XC Kicking off the Cross Country season @chilternccl So much fun and great to be part of the brilliant @stalbansstriders senior ladies team. Shoes still drying out three days on.

Parkrun is 20🎈 Mum’s first ever Parkrun 🥇 Super proud of her for taking part. Parkrun is for everyone, and a wonderful way to kick off the weekend. And it’s not just about the running. Seeing friends, making new ones. Encouraging my friends’ children, from the amazingly speedy ten year olds to the teens giving it a try, or helping out as part of their Duke of Edinburgh Awards. I spend more time chatting than I do running. (Surprise!) I’ve been running marathons longer than I’ve been running Parkrun, but I have a feeling that I’ll be running Parkruns for a long time coming. Thanks to all the hi-vis heroes. 🙌 #ParkRun

St Albans Stampede - 12 hour race Finally cracked 14 laps! 56 miles in 11 hours 28. Fantastic event, as always. Thank you to St Albans Striders, and all the lovely people I ran with. @stalbansstampede @stalbansstriders 📸 @grahamsmith.photos and Tony Barr

Thank you all for your phenomenal support over the years. This will probably be my last big run fundraiser for MS, so I wanted to say a huge thanks to everyone who has played a part in that journey. These funds make such a difference to a small charity doing powerful work. You are all wonderful. 💙 Two decades fundraising for Multiple Sclerosis 💙£10,000 for MS Society - London 2002/3 💙 £34,000 for MS Trust since 2005 http://www.justgiving.com/page/lauralaneuk

Race to the Stones 100km is a very long way to run to see some stones. But arriving at Avebury Stone Circle in the golden hour, just as the sun was setting, felt pretty magical. My goal for the day was to finish before the sun set, which meant holding a really steady pace all day and not stopping for more than a couple of minutes at any of the aid stations (apart from a quick sock change at basecamp). Walking the hills. It was pretty uneven underfoot, so my dodgy knee was screwed from about 35km, reducing me to a walk during the horrible bits when the paracetamol wore off and I was waiting for the next batch to kick in… but otherwise, I was running. 100km. I still can’t quite believe it. Completely epic day. Ran with some amazing people, including another @ms_trust runner whose wife has MS… she ran London few years back and we know each other through the #mstrustrunningclub club here on Instagram. It was amazing to meet her in person at the finish, give her a hug and talk about what a fantastic charity we support. 💙 £3283 raised for @ms_trust.. bringing two decades’ fundraising to over £34,000 - Thank you! 🏅13:43:55 - Very happy with 65th lady, 20th in my age category and 319th out of 1252 participants! Don’t tell my mum, but I’d love to know what I could do if my knee was feeling better… ⭐️ @thresholdtrailseries put on a fabulous race, with amazing support all the way round. Excellent aid stations with plenty of food, water, portaloos and medics. This is why I love their races (Race To The King is also brilliant.) As a solo female runner, I know I will always be safe, I won’t get lost, and the support is there if I need it. Their #ultra5050 efforts to get more women on the trails are fantastic. 📸 @sportograf - So thrilled with these pics, thank you. Thank you so much for all the brilliant messages of support! #rtts #racetothestones #ultrarunning #womenontrails

Here we go! Race to the Stones 100km #mstrustrunningclub #rats

See you on the other side 💯km (62 miles) tomorrow🏃🏼‍♀️ 💙 £2772 raised for the @MSTrust 💙 Thank you for all your incredible support! #Racetothestones #mstrustrunningclub www.justgiving.com/page/lauralaneuk

Eat more beans, peas and pulses! 🫘🫛 When so much of the conversation about dietary shift for better health outcomes and reduced environmental impact is about what not to eat, a simple message about what to eat more of is so powerful. If I could make one blanket recommendation to EVERYONE, this is it: Eat more beans, peas and pulses. Ideally, we should be looking to eat upwards of 100g every day to reduce a huge and well documented range of health risks, including reduced blood pressure, lower risk of cardiovascular disease and improved gut microbiota composition and activity. But the UK average (mean) daily consumption hovers around the 28g/ day mark. It was an honour to present my initial PhD research findings at the Nutrition Society Winter Conference. The abstract has just been published. Beans, peas and pulses for improved public and planetary health: Changing UK consumption patterns https://doi.org/10.1017/S0029665124004270 📸 British Broad Beans on toast - in season now #beansishow 🫘🫛 #healthyeating 🩺#sustainablediet 🌍

⏳ 2 weeks until Race to the Stones 🏃‍♀️ 💯km (62 miles) to run 💙 £2230 for @ms_trust 💙 Although not perfect, the training is done, and the knee is stable. All there is to do now is get round the course in one piece. It looks like a long way to drive, let alone cover on foot (even worse when you see it on a map like this!) We have raised a phenomenal amount of money for MS Trust. Thank you all. X #racetothestones @thresholdtrailseries #mstrustrunningclub

May Getting round 50km in one piece was such a boost! I’ve been worried that the cartilage tear in my knee would put an end to my running this year. So my focus has shifted from getting in all the miles getting as strong as I can. 💙 £1875 for @ms_trust 💙 ⏳ 6 weeks until Race to the Stones 100k 🏃‍♀️ 504 miles 🏅2 marathons and one 50km race 🦵🏻1 very dodgy knee 🦶9 toenails @runawayracing #GreensandCountryUltra 📷 @dwell_in Lovely photos. Thank you!

Walking…

Greensand Country 50km The knee held up and the advertised thunderstorms held off, though we still had all the weather and a generous helping of mud! @runawayracing put on a fabulous race as always, with the best briefings, trail marking, marshalling, food and drink… brilliant work. The thought of doing double that distance in 6 weeks is genuinely troubling, but today was great training in the ‘one foot in front of the other, one mile at a time’ mentality that makes all the difference. 6:13 17/ 52 ladies Not a bad training run Onwards!

100km Training update 🏋️‍♀️🩹🚴‍♀️🧁🏃‍♀️ The last marathon left me unable to run more than half a mile for a couple of weeks, so I’ve been on the bike for some big rides to try to keep my fitness up. My knee has been pretty good recently, but it’s always a bit vulnerable after a cartilage tear in 2022. Alex took me on a monster 33 mile ride yesterday. I am willing (especially when there’s a midway cake stop or baby animals involved) but possibly not very able. I fell off and smacked the other knee. I’m not sure how helpful this cross training is… But I managed a 5km Parkrun with the Fly 5k gang this weekend, so that’s a good sign! Supposed to be doing a 50km race this weekend. What could POSSIBLY go wrong?! In reality, the worst that could happen is that this is the end of this summer’s 100km attempt, and some serious unfinished business. So, fingers, toes and eyes crossed.

Today’s eggs, pretty colours

When marathons are training runs… Ticking off the miles and building my endurance for the longer distances to come. I did have a startling realisation that 100km is a very long way. Who knew? All starting to get a bit real now. I’ve got work to do and a knee to fix. Posters of the day: ‘Worst parade ever’ ‘Running better than the government’ ‘F**ck Tinder, what’s your Strava?’ And my favourite, on someone’s T-shirt: ‘Choose your emotions’. I really like MK… The route winds through lots of very pretty villages, with lots of the route on small paths. Well marshalled, great provision of drinks, @high5sportsnutrition gels and the all-important portaloos! (Though thankfully my stomach was better behaved this time.) Highly recommend! The course is a little challenging and the undulating course won’t be for everyone, but I loved it. The stadium finish is fantastic. Thank you @mkmarathon for another brilliant race. Running 100km at #RacetotheStones to raise funds for @ms_trust in July 2024 #mstrustrunningclub #miltonkeynesmarathon

Milton Keynes Marathon An hour to kill before the start. Wondering how long it will be before I finish… I last ran MK for @ms_trust in 2019. I got a personal best time of 3:53 (never beaten) and collapsed in tears on a mascot dressed as cow. Today I will be happy to arrive back at the stadium in one piece, having covered the miles without carrying everything I need for a big run. Great atmosphere here and keeping my eyes peeled for friendly faces. Just spotted Mama and Papa Spider from @spider.runners … which made my day ! Last road race before the training for #racetothestones goes offroad… thank goodness.

Easy Wins We’ve had Anna Jones’ new book for a week and this is the second time I’ve made this recipe. A massive hit with the teenagers, one of whom would never knowingly eat sunflower seeds. I’m wondering how this batch with hemp seeds in will go down. These are heavy on the peanut butter, dairy free, low in sugar, no-bake, and very, very nice. Anna Jones is probably my favourite food writer and I regularly make lots of her recipes. Her coconut dhal from ‘A modern way to eat’ is on the menu repeat in our house - we make it at the weekend to reheat after the madness of Mondays in London/ multiple sports clubs. Another Easy Win. Dylan’s chocolate oat bars From Easy Wins by @we_are_food Thanks Anna!

April update 💙 £1609 for the MS Trust 💙 🏃‍♀️ 412 miles this year (&lots of 🧘‍♀️🏋️‍♀️too) Getting my excuses in early in case I have a total fail next weekend! I’ve been suffering much more than normal with stomach issues, and my training has taken a bit of a hit in the last few months. So I’m slightly dreading the next marathon. I’ve got many years of dealing with this (it is probably what triggered my interest in food, way before I switched careers…) so I’m just getting on with it. Treating the next race as a training run with a few thousand other nutters. Coming up… 🏃‍♀️6 May: Milton Keynes Marathon 🏃‍♀️27 May: Greensand Ultra 50km ⏳ 2.5 months until Race to the Stones 100k 📸 Marshalling at St Albans Parkrun

What is Multiple Sclerosis? #MSAwarenessWeek @ms_trust

Post-race… l lined up for Brighton Marathon not feeling 100%, thinking of it ‘just as a training run’, and trying not worry about my finish time. Well, it well and truly took it out of me and I’m still feeling 🤢 nearly a week later. This morning I was feeling shattered and properly fed up, and wondering what on earth I’d got myself into… with more crazy ‘training runs’ looming. Another marathon AND a 50k race coming up next month. What was I thinking?! But then I saw another donation come through. And I remembered. So I just want to say a really massive thank you for all the donations for the @ms_trust that have come in over the last week. The fundraising total now stands at over £1600, which is a HUGE boost to a small charity doing fantastic work. Thank you for all the kind messages of support. It’s not easy, but it’s worth it. http://www.justgiving.com/page/lauralaneuk

Brighton Marathon Fabulous support all the way round from the gang at the Brighton Marathon for @ms_trust and delighted to get a teary hug from my sister at mile 18. Absolutely phenomenal effort from my cousin @alexhjhelm smashing his marathon debut in 3:21! Legends @riley_hickmann (3:20) and @davidjgunns (3:16) smashed their first marathons too ⭐️ Look at those smiles! Even more impressive given challenging conditions - very windy and hot. Today my legs are sore in a way I was not expecting - massive sunburn. 4:20 for me. I had a rough race, suffering from nausea most of the way round, but took comfort from the fact that I was feeling better than all the dead people smacked out on the pavement being cared for by St John’s Ambulance, or the guy being sick into a wheelie bin at mile 20, or the chap crawling on his hands and knees at mile 22. I cannot believe I have willingly signed up to do this all again in 4 weeks. Today was a special one though, as I got my medal from legend Paula Radcliffe! I was running the London Marathon the year she broke the world record and got to tell her that she was my hero. And Fatboy Slim gave me a shout out in Hove. I nearly fell over. @brightonmarathonweekend

Bring it on So excited for my cousin @alexhjhelm running his first marathon in Brighton tomorrow. Can’t wait to celebrate at the finish line with you Alexander! Alexander is raising money and awareness for @endometriosis.uk and has done an amazing job. (Sometimes the fundraising is as tough as the training.) Should be a fab event tomorrow with loads of family coming to support and a get together with the other runners we know at the finish. Looking forward to a great day out. #brightonmarathon

March With three months' training behind me, it's all kicking off. Some of my training runs will now be… MARATHONS. Gulp. Here's the plan: 🗓️ 7 April: Brighton Marathon 🗓️ 6 May: Milton Keynes Marathon 🗓️ 27 May: Greensand Ultra 50km 🗓️ 13 July: RACE TO THE STONES 100km ⏳ 3.5 months to go… 🏃‍♀️ 317 miles this year 💙£1274 raised for the @ms_trust Thank you so much your incredible donations! [Fundraising link in bio…] Here’s me delighted to finish the @eventsatw St Albans Easter 10k, testing out my gear for next weekend. 8 minutes slower than Henry, who came in with an impressive 42.03 🤯 for his first official 10k, and second in the under 17 category. He would not thank me for sharing his finish pic. Happy Easter everyone! 🐣 @ms_trust #mstrustrunningclub #brightonmarathon #miltonkeynesmarathon #greensandultra #racetothestones #stalbanseaster10k

This is why I run. 💙 Here is my sister Amanda’s story. The @ms_trust provides information and support every step of the way for people with Multiple Sclerosis. I’ve been fundraising for them for 20 years. Next up: Brighton Marathon! #mstrustrunningclub #brightonmarathon

Lunch inspo In conversation with an attendee at a recent food conference, I heard the opinion that ‘most people just have cereal for breakfast, sandwiches for lunch and meat and two veg for dinner’. Not in my house. Today’s lunch took less than 3 mins to put together, which is just as well, as I need to get back to my desk after a lunchtime run. My legs are still recovering from the weekend, so I’m focusing even more than usual on getting all the good stuff onto my plate. @tibatempeh tempeh (this is curry flavour, but they are all nice) Leftover roast sweet potatoes Chopped cucumber Coriander Nigella seeds Mango chutney Microwave the tempeh and roast veg until warmed through, and top with whatever salad, veg, herbs or toppings you have kicking around in your kitchen. Love a bit of tempeh. Have you tried it?

Grindleford Gallop 2024 21 miles in the bag! I think I’ll start ignoring all my old times now, and treat this as a post-covid Personal Best for this bonkers but wonderful race. Brighton marathon, I think I’m ready for you now. 3 weeks to go... Spot the orange cap! 🏃‍♀️21 miles ⛰️3000ft ascent ⏱️ 4:14 ☀️ Glorious 🥯 Fuelling bang on 🦵🏻Knee holding up

All the gear… First race with the new pack after my trusty old one started disintegrating. Brilliantly designed @rab.equipment Veil 6: light, compact, and it can hold a lot. Just as well, as I’m not quite sure what the weather will be up to tomorrow in The Peaks. So I’m planning for all potential outcomes. Gloves, sleeves, hat and sunglasses… Still training my stomach to tolerate gels again in advance of Brighton Marathon in a few weeks, but very happy to throw a bit of real food back into the mix for the climbs. I feel woefully underprepared for the hills, but I don’t care. I’ll just walk them, chat to whoever is next to me, and enjoy the views! I’ll decide in the morning if it’s shorts or leggings, but either way I’m prepared for a mudbath. 21 miles, here we go… Whoop!

Ah, Aldi. Where DO you get your design ideas? In all seriousness though, it’s not just the packaging that is very similar here. The ingredients list and nutrition content are almost, but not quite, identical. The big differences for me are: Iodine - Both add calcium and vitamins B12, B2 and D which, along with the protein content, make soya milk nutritionally similar to cow’s milk. But Alpro adds iodine, an important mineral, which can be lacking in a plant-based or vegan diet. Sourcing - Alpro’s soya is certified as non-GMO (Genetically Modified Organism) and zero deforestation. The latter is a big plus for me, as rainforest clearance to plant soya crops is hugely problematic. So Alpro gets my vote. It’s long life, so I’ll stock up when it’s on offer for comparable prices to Aldi. (With thanks to my neighbour who recycles Tetrapak cartons for the whole street!) Not all plant milks are created equal and it can be tricky to choose well. I choose the non-organic versions as the organic ones are not fortified with those milk-similar vitamins and minerals. This is most important if you’re plant-based, but I’d argue that anyone, regardless of dietary pattern, would benefit from going for the fortified versions. Questions? Drop them below and I’ll do my best to help. #healthyeating #plantbaseddiet #plantbasedmilk #sustainablediet

Thank goodness, it’s March! Longest run this year done - 16 miles in the sunshine. So much nicer than yesterday’s slosh-fest. I planned this one for maximum hills, which helps to avoid ankle deep puddles, but also to take me past these gorgeous fluffy moos. I always stop and say hello. I can’t wait for lambing season but it is definitely going to slow me down! This year’s Running totals: 🏃‍♀️227 miles ⏳4 months until my first 100k attempt 😳 💙£452 raised for the MS Trust www.justgiving.com/page/lauralaneuk

Haven’t posted much nutrition content on here recently as I’ve been so busy with research and running! But happy to say that I passed my postgrad nutrition qualification with distinction. 👩‍🎓 I’m now doing a PhD on UK Food Systems at the Centre for Food Policy @cityuniversitylondon . 🫘🫛 So if you see me posting anything food-related, this is my day job!

Watford Half Marathon What a great race - friendly, brilliantly organised, and a lovely route through winding Hertfordshire lanes. Fab support from fellow Striders too. But it is HILLY! Look how much fun I’m having trying to come in under 1:50. The £2000 spot prize, randomly allocated to a predetermined finish time, went to a guy just in front of me and I ran through the streamers wondering who won! 🎉 I’m not showing you any of the other dodgy pictures of my wonky legs. 9 weeks until Brighton marathon. Got work to do if I want to run 100km in the summer and finish in one piece. Had a lovely message from the Multiple Sclerosis Trust saying thank you for hitting £400 mark in fundraising. Whoop! 💙 @ms_trust http://www.justgiving.com/page/lauralaneuk #watfordhalfmarathon @eventsatw

January in numbers 🏃‍♀️107 miles 🤩2 races, 2 track sessions, 1 Parkrun 🤧2 annoying germ-fests 🗓️10 weeks until Brighton Marathon ⏳5 months until my first 100k attempt 😳 💙£337 raised for @ms_trust (If you’d like to read more about what I’m up to and why on earth this is so important to me, my Fundraising link is in my bio!) Thank you so much for your generosity. No matter how small, every donation gives me such a boost as I am finding the training so tough. A long way from my past fitness but building up slowly… St Albans Parkrun, 27 Jan 📷 Ben Hayes #racetothestones #brightonmarathon #msrunningclub

Winter Frozen Verulamium Lake looking very beautiful as the sun came up this morning. Treacherous though. I offered to help an older lady over a patch of ice at the far end of the park. She insisted she was ok, then fell over. Then I insisted. Falling on ice was how my lovely mother in law broke her wrist. Please be careful out there! 8 chilly miles before work. -4 🥶 #marathontraining

Cross Country County Championships This weekend @stalbansstriders hosted the Hertfordshire XC County Champs. The event was brilliantly organised and supported with phenomenal talent on show. (Not by me - I was the third slowest of the Senior Ladies and seriously questioning my life choices by the second muddy lap). But Striders ladies teams won first and second place, the men won first place, and the amazing juniors teams did phenomenally across all ages. So pleased to be a part of such a fantastic running community, delighted to live in such beautiful place, and happy that I got roped into cross country during the pre-Christmas pub crawl! Thank you so much to @runningfeatlucy for last week’s training session (your words were ringing in my ears as I tackled every hill!) What this showed me though was how much strength and fitness I’ve lost since I busted my knee, and how much work I have to do this year to regain it. Here we go… One foot in front of the other. #crosscounty Thank you for the 📷 Jethro, @mark_j_easton and @chriswbarr

Fundraising for Multiple Sclerosis Over the last 20 years, since my sister Amanda was diagnosed with MS, I’ve raised over £30,000 for the @ms_trust. It is an incredible small charity that provides information and support for people with MS, as well funding the training of specialist MS nurses in the UK. I’ve seen what a difference this makes - over the years, MS nurses helped my sister access housing, physio and a new wheelchair. Fundraising made me a runner. And this year I’m taking on my biggest challenge yet to continue to support this brilliant charity: 100km non-stop at Race to the Stones. The hard work starts now with training for Brighton marathon… Any donations and words of support all very much appreciated! www.justgiving.com/page/lauralaneuk [link in bio] @brightonmarathonweekend #brightonmarathon @thresholdtrailseries #racetothestones #mstrust #msrunningclub #fundraising

Merry Christmas everyone! #jerseyfarmparkrun 📷 Richard Underwood

Wendover Woods Marathon Stunning autumn colours, big hills, lovely marshalls, great company! Nice work, @niceworkrun 🍁4 laps ⬆️ 891m ascent ⏱️4:57 🤯 4th lady

Grindleford Gallop (No, Georgia did not run 21 miles with 3000 ft ascent…) Stunningly gorgeous day up in the Peak District. Made a nice change from the usual race conditions and much easier to run in than the snowdrifts in March’s postponed event. Took it easy and enjoyed the views, chatting to lovely runners and making friends with some very chilled out cows. Made it round in a surprising 4:18. Having done zero hill training for the climbs I was expecting much slower! My favourite race, and met at the finish line by my favourite people.

The joys of a functional kitchen The old kitchen was falling apart, but the refurb took a lot longer than we were expecting. We’ve been in a pretty good makeshift kitchen in the garage since Christmas but I’ve missed having a proper oven! Fingers crossed for a hob sometime this week. Enjoyed baking for the first time in forever, especially since child 2 is an obsessive baker and churns out more cake than any health-conscious family should reasonably be expected to consume. Not a big problem for Team Lane though. We cope. @nigellalawson Coffee and Walnut cake. A taste of my childhood!

St Albans Stampede Running round in circles with fellow Striders for 12 hours. My kind of Saturday! 📸 Richard Underwood (apart from the finish in the dark photo by Alex!)

St Albans Stampede - 12 hr enduro The Stampede was excellent as always. I think this was my 6th attempt and only the 2nd time I’ve made it to the finish… and I got a trophy! 4 mile loops 13 laps 52 miles 3rd lady 6th overall Thank you to my wonderful running club @stalbansstriders for a fantastic day. Special thanks to the fabulous Race Directors, marshalls, catering and volunteer teams, and all the brilliant people I spent time running with during the day. #stalbansstampede

Teeny weeny froglet 💚

Carrot tops Conversations this week about food waste (and what to do with the bits of vegetables that get thrown away) reminded me to try the @mob recipe for Honey Roast Carrots with whipped feta. This is served with a quick pesto-type sauce made with the green tops of carrots. No waste here…Great if you’re growing your own carrots or have a veg box. If you fancy trying the recipe and you don’t have any fresh carrot tops, some parsley would work well. (Recipe in comments.) Served up with some salad bits and sweetcorn, black bean and kale fritters, because this is a great way of hiding the kale from our veg patch in something everyone (fussy child included) will eat. They all had twice as much as me. Should have made more! Feeding teenagers is a neverending job. Ice cream in the sunshine afterwards. Happy Friday all! #foodwaste

Happy half term I’ve been at home with my laptop this week whilst the family were camping in the Lake District. They struck gold with the weather and the stunning scenery looks glorious! Sad not to be there with them all but loved seeing their smiling faces in all the beautiful photos. Loved this one of Georgia… x

Not all ultra-processed foods are ‘bad’ for you. You may have seen coverage in today’s press about ultra-processed foods (UPF). Healthy eating guidelines tend to discourage the consumption of highly processed foods, because regular intake of some types (crisps, sweets, cakes and processed meats are good examples) are linked to poor health outcomes. But ultra-processed foods can be a source of important nutrients, especially if you have a limited food budget or picky eaters in the house. Fish fingers are a good example: they are affordable, convenient and great source of omega-3 essential fatty acids, which is typically deficient in the British diet. And let’s not forget that most, but not all, sports nutrition products are highly processed foods that can be really helpful in racing and recovery. Here’s the balanced and helpful position statement by the British Nutrition Society, if you’d like to read more: https://www.nutrition.org.uk/news/2023/position-statement-on-the-concept-of-ultra-processed-foods-upf/

Race photos Bits of the route were on the Serpent Trail, a beautiful long distance route within the South Downs National Park, from Haslemere to Petersfield. I’d like to go back and explore more of it… @ultraxco Spring Trail Series 50km

Team Lane before & after @ultraxco 50k Spring Trails Alex did brilliantly (he’d managed to have a shower and pizza by the time I finished). But he agrees with me that that was a particularly tough race.

Type 2.5 fun @ultraxco Spring Trails 🧭 50k ⛰️ 1136m ascent 😳 Beautiful views, Serious mud Delighted with a mid-pack finish! Six months ago I couldn’t even run a mile after tearing the cartilage in my knee… But, wow, it was a toughie. Don’t let the nice clean finish line fool you. A lot of the course was waterlogged with ankle-deep, leg-sapping mud. I fell over three times, getting soaked up to my shoulders at one point. I was properly filthy. I met a chap who had turned his ankle and was struggling, then witnessed him fall, headfirst, down a slippery slope. He turned his ankle again and went white as a sheet. I stuck with him to make sure he was okay, then alerted the crew at the next checkpoint. We look after each other on the trails. 🏃‍♀️🏃🏽‍♂️

Following the rules - Mandatory kit Looking forward to the @ultraxco Spring Trails 50k tomorrow! Interestingly, the organisers request that participants label all food wrappers with their race number, and any littering leads to automatic disqualification. I’ve never seen this before. It’s a good idea! Without the mandatory kit, though, runners may not even be allowed to start the race … I’ve never had to carry *quite* so much stuff on a 50k! All the usual food and fluids plus: - GPX file 🧭 - waterproof with taped seams - space blanket - head torch and spare battery (@petzl_official and charging pack) - whistle (on my @salomon pack) - face buff (thanks @doddie_aid) - first aid kit with antiseptic wipes and cream - suncream - 800 kcal food reserve… still not entirely clear if this is meant to be in addition to what I plan to eat on the go so a couple of spare @chiacharge bars tick that box nicely - compact and energy dense - plus my usual favourite race fuel @luchos_uk and @high5sportsnutrition Luckily it all fits in my race pack, which is now falling apart at the seams. Carrying all the extras will be good training but I’m wondering how much it will slow me down. At least everyone will be in the same boat! See you on the other side… Very much hoping I don’t need the head torch.

Running in The Charente I’ve been coming to France for Easter most years since my parents bought their place here 11 years ago. It’s my favourite time of year in La Tâche; blossom, spring flowers, newborn lambs and blue skies (even though the weather can be a bit mixed!) I LOVE running here, especially in the spring. And it has been even better this year, as 14 year old Henry has been running with me. I can just about keep up with him over 5k, though we’ll have no chat about who is the better runner until he has cracked out a sub-4 marathon…

Easter visit to see mum… beautiful blue skies

Excellent running buddy 20 miles in the bag. Joined by Sam for 16 of them. Apart from being great company and a brilliant runner, she also tolerates my insistence on stopping to make a fuss of farm animals and walking up all the hills. Good snacks today too. 👌

We love running

Not Galloping Our annual pilgrimage to Grindleford turned out a bit differently this year. We had a weekend playing in the snow after our favourite 21 miler, the Grindleford Gallop, was postponed. Just as well. It was beautiful, but very slow going with icy roads and knee deep snow in places. Looking forward to out next trip to the Peak District already! #grindlefordgallop

Back on the trails 14 road miles yesterday, 10 trail miles today. Back-to-back long runs are tough, but a key part of endurance training if I want to tackle another ultra this year. I’ve got my work cut out! Delighted that the hospital Physio has signed me off. I just have to keep up the strength work to manage the tear in my knee cartilage. 🏋️‍♀️ Thanks to @a_wallace_pt @levitate_gym for the necessary motivation during our 6am training sessions… I had a great time at the #fredhughes10 last weekend. @stalbansstriders put on a fantastic race, as always. I was delighted to come in under 85 minutes - quite a bit slower than last year but very happy to be pain-free! Instagram pictures are pretty useful in working out how long you’ve had your shoes for… so here’s the latest pair of @inov_8 for trail running. My husband helpfully pointed out that I had killed the last pair (and that these were on sale at a great price). #inov8trailflyg270

Cooking through the crazy Starting a PhD at the same time as a building project? Yep. We’ll be operating out of a temporary kitchen for the foreseeable. Never have I loved my slow cooker more. Because it is FREEZING (I do all my cooking in a coat these days) everything needs to be super-quick and no fuss. But we also have a microwave and one plug-in induction hob, so this is turning into something of a low-energy cooking experiment, which also helps to keep the cooking costs down too. I have a feeling that the low-fuss, low-cost dinners might be here to stay when the house is back in one piece! Dinner tonight: Slow cooker sweet potato, chickpea and quinoa curry (featuring a very sad looking cauliflower I found lurking at the bottom of the fridge). Thrown together in the slow cooker before the kids left for a school. Plated up for dinner in minutes with a sprinkle of toasted cashews, some fresh coriander and a wedge of lemon. Wishing you all a lovely weekend. Stay warm! X

I love the mountains ⛷️❤️

Biggest ski day so far for the Lanes … 10,000m descent ⛷️

Happy New Year!

Christmas 2022 Les Menuires by Ski Train 🚡⛷️🎿

Bring on 2023!

Winter miles A stunning morning up in Heartwood. I was having so much fun that I just kept going… The knee held out for 9 miles. Still slow, but it has given me confidence that I can get round the @fh10miles in one piece. And it was good training for the standard icy racing conditions in January. So good to be running again after the enforced hiatus. I love running. Even when it’s sub-zero! 🥶

And so it begins My first run in two months. I have a medial meniscal tear in my knee - otherwise known as torn cartilage - and some degeneration of the joint. But my wonderful consultant understands what a big part of my life running is. So, this is my new unloader brace. Along with lots of physio and lots of hard work, I’m hoping to get back on the trails before too long. Today I managed 1 mile on the treadmill pain-free. Yes, it’s hard, but I’m focusing on what my body can do, and not what it can’t. Running a mile today felt like as much as an achievement as running a marathon. Next goal: Parkrun! In other news, the Food Systems doctoral training programme is keeping me on my toes. I’ve visited nine different research institutions, and I’m just back from a trip to Aberystwyth… it rained! I’ll find out in the next couple of weeks where I’m going to be based in Year 1. Fingers crossed for somewhere more local. #kneebrace #unloaderbrace #thuasne

Chef Helen from Eritrea, @migratefuluk Cookery School Team building day for the new intake of the UK Food Systems Centre for Doctoral Training. We learned how to make delicious Eritrean dishes, and then ate them! It was the first time I’ve tried Eritrean food, including injera, a type of fermented bread made from teff. We also heard Helen’s story, and how @migratefuluk is supporting and training migrant and refugee workers in the UK food sector. Outstanding. 👏

Apple season 🍎 I had a lovely time at the @highfieldparktrust Apple Day yesterday. With live music, food and childen’s activities to celebrate and share the apple harvest, it was as good as Bovec’s ‘Potato Night’ in Slovenia (but not quite as raucous). A great way to take my mind off the Marathon FOMO, whilst excitedly tracking everyone’s progress on the app! Well done to everyone who ran London/ Dorney/ Loch Ness yesterday…. you’re all heroes!

PhD Today was a big day! I registered as an Associate Postgraduate Researcher at the Centre for Doctoral Training in UK Food Systems. I’m going to be spending the next four years bringing together my twin passions - environmental sustainability and nutrition for health. So you can expect more of the same food and sustainability content on here from me (and hopefully some running too…) although if I’m a bit quiet for a while you’ll know why! I’ll continue to support my existing client base but won’t be taking on any new nutrition clients for a few months. Wish me luck… #phdstudent

Dietary guidelines for fish consumption and sustainability of supplies This is a really interesting summary of the benefits of eating fish, and some of the challenges associated supplying sufficient fish to meet national and international demand. If you choose to eat fish, the suggested amount in line with UK guidelines is two portions per week, one of which should be an oily fish (like mackerel, salmon or sardines) to meet our needs for Omega-3 essential fatty acids. The key finding by researchers from The University of Aberdeen’s Rowett Institute is that dietary recommendations may not necessarily match supplies: ‘Many governments are therefore recommending eating fish and seafood that is simply not available to consumers.’ So, what to do? If you wish to eat fish, try not to eat in excess of the recommendations, to help with the sustainability of fish stocks. If you choose not to eat fish, you can still have a healthy and balanced diet. I recommend that you look for a good quality algal omega-3 supplement (in the EPA/ DHA form), as plant-based ALA form (like that found in some nuts and seeds) is poorly converted to the essential form we need. https://sefari.scot/blog/2022/09/21/fishing-for-health?fbclid=IwAR0MFLVio5m754-6pfoGXq2tTHb9nYj9D6MCcdZRJ_xfQPWclZPSXjvSlzs

No running for me for the foreseeable. I’m waiting for an MRI scan on the wobbly knee, but I have the ok to walk. So, walk I will! It’s as good an excuse as any for some new socks. Top marks to @bamboo_clothing for their sustainability credentials and lovely socks! ✅ Low environmental impact ✅ Zero plastic packaging ✅ And I really like lovely soft socks Happy weekend everyone. #mybamkit

Today I met a lovely lady who told me she has been following my page, and had tried the no-stir oven risotto recipe. That made my day. We got chatting about super-quick, no fuss dinners. I’m currently experimenting with budget-friendly slow cooker recipes to make life in the autumn easier. Watch this space. In the meantime, here’s my ultimate quick dinner. The omelette. Pulled together in a few minutes between ferrying my kids to their activities, pretty much all of tonight’s meal came from the garden. (If you keep chickens, you’ll never go hungry.) I stuffed mine with chives and served it with salad leaves from the garden. Enjoying the last of the summer sunshine.

St Albans Stampede Loads of fun at @stalbansstriders brilliant 12 hour race. I entered on a whim two weeks ago, ever the optimist, without any aspirations other than to have a great time. Mission accomplished. Last time I ran it I managed 13 four-mile laps (52 miles) but this time my injured knees had other ideas. I bowed out at 7 laps, having walked the final 2 laps to hit the marathon distance, but delighted to have had such a lovely time with lovely people. Fab to see running friends from the #Fly5k virtual running community too, though hardcore ultrarunners Mike and Susan are definitely a bad influence 😆 Thank you so much to the fantastic team of volunteers for another brilliant day, with special thanks to RD @newbybernadette for her efforts to make the race as environmentally sustainable as possible. 👏👏👏 #stalbansstampede #stalbansstriders 📸 Richard Underwood

Rave Run - Slovenia’s Soča Valley Running on holiday is a fantastic way to explore. I managed a few runs on my family holiday to beautiful Slovenia. (Though not as many as I’d like, as our first full-day hike in the mountains near Bovec destroyed my legs for a good three days. 8 hours hiking, with 2000m descent in tough conditions did more damage to my quads than a marathon! 😖) We stayed in Bovec, the adrenaline junkies’ mountain playground. It’s great place to explore the mountains, play on the biggest zip line park in Europe, and enjoy the stunning Soča Valley. The crystal clear aquamarine waters of the river Soča were abnormally low, which made for more difficult conditions for kayaking and rafting. But it is still absolutely lovely for exploring on foot. We did try and swim in it (once) but it is absolutely FREEZING! There are lots of well marked trails, but the most famous is the Soča Trail, which runs from Trenta to Bovec. I ran some stretches and took in a 5mile loop that we’d walked as a family. That became my favourite loop… but not the easiest recovery run for broken legs! Very uneven in places, so I’m glad I had my trail shoes with me… If you’re interested, see: https://www.soca-valley.com/en/in-search-of-adventure/activities/hiking/ @runnersworlduk #raverun #holidayrunning #slovenia #bovec #socatrail #socavalley

Crash diet culture This magazine cover made me angry. Angry that some people will have seen it and thought that they should probably lose some weight, when in fact their bodies are perfectly lovely and healthy. Angry that it sets a false expectation for what is achievable for weight loss. And angry because we know that crash diets don’t work. Yes, you may lose some weight on a short term calorie-restricted diet. But know that much of that weight will just be gut contents and fluid - because our bodies store some energy in the form of fluid-bound glycogen and that is the first thing to go. Very little of the immediate weight loss from a crash diet will be fat. And study after study tells us that dieting - and especially crash dieting - doesn’t work. It almost always leads to weight regain. If you genuinely do need to lose some weight for health or performance reasons, please focus on the quality of the foods you’re eating, combined with an appropriate amount of physical activity, a decent amount of sleep and stress management if you need it. A gradual weight loss of 1-2lb per week over a longer period is a much more appropriate goal than the bonkers ‘7lb in 48 hours’ that this magazine suggests. Please, don’t starve yourself just to fit into last year’s swimsuit. (Get one that fits your body!) Focus on health, not weight. Be kind to yourself. Laura x

Lemon and herb instant risotto Too hot to cook? Or just too busy? This recipe is a great one, and one that I plan to teach my kids next week. It is basically a case of chopping onion and garlic, popping it in a pot with some butter, risotto (arborio) rice and hot stock, then cooking (covered) in the oven for 35 minutes. When it comes out, stir in your choice of flavours (we used lemon, basil and chives) and a bit more butter if you want to. Serve with Parmesan and black pepper on top. That’s it! Here is my fussy vegetarian daughter’s plate. She chose basil, because she likes that, and as a result actually ate it… though she doesn’t like rice (apparently). She decorated it with pine nuts, because she likes them too, but this would also work really well with salmon. Here is the full recipe and other serving suggestions. If you’re not used to American cup measurements, just use 300g rice and 1 litre of hot stock, and it works perfectly. https://www.recipetineats.com/creamy-lemon-herb-baked-risotto-recipe/ Let me know if you try it!

What’s in season? Seasonal fruit and veg is often cheaper, fresher and tastier. You’ll typically find it piled high and cheap in markets and supermarkets. In the UK, we’re still in berry season. We have our first crop of raspberries ripening in the garden (but the chickens keep eating them.) Has anyone been to a ‘Pick your own’ farm yet this year?

Summer salads: Panzanella Quite by chance, I had all the ingredients for the recipe of the week from @theweekmagazine : Panzanella, taken from River Cottage Great Salads. Even fresh basil and - unusually - gooseberries! It would be rude not to. Recipe available at: https://www.theweek.co.uk/arts-life/food-drink/957179/recipe-of-the-week-panzanella?amp

Carrying fluids on the run 💧 When you’re running longer distances, it’s really important to take fluids with you. Especially in the heat. If you’re embarking on training for an autumn marathon, it’s a good idea to find out what works best for you as you build up to the long weekend runs coming up this summer. It doesn’t matter which option you choose; the most important thing is to make sure you drink. Options include: - Bottles with handles or wrist straps - Waist belts - Hydration backpacks with bladders - Race vests with soft flasks There’s a nice summary of the pros and cons of the different options from @runandbecome1 - See link in comments. Having tried all of these over the years, my personal preference is the race vest. I use mine on long runs, not just races, because it’s the most comfortable way to carry water (and food, keys, phone…) And during trail races and ultramarathons, they are really easy to use when topping up water on the go. I have an ancient Salomon race vest that I love, but the newer versions of the Salomons are lighter, cooler and more streamlined. Lots of my friends also have Solomon race vests too - they’re very good. @salomonrunning Advance Skin 8 Set (approx. £80 including 2 soft flasks) is on my Christmas list! There are plenty of other race vests out there including some much cheaper ones… for example: Aldi (£10 including flasks) Decathlon (£25, flasks sold separately) Other options: 💷 Take cash/ card and buy a bottle of water during your run. 🏠 Plan your route to loop back past your car or your home and pick up a drink (leave it by your front door so you’re not tempted to stop!) The amount of fluids you need will vary depending on your training distance/ pace/ bodyweight/ air temperature/ etc. .. that’s the subject for a whole other post! Just remember that over-hydration (drinking excessively) can also cause problems. Drop me a message if you’d like some help with this. Feel free to share your recommendations below to help those who are just getting started. Everyone’s different 🏃‍♀️🏃🏿‍♂️🏃🏽🏃🏻‍♀️🏃🏽‍♂️🏃🏿‍♀️ #hydration #Sportsnutrition #Marathontraining #mstrustrunningclub

Summer

Beautiful Snowdonia ⛺️ Camping at Dolgam in torrential Welsh rain, but when the sun came out it was glorious! 🏔Henry and Alex wild camped at the base of Snowdon, did the Crib Goch ascent 🤢 and Snowdon Horshoe. The Pyg ascent for me and Georgia, and back via the Llanberis path (meeting a gang of #stalbansstriders on the way!) to meet up with the boys in Pete’s Eats. Already planning a return trip to get to the top of Moel Siabod, which was staring at us from the campsite… #snowdonia #snowdon #plasybrenin #dolgamcampsite

Greensand Country Ultra - official race pics 50k PB - 5:43 📸 @dwell_in Thank you! @runawayadventures Thank you for a fantastic day x

Greensand Country Ultra - 50k PB What a fantastic event. Brilliantly organised, super friendly and lovely scenery all the way. I’ll definitely be back for more here. Thank you @runawayadventures ! Really pleased with a 50k personal best 5:43 and 8th lady. #medalmonday #greensandcountryultra

Greensand Country Ultra True to form, I’ve arrived really early. Soaking up the pre-race atmosphere, the sunshine, and more coffee. Great conditions and quite a change from the last 50k I ran, in sideways rain. Really looking forward to this! I’m not worried about my time, just enjoying exploring some lovely new areas not far from home. Happy Sunday everyone and good luck to everyone who is racing today. (Somebody has to be 69…) #greensandcountryultra @runawayadventures

Spiced sweet potatoes and chickpeas with tahini dressing If you're looking for a tasty new meat-free recipe to try, give this one a whirl! Any leftovers work well as a cold salad for lunch. Shout if you'd like a printable pdf of this recipe. Prep: 50 minutes Serves: 4 Ingredients: sweet potato - 700 g (approx. 4 small) chickpeas - 2 cans, rinsed rapeseed oil - 2 tablespoons ground cumin - 2 teaspoons ground coriander - 2 teaspoons salt and pepper brown basmati rice - 240 g tahini - 125 g lemons - 2, juiced coriander or parsley - small bunch spring onions - small bunch, thinly sliced Method: 1. Heat the oven to 200°C. 2. Cut the sweet potato into small (2cm) chunks. 3. In a large, bowl toss the sweet potatoes and chickpeas with oil. 4. Sprinkle over the spices and seasoning, and stir well. 5. Spread across a large baking tray or two trays. 6. Roast until the potatoes are golden brown (approximately 30 minutes) 7. Meanwhile, cook the rice according to packet instructions. 8. In a small bowl or blender, mix together the tahini, the juice of the lemons, half a teaspoon of salt and approximately 80ml water. If it is too thick, add a little more water. This dressing will keep in the fridge for up to 4 days. 9. To serve, top the rice with the sweet potato mix. 10. Sprinkle with your favourite herbs and spring onions, then drizzle with tahini dressing. Nutrition notes: • The vitamin C in lemon juice helps our bodies to absorb iron from chickpeas. • The sesame seeds in tahini are a good source of calcium: great for growing teens or menopausal women, for whom calcium intake is an important consideration. • Opt for whole-grain rice for increased fibre intake! Variations • Carrots or butternut squash would work well here if you don’t have any sweet potatoes. They are all great sources of beta-carotene, a protective antioxidant that is converted to vitamin A in our bodies. • Use the mixture to fill pitta breads or wraps, rather than serving with rice. • Add smoked paprika to the dressing for a different flavour profile. #sustainablestalbans

Flapjacks Apart from being easy and delicious, Flapjacks make a brilliant snack for active individuals or sporty adolescents with voracious appetites. Ingredients • 175g salted butter or plant-based alternative with a pinch of salt • 175g soft brown sugar • 175g golden syrup • 350g porridge oats (not jumbo size) Method 1. Preheat your oven to 160°C. 2. Line a tin (approx. 18 x 28cm) with greaseproof paper, leaving some paper hanging over the edges to lift the flapjack out later. 3. Melt the butter in a large pan: one that’s large enough to mix all the ingredients in. 4. Take the pan off the heat, then gently stir the sugar and syrup into the melted butter. 5. Finally, mix in the oats. 6. Transfer the mixture into the lined tin. Spread out and press down firmly with the back of a metal spoon until the mix is completely flattened. This will stop your flapjacks from falling apart. 7. Bake for 30 minutes, until the flapjack is light brown. 8. Allow to cool in the tin. Use the edges of the greaseproof paper to lift onto a chopping board. 9. Cut into squares and store in an airtight tin. Nutrition Notes Oats are a great source of soluble fibre, which can help to lower cholesterol. But, sadly, flapjacks are not a health food! So, if you’re not in the middle of a growth spurt or training regularly in your favourite sport, regard them as a tasty treat to eat in moderation. Good times for a flapjack: • Before sport: If it has been a few hours since your last meal and you need something to fuel your run, ride, football training, etc. • During long runs/ hikes: Ultra runners know that real food on long runs or races is so much more appealing than energy gels. You often get offered flapjacks at aid stations, so this is an easy recipe to try in advance. It will save you money compared to mass-produced sports nutrition products too. • After sport: It’s a good idea to eat soon after long efforts to help to top up your body’s glycogen stores, ready for the next training session. Your muscles also need protein to repair and grow, so this isn’t the perfect post-exercise snack. Combine with a glass of milk or a handful of nuts for a protein boost.

Salad season 🌞 Loved catching up with my cousin over lunch. Butterbean, pepper and walnut salad, roasted courgette and cannellini bean dip, toasted multiseed sourdough, baby spinach. (Don't worry, I fed her flapjacks too.)

Fly Bov #2 Two races in one week! This is new for me. Although this wasn’t so much a race as an opportunity to get together in real life with lots of the @runfly5k crew, the weekly virtual 5k series that kept us all sane during lockdown and beyond. And what a lovely bunch they are. Some seriously impressive 5k times there too! 📸 @grahamsmith.photos Great photo - smiling and not too wonky! Thank you for everything x #runfly5k

Midweek Road Race League A fantastic turnout from @stalbansstriders at the first midweek race this year. The course was just under 10k. I wish I’d kept running - I’d have totally smashed my 10k PB! Those Tuesday Track sessions and the brilliant support of the Orange group and coach must be paying off. Enormous buffet afterwards too… Thank you to hosts @fvspartans and @north_herts_road_runners for a great race. 🍊#stalbansstriders

Microgreens I’ve been experimenting a bit on my kitchen windowsill. I love a bit of colour on my plate and these have turned out to be brilliant. Easy enough for even the most gardening-averse: you don’t even need soil. The seeds grow on a sheet of kitchen paper and the roots grow into water below. From nutritional perspective, they contain higher nutrient levels than an equivalent amount of mature greens, making them a good addition to your diet. They’re also very tasty! I topped this simple lemon, garlic and cannelini bean pasta with a mix of micro rocket and coriander when the fridge was devoid of all other green stuff and it worked beautifully. And from an environmental perspective, reusing the same growing tray is much better than buying packets of herbs or greens. It’s cheap too - you don’t need special seeds. Any will do. @healthline has a good evidence-based summary of the nutritional benefits, if you’re interested: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/microgreens But it’s worth trying just for the flavour. If you’re new to growing things, try some cress seeds. They will germinate on damp kitchen paper in no time, and it’s fun to watch them grow with children. #microgreens

Game changing This lovely feedback is from someone that I've been working with for an extended period. We have been focusing on behaviour change to improve overall dietary quality and increased levels of physical activity for weight loss, to bring down blood pressure and to reduce the risk of Type 2 diabetes. But the biggest change has simply been how much happier she is now. I typically work with my nutrition clients over a 7 week block. But to make really big changes, some people need more support and encouragement for a longer period. In these situations, we work together to understand what the right package of support looks like, and make sure that it's focused and affordable. More on the types of service I offer here: https://lauralane.uk/services Feel free to get in touch for a no-obligation chat. And rest assured, nobody needs to know unless you want them to. No before and after shots here! The biggest changes are always in how you feel anyway.

Redbourn Fun Run So much fun! The sun shone all day and it was wonderful to see so many children and their families taking part in the 1k, 3k, 5k and relay races. I was there all day with the Scouts selling cakes. Fantastic fundraising for their trip to the World Scout Jamboree trip to South Korea next year. One of the other mums and I sneaked off the stall to take part in the 5k… She came in 2nd lady (well done Ellen!) but I was beaten to the podium by a very speedy 11 year old. I was very happy with 4th lady though and a time of 22:23 (quick for me). Having turned up in the same @fh10miles T-shirt, Ellen and I quickly established we were both members of #stalbansstriders and would be racing together again this week in the first race of the Mid Week Road Race League. We will travel there together. Which just goes to show how running and volunteering are wonderful ways to make new friends. The theme of this #mentalhealthawarenessweek is loneliness. If you’re feeling lonely, I can genuinely recommend joining a running club as a way of meeting so many lovely people, no matter what your level of fitness. It has been a real help to me. #redbournfunrun #runningcommunity

Leftovers for lunch Roasted courgette and red onion piled into a sandwich with hummus and rocket. #loveyourleftovers

Runners like flapjacks 80 flapjacks coming up for the Redbourn Fun Run tomorrow! The Scouts of St Albans District will be running food and drink stalls at the event to fundraise for the 2023 World Scout Jamboree in South Korea, a huge festival for over 40,000 young people from across the world. My son Henry has been lucky enough to be among those selected to represent St Albans at the Jamboree in the fantastic @25wsj_unit22 … but there’s some serious fundraising to do to get there. Supporting them in the best way I can think of: Running and cake! The best of luck to all the runners taking part tomorrow. I’ll be helping out on the refreshments stall all day (but sneaking off to take part in the 5k). If you’re running, please come and say hello! #redbourn #redbournfunrun #stalbansscouts #worldscoutjamboree2023 #runredbourn

It’s the weekend! Happy Bank Holiday weekend to those of you in the UK. Let’s hope the sun shines for us… We have friends coming to stay. I don’t want to spend ages in the kitchen when they’re here, but I do want to feed them something tasty, and I wanted a meal that can be adapted for different tastes. This recipe for Three Bean Chilli hits the spot. I’m making a double batch, ready to serve up after a busy day with some baked potatoes and salad, as well as toppings like soured cream and guacamole. With a crowd, it’s great to be able to put food in the centre of the table so that everyone can help themselves to as much or as little as they like. So I’ll probably put a few other baked potato toppings on the table too (grated cheese and baked beans) for my younger guests… but I’m hoping they will give this a try. My two really like it - especially with grated cheese… Swipe for the recipe. Let me know if you try it! Three Bean Chilli From ‘Recipes for Happiness’ @thehappypear #foodforacrowd

My first marathon - 20 years ago 2002. My sister had recently been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, and had been in and out of hospital with debilitating symptoms. I felt utterly helpless and just wanted to do something to help. So I decided raise funds for MS the best way I could think of: running the London Marathon. (Despite being massively unfit and absolutely not a runner.) I ran with my friend Kellie and came in just under 6 hours. But I raised thousands of pounds, and went back and did it all again the following year. An hour quicker. And so began my love of marathons. And running caps. I went on to run London five times, running for @mssocietyuk and then @ms_trust to support the provision of MS services here in the UK. So it was fundraising that made me a runner…. and along with my other running adventures I’ve raised over £30k in the process. The London Marathon is remarkable and wonderful and hugely emotional, and it holds a very special place in my heart. For anyone about to embark on London Marathon training for the first time, you are in for SUCH a treat! @londonmarathon #londonmarathon #mstrustrunningclub

Earth Day 2022 The National Food Strategy (July 2021) says: “The food we eat – and the way we produce it – is doing terrible damage to our planet and to our health. The global food system is the single biggest contributor to biodiversity loss, deforestation, drought, freshwater pollution and the collapse of aquatic wildlife. It is the second-biggest contributor to climate change, after the energy industry.” So what can we, as individuals, do? And is it possible when so many people are facing a cost of living crisis? I could write an entire book on this. Perhaps I will one day. But, for the sake of brevity, here are my top five recommendations: 🍔 Eat less meat – and eat more alternative protein sources like pulses, nuts and seeds. Canned beans and lentils, especially, are much cheaper than meat, filling and quick to cook with. They are also brilliant for blood sugar control! 🥛 Cut down on dairy products – choose alternatives such as fortified soya milk or oat yogurt. Many alt-milks are long life: stock up when they’re on special offer if you have the storage space. 🌽 Eat more seasonal fruit and veg – it is typically cheaper, fresher and less energy intensive than food that has been stored for long periods or transported across the world. 🍽 Avoid food waste - buy what you need and use your leftovers, so you’ll save money too. 🚮 Try to cut down on food packaging waste - especially plastic. Cooking from scratch rather than buying pre-packed meals, avoiding takeaways and making your own lunches rather than buying out will be a big help here, as well as saving cash. On this #EarthDay, can you spot one change that you could commit to for the health of our planet? Making changes to the way you eat can bring enormous benefits for our personal health too. #sustainablefood #sustainablestalbans #nationalfoodstrategy

Brighter evenings Now that the evenings are lighter for longer, I get to run around the beautiful countryside when my daughter is at gymnastics. I love the birdsong and gentle evening light. April brings a riot of colour in the bluebell woods and rapeseed fields around @rothamstedresearch A welcome distraction… I missed the #stalbansstriders track session last night, so I decided to have a crack at it solo… 800m efforts on the Nickey Line = hard work! #bluebellseason

Plastic free roundup As plastic-free Lent draws to a close, it has been brilliant to hear how many of you have also tried to cut down your own use of single-use plastic. Imperfect action by many people is far better than just a small minority of perfect eco-warriors. Demand drives change, and many food suppliers are looking to change their packaging in response demand for #plasticfree alternatives. Plastic is made of oil and notoriously hard to recycle. Unlike paper, metal and glass, much of the plastic that we put in our recycling systems may not end up being recycled. So where we where we can swap it for an alternative, it make sense to do so. Here’s a summary of the things that our family is sticking with: ⭐️ Fruit and Veg: Weekly organic @riverford and @oddboxldn fruit box, loose produce from the supermarket or market ⭐️ Bread: In paper bags from local bakery @simmonsbakers ⭐️ Nuts, seeds, dried fruit and herbs: In biodegradable packaging from @eat_wholefoods #stalbans ⭐️ Breakfast: Homemade granolas using nuts, seeds and jumbo oats in paper bags; Weetabix in paper cartons, Peanut butter/ preserves in glass jars. ⭐️ Out and about: Reusable water bottles, coffee cups, packed lunches and snacks. Reusable carrier bags for shopping. ⭐️ Snacks: Fruit, homemade popcorn, home-baked treats, chocolate in foil or paper. ⭐️ Storecupboard staples like wholegrain pasta and basmati rice from @therefillpantry . Produce in recyclable glass or tins. ⭐️ Dairy: Milk in reusable glass bottles, butter in paper pats, ice cream in paper cartons ⭐️ Kitchen: Laundry capsules and dishwater tablets from @smolproducts, cleaning product refills from @oceansaverdrops ⭐️ Bathroom: Soap and shampoo bars, conditioner refills from The Refill Pantry, deodorant from @wildrefill , toilet rolls in paper packs. Some stuff we’ve just had to manage without during #plasticfreeLent, and some things (like energy gels during a marathon!) were unavoidable. We will be bringing some back now, knowing that imperfect action is good enough. Oddly, the thing my children have missed the most is Greek yogurt! Happy Easter everyone 🐣 Enjoy your chocolate x

Herbs None of your piddly little plastic packets here. Just great big bunches of parsley and coriander from the brilliant shop round the corner, Al Barka. It’s the kind with fruit and veg piled high outside, where the lovely staff ask after your family and comment how tall the children are getting. We get through a lot of fresh herbs, so we’re so lucky to be able to pick up massive bunches locally so cheaply (and plastic free). Have you explored all the little shops on your doorstep? #plasticfree #plasticfreelent #fleetville #foodiefleetville #shoplocal

Choose plastic-free Easter treats My kids are getting some @tonyschocolonely_uk_ire goodies this year. Lucky them! They’re plastic-free, and Tony’s boasts impressive supply-chain credentials with their work to eradicate slavery and child labour in chocolate production. But mostly, it’s the kids’ favourite chocolate! It’s so much easier to find plastic-free Easter eggs now than a few years ago, as most of the big chocolate brands have done away with the plastic shells. So this is just a gentle plea to steer clear of overpackaged Easter novelties. ( @marksandspencer ‘Drippy Egg’, I’m looking at you. Why?) Remember that you can collect all your foil wrappers, scrunch them into a ball and recycle them. Thank you.

Ticking all the boxes The increase in food prices is all over the news. So having a few budget-friendly recipes tucked up your sleeve is a great idea. And if those recipes also happen to be tasty, healthy, plastic-free AND compatible with a hectic family schedule, then so much the better! A sack of big potatoes - perfect for baking - is a really economical way to feed your family or a crowd of friends. I buy a big £4 sack about once a month and base a meal on them once a week. Baked potatoes are perfect for when I’m dashing about delivering kids to clubs, and the potatoes (baking happily in the oven) are ready to eat when everyone walks in the door. If you don’t want to buy a whole sack, you can pick up loose baking potatoes for less than 20p each in supermarkets – much cheaper than buying the ones packed in plastic. And tinned pulses like chickpeas are great for filling, protein-rich family meals on a budget. I’ve served these potatoes with a tasty chickpea recipe from @we_are_food and homemade hummus (recipe posted 23 March). The chickpea recipe takes a few minutes to prepare and then it can blip away on the stove for a bit. Easy to pull together at lunchtime if you’re working from home, or make a double batch at weekend to make life easier after work. If you don’t have time to make hummus, shop bought is fine! Anna Jones’ Buffalo chickpeas Ingredients: Olive oil 1 red onion, finely chopped 1 stick celery, finely chopped 1 teaspoon smoked paprika 1 teaspoon cumin seeds 1 clove garlic, finely chopped 2 x 400g tins chickpeas, drained and rinses 200ml passata or blitzed tinned tomatoes Salt and pepper To serve: Baked potatoes (or leftover chickpeas work well on toast) Small bunch chopped parsley Hummus Method: Put an ovenproof pan over a medium heat, add a little olive oil and the onion and cook for 10 mins until soft. Add the celery, paprika, cumin and garlic and cook for 10 minutes until soft and sticky. Add the chickpeas, passata/ tomatoes and stir. Season with a little salt and pepper and cook for another 10 minutes until the sauce has come together nicely. #budgetfood #familyfood #plasticfree

When getting to the start line in one piece feels like a win, arriving at the finish line is amazing! A week ago I decided that I wasn’t going to run, with my chest still bothering me and not feeling right. But I wanted to come and up and support @samsparrow … and the temptation to run was too strong! I love races, and this is a GREAT race. When they say it’s the UK’s friendliest marathon, they’re not wrong. Sam took 3 minutes off her PB with an exceptional 3:45. I took it steady and scraped a respectable sub-4. With no time pressure and the sun shining, I’d happily say this was my favourite road marathon to date. Thank you Manchester. You were wonderful. #manchestermarathon @manchestermarathon