M.J's Fitness Training

15/06/2026

🏃‍♀️ The Non-Runner Running Diary

Episode: The 10-Metre Protest 😅👟

Another day, another run ✔️

Just over 6K today and, if I'm honest, I was a little worried about how the knee and hip would behave after Friday's PB heroics.

Thankfully, we set off and everything felt pretty good.

Well...

For about 3K 😂

At around the 3K mark, the husband's dulcet tones floated across with what he clearly thought was some motivational encouragement:

"Come on Melly, pick up the pace!"

Now, I could have taken that constructively...

Instead, I may have reacted like a petulant toddler and immediately walked for about 10 metres purely out of spite 😇😂

Worth it.

Did it make any difference to my pace?
No.

Did it make me feel better?
Absolutely.

Marriage is all about compromise after all.

The run continued relatively drama-free until around the 4K mark when the knee and hip decided to remind me that they still existed.

Nothing major, just that lovely tightening sensation running from knee to groin that makes you think:

"Oh good, here we go."

But by then we were committed.

With a combination of stubbornness, determination, and the dulcet tones of the husband (slightly more helpful this time), we got the job done.

It was another warm one too ☀️🥵

Not quite "surface of the sun" temperatures, but warm enough that I was very happy to see the finish.

So overall:

✔️ Knee survived
✔️ Hip survived
✔️ Marriage survived the 10-metre protest
✔️ Another 6K in the bag

Not too bad at all 😜👟

Until next time...

12/06/2026

🏃‍♀️ The Non-Runner Running Diary

Episode: PBs, Pain & Ice Cream 🍦🎉👟

Today was RACE DAY!

The slightly unusual thing was the start time wasn't until 7pm, which meant I spent most of the day trying not to think about it while simultaneously thinking about nothing else 😅

This evening's adventure was the Sandringham 10K, a lovely mix of trail and road running, which suited me perfectly. Give me a bit of trail over endless road any day!

Now, let's talk race fuel...

🥪 Grilled cheese toastie
🍅 Tomato soup

Consumed approximately 3 hours before the race.

Sounds sensible, right?

Well... let's just say there was a period during the first half of the run where I was seriously reconsidering my life choices 🤢😂

Thankfully everything settled down and disaster was avoided.

The run itself wasn't entirely plain sailing.

My knee decided to have a little grumble.
My hip joined in for good measure.

But at that point there was no point stopping and moaning about it. The mission was simple:

👉 Get over the finish line.

And that's exactly what I did.

Not only did I finish...

🥁🥁🥁

I GOT A 10K PB!!! 🎉🎉🎉

A whole 2½ minutes faster than my previous best!

Considering there was a point not that long ago where I was convinced I wasn't a runner at all, I'll happily take that 😎

And then came the best part...

🍦 CELEBRATORY ICE CREAM 🍦

Huge thank you to Stephie for that little gem. It was absolutely delicious and tasted even better knowing I'd just run my fastest 10K!

So overall...

✔️ Race completed
✔️ Finish line crossed
✔️ New PB achieved
✔️ Ice cream consumed

I would say that's a pretty successful evening 😜

Until the next adventure...

07/06/2026

🏃‍♀️ The Non-Runner Running Diary

Episode: The Great Lasagne Experiment 🍝😅

Well... another day, another run.

Or at least an attempt at one 😂

Good grief, that felt sluggish.

Everything felt heavy today. My legs felt heavy. My lungs felt heavy. Even my thoughts felt heavy. It was one of those runs where you're working far harder than the pace suggests and you're constantly wondering what on earth is going on.

Today's plan was our usual 40-minute run.

You know the drill...

We set off together.
The husband immediately bounds off like an elegant woodland gazelle 🦌
And I settle into my natural pace of "determined plodder" 🐌

But today just felt... off.

So instead of battling through for the full 40 minutes, I decided 35 minutes was enough.

Sometimes you've just got to know when to call it.

Oddly though, the last couple of kilometres felt much better. My 1K splits definitely picked up, which suggests my body eventually remembered what we were trying to do.

Back at our meeting point, the husband arrived shortly afterwards and immediately announced:

"God that was hard, Melly."

Now, when Mr Gazelle says a run was hard, you know something's up.

After a bit of detective work, we've come to the highly scientific conclusion that the culprit may have been...

🥁🥁🥁

Last night's lasagne.

Neither of us really eat pasta very often, and despite making it gluten free in an attempt to avoid any issues, we're fairly convinced it sat in our stomachs like a couple of house bricks.

Still...

It tasted good 🤷‍♀️😂

So although today's run won't be making any highlight reels, it's still another one ticked off.

Run done ✔️
Washing hung up ✔️
Now it's time to tackle the rest of the jobs list before it starts judging me.

I'll try and squeeze a run in on Tuesday, but if not, the next outing will be the Sandringham 10K on Friday evening 👟

Which sounds much more exciting than today's Great Lasagne Shuffle.

Have a fab Sunday everyone! 😜

05/06/2026

🏃‍♀️ The Non-Runner Running Diary

Episode: Pace is Back on Speaking Terms 😅👟

Another day, another run done ✔️

And you know what? Today's run wasn't bad at all.

My pace has definitely slowed recently and I can only put it down to the heat. Apparently my body has decided that anything above "slightly chilly" is unacceptable running weather.

When we started it actually felt quite cool and I thought:
"Excellent. This won't be too bad."

Then we hit that hill.

The sun came out ☀️

The wind disappeared 🌬️

And I immediately started cooking from the inside out.

Thankfully it never quite reached the "my internal organs are melting" levels of recent runs, so we'll call that progress 😂

Today wasn't easy...
But it was doable.

And honestly, I'll take doable.

On the way back the clouds rolled in, which was lovely... except they brought the wind with them.

So then I spent the next couple of kilometres trying to decide whether I liked the wind or hated it.

On one hand:
💨 It made running harder.

On the other:
🥵 It stopped me overheating.

The debate kept my brain occupied, which was useful because the alternative was my usual internal monologue of:

"I can't breathe."
"I'm dying."
"This is the end."

So that was nice 😅

The dulcet tones of the husband were actually quite encouraging today too. He kept me updated, informed and distracted enough to stop me overthinking everything.

Today's goal was simple:
👉 Start bringing the pace back.

And that's exactly what happened.

No PBs.
No medals.
No dramatic finish line moments.

BUT...

It was my best average pace in well over a month 🎉

I really had to concentrate over the final 2K to hold onto it, but it paid off.

So overall?

Not bad.
Not bad at all.

Small wins are still wins 👟😎

Until Sunday, have a good one guys!

31/05/2026

🏃‍♀️ The Non-Runner Running Diary

Episode: Sunday Runday... and Apparently I'm Slow Now 😅👟

Sunday Runday is done ✔️

Today's mission was a nice steady 40-minute run.

This is usually the one where the husband and I set off together, then immediately separate because he's annoyingly faster than me. We run at our own pace, turn around at the 20-minute mark, and normally arrive back at roughly the same time.

Simple.

Except today I was firmly in plod mode 🐌

The legs were moving, but only just. No speed records were in danger. No gazelles were harmed.

So imagine my surprise when, on the way back, I heard footsteps behind me...

And the husband only went and caught me up! 😳

That NEVER happens!

Honestly, he scared the life out of me. One minute I was happily plodding along in my own little world, the next there was a sweaty husband appearing from nowhere like some sort of running ninja.

Apparently my pace today could best be described as:
"Technically still running." 😂

It was also warmer than we thought it was going to be, which definitely didn't help. Not roasting, but enough to make me question my life choices halfway round.

Still...

Another run done.
No drama.
No snake encounters.
No emergency toilet stops.
No near-divorce from unwanted motivational pushing.

Just a fairly uneventful run and a reminder that sometimes you can't be flying around setting PBs every time you lace up your trainers.

Some days you're speedy.
Some days you're ploddy.

Today was definitely a ploddy day.

Anyway, another one ticked off and that's what counts 😜👟

Until next time...

29/05/2026

🏃‍♀️ The Non-Runner Running Diary

Episode: No Murderous Thoughts Today 😅☀️👟

Another day… another run… and GUESS WHAT?!

Today’s run was actually better than Tuesday’s 🙌😂

Yes it was still warm… BUT today we had:
🌬️ a breeze
AND
🫀 my insides did NOT feel like they were being slowly liquified by the heat

Which honestly felt like a massive win.

This also meant the husband didn’t feel the need to “helpfully” push me up hills… and I therefore didn’t feel the overwhelming urge to rip his arms off and beat him with them 😇

So really… all in all… I’d say today is a GOOD DAY 😂

The run actually felt manageable, I wasn’t actively questioning my existence the whole way round, and despite the sweating there were significantly fewer dramatic moments.

And the good mood continues because:
🎉 IT’S HUMPHREY’S BIRTHDAY 🎉

The big fluffy lunatic is 4 today 🐻💛

So I think the rest of my day will consist of sitting in his lovely air-conditioned room, giving him extra birthday tickles, and pretending I’m recovering from an elite athletic performance.

Have a fab day all 😜☀️👟

26/05/2026

🏃‍♀️ The Non-Runner Running Diary
Episode: Running on the Surface of the Sun 🥵☀️😅

Today was HOT.
Not just “oh it’s a bit warm” hot…
No.

This was full-on molten lava temperatures 🔥🌋

I even hated the 5 minute walk warm up.
THE WALK WARM UP.
That should have been my first warning sign.

The original plan was to run tomorrow, but the husband wanted to go today, so I agreed. Fine. Whatever.

BUT THEN…
His work call time changed…

Which meant our sensible early run suddenly became a much later run directly in the fiery depths of hell itself 🥵

Now, as we all know, I do NOT do heat well.
Cold frosty mornings? Lovely.
This? Absolutely offensive.

So there we are, trudging up the hill with hardly any shade, while the husband starts offering deeply unhelpful comments like:

“Here comes some shade Melly!” ☀️😂

Yes husband…
The shade of a telegraph pole.
Which is approximately 6 inches wide.
Idiot.

At one point going up that hill I genuinely thought I was about to internally combust. Like my organs were preparing to slow roast.

So naturally… I stopped to walk.

Only to be met by the husband’s freight-train-sized hand on my back trying to physically propel me uphill while delivering some wonderfully nerve-grating words of encouragement 😅

I reluctantly carried on…

UNTIL…

Near the halfway point I stopped again.

This time the husband went in for another motivational shove… but instead found himself face to face with:
🔥 one very hot
🔥 very sweaty
🔥 deeply unimpressed wife

To his credit… he wisely retracted the hand and carried on running 😂

Honestly?
I hated today’s run.

Not just because of the heat either. I walked some of it, my entire body is tired from yesterday’s workout, and I just didn’t feel good at all.

No runner’s high.
No feeling of achievement.
Just survival 😅

BUT… the one positive:
🐍 NO SNAKES 🐍

Which frankly is the only reason I’m mentally stable right now.

I plan to run Friday — and I WILL be going early, even if I’m on my own.

For now though…
I have only JUST stopped dripping sweat everywhere 🤢😂

I need:
🚿 a shower
🍔 food
🧊 and possibly to lie directly inside a freezer

Have a good one guys 😜👟

23/05/2026

🏃‍♀️ The Non-Runner Running Diary
Episode: Snakes, Sweats & Sports Bra Survival 🥵🐍😅

Up early today.
Like… 0430 early 😭

Walked the dogs and got myself out running by about 0545 thinking:
“Ah yes, I’ll beat the heat.”

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
No.

It was already disgustingly hot 🥵

The run started off feeling like a solid life choice:
⏱️ First 5 mins — “This is lovely!”
⏱️ 15 mins in — “What the ACTUAL?!?!?” 🤮🥵

Then the rain came 🌧️
And honestly? I nearly cried with happiness because it cooled things down for approximately 37 seconds.

Then came the humidity.
That horrible sticky, muggy, swamp-like post-rain feeling where breathing becomes optional and existing feels offensive 🤢🥵🤮

BUT WAIT… there’s more.

I ran up THAT hill on my own today — fully aware I needed to be on snake watch. And as everyone knows by now… I do NOT like snakes.

The way up? Fine.
No snakes.
Confidence restored 💁‍♀️

The way back down?
Absolutely not.

There on the sandy verge was this weird little mound… and as I lumbered and hurruffed towards it…

🐍 HISSSSSSS 🐍

This thing slithered off into the grass verge at lightning speed while I simultaneously:

- screeched like a banshee
- performed an unexpected Olympic-level lateral leap
- nearly launched myself into the ditch on the opposite side of the road 😭😂

Which then caused immediate panic that there would ALSO be snakes in the ditch side grass… cue mini heart attack.

Thankfully…
✨ I did NOT p**p my pants. Literally. ✨

The rest of the wildlife seemed much friendlier thankfully 😂

I also thought being out that early meant none of the lovely village people would witness the bright red, sweaty tomato wheezing its way through the streets…

Wrong again.
There were STILL lovely people about to witness the chaos 🍅😅

And honestly?
The hardest part of the entire run was NOT the heat…

It was trying to remove my sports bra afterwards while hot and sweaty.

OH. MY. GOD.

At one point my arms were trapped above my head, I couldn’t move, I nearly grabbed the scissors, and I genuinely thought:
“Well… this is it. This is how it ends.” 😂💀

Not sure there’ll be a run tomorrow (Sunday)… there may have been a few little drinkies planned 🍹👀

But hey — that’s what bank holidays are for right?!

Have a good one guys 😜👟

17/05/2026

🏃‍♀️ The Non-Runner Running Diary
Episode: Wino Sweats & Woodland Miles 🍷🌲😅

Another day… another run 👟

And honestly? Couldn’t have done this one without Stephie! Running with a friend definitely makes the miles easier, the hills less offensive, and the suffering much more entertaining 😂

After a VERY busy week featuring multiple 4am wake ups, I decided a couple of glasses of wine last night were absolutely necessary. Self-care, right? 🍷💁‍♀️

Fast forward to today’s run…
Cue the Wino Sweats™ 😅

To be fair, it actually wasn’t anywhere near as bad as it could have been… although the woods were ridiculously muggy today, so I’m blaming at least 73% of the sweating on that and not the Cotes du Rhone.

Also… this explains why there was no Friday run, work not wine!!
By the time I finished work Friday, I genuinely felt ready to sleep for an entire week. Exhausted was an understatement.

But despite all that… another run done and just over 7k. ✔️

I’m definitely realising that:
🌲 Trail running with a friend = 😁

«🛣️ Road running alone = 😵

Every. Single. Time 😂

Who knew the non-runner would become someone who actually looks forward to woodland runs and chats?!

Anyway… sweaty, slightly tired, but feeling good 😜👟

Hopefully get the mid-week run will not be too bad, but until then, have a fab Sunday all!!!

13/05/2026