My Achievements in 2019

It is my first post of 2020 and I wanted to look back at the last year because when I think about it, it was a pretty big one for me! I want to write down five of the biggest things that I did last year, not as a family necessarily, not even as a mother but as me because I feel like 2019 was the year I started to rediscover my own identity a bit more.

For eight years I have had a baby at home and last September Finn joined his brothers at school and Cora started nursery part time and suddenly I have two days a week where I can do whatever I choose.  The freedom is wonderful although the reality is that the 5 hours or so goes pretty quickly and is mostly taken up by work or running errands, but still.

So here are my five achievements from the past year

1) In March I decided to start running and I could barely manage half a kilometre before having to stop and walk.  I kept going though, pushing myself each time and in September I ran a half marathon in Bristol.  I remember the sensation as I crossed the finish line feeling simultaneously like I could conquer the world and pass out on the spot but I am so proud that I kept at it, I didn't stop and I ran 13.1 miles.

2) I had only left Cora overnight until September but this year I managed to go away twice without the children, once for a weekend with some friends and once for four nights with my Mum and Sister.  It was so lovely to be able to get away and really relax and recover, coming back to real life with a little more energy.  It feels like an achievement to have got this far and the children be secure enough that they don't mind and I really felt like it did me a lot of good.

3) Having a little bit of free time made me decide to volunteer as a school governor this year.  I am still learning the ropes and I think there is always going to be more to learn about but it feels great to have some focus and it is fascinating seeing how the education system runs from inside it.  

4)I took my first driving lesson on my 17th birthday and finally, many years later, I got my pink driving licence.  I didn't tell anyone I was learning as I didn't want the pressure, especially having failed my test when I was learning before and I sobbed so much when the examiner told me I had passed.  It seemed much harder to do as a proper adult but I love the freedom it has given me and I am making plans for 2020 to maybe drive a little further out than the 20 minutes from home which is currently the longest drive I have done!

5)Visiting new places is always on my to-do list and last year I visited three new countries, Croatia in the summer ( which is one of the most breathtaking countries I have ever been to), Greece in October where we spent a wonderful week in Crete and then Tunisia in November which was pure luxury.  I loved discovering new places and I feel so lucky to be able to travel through my blog sometimes. 

I honestly can't see myself accomplishing as much in 2020 but I have set myself some goals, one of which is to read 52 books this year as reading is something I have always loved and has fallen to the side a bit since I have had children.  I also want to get more creative with my photography and try new things.

What are you most proud of achieving in 2019?

Read more ⇨

Running a Half Marathon

I have to admit, I wasn't convinced I would ever be ready but I turned up early last Sunday morning and registered my name at the Simplyhealth Great Bristol Half Marathon with the hope that my legs wouldn't let me down. I have been training for a few months with the help of my Simplyhealth plan and whilst I hadn't run 13 miles, I had reached 10 on my training and I was told if you can run 10, you can run 13.


The atmosphere was amazing and Millennium square was full of excited looking runners with numbers pinned to their t-shirts as well as partners, parents and families preparing to cheer on their loved ones. I noticed the notes on people's backs that told me a fraction of their story, why they were running or who for. I was confident my body could cope with the grueling two hour run but I was trying to make sure my mind could as well.


The sun was beating down as we lined up, I was in the green wave, and everyone was setting up soundtracks on their phones or making sure watches were ready to track the action. The crowd was full of excitement, the music was playing and it was hard not to feel enthusiastic and positive. We started, slowly at first as we edged towards the start line and then with a bounce in our steps as we crossed and begun the easiest mile of the 13. The streets were lined with people cheering us on, there were smiles everywhere and I set a time in my head of when I wanted to complete the half marathon. I had a few issues with my ankle during my training and I had used my Simplyhealth plan for physio to ensure it was strong enough to make it through. I felt no pain at the beginning which is usually the toughest bit and I was so grateful I had seen to my problem early before it escalated.


It was around mile 4 I started to lose the bounce, the heat was intense and I wasn't used to training in the sun as I tend to run in the evenings. I focused on reading people's shirts and I felt humbled and uplifted by those running in the name of Will, a little boy with a brain tumour. Everyone there had their own story, and we were running not in competition but together. By mile 9 things were getting really hard and my body was running out of energy, my pace had slowed right down but every time I saw children holding out their hands for a high five I found a little more energy, every time someone called out the number on my bib and reminded me I was doing great, I found another bit and the support from strangers, from marshalls and from the other runners kept me going even when everything felt exhausted.


I knew I was getting close to my target time when I saw the 12 mile board and the streets were full again with music and people and cheering and suddenly it said 400 metres, then 200 metres and I dragged the last bit of energy out to get across the finish line. I did it, with over a minute to spare before my aim time. 2 hours and 8 minutes and I could stop and walk, pick up my finishers pack with the medal I had more than earned and find my family to celebrate.

My daughter was so excited to come and tell me that I won and I did, because I wasn't running against the other people, I was running with them, trying to beat myself, to beat my expectations of myself and to prove to me that I could do it. I didn't care about anyone else's time, I was a winner and I was going to celebrate my success!

Back in the running village, I headed straight to the Simplyhealth stretch zone where a trained PT was leading a full stretch which I definitely needed after over 2 hours of running. You could join in halfway through the session or wait for the next one so I jumped in and stretched out my poor muscles. They got a real treat afterwards though in the complimentary massage tent and I could have fallen asleep on the table!

The running village also had a 'Rate my Gait' station where you could run on a treadmill and have it recorded and then speak to a physio or podiatrist about your results and your running style which was really interesting and has definitely given me some pointers to work on! It is such an important thing when running to understand your body and how it moves - this is such a valuable service.

Running the Simplyhealth Great Bristol Half Marathon left me feeling both completely exhausted and utterly invincible. The runners high is like nothing else and I felt so incredibly proud of myself and still do. I worked so hard to get here and I had such an amazing day in Bristol. My Simplyhealth plan has helped keep me on track with my health as I took on the commitment to train for this. It has covered my costs from dental work and optical to physio and I am sure I will be using it plenty as I want to keep up the running (although I think 10k might be my preferred distance for now!). I have definitely caught the running bug and the children really want to take part next time after watching the Simplyhealth Great Bristol half Marathon (and seeing the medal I got!). They helped me throughout my training so I think now I need to help them with theirs!

Read more ⇨

Starting to Run

I’m so excited to be working with Simplyhealth who have signed me up to the Simplyhealth Great Bristol Run and are supporting my health & fitness journey with my own health plan.

After nearly 8 years of having a baby or toddler, I have finally reached a stage where I can go out without a small person attached to me, I can start thinking of myself and what I want to achieve away from motherhood and there is so much I want to do. I started getting a bit more active around the same time Cora started sleeping through the night as it became easier to get out in the evening and the more sport I have done, the more I have enjoyed the way it makes me feel.


Starting running was tough but I signed up to the Simplyhealth Great Bristol Run in September and I definitely do better with a goal. 13.1 miles still seems like a really, really long way but I am confident I will get there and the key is definitely in listening to my body, moving on to longer distances slowly and making sure I look after myself.

I started running in old battered trainers, but the more I read, the more I realised they were going to cause me an injury if I didn’t get something better suited to what I was doing! I have a health plan from Simplyhealth, which is designed for families like mine and it covers a whole range of things that are brilliant for runners or anyone who is into sport, from physiotherapy to podiatry as well as dental, optical and health cover. My first step was visiting a qualified podiatrist who offered me help with gait analysis.


Gait analysis looks at the way you run and I was filmed running on a treadmill so that we could later slow it down and look at the way my joints, muscles and feet work to see where any issues may be. I was told that I have a slight pronation on my right foot and I was recommended stabilising shoes with a couple of brands being well suited to this issue. I ended up going for Mizuno ones after trying a few on in a running shop and the difference in how they feel to run in is extreme! Whilst at my appointment I was also given some exercises to help strengthen my right calf and ankle as I am having a few issues and I was given feedback on my running style.

The Simplyhealth Great Bristol Run is in September so I have all summer to finish my training and the little ones are helping me. They are really interested in my running and love joining in. We go to the park for speed practice races, and I take the big two out for interval training as they are best at running short fast distances and then plenty of walking in between! My plan from Simplyhealth can cover up to four children under 18 so they are all covered too!


Being active as a family is really important for us, to keep everyone mentally and physically well, to balance the time the children spend sitting down at school and to reduce the risk of things like Type 2 diabetes. Simplyhealth are passionate about promoting being active as a family and at many of the events in the Simplyhealth Great Run Series there are children’s runs too. One of the best benefits to me of being active outdoors as a family is how quickly the children fall asleep at bedtime - it is worth it for that reason alone!

How are you being active as a family? Check out Simplyhealth for more training advice.

Read more ⇨

The Color Run

I have always been a little impulsive, but two days ago I thought it would be a good idea to sign up for the Color Run, one day ago I booked my place and today I am here asking for your support.

The Color Run involves 5km of running, jogging or walking all whilst be covered in colour, specifically Dulux paint.  We will start in white and end up looking more like a rainbow (albeit a messy one), hopefully having raised lots of pennies for Save the Children.

Read more ⇨

Listography- April Goals

As it is the beginning of a shiny new month, Kate Takes 5 has started a Listography of April goals.  Here are mine in no particular order;

1) I am not known for having a spotless house, in fact it is quite the opposite.  I find it very hard to get anything done when the baby is awake, and when he is asleep I have the blog to write, facebook to keep up with and a lunch to eat without fear of it being snatched away.  My first April goal is therefore to clear my bedroom floor. I said it.  Now I guess I have to do it.  But as I need 5, I shall put it off for just a little longer.

NOT my actual bedroom

Read more ⇨

Day 10 & 12 - Anything for a quiet night.

Old theories on parenting dictated that fresh air helped children to sleep well at night.  Since Dylan was born, I can count the number of days we have stayed in the house on one hand.  I am not one to sit at home all day when there is coffee to be drunk, clothes to be bought and friends to be seen.  Dylan definitely gets his fair share of fresh air, and maybe this is a contributing factor to him sleeping (mostly) well.


Day 10's activity is not worthy of a whole blog entry, and luckily there were no cameras to capture the moment.  I thought I would give running with the buggy a go, so down to the seafront we went, Dylan wrapped up and strapped in, me apprehensive and in trainers.  Short story shorter, Dylan did not seemed bothered in the slightest that I was huffing and puffing and pushing all twenty pounds of him along, and I was a little too bothered.  It is an experience I am unlikely to repeat.

Day 12 was more eventful.  We took Dylan to the park, and for once he was still awake when we got there! He has an unfortunate ability to fall asleep at the crucial moment, usually just as the park is in sight.  On Sunday he managed to stay awake all the way there, and long enough to play!  Parks are vital to society as a playground for the young, and commonly a place to hang out for teens, and the brilliance is that they are always free and always open.  I intend to utilise them a great deal as Dylan grows up!


We tried the seesaw, the slide, the flat net swing, and the baby swings.  The bloke pushed the baby so high in the swing, but still all we got was smiles. The seesaw didn't balance but still all we got was smiles.  We pushed him down the slide on his own but still all we got was smiles.  I think he liked the park.


And did he sleep well both nights?  He certainly did!  There must be some truth in it then.

Read more ⇨