2020 has been a year of hardly any running, and not much blogging to be fair. But every year I do one of these reviews, and it doesn;t feel right to not do one simply because my activity levels have been different.

I asked in my Too Fat to Run community whether their activity levels had been higher and lower and it was a mixed bag, for many the new routine of working from home meant no commute, but for others it also meant more caring responsibilities and mental health challenges.

But let’s start with the pre COVID world we kicked off the year with

Blog 1 – January 6th 2020

Everything You Need to Know about my 5 weeks to 5K programme

We started with a bumper cohort of 600 women registered for our beginners programme, I always love watching folks use this as a spring board into the new year, wether they are completely new to running or someone who just wants a bit of structure.

We go again this year starting on the 18th January, you can get 50% off the course by registering here

Blog 2 – February 24th 2020

Marathons & Mental Health

I have spoken a lot about mental health this year, for obvious reasons it’s been a year of highs and lows. I was already finding things tough in February training for the London Marathon and juggling all of my other commitments. The marathon ended up getting cancelled anyway. When we eventually went into lockdown and I launched Thrive Inside…much of what we offered was about staying mentally well. It is still something I have to keep an eye on.

Blog 3 – March 30th 2020

The importance of structure during a crisis

I struggled with structure even knowing it would help. I realised that it was things like races, club runs, and parkruns that kept me motivated and on track…oh and moments of childcare, all of which were now out of the window. During the first lockdown, the only thing I really stuck to was a Wednesday evening indoor cycle session.

Blog 4 – April 26th 2020 (which should have been the London Marathon day)

A marathon run in my underground carpark

My fitness had dissapeared. No matter how hard I tried to fit fitness in, I just couldn’t do it at the intensity I needed to not see it slide. I mean I could hardly leave Rose at home while I headed out for a 2 hour training run. And so to keep motivated and mark the moment in some way I decided to run 5K in my underground carpark. Rose was the race director, steward and cheerleader….and she did a mighty good job.

Blog 5 – July 6th 2020

Why I am so nervous of talking about weightloss

I put on so much weight over the first lockdown, and I can feel it creeping up again. I don’t tend to weight myself and instead go by how my clothes fit…I went from a size 18 to a size 20+ but felt it difficult to talk about it publically. I have been working with a nutritionist the last few months which is helping and I feel stronger if not smaller.

Blog 6 – July 28th 2020

Single working mother vs Covid

Now I wrote this over on my business blog, but I think it’s still relevant to share here. The first lock down was super tough for so many reasons, having my online communities and keeping busty was a lifeline, however, I also wonder if it was masking the real trauma of it all.

Blog 7 – August 10th 2020

Facing your sports related fears

As local lockdowns started to end, I started to get my fitness back again, Rose started to see her Dad, and we even took a short break to Scotland and climber a mountain…OK it was a hill.

Blog 8 – August 17th 2020

Riding 100 miles for Pancreatic Cancer UK

This time last year my dear friend was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer, she had to go through two simultaneous crises (Crisi?), and I felt so powerless to do anything to support her. After surviving a life saving whipple procedure, COVID and 8 rounds of chemo…I thought the least I could do was help raise some funds for future research and support. I raised £1500+ which I am chuffed with.

Blog 9 – October 4th 2020

You are a leader…yes YOU

This is the year I thought a lot about the concept of leadership, what it really means to lead people, and I realised its the every man that has the power right now. At this point in October, I had the seed of an idea for a new book, little did I know 10 weeks later it would be finished and folks would have ordered it…you can you get your copy here

Blog 10 – October 19th 2020

Like is like one big fat hike

I also got into hiking while in Greece, went for 3 hikes in the mountains, and two extended walks along the coast. Only one of them resulted in me having to be rescued ha ha. A strange incident of low blood pressure or vertigo (couldn’t tell what it was, just knew I had to lay down before I fell down) which saw me being rescued by a 4X4

Blog 11 – November 16th 2020

My Love Affair with Sea Swimming

I have no idea where this came from, but I am madly and passionately in love with being in the ocean, and I can’t wait to be able to do some more of it. My goal in 2020 is to move to somewhere in the UK where sea swimming is more of a possibility. I worked up to being able to swim a mile while in Greece and I know I can swim further.

Blog 12 – December 5th 20202

10 Years 10 Books

I didn’t get to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of Too Fat to Run as I would have liked to, but it is what it is…the last decade has been incredible. I never set out to create a global movement, nor to write 10 books…but it turns out I have a lot to say.

Its been a weird old year, but you don’t need me telling you that.

Not the 10 year anniversary I dreamed of, but theres always next year.

Oh and did I tell you, I am writing a new book

Pass me the Lube, lessons from my decade as a plus size athlete

It’s due out on valentines day…but you can order your copy now, or maybe ask your other half to order it ha ha

Also coming up in January

• Dare to Dream
• 5 weeks to 5K
• Scream if you want to run faster

Have a wonderful break, find the joy, get some rest…and I will see you all in 2021

Love Always

Julie

The post My Year in 12 Blogs appeared first on The Fat Girls’ Guide To Running.

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