Grit & Pace

Stopped mid run to chuck my water bottle over myself to cool down a little bit, highly recommend !! Kinda felt slay for a moment, then it passed. But I felt it for a hot sec 🔥 A little message from me, to anyone who may need to see something like this 🌼 (easier said than done sometimes, speaking from a place of being realistic and not forcing toxic positivity!)

Just a goblin girl and her spikey haired Spaniel 🐢🐸 so lucky in life to have found my soulmate in a furry suit, who loves the exact same things as I do, who always reminds me to live in the moment and not take things so seriously, who makes me a better athlete and keeps pushing my boundaries to do things I never thought I could. But also who never judges me and sits by my side when I have to make decisions that I didn't want to make. Pure love and loyalty is a Springer Spaniel. Thank you Arthur (Pace) you're the best thing that ever happened to me, period!

Second highest mountain summit in the UK last month, Grit & Pace up in the clouds 🌧️🌧️ this particular day was Arthur's last day of being 5, what a way to see it out doing his favourite things!! Swimming, mountain scrambling and doing big poos in inconvenient places so mummy has to keep stopping to pick them up. That's ok, I have accepted my one purpose in life and it is to be Art's poo bag bitch 💩

From a gorgeous run recently. Grit & Pace have been on our travels (pics to come) but this was back home in Weetabix land. Although these photos are joyous and I'm running strong, sometimes training also looks like messing with the plan 20 times and making lots of adjustments. Very recently my body is going through a tricky time adjusting and going through some changes and I have seriously had to listen to what it needs and adapt my training. Taking it day by day and still getting training in, even if it's a shorter session or taking it super easy, or taking extra rest is absolutely fine. Literally, more than fine. All we see on social media is go go go, fast paced everything, hitting all these goals and training plans, when really you just have to do what's right for YOU.
Art is so in the moment, he's so grounding and doesn't give a s**t if I'm hitting training sessions or not- he's just happy to be out there!!

Consistency is key, it's the showing up that counts the most. Even if it's for half of the length of session than scheduled, then prioritising more rest for whatever reason you require, it's still putting some fitness in the tank. It's all going to be ok! (Easier said than done though).

Also hello July , I can't believe we're here. Where's the year gone?!

How many times has Ell been absolutely awful and forgotten Art's puffer coat...? 😅 Luckily, he fits my coats pretty well, and it doesn't matter the money they cost or how dirty they get, if my boy is cosy and warm that's all that matters !! Despite his fur coat, Arty does feel the cold especially since he's always submerging himself in any body of water possible. Hopefully he slightly forgives me for forgetting his puffer on several occasions 😅😂

Earlier this year very excitingly brought out a range of shorts named after Grit & Pace, honouring not only their ethos but also mine & Arty's mindset of just owning your wild self and getting out there.
Over the heatwave I've been wearing these Pace Double Layer shorts (the ones in the photos) for training to keep my b***y as cool as possible. Despite being double layered they're soooo breathable and create such a nice breeze when I'm running or cycling, plus have a side pocket for phone, dog treats, house keys etc.

For your own Wild Spirit gear use my code GRIT10 for 10% off your total basket price, including any sale items. (Maybe treat yourself to a pair of shorts for summer...!!)

Thank you Becca at Wild Spirit for giving us this opportunity, we're so grateful and honoured!!! ☀️☀️☀️

I've been a little quiet on Grit & Pace for a while. A combination of various things have caused anxiety over the last couple of months; it's been a tricky path to navigate and I've not really been too sure myself of how I've been feeling. One day I suddenly recognised it as anxiety, but it'd been sooooo long since I'd had these feelings that it took me ages to make this realisation. I'm lucky to say that those feelings don't come my way in the chapter of life I'm living now versus the one I was in a few years ago. So, this has been an unwelcome reminder of those times.
In March my training plummeted, my self esteem plummeted, I compared myself to people in my life, people online, just feeling so low about myself! I let the bad thoughts in, but thankfully they're leaving now & whatever strange period I've been in is ebbing away.

It's May now, luckily the sun is coming out a little more & I've had the most wonderful times lately. Training is going well & I'm enjoying it again. I'm very grateful to my sisterhood, my friends, family, and of course to Arthur who reminds me everyday to try and be present. 🩶🩶🩶

Most of the time I'm just mentally here, ya know ☁️🏔️



📷- Vinny

Today I was spectating at the iconic London Marathon, a special race to me & my family as it has featured in our lives since I was about 13 when my mum ran it for the first time - which after a while inspired me to start running too. Nearly every single year I've gone to spectate at the race, and in 2018 I went for it myself.
8 years ago I was running my first marathon aged 18 at this very race, for a charity called the Mental Health Foundation.
It's still one of my proudest moments in life raising so much money and awareness, although I was very silly about so many aspects of endurance running. Things have come on so far with social media and the huge recent running boom, I feel like if I'd started now I'd be more equipped and would look up to all the running influencers avidly with all their tips, tricks and knowledge. But you can't change the past, and I'm actually glad I did this race like I did as it taught me a hell of a lot.

Well done to all London marathon runners on course today it was incredible seeing everyone slay so hard!!!!! 🌟