These past few months have been tough, there’s no avoiding it.

From the early days of lockdown causing anxiousness and unable to see my friends, to coping without my weekly Parkruns and monthly races. It has been difficult… but I have managed to keep running.

I am slower than I was pre-lockdown and even now being back social running, I feel like I’m further back than I’d like to be.

Here is where my naivety comes into play. I’ve been running for over two years now and until recently, I truly believed that the longer you kept running, the quicker you’d become…

It’s a bit stupid, isn’t it!

Just because I’m slower, doesn’t mean I’m not strong or any less of a runner. Yes, I have timed goals but race pace is difficult with no one to race with!

I’ve been trying new things. Some have stuck like weekly intervals sessions and yoga. These sessions will help me be a better and stronger runner for years to come.

I gave the Virtual races a go and really… it’s not for me. I’d end up psyching myself up as though it was a race and then ended up panicking with nerves. I struggled with not having other people around me to distract or cheer me on. I’m very much a ‘people’ person haha!

With the pressure off and being fortunate enough to go on holiday in the UK, I recently ran around Durham and Alnmouth. A run is such a great way to experience somewhere new. I even got to try out beach running (spoiler: it’s hard work!). Seeing other runners out and about gave me a boost and I ‘sneakily’ followed them to find places that I would have never found if I hadn’t been running!

It really has been a good time to try new things as it hasn’t damaged any training schedules for racing. Instead, I’ve learnt new ways to make me a happier, healthier and stronger runner for when those races return.

What have you learnt during lockdown?