A word of warning to athletes, new business owners, busy folk, parents and any other go-go-go type As who don't know the meaning of the words STOP and RELAX: 

Be careful what you wish for! 
This week is all about learning to listen to my own advice. As anyone who knows me will testify, I’m not one for being easy on myself: work hard, play hard, do sport hard, push myself hard. And in the quest for balance, I’m the first to admit, I don’t always – often? - get it right. It’s a slow learning curve! Only a few days ago, I was whinging on to the (long suffering) husband:
“Just one day of doing nothing: wake up when I wake up, laze around, lie in the sun,  potter about, read the news, watch TV, cook something nice, actually listen, speak to my mum. Not rush rush rush.”
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Dream on! Just be careful what you wish for ...
… I WISH! Don't we all?! So then I carried on at my usual pace: Long days. Physical job. Worrying about stuff. Grabbing any free time to do more exercise: Got 6 hours spare, sport is what I do, right? ... MUST TRAIN AND BE FITTER THAN I’VE EVER BEEN … who’s up for a big bike ride?! And late evenings: It’s summer in the Alps - glass of rose anyone? Got to have it all.
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Cyclists tacking the final climb in the Etape: Alpe d'Huez

And now, funnily enough here I am: ‘exactly’ where I want to be: 
Instead of riding yesterday's Etape du Tour (well done everyone by the way), I'm on Day 4 of ‘lazing around’, having spent the last 72 hours trudging a now well-worn path from bed to toilet, with the gastro from hell. Ok this is way too much info, but seriously: where’s it all coming from?!  I've been flopping about - exhausted and dizzy. Dipping in and out of the ‘news’ – aka celebrity pages – Harper SEVEN??!  Half watching shit TV – Sir Alun will you please please please fire Natasha, yeah? Nibbling dry biscuits and sipping coke,‘There’s a time and a place for full fat coke and now is it!’ And feeling more unwell, weedy & pathetic than I can remember.

While I realise I’m being utterly melodramatic when there are far more hideous degrees of suffering out there – clearly I’m not cut out for illness! - my point is: It might be today, or it might be in 10 years. It might be a few days of miserable gastro, it might be an injury, or it might be a whole lot more serious. At some point, and in some way, your body will respond when you over-do it. And possibly not when, or in the way, that you might imagine. So, here’s what I’m trying to get to grips with:

LEARN TO LISTEN TO YOUR BODY BETTER!

So if you feel the need to spend a day lazing around in the sun and eating unhealthy food – maybe that’s exactly what you should do? Stop pushing so hard, now. Give yourself a break, now. Chill out, let your body fight back, catch up, recharge, recover - now. And the chances are you won’t get sick and you’ll be stronger, fitter, better, and more BALANCED - for longer!

Wish I’d listened to my own advice! ;o(

Right then. Lecture over. Off to attempt a slice of plain toast. Or, ooooh go wild, maybe a rice cake with a scrape of jam. Oh no. Too soon. Back to the  comfort of that toilet … Ps. Thanks to everyone who has stepped in to help run the gym and training over the last few days. Back to Business as usual asap!
 
It's been a busy - but great - few weeks in the world of Be Pure Fit. Somehow it's already July. Here are a few running highlights and photos from June:
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Marathon weekend in Chamonix.
One of the toughest and most picturesque marathons in the world - it's an all uphill suffer fest covering 42km of steep, but spectacular, terrain in the Chamonix valley. Total respect to everyone who completed it on the hottest day of the year so far. Well done to: Katharine, Nikki, Matt, George, Ruth, Bill, and Kevin who ran the marathon. And Josie, Sophie and Dee who ran the Cross (half). Good effort!!!

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Chamonix 10km.
Having originally been planning to run the marathon too, I made the very difficult decision to pull out. Chamonix is home and my favourite place in the world to run. But  niggly injuries and a lack of endurance training meant I didn't feel able to do it justice. Gutted but grown up! So decided to do the 10km instead. Upping the speed training with some savage hill reps and interval sessions paid off as I enjoyed my first ever podium in Chamonix! Nice to do well on home turf with 3rd place scratch (2nd AG). Next year - revenge on the Marathon!!!

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Liz Yelling Running Camp.
I was delighted to be invited to help on Liz Yelling's running camp in La Clusaz with Adventures in the Alps. Liz is one of the world's top long distance runners, Commonwealth medallist, and a double Olympian. Now there's a girl who makes finding the balance look easy - a long career as a pro athlete, marriage, motherhood, work ... and a lot of training. Totally inspiring! Had a great day - early trail run and then a 'Yoga for Runners' session in the garden, focussing on core stability and stretching key muscles for runners. LOVELY! Great to meet everyone, good luck in upcoming races & working towards London 2012. 

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