Catherine Riches

I started running regularly in September 2012 and one year later I started using Strava to record these. I do sometimes wish I had the early efforts to look back on! It was a joint effort to get fitter and to address mental ill-health - I found it really helped with my breathing and anxiety. To this day it's 'me time' and an escape, I love being outdoors and always have my running playlist on my old-fashioned clip-on mp3 player!

My first official half-marathon was in March 2014 (1:58:36) and then again in March 2016 (1:56:02). I was very pleased with these results but my pace has slowed considerably since then - I'm attempting to get better through various means. In honesty I find it less of a mental boost these days since I'm not as fast and don't feel as good about myself, but I still enjoy it.

I run 2-3 times a week (with one weekly gym/'other' session as well as a necessary evil). I run alone the vast majority of the time and enjoy it most in Spring and Autumn (just the best seasons in general tbh).

My preferred running kit:

As of December 2021, I have just got a Garmin Forerunner 55 (replaces my very ancient 220!)
Currently wear Mizuno Wave Inspire trainers for longer runs, and Asics Gel-DS for the shorter, hopefully faster ones.
And a variety of funky leggings & shorts, many from Lucy Locket Loves.