Hello!

ISSUE 141 || SEPTEMBER 2021

We couldn’t have done it without…

Rachel Ifans This picture shows Rachel at her

THE TEAM

EDITOR Esther Newman SENIOR ART EDITOR Alex Duce

LIFESTYLE

Headlines || People || Food || Kit ||

MUSCLES, STRENGTH, POWER AND JOY

The people, campaigns, research and updates making an impact in our running community this month

SUPPORTING OUR STARS

Keely Hodgkinson won silver in Tokyo E ver

parkrun return spreads joie de vivre

© PARKRUN UK After 16 months without the

This month we love...

ARNICARE COOLING GEL £4.29, amazon.co.uk Allow arnica, grapefruit

NEW GEAR

After being cancelled in 2020, the 2021 London Marathon is just around the corner. We celebrate the new race kit; if you’ve got a place, wear it with pride!

Prevent shin splints?

One of the most common injuries for runners, shin splints can have serious consequences if not managed properly. How can you ensure a full recovery?

HEALTH

The latest nutrition, beauty and health headlines. Because running doesn’t end at your feet

3 OF THE BEST TRAINING BOOSTS

BEST FOR VEGANS BULK 1 COMPLETE FOOD SHAKE

MYTH BUSTER

RUNNING WILL HELP ME SLEEP BETTER

Di Farrell-Thomas

Fitness enthusiast Di has set her sights on the toughest footrace on earth, and nothing – not even Covid – is going to stop her

FUEL

We’re packing in the protein this issue with

3 of the best gut health buys for runners

VITE BODY BAR Made from plantbased ingredients, this

Oh, for the love of a squishy belly

Laura Fountain is a mother, a running coach, a personal trainer, a marathon runner and the author of The Lazy Runner and Tricurious. Follow Laura @lazygirlrunning

This month’s wise women

WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT MONEY OTEGHA UWAGBA

CLINIC

Many runners wear supports, from ankle braces to neoprene thigh sleeves. Should you run in these braces or supports? Do they help or hinder your running?

MY BEST RUN

Copper Canyons

Events

© MEL PARRY/ALWAYS AIM HIGH EVENTS ANGLESEY HALF

Is tension affecting my breathing as I run?

Running is wonderful for reducing stress with invigorating endorphins, mind-calming neurotransmitters and all that deep breathing. But is underlying stress affecting your breathing when you run, and therefore affecting your running?

“I think every single time I’ve trained for a marathon since that first one, I’ve just got a bit better”

Charlotte Purdue is a natural; a natural marathon runner, competitor and role model in women’s sport. We’re hoping a bit of her superhero quality rubs off on us all

RUN for your LIFE

We want to keep running, to get stronger and to run further for ever and ever. And this is how we’re going to do it

FOR THE LOVE OF HUGS

Anna McNuff, cuddler and adventurer, is (almost) ready to welcome back hugging with arms open wide

This Mum Runs

The women’s running community, founded in 2014, is dedicated to encouraging women to run. To enable them to do that, it launched its own line of insanely popular running apparel

Polar express

The heart rate monitor pioneer has built a huge fanbase of loyal runners. We uncover the secrets behind the science and the success of Polar

Eilish McColgan

Eilish is a middle-distance athlete who represents Great Britain in the 5,000 and 10,000m. She competed in her third Olympics this summer, and recently smashed Paula Radcliffe’s 17-year 5,000m British record

Rachel Ann Cullen

Rachel is an author and a runner. Her first book, Running For My Life, documents her journey from non-runner to medal-winning marathon runner and how she discovered happiness along the way

Running mates Because we run better together

This month, you share the surprising things that

Your questions answered

Running-pole recommendations, simple post-run vegan recovery meals and how to train for a 5K. Plus the best way to deal with a pain in the butt!

Win! NURVV RUN SMART INSOLES WORTH £250

NURVV is a running coach and a smart gait analysis all rolled into one: and you can win a pair!

RACE

As usual, we have a mix of real-world and virtual events to tempt you with. In fact, the selection is fantastic this issue; from night runs and road races to inflatables and obstacles, canicross events and ultras. Check terms and conditions when book a race in case Covid rears its ugly head again

The sports bra

Even though women have been running since the beginning of time, the sports bra, essential to support us doing so, is relatively young. Once created, however, it opened the door to allow women of all shapes and sizes to take up and fall in love with exercise and sport

COACH

Back to basics running || Trail running plans

BACK TO SCHOOL BASICS

As the kids prepare to return to another academic year, it’s the perfect opportunity to spend some time planning your run training, too

HIT THE TRAILS

Many women runners report a higher feelgood factor from running on trails, being away from the world and from being closer to nature. What are you waiting for…?

Francesca Canepa

Francesca is an Italian trail runner, Montane athlete, former professional snowboarder and mum of two

KIT

Shoes || Apparel || Tech

ESSENTIAL KIT

NEW RELEASE SHOES

ESSENTIAL TOPS

The best tops for cool running on hot days

ESSENTIAL BRAS

The best bras to support your boobs

ESSENTIAL SOCKS AND CALF GUARDS

Look after your lower limbs

FAST PACKING ESSENTIALS

It’s time for some running adventures!

Long-distance TEST

Sarah’s loved how much the Karacal has helped her legs cope with long trail runs

GROUP TEST SHORTS AND CAPRIS

Not all shorts are created equal: here are the best

ESSENTIAL TECH

Fit tech from top to toe. Time to plug in and switch on

BOOTCAMP

Cross train for you || No-injury workout ||

CROSS TRAIN for the RUNNER YOU ARE

We all know we should do more than just run, right? But should we be doing yoga or cycling, swimming or weight training? Find out what you should do to help progress your running, whatever kind of runner you are

Wild swimming

BEST FOR: TRAIL RUNNERS

Spin classes

BEST FOR: TRACK RUNNERS

CrossFit

BEST FOR: ENDURANCE RUNNERS

Yoga

BEST FOR: ALL RUNNERS

Climbing

BEST FOR: HILL RUNNERS

The no-injury workout

We don’t leave much to chance with our running; we buy the kit, take safety precautions and eat well. So why do we have a blind spot when it comes to injury prevention? Now’s the time to change

Perfect form Lunges

Lunges are commonly done and commonly done wrong. A great exercise for everything from the belt down, these should be a staple in your training programme

BALANCE

Running as therapy || Support network

Running as therapy

Running can be powerful, but can it work as a fix-all solution to mental health struggles?

“When I run, I believe in myself”

56-year-old Lynne Chute’s struggles with mental health began as a child. Here she shares how running has been her lifeline

THE PERFECT MEDICINE

Dr Smith’s strategies to feel good when you run