Craft Love: Toddler Scribble Art

I never know what to do with my daughter's scribbly pictures. Whitney over at Squash Blossom Babies has come up with a great idea - click the picture for a tutorial. Also, have a look around her blog for some delicious recipes!

Focus on Shin Splints

A lot of novice runners give up quickly thanks to little niggles. Here, I address those problems and solve them so you can get out there and run! Or at least you'll have answers for all those lazy buggers who come up with excuses not to run with you.

Shin Pain


Some pain in your lower legs is normal when you're really exerting yourself in a training session and, as a new runner you're even more susceptible. As with most little niggles a strong core really helps as this takes a lot of the stress away from your legs.

Again, wearing the right shoes is important. If you haven't been to a proper running shop for a gait analysis yet then you really should! If you're really feeling it try lowering your mileage and doing a few interval runs instead and definitely don't skimp on the rest days! Build up your leg strength slowly and try to stick to softer running surfaces for a while.

Fashion Break: Skater Dress

Skater dresses are so cute and flirty and really easy to accesorise for casual or swanky occasions. I adore the low back on this one and whilst pink would be perfect this summer, you can't really beat a little black dress!

Tara Drop Back Belted Skater Dress - £15 at boohoo.com

Craft Love: Fluro Stripes

How awesome do these tops on blog Henry Happened look? I can't wait to try this out, although I'm sure I'll get carried away and do fluro stripes on everything! All you need is a t-shirt, spray paint and some tape - click the picture for instructions.

Focus on Runner's Knee

A lot of novice runners give up quickly thanks to little niggles. Here, I address those problems and solve them so you can get out there and run! Or at least you'll have answers for all those lazy buggers who come up with excuses not to run with you.

Runner's Knee

Getting twinges around your knee when you run can indicate a muscular imbalance. Make sure you're doing at least one weekly strength session on your legs. Aim to include lunges and squats to improve your overall leg and glute strength which will relieve some of the pressure on your knee. Having a strong core helps too so throw in a few planks a week too.

Having the right running shoes always helps - you need good mid-foot stability  and a well cushioned sole. Always stretch really well after your run and use an ice-pack on your knees if you need to.

If you're still having problems include plenty of oily fish in your diet to keep your joints healthy and consider taking a supplement such as glucosamine or cod liver oil

Fashion Break: Fluro Shorts

Sporty and fluro were two of the key catwalk trends for this season - which is why I love, love, love these shorts!



ASOS Runner Short in Fluro Palm Print - £25  £12.50 at asos.com

Review: Zombies, Run!

Coming to the end of a short, intense run I'm flagging. I'm thinking about slowing down, perhaps even walking for a bit. Then comes Sam's voice in my headphones. There's an unusually fast zombie right behind me, she's gaining on me, I've got to run!

When my husband got Zombies, Run! on his iPhone I was properly jealous. There wasn't a release date for Android at the time and I just couldn't picture living, or running, without its awesomeness. I struggled through the next few months safe in the knowledge that when the game finally got to Android I would be so much faster than him it wouldn't really matter anyway.

If you're not familiar with the game, I'll explain. Zombies, Run! is a game, a running game. You hit the start button when you begin your run and the story unfolds through your headphones, interspersed with music from your playlist. As you run you gather supplies, avoid zombies and begin to unravel a very gripping mystery. When you get hoe you allocate supplies and grow your base.

This game isn't about running stats, maps and times. It's fun, it keeps you moving and it gives your runs a purpose. It puts you right in the middle of a zombie film, you're the star, you can kick ass. I know it's pricey compared to most apps out there but trust me, it's worth EVERY penny.

Review: Karrimor Phone Arm Wallet

Since the weather got a bit warmer I've done away with my jacket and capris with their handy little bum pocket in favour of skimpier lycra. This has left me with a slight deficit in the phone storage department. I've seen loads of people with arm wallets so thought I'd try out a cheapie - the Karrimor wallet is currently just £3 on Amazon - a bargain not to be missed!

The Blurb: The wallet is designed just to fit your mobile phone and is big enough for most models. The clear panel enables you to use the touch-screen without taking the phone out and it has an adjustable strap for a secure fit.It's available in Black with a choice of either yellow or pink trimmings.

The Trial: My phone (HTC WIldfire) fits snugly into the pocket from the top (no fear of it slipping out mid stride!) as does my husband's iPhone, so I think most phones would be OK unless they're a really bizarre shape. If you really needed to you could shove a key and emergency fiver in there too. The material is slightly stretchy which allows it to move with your arm without feeling too loose or too tight. If you've got really big or really small arms the strap could be a bit of a problem but for most it will be fine. It fits both my husband and I easily. There's a little opening at the top for your headphones to poke through and you can stuff any excess wires in there too which is handy. The wallet stayed put throughout the run and most importantly it was comfortable too.

The Verdict: Does exactly what it needs to! The Karrimor Arm Wallet might not be as stylish as some other makes, but it's cheap, unisex and functional. Thumbs up from Running Bunn!

Never Been To Zumba?

Today I have a real treat for you - a guest post from my wonderful, not-evil-at-all step-mum Mags. Read more from her over at Heath Barns, a lovely blog all about renovating some beautiful barns.

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Early Morning Training

"The heights of great men reached and kept,
Were not attained by sudden flight,
But they, while their companions slept, 
Were toiling upwards in the night."
-Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

I have never been very good at getting up early, however the early morning is (in my opinion) by far the most beautiful time of day. It is also the perfect time of day for exercise, so I have spent the past few weeks conditioning my mind and body into getting up early and fitting some training in before breakfast.

The most important step in getting up earlier is going to sleep earlier. It doesn't have to be a big change - I have brought my bedtime forward by about an hour, so I now go to bed at around eleven o'clock. Losing an hour at the end of the day hasn't affected me greatly at all. The final hour of the day is the least productive - it has just meant reading a few less chapters of a book or watching a shorter film (possibly Predator instead of Scarface).

The extra hour or so gained at the start of the day however has made a huge difference. I now set my alarm for 5:30 and by 5:45(ish) I am out of the house, having donned my training gear and downed a protein shake.

Variety is important. If I had been getting up early and doing the same thing every day I think the monotony would have beaten me. My early morning training is usually one of the following; 

• Aerobic endurance (either a steady paced run or intervals).
• Plyometrics followed by sprints (I have to do plyometric training early, when not too many people are about or I get some very strange looks as I jump around my local park).
• Weights session.
• Yoga.

One of the benefits of early morning training is the freeing up of time later in the day (the time after work spent in the gym or running can now be used elsewhere) and I don't know if this is true for other people but early morning training sessions seem to be a lot more effective than sessions later in the day. This has to be purely psychological and I put it down to the fact that training early in the morning makes me feel like Rocky!