Running Race 4 Life - Tips from a marathon runner #high5wave

In 12 days time the 5k and 10k Race for Life event will be happening in Cambridge. Hundreds of women will be donning pink and running to help raise much needed funds to fight cancer. It's set to be a fantastic event with sponsors such as Scottish Power supporting the event with their High 5 Wave, turning 60,000 high fives into £35,000 for Cancer Research.

As the race itself is split into a 5k event and a 10k I decided to interview London Marathon 2015 runner Roger Holmes to get some tips and advice on running. If however you won't be running but want to donate, check out the end of this post for a fun photo way to get involved!

Roger has always been a keen runner, doing Cambridge and Peterborough Parkruns on a regular basis but had always wanted to run the London Marathon and follow in his mum's footsteps. His mum Gillian is also a keen runner and has completed numerous marathons over the years. I think it runs in the family, (ho ho ho I'm so very not funny.)

How did you start off your running training? Did you have a set goal per day or week?

I was doing a 5k park run every Saturday which helped. On top of that I'd try to fit in other runs as well as entering 10ks, half marathons and I even did a 20 mile race.

What mistakes can newbie runners make?

They start off on a run at a faster pace than they are used to. Also running a longer distance than they are used to too.

Why did you choose to run the London Marathon?

I'd always wanted to do it and my mum has done it several times so I wanted to follow in her footsteps so to speak!

How did you motivate yourself to push yourself?

I was doing it for charity so I didn't want to let down all my sponsors and the charity. I also wanted to complete it to say I've done it!

A lot of runners have that dreaded moment of hitting "the wall." How did you overcome that?

I just had to push on and not let everyone down that had backed me! I also wanted that medal so badly!

What inspires you as a runner?

Seeing how fast I can do a certain distance in and then seeing if I can beat it the next time. Also just getting miles on my feet and racking them up!

What advice can you give to the Race For Life runners?

Just enjoy it! Don't start off too fast at the start and pace yourself. Don't drink loads of water before the race, sip just enough. If you start feeling tired, just think of the people that have supported you and that you can't let them down.

Thank you Roger for some fantastic tips and advice on the running front. It's always good to seek advice from experienced runners.

Now, as I said earlier to you about donating via photos, you can help Scottish Power reach their high five target by adding a photo or video5 to the High 5 Wave, by liking their Facebook page, sharing a video or image, nominating a friend to high five or by getting involved with activities at their High 5 Wave marquee at the Cancer Research UK Race for Life event attended by Scottish Power in Cambridge on 19th July.

Or if you're feeling really awesome, you can run and be part of the High 5 Wave!

Are you running Race for life?

#TuscanyNominate You deserve a break…

As the title of this blog post states, you deserve a break and right now, I know someone in particular who could do with some time to breathe and relax. That person is my husband Chris.

The wonderful people over at Tuscany Now are running a Nominate to appreciate competition over on their blog to give those special people in our lives a well-deserved rest. I instantly thought of Chris, what with his hectic job within the military and the logistics of his crazy lifestyle.

With the work Chris does in the military, he forever lives out of a bag and is always on the road. In the week he works all over the country from the Isle of Sky to Devon and leaves for these places at the drop of a hat. When he’s not doing that he’s being posted to jobs in places like the Falklands, Minhad and Afghanistan for months at a time. Earlier on in January, in the middle of our house move Chris was told he was off to the Falklands- he was gone for two months. Despite all this and when he’s in the country, Chris will travel home every weekend. He takes a train from where ever he is to Cambridgeshire to spend some time at home with me and our pets. He never grumbles and just gets on with it which I find truly inspiring as well as selfless. He’s never thinking of himself, never gives himself a real rest and I think a break would do him the world of good!

In the past we've talked about visiting Tuscany and in particular Florence with its wine tours and spectacular architecture to marvel at, oh and of course food! Chris has a particular weak spot for Italian food, as do I. I would love to give him the opportunity to unwind in the quaint 18th century cottage that is Limonaia, situated on a hillside with spectacular views of the city of Florence. It'd also be great to explore Florence, tasting the local food and wine and to try out the bike tours of the city. When he has the time, Chris loves to get out and about on a bike, so this would be the perfect combination (and serious wife points!)

I know I am biased but I truly think that Chris deserves a break which is why I entered #TuscanyNominate. As I've already said he never grumbles and he always has a smile on his face but it'd be fantastic to see a true grin spread across his face if he found out he'd won a holiday. 

Regardless of winning or not, I'm so pleased I've done this post to let Chris know just how much I appreciate him. I don't think he'll ever realise quite how much.

Who would you nominate?

Wasabi launches in Cambridge

Last week I threw my glad rags on and with an empty stomach headed into Cambridge with Chris to try out the new Wasabi restaurant. We were very fortunate to be invited to the pre-opening and were very excited to sample the sushi and bento dishes.

I must admit I hadn’t heard of Wasabi before, but the chain has been around since 2003, first opening a branch in Embankment, London. The owner Kim wanted to steer Londoners away from their sandwiches and produce individually wrapped pieces of sushi and other delicious Japanese cuisine.  Since then 39+ restaurants have sprouted up in ten years, providing affordable, flavoursome convenience food for their customers.

Now I don't know why but I had expected the restaurant to be dimly lit however I was very wrong! Instead I was pleasantly surprised at how airy, bright and spacious the interior was. Funky long hanging ceiling lights, bright walls and minimalist seating filled the space, giving a really relaxed and modern feel. The seating is laid out similarly to Wagamamas with its communal tables, making your dining experience a social one too. Now onto that all important food...

There’s a diverse choice to pick from on the menu. From sushi to soups, hot food to salads- there’s a great range to choose from without breaking the bank. Chris and I gave our best attempts to try all the foods. The sushi was so good, being freshly prepared and with a large range to choose from. Chris admittedly was a bit dubious of the sushi initially, (having only tried it once before), however he was definitely converted and particularly enjoyed the surimi crabmeat and cucumber.  It also came individually wrapped, so you can pick and mix whilst making it convenient to stuff in your bag on a hectic lunch break. I really enjoyed the bento which admittedly I wouldn't normally go for but the chicken curry yakisoba bento was so delicious, warm and filling- a real comfort food. As the name suggests there is Wasabi with the dishes as well as pickled ginger and soy sauce. I loved the soy sauce and the pickled ginger but too much of the wasabi can really blow your socks off! There was the option of chopstix with your meal- something I toy with each time I eat Japanese food but thankfully they also provided spoons and forks which I'm sure my white t-shirt thanked me for!

Both Chris and I were really impressed with the food and how healthy, filling and convenient it is without being expensive. It's definitely somewhere we will head for during shopping trips for a quick bite as opposed to a greasy burger joint in the future! The pre-launch was a fantastic evening and it was lovely to catch up with some blogging pals too!

I also filmed a teeny tiny vlog of the evening so check that out below:

Have you tried Wasabi yet?

Festival styling, make-up, accessories & clothing

Today I thought I'd do a video on festival styling. Having been to festivals now for almost ten years (showing my age I know), I think I've got the accessories down. Click the video below to find out more:

What do you wear to festivals?