Combining two loves!

Posted on June 3, 2014 Updated on June 3, 2014

I love running!

I love Edinburgh!

Why not combine both and share my love of running?  That is exactly what I have done, in two ways.  I have thought about doing the first venture or offering running tours for a number of years, and it was something I was really keen to get off the ground after I had done one myself on holidays; Rockin’ Running Tours in Memphis.  What I found great about taking part in a running tour in another city was to quickly take in a lot of the sites in one hit, get a locals perspective on the city including some insider tips for the best ribs as might be the case in Memphis and get my daily run in at the same time.  Win:Win!

Moving to Edinburgh was the perfect opportunity.  Not only do I have a great job managing a great hotel in such a great location, Crowne Plaza Edinburgh – Royal Terrace; but all the main sites are all within a few mile radius with various options to extend out.

I have just started offering the tours and already getting some great feedback, so now it is just a matter of letting the word spread and start sharing the love.  Check out my tours at www.edinburghruntours.com and follow me at @edinruntours on twitter.  Share the idea with all your running friends, I’ll be so happy to show you or them around Edinburgh soon.

Venture number two is another combination of my love of running with a higher aspiration to coach and develop other runners into ultra runners.  I want to develop training plans for runners for marathon, ultra or multi stage distances, whilst providing a sounding board with ongoing advice and encouragement along with tips on nutrition and kit all based on my experiences.  This is perfectly linked with the ultra babe Race to the Stones project (@RTTS100) with The North Face as our goal is to encourage women to step up to the ultra distance.   As a woman, with ultra and multi stage event experience, I feel that I can offer something to the running community out there and give some other women the confidence and encouragement to go out there and give it a go.  There are some fantastic examples of ultra coaches for the men out there such as Rory Coleman and Robbie Britton, to name a couple I have had the pleasure of meeting, but there is a need for more women coaches and advisors.  Seeing as though it is something I love and am truly passionate about, I wanted to give this a shot.  I have already got 2 lovely ladies that I am presently putting together plans for, Marina Ranger (@mranger90) and Rhianon West @rhianonruns, and have got an ultra weekend of running planned this weekend for Marina to set her up for her plan.  I will be sure to get some testimonials up once they have worked their way through their respective plans and achieved their goals.

What is my experience that ‘qualifies’ me to give this advice.  I have not been running for that long, only since 2008, starting off with 10km and half marathon races.   I completed my first marathon in 2011 with the Amsterdam Marathon, and subsequently have run Philadelphia and London marathons in 2012, Nice to Cannes and London Marathons in 2012, Manchester Marathon in 2013 and having completed my first ultra in May 2013, 34 miles in 7hrs (yes, rather slow) and then completed my first multi stage Ultra, Kalahari Augrabies Extreme Marathon in October 2013. 250km (160 miles) fully self sufficient race over 6 stages through the Kalahari desert in South Africa. Not only did I finish it, but I was 14th overall and 2nd lady! It’s amazing what your body will do when pushed. In 2014 I have completed the Pilgrims Ultra (66 miles on North Downs Way split into 2 days of 33) in February 2014, Endurance Life Northumberland Marathon 27miles in March, Marathon Des Sables in April 2014, and am about to complete my first ever 100miles in one hit at the Mohican 100 in June. After a few weeks to recover I will be taking on Race to the Stones in July, Berghaus Trail Chase in August, Clyde Stride 40 mile ultra in September and then heading back to the Kalahari in November to compete in the Kalahari Augrabies Extreme Marathon for the 2^nd time.

Want to know more than check out my website www.runningdutchie.wordpress.com  and follow me @runningdutchie on twitter for more about me and what I can do for you.  I hope to see you at a running event soon!