Imo Boddy Fitness

So, at the end of October, I’m going to be taking on another 24 hour race.

I toyed with sharing this race because it’s a personal one, but I actually really enjoy sharing my running journey on here. The highs, the lows, the mistakes and everything in between.

I’m no different to anyone else. I’ve made mistakes, I’ve learnt from them, and more than anything, I know I’m capable of more. We all do, and we all are, right?

A bold move after such a big year, perhaps. But I’d love to finish the year by seeing what I can really do over 24 hours.

So here’s to the final 8 weeks of pavement pounding, after a summer in the mountains building❤️

Back from the mountains in time to pick up baby Button🐾✨

For a long time, I thought of my period as something I had to work around.

When I was racing, I’d think about when it was going to arrive, how I’d manage it, what I’d need to carry and whether it might affect my performance.

I’ve spoken before about some of my tips of how I manage my menstrual cycle around races - but I think it’s just as important to talk about why having a cycle matters in the first place.

For female athletes, your menstrual cycle can be an important sign that your body is getting enough energy to support everything it needs to do.

Training and racing hard are huge stressors on the body. If we continually ask more from ourselves without giving our bodies enough energy and recovery, our menstrual cycle can be one of the things affected.

And somewhere along the way, losing your period became almost normalised in endurance sport. It shouldn’t be.

Your period isn’t something your body should have to sacrifice for performance.

I’m lucky that my cycle is pretty consistent, and I don’t take that for granted. I pay attention to it now as it’s one of the ways my body communicates with me.

We talk so much about splits, mileage, HR, recovery scores. I think we should talk just as openly about periods.

Because being a strong female athlete isn’t about seeing how much you can take from your body. It’s about giving it what it needs to keep going.

A lot can happen in a year

These are some my thoughts 💭

Stick at it✌️

Recent memories in the mountains⛰️

5 training block reminders📝

As an athlete, but also as a coach, these are five things I think are worth remembering when you’re deep into a training block:

1. Effort is far more important than pace.

Your pace can be influenced by so many things - terrain, weather, fatigue, sleep and, for women, where you are in your menstrual cycle. The same pace can feel completely different at different times of the month, so learn to listen to the effort rather than chasing a number on your watch.

2. Don’t be afraid to adjust the session.

The session on your training plan is a guide, not a test. If you need to change the pace, shorten a rep or take a little longer recovery, that doesn’t mean the session has failed.

3. Finish your carbs.

Don’t stop fuelling just because the session is nearly over. If you’ve got your last gel left, take it - you’ve planned the fuel for a reason, and those carbs can support your recovery once you finish.

4. Your training doesn’t have to look impressive on Strava to be effective.

Your training will look different to everyone else’s - different paces, mileage, sessions, goals and life commitments. Don’t compare your training to someone else’s; the best training is the training that’s right for you.

5. Carry an extra gel.

Especially as your mileage starts to build up. Even on an easy run, you can get caught out - a run takes longer than planned, you’re more tired than expected, or you simply need a bit more fuel. Having one extra gel in your pocket is a small thing that can make a big difference.