THE THOOSA REVIEW

Thoosa reviews the November issue of Women's Running

It’s starting to get really chilly outside. If you’re looking for a reason to brave the elements then buy this magazine. The “25 Reasons to Love Running” will provide, well, 25 reasons as to why running is brilliant! Apart from the obvious (and pretty girly) fact that a 30 minute run burns, on average, the same number of calories as found in a bar of Cadbury’s Dairy Milk (always good to know), I also love the fact that, people who take part in ‘green exercise’ (outdoor exercise), feel less stressed and happier. Particularly, I’m also very found of fact 21. Apparently buying new running kit makes you feel more confident and happier on your run, ‘if you look like a runner, you’ll feel like a runner’. Thoosa couldn’t agree more! If you haven’t invested in some new kit for winter, then visit our wonderful online shop. I’ve got my eye on the Chill Zip in Rose, lovely.

There’s a fantastic article about speed sessions. Being a pretty novice runner the first time a friend mentioned the ‘Fartlek’ technique I think I spat out my tea. Anyway, Fartlek is Swedish for ‘speed play’ and is described as having ‘no prescriptive boundaries – it’s simply a continuous run’ I love this concept) interspersed with anything from sprinting to fast walking. The benefits of this are that you are pushed beyond your comfort zone and your overall endurance, pace and fitness should be enhanced. Personally I don’t feel ready to plan a speed session, but it’s nice to know that you can always develop as a runner, and that your routine can always be enhanced.

‘Playing It Safe’ is definitely worth a read if, like me, you mainly run alone. There are some incredibly valuable, straightforward precautionary tips that can be adopted to make you feel happier and more secure whilst pounding the pavements. Some tips may seem pretty simple but I certainly have felt more aware since reading this article, and that can’t be a bad thing.

The regular ‘health issues’ pages are factual as always. The snippets of information are a useful reminder of how you can improve you fitness and health without actually doing too much. I also love the ‘letters’ page. As we at Thoosa have found, sometimes it’s the real life stories from everyday runners who can inspire you the most. Larissa from London felt compelled to start running again, having stopped after being diagnosed with uterine cancer and having to undergo major therapy, after reading Women’s Running. If she’s braving the cold, I reckon I can too!

Verdict - a pretty motivational magazine. You can also visit the women’s running website at http://www.womensrunninguk.co.uk/