Which brands, charities, sportswomen, races, kit and, let’s face it, fuel, has got you running further and happier this year? We asked you to tell us your favourites so we could celebrate them all. Whether they’re inspiring your fundraising efforts, giving you itchy feet, recording your precious achievements, or protecting you against the elements, each is important to our awesome community of women runners

Words: Rachel Ifans

As runners, we take what fellow runners say seriously. We hoover up training advice and insider intel like there’s no tomorrow, we write the name of beloved bits of kit on our hands so we don’t forget to buy them later, we take one runner’s experience of a race as the gospel, and we nerd out on the features of our tech together. It’s what marks our community out from others; we respect each other and the knowledge and passion we all have for running.

So, sit back, read about the people, products and places that you, our readers, have rated most in 2022. After all, if they loved them, it’s likely you will too.

FAVOURITE HEALTH & FITNESS INFLUENCER

WINNER FAVOURITE HEALTH & FITNESS INFLUENCER

EILISH MCCOLGAN

Winner Eilish McColgan

What did Eilish McColgan think as Big Ben chimed the start of 2022, we wonder? If only she could have foreseen the stellar year she ended up having, a year that saw her break long-time records, scoop medals at home and abroad and also make her mark on the future of women in sport, she’d having been rubbing her hands with glee.

Eilish’s competing year began in February when she set a new British record in the 5K in Dubai (14:48), smashing Paula Radcliffe’s 2013 record by three seconds and also beating her mum’s 1991 record of 14:57. In the same month, she beat Radcliffe again, this time in the half marathon and by a healthy 21 seconds (1:6:26) and in May, at the Great Manchester Run, she was at it again, this time in the European 10K. She took two seconds from Radcliffe with a time of 30:19, finishing second to Obiri who came in at 30:15. Little did we know but Eilish was just warming up. In August, she took her first major title with a gold medal win in the 10,000m final at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham (30:48:60) which was also a Games record and broke her mum’s 32-year stronghold. She followed it up with a silver in the 5,000m at the same games and then hopped over to the European Champs in Munich to scoop a silver in the 10,000m and a bronze in the 5,000m, becoming the first British distance runner to compete in six outdoor champs in a season. But hold up, there’s more to come: September saw Eilish clinch a course record at the Big Half in London (67:35).

Off the track, Eilish is an inspiration. In March, she launched non-profit organisation Giving Back to Track with partner Michael Rimmer, which aims to encourage young people into athletics and fund the next generation of female athletes. From us to Eilish, we think you’re THE BEST! And, spoiler alert: next issue Eilish is our cover star!

Highly commended

Jenni Falconer

© JENNI FALCONER

Yes, Jenni Falconer is a mainstay on the radio but it’s her off-the-wireless work that you guys love so much. As we learnt when Jenni was a WR warrior all those months ago, she’s open, she’s natural, she’s gorgeous, she’s bright and funny, she’s a runner… she’s one of us. You guys also love her podcast, RunPod, on which she interviews running fans from physios to Olympians to celebs and discusses niggles like achilles pain in actual, useful, practical depth. And she does special eps on big races so you hear from race directors, previous winners and underrepresented runners about what to expect on the day. She also has a great Insta presence which combines family stuff, running stuff and work stuff with aplomb. Jenni is how we like to think we are on our best days, and her enthusiasm for running is infectious.