I think the socks did a great job. Not only did they keep my legs warm and supported, but even now when I've taken them off I'm feeling better than when I went into the workout (this is the next day by the way). So I'm gonna give this method of recovery a big thumbs up :)<br />
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The pair I purchased are Rymora, purely because they had good reviews online and were reasonably priced. I'm not too sure how much of a difference the brand would make as essentially they are all doing the same thing, but do make sure you look at the company's size chart before purchasing as the level of compression you get will obviously be affected.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbI_rPmSkBMD9NmhtyKP5X8-mWlXgbbkRuy8Vz2l5xtCBmX0HaO4CFt1k71a1HpsJ8oZRiWZfMxyxGTrM6n3XmEyLvmrVluHM_e4z03deSVH06GpeCot_kzGth39bPgljcGOeI6GP5UI3p/s1600/IMG_7904.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbI_rPmSkBMD9NmhtyKP5X8-mWlXgbbkRuy8Vz2l5xtCBmX0HaO4CFt1k71a1HpsJ8oZRiWZfMxyxGTrM6n3XmEyLvmrVluHM_e4z03deSVH06GpeCot_kzGth39bPgljcGOeI6GP5UI3p/s320/IMG_7904.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdmDQ_PMZp2bQWEO62cNfYrtjbn-0UmEHrsaK1FR3sfVFgZuCCUT1vxNMWcxu-YDZgZ2rgphUk2qZNpz8pdTbSrSI09Wy1PV_Lm_gtXfLpfCnEi0_A2fiXvXCGW94pJCrpRmkqHof6uPzb/s1600/IMG_7901.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdmDQ_PMZp2bQWEO62cNfYrtjbn-0UmEHrsaK1FR3sfVFgZuCCUT1vxNMWcxu-YDZgZ2rgphUk2qZNpz8pdTbSrSI09Wy1PV_Lm_gtXfLpfCnEi0_A2fiXvXCGW94pJCrpRmkqHof6uPzb/s200/IMG_7901.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
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Hope this was helpful to any of you considering a pair of compression socks, or wondering why you see so many among the running community!! :)<br />
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<b><u>A WEE NOTE ON THE SCIENCE FOR THE CURIOUS</u></b><br />
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After testing them and experiencing such a difference, being a physicist I decided to do a little research on exactly was going on when I wore them. I only read a few very simple articles but I got a basic grasp of the concepts.<br />
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Our athletic performance when running primarily relies on muscle strength and aerobic fitness (how well we are transporting oxygen around our bodies). What these compression accessories are doing is improving the muscles' ability to increase the flow of oxygen around them, which is what clears away the lactic acid (the stuff that burns and ultimately makes us stop). So wearing them during your run will reduce the impact of the sport on your body by 'holding everything in place' and boosting blood flow to the area which is how we get our energy, then if you decide you only want to wear them after your run, they again boost blood flow to transport away the lactic acid your body has just produced after a tough run which allows you to recover much faster because the 'bad stuff', the lactic acid has cleared by the next time you go out. Lactic acid is exactly what it says on the tin. An acid. So this can cause our muscles to break down if we don't hydrate properly and don't take appropriate time to recover.<br />
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Runners as a group have a pretty obsessive nature, so these can definitely be used to help you get back out on the trails (or roads if you prefer!) as quickly as possible after each workout and I'll definitely be continuing to utilise them myself!<br />
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PEACE OUT XOXXHelen Mortimerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694194632797282806noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1619182184985676610.post-59168823233811468772018-12-22T10:57:00.005-08:002018-12-22T10:57:55.387-08:00Sugarfree Vegan Sweet Potato MuffinsThis is a recipe I came up with yesterday so I'm still enjoying my batch (just). The feedback from family members was that they are very tasty but a little chewy. I've shortened the baking time and added little extra soya milk to improve this. YUMMY THOUGH!<br />
If you want to go for truly sugar free you can just cut the date syrup from the ingredients, I just knew my sweet toothed mum would complain if there wasn't a teeny bit in there :)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-79KKAt8BbriUKpasZO1qmrA42pnkr_YE60K2JSBJRIJxltL1fPVDSNJk8bXfpjoGOaTIjE1HB_TV9l4Ot3qGpr8-cVFKyEsJw_b8B6bv654IJ48foK61HoiSktieg8Kgb04Df6jH2d9T/s1600/IMG_7690.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-79KKAt8BbriUKpasZO1qmrA42pnkr_YE60K2JSBJRIJxltL1fPVDSNJk8bXfpjoGOaTIjE1HB_TV9l4Ot3qGpr8-cVFKyEsJw_b8B6bv654IJ48foK61HoiSktieg8Kgb04Df6jH2d9T/s400/IMG_7690.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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This batch was wholemeal</div>
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<b>Ingredients (serves 12) - 100kcal each</b></div>
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300g sweet potato, finely chopped</div>
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200g wholemeal/white plain flour</div>
Drizzle of date syrup (optional)<br />
1 mashed banana<br />
1 heaped tsp baking soda<br />
1/2 serving spoon ground ginger<br />
1 serving spoon cinnamon powder<br />
1/2 cup soya milk (approx. 125ml)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMFzCx1ryZWIbo-f1G7hGzzqAACnZD_fR37rN5Ti-lPHBOwrKCI9MU9_tiJDoJNJd65Gq_koZcBJopHivCjibfrL_YR0GMYtkGgKQ1tTaIEUqJwOX1isKbn_FY-UPB6sWCN9b4AjBBaUYD/s1600/IMG_7687.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMFzCx1ryZWIbo-f1G7hGzzqAACnZD_fR37rN5Ti-lPHBOwrKCI9MU9_tiJDoJNJd65Gq_koZcBJopHivCjibfrL_YR0GMYtkGgKQ1tTaIEUqJwOX1isKbn_FY-UPB6sWCN9b4AjBBaUYD/s320/IMG_7687.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Method</b><br />
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<ul>
<li>Preheat your fan oven to 180 degrees Celsius</li>
<li>Boil your finely chopped sweet potato for around 8 minutes then drain this and leave to stand</li>
<li>Mash your banana and stir in the syrup, ground ginger and cinnamon powder. Then add the flour and baking soda. </li>
<li>Stir until fully mixed</li>
<li>Now mash your sweet potato until smooth and stir this into your banana mixture</li>
<li>Add the soya milk (or other dairy alternative)</li>
<li>Spoon into your muffin cases and pop in the oven</li>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-VvvXQhJaobmjtq3mIeOsissJ8IOm5W2Az8Y17x5FrNTAXkwbQ8nAZl6wdjOdtURcf0UYYilX59-u7UKEf5oqT9U5faphIgPSmNbFgSDiYTiF9yMeJaaYPpLXqSrA33hpdqtMPRcs4Q93/s1600/IMG_7700.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-VvvXQhJaobmjtq3mIeOsissJ8IOm5W2Az8Y17x5FrNTAXkwbQ8nAZl6wdjOdtURcf0UYYilX59-u7UKEf5oqT9U5faphIgPSmNbFgSDiYTiF9yMeJaaYPpLXqSrA33hpdqtMPRcs4Q93/s320/IMG_7700.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looks like a turd hehe but yummm</td></tr>
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These take 20-25 minutes in the oven, depending on consistency!</div>
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Enjoy :)</div>
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<b>Lots of Christmas love, Helen xox</b><br />
<b><br /></b>Helen Mortimerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694194632797282806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1619182184985676610.post-45746730219828412412018-12-11T03:13:00.002-08:002018-12-11T03:13:54.515-08:00Courtney DauwalterSo I'm definitely late to the bandwagon here but I'm gonna hop on anyways. For those of you who don't know, Courtney Dauwalter, 33 from Minnesota is the absolute beast (from the East (sorry, very English joke)) taking the ultra running world by storm (that pun wasn't even intended, I'm on fire), although I feel the term Ultramarathon in this context may need redefining as Court's latest exploits involve not a 100 miler, not a 200 miler, but a 238 miler which she won over 10 hours in front of the next runner. Just try and wrap your head around that for a minute...<br />
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I can't describe the instant love I felt for this woman when I came across her, while actually watching a video on youtube by another runner, Lucy Bartholomew, also very successful, on Western States 100. The controlled facial expression and gritty determination written in the way she ran caught my attention, and then the obvious fact that she won it. The more I looked into what she's been doing for the sport and her sheer laid back style to life, which can sometimes be lost in these types of world, really captured me. I infect ended up shoving a video interview of her in my boyfriend's face and exclaiming ''THIS IS WHO I AIM TO BE". Not a crazy stalker at all... don't know what you mean. But you know what, no papa nada, because I think she's the real sh*t and I want the world to know it. NO SHAME!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikMVzEXHPydDjkeRPGQ_natQsNztmhtrJMYoGJJzIAyqiajXKoGEIpO3zmTCbrrm3o1AFGWWgNXwXTI4G73dfcSVywos6ZodXtn2muJL-OvpcOIOdhispGQenxAoi3vWRrJSNpnbCGwxeh/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-12-11+at+11.09.44.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="548" data-original-width="854" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikMVzEXHPydDjkeRPGQ_natQsNztmhtrJMYoGJJzIAyqiajXKoGEIpO3zmTCbrrm3o1AFGWWgNXwXTI4G73dfcSVywos6ZodXtn2muJL-OvpcOIOdhispGQenxAoi3vWRrJSNpnbCGwxeh/s320/Screen+Shot+2018-12-11+at+11.09.44.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image found on GearJunkie, not my own </td></tr>
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Growing up in Minnesota, competing in cross country running then skiing throughout high school, and continuing to ski through college where she studied biology (which she later taught), I suppose you could say she already had a competitive edge and mental toughness. She describes her upbringing as having given her a mindset of not quitting. Whatever you set your mind to or want to achieve, her belief is you go for it and you don't stop until you get there. In her case, literally.<br />
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As an example of her grit and perseverance, competing in Run Rabbit Run 100 2017 she noticed her vision close in at 12 miles to go then completely disappearing at 10 miles to go. The natural reaction for most would be to drop out and call it a day, but stumbling her way to the finish line with a bloody face after falling multiple times in her blind trail run to the finish she took 1st place, again by a decent amount of time. Her mental toughness, and possible borderline insanity shines through here.<br />
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To be completely honest, there's a total lack of information regarding Courtney herself to be found anywhere on the internet, although a wealth of info on her races and results. I see this as a good thing because it just attests to her nature of running for the love and curiosity of what our bodies can achieve on two feet (or one for some). So the fact she's not spreading herself about too much only shows her character even more. The fun facts I will run past you though are that her favourite sweets (which she apparently devours after ultras like there's no tomorrow) are jelly belly jelly beans, she eats a heck of a lot of nachos and she likes to listen to Prince as a pick me up out on the trails. I won't bother with race stats or results as you can look these up for yourself if you're interested, I just wanted to spread the word that Courtney Dauwalter is totally kick-butt and I love her.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOvE3GADaKQO6vNdV-2_PBFOKdOus9VyyHz-DSoT5JL8cWDnAayXZVtL-sf3_GSaT0LD-SgAREunlxdObnWC9us6Z61x1VDBnvKDRglxslw76K6TMDTvedxpBKMGc7cjNYK1faOrML9JSp/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-12-11+at+11.10.14.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="546" data-original-width="883" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOvE3GADaKQO6vNdV-2_PBFOKdOus9VyyHz-DSoT5JL8cWDnAayXZVtL-sf3_GSaT0LD-SgAREunlxdObnWC9us6Z61x1VDBnvKDRglxslw76K6TMDTvedxpBKMGc7cjNYK1faOrML9JSp/s320/Screen+Shot+2018-12-11+at+11.10.14.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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What a happy face. Peace out munchkins, tell me who your inspiration is <3<br />
Helen xox<br />
<br />Helen Mortimerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694194632797282806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1619182184985676610.post-87331420516572503222018-12-08T09:37:00.001-08:002018-12-08T09:37:34.351-08:00Vegan Bean and Squash Stew (easy)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpAW49M1xg_jGMFXIY7vHN5DlqXJs7iR9oUZrfnuMt51P9-zcbqryNfxWfgBIkWZpyS8IM8gcaZmY2aD-XitJU9kuFh1WTcUSBaEUsuv55v8Tg50W7rLuWvVxqJPWIRUKwG9LsBZpgFK8t/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-12-08+at+17.16.29.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="415" data-original-width="722" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpAW49M1xg_jGMFXIY7vHN5DlqXJs7iR9oUZrfnuMt51P9-zcbqryNfxWfgBIkWZpyS8IM8gcaZmY2aD-XitJU9kuFh1WTcUSBaEUsuv55v8Tg50W7rLuWvVxqJPWIRUKwG9LsBZpgFK8t/s400/Screen+Shot+2018-12-08+at+17.16.29.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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**WARNING** I am about to self-righteously toot my own horn. Without shame. Maybe a little embarrassment<br />
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It's gotten to that point in the year where I'm in need of warming, hearty, beany meals. Living in Glasgow certainly has it's many benefits and this is where my heart belongs but I'm just saying....it rains a lot. And my circulation is very bad. So I present to you the laziest stew for the non-chefs (and proud) amongst you.<br />
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This stew was a complete experiment, and so easy to make. I love just creating recipes from what I feel like at the time or what's available in the shops while I'm there. I'd had a butternut squash sitting in my cupboard for about 3 weeks, so finally managed to just chop it up (way harder than I thought) and throw it in something hearty that I can store in a container in the fridge. It also made so many portions, so is a cheap meal to prepare for the week that will serve me 3 times, without having to worry what I've got in the fridge when I get home.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9NezP3jmp-b-vkhhuVSQ_PD9jFSi113dFf9tbexU7kE_ZmofmPFuP7Wk2WBF4q6GWTZU2AaA7cwKjAMD1JrBD5F-arnCW-JQ_yzsgaRfnGu5SXQTqc98-60LY1vMeMQdsAPNS3fiahTbo/s1600/IMG_7578.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9NezP3jmp-b-vkhhuVSQ_PD9jFSi113dFf9tbexU7kE_ZmofmPFuP7Wk2WBF4q6GWTZU2AaA7cwKjAMD1JrBD5F-arnCW-JQ_yzsgaRfnGu5SXQTqc98-60LY1vMeMQdsAPNS3fiahTbo/s320/IMG_7578.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Without further a-do...<br />
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<b>Ingredients</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
1 whole red/white onion (down to preference)<br />
1 tub of moroccan inspired/lentil soup of your choice<br />
150g diced butternut squash<br />
1/2-1 can borlotti/red kidney beans<br />
2 handfuls of raw kale<br />
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<b>Method</b><br />
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<ul>
<li>Start by dicing your onion into a size of your choice (I prefer it slightly chunkier than most). Then pour your soup into a large pan and add the onion, turning on the hob to get the onion softening while you prepare the rest.</li>
<li>Now add the beans of your choice to give these a chance to cook</li>
<li>Dice your butternut squash if not already prepared into chunks or approximately 2cm x 2cm and throw this in, making sure to stir a little so that it doesn't just sit on top of the soup, but begins to cook</li>
<li>Continue to stir for approximately 5 minutes, then add your kale for the last 5 minutes of cooking time. Feel free to keep this on a little longer if you're not too keen on crunchy kale. But keep in mind you get the most nutrients from it this way!</li>
<li>You're done! Now come on that was easy</li>
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I'll admit this meal feels incredible lazy because all you really have to do is add some veggies to store-bought soup. But I don't regret a thing, it's scrumptious and easy, which is the beauty of it!</div>
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As always, let me know your thought, be it about the stew or your wee random day dreams <3</div>
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Lots of love, Helen xox</div>
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<br />Helen Mortimerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694194632797282806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1619182184985676610.post-45671591569984320372018-12-08T09:04:00.001-08:002018-12-08T09:07:36.739-08:00Wowbutter Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzg_lYRC4pPaZDGVgnx5HNrlAsiAAf9-r-xOC9gOXNuKVfUBRxCt1Y6VCsHmi86n5HDP1_LxOefz80fIDTzk5jHGOnShbgNLG27SRsMCzBGf4e97_eBv8l9Wi6LRGhvioOfv6MsNz4fKId/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-12-08+at+16.45.43.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="361" data-original-width="641" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzg_lYRC4pPaZDGVgnx5HNrlAsiAAf9-r-xOC9gOXNuKVfUBRxCt1Y6VCsHmi86n5HDP1_LxOefz80fIDTzk5jHGOnShbgNLG27SRsMCzBGf4e97_eBv8l9Wi6LRGhvioOfv6MsNz4fKId/s400/Screen+Shot+2018-12-08+at+16.45.43.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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Wowbutter is a nut-free, vegan, allergen free (apart from soya) replacement for peanut butter. And it's GLORIOUS. Like I really must apologise for not sharing this sooner, it never even crossed my mind even though I eat it pretty much all the time. Imported from Canada where it's manufactured, I don't think many folk are aware of it still, although it's a few years that I've been enjoying it now. You can buy either crunchy or smooth just like real peanut butter<br />
<a name='more'></a>(I prefer the crunchy), and the company has quite recently developed flapjack bars and other snacks to accompany the main product, which can be found in some Waitrose and whole food shops.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN9cdkvIP_FKs7KHd9AXaUFFEfPClV5_c8jGgEX4j9uzq_rZscpOOUcdmeWSXpFCwgXljWpFfMSl1ZVEQOx82V-WMQcc2mbmx_AxJM9kAts6jnqwclgj3J5ARBqGD3cw-68lxzDxVHd4gI/s1600/IMG_7587.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN9cdkvIP_FKs7KHd9AXaUFFEfPClV5_c8jGgEX4j9uzq_rZscpOOUcdmeWSXpFCwgXljWpFfMSl1ZVEQOx82V-WMQcc2mbmx_AxJM9kAts6jnqwclgj3J5ARBqGD3cw-68lxzDxVHd4gI/s320/IMG_7587.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu_WyeqB3almOH_uPwsn-eXZYjVbsGdDk1maKazFFgLL1G5QpllRV43Wm4JHPYl1RKi905MFJH9cbfyaRCxqc0osuVloSIi0wYZMuraSesvhhNGJ3RJ9o0EJBD4mbkaxSpkZrNMRvMUYVR/s1600/IMG_7588.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu_WyeqB3almOH_uPwsn-eXZYjVbsGdDk1maKazFFgLL1G5QpllRV43Wm4JHPYl1RKi905MFJH9cbfyaRCxqc0osuVloSIi0wYZMuraSesvhhNGJ3RJ9o0EJBD4mbkaxSpkZrNMRvMUYVR/s320/IMG_7588.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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My mum actually discovered this treasure. I remember complaining about not being able to try peanut butter and how sucky it was that I'd probably never grow out of my allergies (which I've since embraced, fear not) because my friends kept telling me how yummy it was. Next thing I know I come home from school with an amazon parcel awaiting and I find out my friends certainly had not been lying.<br />
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As for whether it tastes like the real deal I couldn't comment, but I've been told by friends and family that it does. I can vouch for the fact that it is very much delicious. Just be careful you don't go and get addicted then eat half a jar in one sitting...I definitely never did that. Then have to take a wee break from it because you're getting fat, even on running 30 miles a week. Never happened.<br />
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I've only ever bought the butter through Amazon online, but I understand that a select few Holland and Barrett stores now stock it and maybe a few independents. My friend Owen bought me a package of 3 tubs for my birthday and I'm not even through the first one yet. Keep in mind this is a good 10 weeks ago now haha. GO BUY SOME YOU WON'T BE SORRY <3<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHYNLxKrlLyGs5BfMj27CbTBwQ6_RBLvCYB0x9IAHn76eUXNv8tHT7jAcb2cON-E6OUcMTfPvMJJ0mBo7LwGZE-zkB0cYG7AEUbE8brY3wXg6-rVr7JMBJX4evRXtsPK39ETO0Z-s4e7jg/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-12-08+at+16.59.28.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="594" data-original-width="1017" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHYNLxKrlLyGs5BfMj27CbTBwQ6_RBLvCYB0x9IAHn76eUXNv8tHT7jAcb2cON-E6OUcMTfPvMJJ0mBo7LwGZE-zkB0cYG7AEUbE8brY3wXg6-rVr7JMBJX4evRXtsPK39ETO0Z-s4e7jg/s320/Screen+Shot+2018-12-08+at+16.59.28.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">mmmmm.love</td></tr>
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Peace out homies, lots of love xox Helen<br />
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Helen Mortimerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694194632797282806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1619182184985676610.post-29449325398829008412018-12-08T02:52:00.002-08:002018-12-08T07:58:52.532-08:00Great Scottish Half Marathon 30/09/18So this only took over 2 months for me to write about, no biggie.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I ACHIEVED MY SUB 2 HOUR GOAL!!!!</span><br />
By 30 seconds, which in a way is even more satisfying as it was so close.<br />
However, I've got a little story to tell with this race...there's a possibility I almost destroyed my body to achieve it. About 3 weeks before race day I started to notice just a little pain at the very top of my right leg, in my hip area. I didn't think much of it and continued with training, because I was getting to the point where I knew I had to be hitting my mileage targets in order to do well, and it really didn't seem to be much. But this then progressed by 2 weeks to go into definite twinging and aches in my hip and leg each time I was running, which went further<br />
<a name='more'></a>by 1 week to go in that it was really hurting my hip each step I took out on a run and I was struggling to even get started. This was extremely frustrating as race day approached, and I wasn't sure what the problem was as it was a gradual build up of pain levels, not a singular incident that had caused it. This is when I got tonsillitis.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieiOPYCmOcdLnk0JGdEj3OWrZJVAwCmj5GBJQ8kfn4MljPEmycTPOPUU4mc_CY4vNyaSt1AWPHpgTcNrbakHffpr2DXA3EwBJWHM_mui3nWu14GltVFhFcgYzXjU_ZLHFvRfdtWPyI6CmW/s1600/IMG_7183.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieiOPYCmOcdLnk0JGdEj3OWrZJVAwCmj5GBJQ8kfn4MljPEmycTPOPUU4mc_CY4vNyaSt1AWPHpgTcNrbakHffpr2DXA3EwBJWHM_mui3nWu14GltVFhFcgYzXjU_ZLHFvRfdtWPyI6CmW/s320/IMG_7183.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My pal, looking thrilled that I made her sign up</td></tr>
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The night before race day I realised my throat had been pretty sore all day and my glands were a little flared. When I noticed I also had a temperature so I decided to take a look at my throat and discovered COMPLETELY WHITE TONSILS. Sorry if that's gross but ya know....just tryna give you the full picture. Falling into freak out mode, I started to panic a little about the morning, so I gave my mum a call (my answer in life to everything) and was under strict orders to go to bed and rest it out, under no condition was I to run. Soon course that made me really want to run.<br />
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This was followed by a sleepless night stressing over not being able to race, having been in my calendar so long, and frustration over not even being able to rest. The decision was made by 4 in the morning that there was no way I was going to miss this and I'd just have to pay the consequences with both my injury and my illness. I took 3 ibuprofen with breakfast and didn't tell my friends my gear was on under my dressing gown as they had also given me strict orders there was to be no running. Next thing you know I'm at the start line in the freezing cold, actually feeling little better than earlier and ready to go.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcY-MVnedQ19ijL75B8hgYallb56Rl738AEs6b9AORKr9I9a6AnUPi9M61PfeC5FrrqY2CuyWqHXM-qKrEhFA55rcxzY-UcSQhOCMQWGFAkygyb4MSTVRRi-bGKSgWNyJjGke8Ykn3872a/s1600/IMG_7198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcY-MVnedQ19ijL75B8hgYallb56Rl738AEs6b9AORKr9I9a6AnUPi9M61PfeC5FrrqY2CuyWqHXM-qKrEhFA55rcxzY-UcSQhOCMQWGFAkygyb4MSTVRRi-bGKSgWNyJjGke8Ykn3872a/s320/IMG_7198.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Start line! </td></tr>
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I have indeed payed the price, being injured now for 10 weeks and counting, but you know what, the important thing for me to remember is a reached what I was going for, and that makes me extremely proud. I managed to recover from tonsillitis after a week or so and didn't miss a day of uni in the process so to be honest, I'm gonna brag about it cause I always want to see the positive, and this was a big achievement for me. I like to think I could have shaved at least 10 minutes, given that I partially limped round and was very unprepared for that race, We'll see what the future holds when I'm all recovered <3<br />
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Lots of love, Helen xx<br />
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<br />Helen Mortimerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694194632797282806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1619182184985676610.post-72176675442124522482018-11-11T11:06:00.002-08:002018-11-17T10:26:12.117-08:00Low Calorie Vegan Pizza Base RecipeThis is something I've searched for on google so many times I've lost count, but it always seems to give me odd tasting cauliflower recipes (sorry but I'm not a fan), or extremely thin bases which really aren't lower calories than normal, they're just very small. So I tried a few variations and came up with this one that is tried and tested on my food-snob boyfriend, so I hope you like it too!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiId2LwgbMw4fyStHmScMKV4H16tMQC2xpi1IWyry6176DHwN-vQ2_ATilZwGUDv-5Z1ebhY5YfFgZmeDA35kn7QzqqwAudJ4KSIZAa58E0az_rTO5Fun0IULdHJYrfxzIoOidXJY5yFK8P/s1600/IMG_5650.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiId2LwgbMw4fyStHmScMKV4H16tMQC2xpi1IWyry6176DHwN-vQ2_ATilZwGUDv-5Z1ebhY5YfFgZmeDA35kn7QzqqwAudJ4KSIZAa58E0az_rTO5Fun0IULdHJYrfxzIoOidXJY5yFK8P/s320/IMG_5650.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The fussy boyf </td></tr>
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<h4>
<span style="font-size: large;">Ingredients (serves 1)</span></h4>
<div>
15g black chia seeds</div>
<div>
100g wholemeal/white self raising flour</div>
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1 1/2 tsp yeast</div>
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1/4 tsp salt</div>
<div>
80ml soya milk</div>
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Very hot water</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not my best aesthetic but it was yummy</td></tr>
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<h4>
<span style="font-size: large;">Method</span></h4>
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<ul>
<li>Soak the chia seeds in the soya milk first, stirring them in so that they are covered and leave for at least 5 minutes</li>
<li>Now pour in the flour, salt and yeast and stir well</li>
<li>Add enough boiling water so that the consistency is still very thick and can only just be stirred. Continue mixing for a couple of minutes then leave covered in the bowl by a tea towel to rise. This works best if you leave the mixture for at least an hour but if you are short on time you can just use it</li>
<li>Cover a clean space in a sprinkle of flour so that you can roll out your dough on the surface without it sticking</li>
<li>Roll out your dough! This can be as thick or as thin as you prefer, it shouldn't fall apart because the chia seeds bind the mixture together strongly :)</li>
<li>Cook at 180 degrees C under grill or fan for approximately 10-15 minutes with the toppings of your choice</li>
<li>Done!!</li>
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This recipe is so great because it provides a sturdy base, full of protein and healthy omegas while providing the novelty treat of being a pizza. It tricks you into thinking it's still junk food!</div>
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Let me know what toppings you guys decided on <3</div>
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Love Helen</div>
Helen Mortimerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694194632797282806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1619182184985676610.post-63510974517826531922018-08-05T10:57:00.002-07:002019-06-17T15:14:49.092-07:00The Progression of my Dad's CancerLeaving for university is both exciting and terrifying enough without adding into the mix the anxiety about the condition in which you're leaving your father undergoing cancer treatment and the uncertainty of whether he's going to be OK. I'm sure anyone whose parent has experienced cancer, or actually a whole range of difficulties would say the same that I'm about to, because to us our parents are superhuman (minus the capes most of the time) and are our light in the dark, rock in the ocean, words of wisdom blah blah blah... but my dad is the strongest person I know. Mentally that is.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is my beauty of a father enjoying an ice cream. His hair doesn't usually look so Tin-tin</td></tr>
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From the moment my mum picked up the phone<br />
<a name='more'></a>to receive the bad news he hasn't faltered in his mindset or determination to beat it, and that's unchanging today. So if I inherit even an once of that strength, all will be forgiven for him passing on asthma and my damn anaphylaxis (all of which is his fault). I'm not saying he's perfect, far from it, but throughout enduring chemo, radiation, daily hospital visits and several drug trials, even at this stage where the doctors seem to be stabbing in the dark to find that coveted final treatment he's not shown a weakness yet. He's swum and cycled when possible, enjoyed day trips with me and other family, driven all the way to Glasgow (9 hours) to visit and pick me up, gone through a divorce and carried on working on the days he can. No-one can say that's not superhuman.<br />
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So I suppose I'm writing this now in hope that it might just help. Because we're suffering bad times again. Trying to take each day as it comes and accept that there isn't always a logical next step or anything more we can do to help, but to be honest I just need to feel the need to share what's going on, because the anxiety is getting me down sometimes.<br />
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Our journey began the summer before I started my A levels and began by being told it was non-hodgkins T-cell lymphoma which probably means nothing to you like it didn't to me. All you need to know is it's cancer within the lymph node system, aggressive and a bitch. We were told he would start treatment immediately and it was likely to be quite a quick ride, in fact, he'd had it before in his 20s so we all took that in confidence this would be easy.<br />
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This progressed to the initial chemo treatment not working, next on the list being radiation, again, a commute away into London a few days per week. While my sister studied in London and I finished my A levels, the daily battle continued but in a sense our lives also carried on as normal because my mum also seems to have the superhuman gene and was supporting the situation pretty much solo, although this did eventually lead to a burn out and sadly caused her severe anxiety and depression which I'm happy to say she has nearly recovered from (aren't families lovely and complicated ey?).<br />
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After taking a set of drugs and attending hospital a couple of times per week for a relatively stable period of health while I studied my first year at university I arrived home for the summer just as things seemed to be taking a turn for the worse and I sit writing this in my local Costa Coffee (sorry Starbucks fans, I love you too) on 1st August 2018 pondering how to stay strong in the best way for our family. He's now suffering with an enormous lump of cancer at the base of his neck on his left side which has cut off some of his blood supply, the entire arm is numb so he can't drive etc. and causes considerable amounts of pain. And it continues to grow.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPJYGi-TRM0Q0ePlSYNqsw8Iki4zuRtIrhLZRotff2JNl5iDtWrUKb7AfoalklcV93BmSVZ0LpjxTebXHsXH2P7P8aKlNyFI-UbKodrOdYoa-GN85Fxachs0j0Hm4qlddyufJPH37Jrjfh/s1600/IMG_6541.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPJYGi-TRM0Q0ePlSYNqsw8Iki4zuRtIrhLZRotff2JNl5iDtWrUKb7AfoalklcV93BmSVZ0LpjxTebXHsXH2P7P8aKlNyFI-UbKodrOdYoa-GN85Fxachs0j0Hm4qlddyufJPH37Jrjfh/s320/IMG_6541.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just climbed a mountain with cancer. No biggie. Also check out his cool hat</td></tr>
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This week we're given up on his current treatment, and have an appointment with a doctor at King's College Hospital in London to discuss any options left which might be worth a shot, so I'm awaiting news of what was said. We all carry on, we live our lives the best we can and have created a support system amongst ourselves. His sisters (2 in particular out of 6) have been fantastic, so of course we're not alone, but the frustrating thing is that no-one can provide what's most needed. A treatment.<br />
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I'm partly writing in search of comfort that other people are in the same position and can understand. So if you are, stay positive for me, like my dad has never faltered in, and please continue to fight this disease the best you can and take life by the balls. Because it may be a bitch, but cancer can also teach us a hell of a lot.<br />
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Yours sincerely, Helen xoxHelen Mortimerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694194632797282806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1619182184985676610.post-36600853726316374772018-07-21T08:03:00.002-07:002018-12-08T08:06:29.488-08:00Tesco Wicked ReviewI'm sure any British vegan has by now heard of or tried out the 'Wicked' range stocked in most Tesco stores by now, as although still a relatively new introduction to the supermarket, it made quite a stir on social media and amongst foodie groups when first brought out. Created by vegan chef Derek Sarno in collaboration with Tesco, their meals aim to provide '80% health, 20% wicked' as is the philosophy of Derek and his brother's company Wicked Health which can be found online here: <a href="https://wickedhealthyfood.com/about/" target="_blank">https://wickedhealthyfood.com/about/</a>.<br />
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Throughout my life I have been used to extremely boring/bland food and meals as I've had to be very careful, having serious allergies to dairy, eggs and nuts, having had a lunch of rice and sausages every day for 4 years at a school I attended due to the fact it was the only thing they could provide which was safe. So the vegan movement has been an enormous help to me in recent years in providing more allergen free products and ideas to try at home. And although a little pricey, Derek's Wicked range deserves praise of the highest order as they truly deliver a hit of health and protein, all plant based, but with the right balance of natural taste and zing to make you feel you've had a meal out and aren't eating 'special food' as some of my friends like to call it.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNJoiHc6w7grlO36sqywdjv7CYN9btIZ8cFVLsmVbHhy1eAtjkQVXMyma7uAk6Xdszd2F2fmOC4nCFqoF4eXL_Y6iGBe-u7qRuVGOGc4AH4pbHgN5vX51GSFnna2wh48YsY-p5hU81WODy/s1600/IMG_6896.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNJoiHc6w7grlO36sqywdjv7CYN9btIZ8cFVLsmVbHhy1eAtjkQVXMyma7uAk6Xdszd2F2fmOC4nCFqoF4eXL_Y6iGBe-u7qRuVGOGc4AH4pbHgN5vX51GSFnna2wh48YsY-p5hU81WODy/s400/IMG_6896.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.800000190734863px;">Wicked Kitchen smoking' pasta and amaze balls (YUM)</td></tr>
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<br />
Although there are strong competitors nowadays, I think I'd have to say these meals are the best on the market. It helps that Derek himself seems a really decent guy!<br />
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Love Helen xHelen Mortimerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694194632797282806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1619182184985676610.post-2978016630642803162018-07-13T06:25:00.001-07:002018-12-08T02:27:03.762-08:00Maintaining Fitness Through InjuryWhen I tore my hamstring back in February this year after only just recovering from glandular fever and regaining only a small amount of fitness, I thought that was definitely the end of my progress in running for a good few months. I couldn't walk properly or bear any weight on my bad leg so I didn't really see any training I could do that was relative to running. But after surviving only 24 hours not doing anything I felt the need to sweat, as so many runners or athletes I'm sure will relate to. So I turned on my radio and decided to just hop around in whatever manner I could and do some seriously questionable dancing. I'm very lucky no one walked past my window.<br />
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After testing the limits of what my leg could do, this turned into a regular routine throughout the next 2 weeks, each time slowly morphing into a more structured workout as the pain got more bearable.<br />
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So after that long, probably unnecessary tidbit of my life (you're welcome), I arrive at the moral of my story which<br />
<a name='more'></a>is that when you get an injury, depending on the severity, the trick to maintaining your health and fitness which you've worked so hard to accomplish is to sensibly test what you are still capable of and work with what you've got, pushing the parts of your body that you can and giving your injury time to heal. This, combined with suitable treatment/therapy of the injury is a sure way to come back fighting fit and ease back into your regular routine.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Swimming</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
This has to be top of the list because it has least impact on your joints, meaning it is gentle on injuries and is also adaptive to almost any type of training regime. For instance, runners can retain their stamina and speed on the track by utilising different workouts in the pool wearing a support belt, which most leisure centres provide free of charge, or they can be purchased relatively cheap online.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Strength Training</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
To maintain muscle shape and strength while taking time off, this is an important component to your week, and you should focus on every area that you are capable, even if this means sitting with some free weights in front of the TV watching adverts of Cheryl Cole convincing you you're worth it.<br />
<br />
A special mention should go to abdominal work which is vitally important to all sports so should never be neglected. This can be kept simple with exercises like crunches or Russian twists, and it'll still make a huge difference to your overall fitness.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Yoga</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
Yoga I feel gets a slightly bad rep these days, after the sonic boom of bikini clad, middle-classed blondes stretching their way across social media. Which I have to say is extremely hypocritical of me because I'd say I definitely do a bit of that. It's something I refused to try until a couple of years ago when I decided I needed to be a little more flexible for my ballet classes, so I taught myself the basics off of the wonderful world of Youtube where my practice has since progressed. I now have absolute faith in the practice to restore mind, body and wellbeing, having gotten up half an hour in advance each morning before university to fit in a short practice.<br />
<br />
Although the slow pace and breathing techniques can put a lot of people off, there are many different types, all of which increase your strength, suppleness and mental toughness. So get exploring Youtube for an instructor you like! My personal favourite is Erin Sampson of Five Parks Yoga, but I'm still nowhere near on her level.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b style="font-size: x-large;">One small last tip</b> would be for those with a strain injury, or an injury which worsens with prolonged usage, to use HIIT training. This has really become famous over the last 10 years or so for its proven results to transform your body in as little time as possible. It's time efficient and effective but a lot of hard work and not always ideal for stamina sports such as distance running, however you'll usually find that athletes from every walk of life include at least 1 session per week. My funky chicken dance around the bedroom in initial recovery could be seen as a form of HIIT, although I think this may be flattering myself.<br />
Again, good sessions can be found on youtube for you to do at home or take to the gym!<br />
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<br />
Wishing you well, Helen xox<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Added extra:</b></span><br />
So I needed to come back and add to this post after being injured myself for 10 weeks now, which has put a halt on all running training as I can't even run a step!<br />
Just need to say, I feel any injured runners pain mentally, it's really upsetting not to be able to do what makes your heart happy for any amount of time, never mind months at a time. But the extra advice I can give you now from experience is GET ON THAT BIKE if your injury doesn't prevent you from doing so of course.<br />
There are several different types of indoor bike out there so I suggest finding what you think is most comfortable to you and just aim to mimic your running training on these as much as you can. I do interval sessions, longer sessions and a few hard paced, fast sessions on these each week to keep up my cardio fitness and maintain muscle form in my legs. I can't give feedback on whether it will have worked wonders yet but I at least feel sane still, and still feel pretty good fitness wise, so as a substitute it seems to work.<br />
Try and have fun with it xx<br />
<br />Helen Mortimerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694194632797282806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1619182184985676610.post-71773771076616935752018-06-26T14:03:00.000-07:002018-06-26T14:03:13.438-07:00Low Calorie, Vegan Breakfast MuffinsThese muffins were a complete experiment for me, not even based on a recipe. I wanted to create a snack muffin to have on the go that didn't stress me out calorie-wise but tasted good enough that it could be used as an after dinner treat. So without further selling on them....<div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdBKBG1ATcn4dF6Nr4tlj8_PRqAjTYgJtHuDwTroDVqJxuiTi47R4gSuHMQWkkLXjhsSaFb_BWsvJSlCfvpmb53SP-cUWFkxNi56iC0ppI0Zxx8OUSJ4Y_lMZnQACgW2A-m8pyO86E6nQ9/s1600/IMG_6798.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdBKBG1ATcn4dF6Nr4tlj8_PRqAjTYgJtHuDwTroDVqJxuiTi47R4gSuHMQWkkLXjhsSaFb_BWsvJSlCfvpmb53SP-cUWFkxNi56iC0ppI0Zxx8OUSJ4Y_lMZnQACgW2A-m8pyO86E6nQ9/s320/IMG_6798.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<h4>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Ingredients</span></b></h4>
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X3 nutribrex cereal, bought at Tesco. You could easily used a portion of oatibix or weetibix instead</div>
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100ml sweetened soya milk/coconut milk</div>
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X2 medium sized bananas</div>
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2 tbsp cinnamon powder</div>
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1 1/2 tsp baking powder</div>
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50g wholemeal self raising flour</div>
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160g frozen berries of your choice</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQXiRIi9QHNIYCebS8dmYeWg9iyEWtWdF06_N8mV-21YB0V1fB6ioKmetT9mWQMXLVmykmdSc9Tz2aA7UMYWCJnFFzC6r9s42XymQUOaWreGIrQDT3IoTWuwWbUBJCMN4IUarL44vKfMRz/s1600/IMG_6787.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQXiRIi9QHNIYCebS8dmYeWg9iyEWtWdF06_N8mV-21YB0V1fB6ioKmetT9mWQMXLVmykmdSc9Tz2aA7UMYWCJnFFzC6r9s42XymQUOaWreGIrQDT3IoTWuwWbUBJCMN4IUarL44vKfMRz/s320/IMG_6787.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Method</b></span></div>
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<ul>
<li>Preheat oven to 200 degrees fan or the equivalent</li>
<li>Pour some boiling water over the cereal you are using, just enough to soak through it all without too much excess.</li>
<li>Add the non-dairy milk and stir this mixture</li>
<li>Mash the two bananas into mush (can't think of a better way to put that haha) and add this to the cereal mixture</li>
<li>measure out the dry ingredients into a larger bowl then add the mixture and berries to this bowl and stir well to achieve an even distribution of ingredients</li>
<li>spoon into either greased trays or muffin cases</li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKBSTRtrSIgQni7yH1QrPoW81YpwbjhaTkcslQBKtjfS-u1Z0m2hOa2xGeAomN26pKES7aJAMhu93LQDYH9ouIkrE4YF5lugXl_1HmYhbvnUnSXulE-hfaDsRPLA4UmnS6CZEibdOsUxL8/s1600/IMG_6800.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKBSTRtrSIgQni7yH1QrPoW81YpwbjhaTkcslQBKtjfS-u1Z0m2hOa2xGeAomN26pKES7aJAMhu93LQDYH9ouIkrE4YF5lugXl_1HmYhbvnUnSXulE-hfaDsRPLA4UmnS6CZEibdOsUxL8/s320/IMG_6800.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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After 25 minutes, allow to cool then enjoy! Possibly freeze some to conserve your stash for throughout the week :)</div>
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Love Helen xx</div>
Helen Mortimerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694194632797282806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1619182184985676610.post-20244768202773745262018-05-28T12:04:00.000-07:002018-05-28T12:04:09.128-07:00Sub 2 hour half marathonAfter being out for the season with a grade 2 hamstring strain, as I began to slowly increase my mileage each week to ease myself back into it I quickly grew hungry for another event to sign up for and realised there would soon be one of the most famous races in the UK right on my new front doorstep; The Great Scottish Run, 30th September 2018. So after a bit of manipulation (who could say no to this face??) I'm now entered with a flatmate and a friend of mine, one eager, one still needing maybe a little push.<br />
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The route is pretty flat, starting in the centre of Glasgow where I attend University in George Square and taking us up around the green and along the Clyde, a beautiful river which divides the city into North and South. I'm thrilled to be training for a new challenge, and after proving to myself previously that I can cover the distance, I now want to prove that I can push it a little faster without dying or collapsing after the first 5k.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPsoLf3ZhDabEo2JiKQjS5p3cvP7qAuoLLu3DoSQ2fY6VyGKidv8h0R9Vnfvj2MdCnQ8vUGE4CEONaUgADaAx8JhlaTxp3VHEXHUAEo86YGujxDmdHRSUOk6g11MMZyWyPjZ7dmjUiPWnb/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-05-28+at+20.02.12.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="823" data-original-width="1379" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPsoLf3ZhDabEo2JiKQjS5p3cvP7qAuoLLu3DoSQ2fY6VyGKidv8h0R9Vnfvj2MdCnQ8vUGE4CEONaUgADaAx8JhlaTxp3VHEXHUAEo86YGujxDmdHRSUOk6g11MMZyWyPjZ7dmjUiPWnb/s640/Screen+Shot+2018-05-28+at+20.02.12.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great Scottish Run Half Marathon course map 2018</td></tr>
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<br />
After no solid training for 3 months, it's pretty frustrating looking back on where you were in terms of mileage this time last year, but having kept a fair level of fitness up at the gym (a blog post on maintaining fitness through injury will be up soon) it's been fairly easy to get back into and tackle some harder workouts and long runs. I'm lucky enough to live in an area of the UK abundant with wildlife and footpaths so I can easily get lost (usually literally) in my runs while enjoying the scenery and gaining some serious fitness at the same time.<br />
<br />
So if anyone has any advice on training for faster times it'd be greatly appreciated, I'd like to get a little discussion going on the best methods. I'm starting with the time of 2 hours 15 minutes from my first ever race and want to come in some time around 1 hour 45 minutes for the upcoming race, which is a big goal but an almost achievable one?? After the little research I've done it looks like a combination of long runs, recovery runs and some speed training like interval, fartlek training etc. is what I'm going to be up to until September, which is definitely enough to keep up with considering I'm away for 5 weeks of the summer. Yoga has been helping my hamstring recovery little by little but it's time to visit a specialist to see what's what as it definitely hasn't made the process in term of flexibility and power that it should have by now.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivrIpoQ819dIKx3Gitbt574xF3DnABV5TfjSkZYSGqY-nWO5f0pZMqki_yFt8rp1WUhuO8ANHewUlO6GOFAjfqI7kmJG8eNrrGOoPaDqDJMzYHyPxS2Z9No0IXu23f9ae-LXRUnD-UjRd-/s1600/fullsizeoutput_853.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1334" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivrIpoQ819dIKx3Gitbt574xF3DnABV5TfjSkZYSGqY-nWO5f0pZMqki_yFt8rp1WUhuO8ANHewUlO6GOFAjfqI7kmJG8eNrrGOoPaDqDJMzYHyPxS2Z9No0IXu23f9ae-LXRUnD-UjRd-/s400/fullsizeoutput_853.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A wee picture of my recovery yoga, because who doesn't wanna see a picture of my bum in the air</td></tr>
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Wish me luck!!<br />
Helen xxHelen Mortimerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694194632797282806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1619182184985676610.post-89583598398147166932018-04-20T05:37:00.003-07:002018-05-28T11:17:56.287-07:00Sugar free vegan carrot/chia muffinsI created this recipe as I've recently not be as keen as usual on eating my greens, so I wanted a yummy way to get some veggies in my diet as well as some protein! I was also needing MANY revision snacks and wanted to have large batches ready to save time, so I just freeze these and take them out in the morning in preparation for the library :)<br />
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<b>Ingredients (serves 10)</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
3 medium carrots<br />
200g plain self raising flour (I prefer brown)<br />
80g honey*/syrup<br />
20g chia seeds<br />
200ml soya milk<br />
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1 tsp baking powder<br />
4 tsp cinnamon powder<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDu1Lfa4eguyicyPxS5HPuAxADloXNr83cXdznuQoVvDJOlmNttOv2sp-Ddk-2E9KJ4K2zupwHhEVASedHXJxdYJhI9kAkRyUHPzUwmcyaYIRu43mF4Zoidwagi_h5_teTacFf8jjL2Dtp/s1600/fullsizeoutput_82a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDu1Lfa4eguyicyPxS5HPuAxADloXNr83cXdznuQoVvDJOlmNttOv2sp-Ddk-2E9KJ4K2zupwHhEVASedHXJxdYJhI9kAkRyUHPzUwmcyaYIRu43mF4Zoidwagi_h5_teTacFf8jjL2Dtp/s200/fullsizeoutput_82a.jpeg" width="200" /> </a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcLmj1UJcS09M-ZcwQ7xHZraAAEtVpkMqqeqP0ywhHJ6is9fsO1gJ1fW99ntpjBzDcaxEINE2fyBRNMqNjR1fhWb1c-ccVKqJl2GW_18no0BKAzVkmuW9y9clymRQN_bOufRP6jgVUb2IZ/s1600/fullsizeoutput_82d.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcLmj1UJcS09M-ZcwQ7xHZraAAEtVpkMqqeqP0ywhHJ6is9fsO1gJ1fW99ntpjBzDcaxEINE2fyBRNMqNjR1fhWb1c-ccVKqJl2GW_18no0BKAzVkmuW9y9clymRQN_bOufRP6jgVUb2IZ/s200/fullsizeoutput_82d.jpeg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjmVwf6UnyJH_d6Jz_vSTDvxgu5CPCgWWrFRa-K3DkmYBLI0-I9KNRQsYSPTh4ztsBWwO4hwgyRltxJQ4d-inK0yTFSkx5E3j2YJ3UOH0QF2nnTv_UuaS1fsxNgjVr5YwABpB7nh_qNwr7/s1600/fullsizeoutput_82c.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjmVwf6UnyJH_d6Jz_vSTDvxgu5CPCgWWrFRa-K3DkmYBLI0-I9KNRQsYSPTh4ztsBWwO4hwgyRltxJQ4d-inK0yTFSkx5E3j2YJ3UOH0QF2nnTv_UuaS1fsxNgjVr5YwABpB7nh_qNwr7/s200/fullsizeoutput_82c.jpeg" width="150" /></a><br />
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<b>Method</b><br />
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<ul>
<li>Turn on oven to 200 degrees fan</li>
<li>First, measure out the chia seeds into a bowl and pour on the soya milk to allow to soak. Stir once.</li>
<li>Finely grate the carrots. If you have a blender I recommend blending the grated carrots for a smoother consistency, but it's not the ned of the world if you don't have one. Add the carrot to the chia seed bowl and stir.</li>
<li>Measure out all the dry ingredients (self raising flour, baking powder and cinnamon) into a large mixing bowl.</li>
<li>Add the carrot and chia seed mixture to the bowl of dry ingredients and add the honey.</li>
<li>Stir thoroughly to ensure an even distribution. You should have a fairly sloppy consistency, so if not, either add more soya milk or more flour depending on if it needs thinning or thickening.</li>
<li>Now either spoon into 10 muffin cases, or this recipe works equally well as a loaf, so a greased loaf tin.</li>
<li>Pop in the oven for 25 minutes then allow time for cooling</li>
<li>Enjoy!</li>
</ul>
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Love Helen XX</div>
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Helen Mortimerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694194632797282806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1619182184985676610.post-55812264506081464722018-04-07T06:23:00.000-07:002018-04-07T06:24:19.019-07:00Judge Craig Mitchell-Skid Row Running ClubI'm going to start off with an apology for not posting an Inspiration of the Month for March. Trust me, this was not for lack of inspiration but rather lack of time for doing this article justice! Maybe I'll do a double feature this month :)<br />
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I actually first read about Judge Mitchell in Runner's World, so I hope I'm not stealing from them in any way, I was just touched by what I read and so it's stuck with me ever since. This high court judge in LA started Skid Row Running Club back in 2012 as a way to support members of The Midnight Mission (a centre dedicated to transforming the homeless back into self sufficient citizens) through his passion for running and the power he knew it had for self development and companionship.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Judge Mitchell, centre</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQjfm8EMquVtzcRuj_k2Un4sKFLcWMtEelRWx32JUwgPS-LvEBADDErZ6TDNjjJ26ThjrdKbgHesusoSfCtl5sGNve16nH0vbHx4HH-IiSIGyVYTL7dwnWaFmWn8aKssHnWzpiGvCmu2Eo/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-04-07+at+14.19.16.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="552" data-original-width="831" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQjfm8EMquVtzcRuj_k2Un4sKFLcWMtEelRWx32JUwgPS-LvEBADDErZ6TDNjjJ26ThjrdKbgHesusoSfCtl5sGNve16nH0vbHx4HH-IiSIGyVYTL7dwnWaFmWn8aKssHnWzpiGvCmu2Eo/s320/Screen+Shot+2018-04-07+at+14.19.16.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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The club got off to a slow start but after an increase in members as word spread and several successful trips abroad to run marathons, <br />
<a name='more'></a>it has become somewhat famous, with a documentary all about its members stories and collective antics due to be released 9th May later this year. The advert for this can be found here: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lq4o8P_seMc" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lq4o8P_seMc</a>. With an ever increasing number of members, consisting of both professionals from the local area as well as homeless and recovering addicts from the Midnight Mission alike, they continue to meet thrice weekly at 5.45 a.m. for a 4-6 mile run. This provides structure, motivation and company to each runner but also makes a huge impact on their overall wellbeing and position in life. For some, it has meant obtaining a passport and travelling across seas to take part in what would already be seen as an emotional event for the average person. It has given them courage to pursue further goals in self-development like employment or securing their own place to live.<br />
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The reason I had to write about Craig Mitchell as my Inspiration of the Month was because he has been the rock who pulled this successful club together and has dedicated so much to its members. It seems like a very simple idea looking back, but the planning, early mornings and time commitment he has shown whilst keeping up a very high stress level job are no mean feat and deserve to be acknowledged. I know he is appreciated greatly by the clubs members but I thought he deserved a little extra praise and publicity for his hard work and goodwill, even though I know this isn't why he does it or even probably what he sees it as.<br />
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Nowadays it's more important than ever to take a step back and look at what we've got and what we can be contributing to the world instead of focusing on the materialistic or selfish goals. It's very easy to get sucked into the rush of the world around us, keeping our heads down and suffering in silence but if we acknowledge each other every once in a while and help each other along the way it can make life so much more enjoyable and easy. Whatever makes you smile, fit in the time, share it with others and take care of yourself mentally.<br />
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If you have the time, this is the link to donate to Skid Row Running Club : <a href="http://www.skidrowrunningclub.com/donate/" target="_blank">http://www.skidrowrunningclub.com/donate/</a>. This money goes directly to purchasing kit and travel expenses for the runners and is well deserved. Small amounts are just as appreciated as the large! You can even purchase a T shirt when they aren't out of stock :)<br />
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Lots of love, Belles xxHelen Mortimerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694194632797282806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1619182184985676610.post-91630243217513977522018-03-28T15:31:00.000-07:002018-04-07T06:23:58.887-07:00Vegan Wholemeal Apple MuffinsThese are perfect for when the elevenses hit and you need a sugar rush without the crash after. Full of fibre and protein, they're the perfect snack for the health-conscious sweet tooth!<br />
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<b>Ingredients (serves 10)</b><br />
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125g wholemeal flour<br />
125g plain self-raising flour<br />
120g honey/agave nectar<br />
2 tsp baking powder<br />
1/2 tsp salt<br />
150 ml soya/almond/coconut milk<br />
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75 ml vegetable oil<br />
30g chia seeds<br />
1 tablespoon cinnamon powder<br />
2 small cooking apples<br />
(vegetable margarine for greasing tins)<br />
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I know that looks like quite a long list of ingredients, but don't freak out it's easy I promise!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm very impatient when it comes to baking</td></tr>
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<b>Method</b><br />
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1) Measure the chia seeds into a bowl and stir in the dairy alternative milk of your choice. This should be allowed to soak as you prepare the other ingredients.<br />
2) You have two choices for the apples. First peel them. Then you can either chop them up into small pieces as preparation of if you want a smoother texture for your muffins you can boil them chopped up, drain and mash. This should give you a paste.<br />
3) Pour the honey, oil and cinnamon into the bowl containing the apples and stir until evenly distributed.<br />
4)Measure all the dry ingredients into a large mixing bowl and pour both the chia seed mix and apples mix into this. Now mix this thoroughly and add your dairy alternative milk if the texture is a little try, or more flour for the opposite. This is where I use intuition and receive slightly different results each time!<br />
5) Spoon the mixture into 10 greased muffin trays/cases. They tend to stick so be careful if using paper cases so try and wipe a small amount of margarine on the inside of these.<br />
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Cook for 20-25 mins at 200 degrees C/Gas 6<br />
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ENJOY! Love Belles<br />
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P.S. I freeze a few and let them defrost throughout the day if I want one with me as a snack :) Just a wee extra tip for you there<br />
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Helen Mortimerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694194632797282806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1619182184985676610.post-63833364664802244902018-03-01T07:09:00.003-08:002018-03-07T12:53:50.095-08:00Eating Out With Anaphylaxis-10 Tips<br />
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Eating out can be really stressful when you have serious allergies. I had a number of reactions to both school meals and restaurant meals which deterred me from ever trusting other people with my food for a number of years until recently who I came to university. I used to just pack my own and take it with me if we needed to go out, or there was an event with friends. People are way more easy going than you think, just let them know the situation and you can stay involved in every social gathering you would otherwise. This worked fine and if you are too nervous about it like I was then I recommend the same as it's no big deal, but these are just some tips I've picked up over the years from dealing with it.</div>
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<li><b style="font-size: x-large;">Carry an epipen bag.</b> This is what my family and I labelled the little handbags my sister and I would carry everywhere with us. As young children our mum would carry our epipens for us but around the age of 10 or 11 when we began to be left at clubs and friends' houses we would always have a small bag with us containing <a name='more'></a>two epipens so we always had them in case of emergency.</li>
<li><b style="font-size: x-large;">Use allergen menus. </b>Over the years, larger chains and supermarkets have become more educated on the issue of anaphylaxis and now have a much larger wealth of information on the ingredients they use. Even some of the smaller independents have completed allergen menus of their dishes in a simple format using ticks and crosses to tell you what may be contained in their dishes or what is not guaranteed to not be contaminated in the kitchen. Make use of these where possible as they are really handy to flick through when deciding what you'd like.</li>
<li><b style="font-size: x-large;">Keep it simple. </b>By this I just mean don't order the most exotic dish you can find on the menu just because it sounds interesting. This makes being careful rather difficult and unnecessarily complex, whilst you could just go for a dish with far fewer ingredients where allergens are much easier to keep track of. It also means it's much easier for chefs to know where their ingredients are being sourced from and tell you what they cannot guarantee.</li>
<li><b style="font-size: x-large;">Research beforehand. </b>Look up what restaurants may be best with your particular allergies and let friends/family know what the best options for you would be. This eliminates stress on the day about where to eat, and puts you at ease before hand because you already have a plan.</li>
<li><b style="font-size: x-large;">Suss a place out first. </b>This is very similar to the last tip, but if you didn't have time to look up places beforehand for any reason and this is a spontaneous dining out option then don't just walk into the first place you see and sit down. Establish what the options are and don't commit to anywhere unless you know they have a suitable option and are prepared to deal with allergies (not a hotdog stand in the middle of a boardwalk).</li>
<li><b style="font-size: x-large;">Make your allergies known to servers. </b>Apart from legal reasons, making it known to servers that you suffer from anaphylaxis is really helpful because, although a dish may not contain your specific enemies, you want to make sure care is taken in the kitchen. This doesn't have to be a big deal at all, just let them know either as you walk in or when you are seated.</li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b style="font-size: x-large;">Feel free to pack your own. </b>Obviously you can't really do this if you are out alone but if you have dinner plans in a group or with your family then just pack your own and ask for a plate when you get there. Servers are very accepting of this and I used to do this very easily, especially as it meant I got the choice to have exactly what I wanted! If the restaurant is themed such as a steak house or curry house then try and adjust it to this a little so that you feel part of the occasion and don't draw so much attention to the fact that you're eating your own.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b style="font-size: x-large;">Educate yourself on the use of epipens.</b> In terry you should already know how to use them if you carry them, but make sure you know the process back-to-front and offer to teach your friends so that you feel completely safe being out with them.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium;"><b style="font-size: x-large;">Don't assume, always ask. </b>I know from experience that chefs will use some pretty out-there ingredients where you wouldn't expect. Not because they're trying to kill you, simply because they aren't used to having to think about allergies. So it's always better to be safe than sorry and just double check with your server that what you're ordering is going to be OK, even if you've eaten there before. This way the chef is made aware and can prepare as they need to.</span></li>
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<b>Thanks for reading, I really hope these help you! xx</b></div>
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<b>Love Helen</b></div>
Helen Mortimerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07694194632797282806noreply@blogger.com0