For most trail runners there is a (sometimes fairly significant) component of hiking the uphills. Especially when trail races get over the marathon distance and you’re out there for 5, 10, 20 hours hiking like you mean it can have you up and over mountains like a determined warrior, and taking chunks from your overall race time - so why not focus on this skill as an addition to your training.

In January I was about 90% going to cancel the whole trip, a dodgy calf, the prospect of running strong at Boston was looking bleak. I never wanted to attempt a PB but I wanted to be ready to run strong while also enjoying the race as a celebration of my running journey so far. So started journey of leaving my pride on the sideline, letting all my expectations of what “should be” go, to growing just a little bit more as a person and a runner.

I just wanted to share my first experience crewing, such a great way to experience a race, assist a fellow runner and witness the awe of the journey. An amazing experience I will never forget, and am very grateful for and honoured to be a part of.

If this is your first race EVER, or a big step up in your goal race I have put together a list of tips to help you with that time when the big day is getting near...

What a way to finish my 2017 season!! For me this race was a chance to practice so many aspects of running… and I had a ripper of a race – my first 50k was an unforgettable experience and to come away with 4th female was also really rad (I have no other word for it!).

Two to three weeks out from your big race is a critical time. Often we forget to trust all the work we've done for months.

The feeling we chase, the zone – the moment you become your sport, you “are” running… that’s living the dream, that's what we work so hard for, and it only comes around every so often...

Have you ever had a run where you just get stronger throughout and feel you are running comfortably hard, not easy but it feels good and strong? You’re probably running near your aerobic threshold...

I found out very quickly about cadence several years ago when I had the sudden onset of plantar faciitis, ouch. I had six months off running. It was excruciating – and gave me a long time to research running form and “ways I can prevent this ever, EVER happening to me again”.

It was PB's all round in the half marathon, great going girls (!) and three new marathons, two tough marathons - with lessons learnt and a couple of tears shed (including my own).

A post analysis of your race is for everyone. We are life long learners in the study of running, always aiming to improve. What did you do well? What do you need to change for next time? Some of the benefits to undertaking this kind of exercise include not repeating mistakes (!), not letting your mind dwell on negatives, celebrating what went well and your improvements.

Things don’t always go to plan. There are so many reasons why we might not meet our goal in a race. Some things you can do when your results don’t meet your expectations...

If you want to achieve that running goal you’ve set yourself, no matter what it is, you need to train your mind as well as your body. You can’t just leave it to race day...

Never settle. It was one moment in the 10km race at the gold coast. Well, it was probably a series of moments...

Almost one year ago I came 2nd in the Brisbane Marathon Festival 10km event, a race I will never forget….

There are so many ways to count your success as a runner, based on factors that don’t involve your speed compared to others. Success can even be something on the inside, something that no-one else can see…

For walkers who have an inkling that they might like to run...

I did not know one single runner when I started running. I was a walker and then I had a Dream, I call it "The Dream", the one that set me on the road to a running life. I went from a walker to a runner on a pretty quick and slippery slope, and my learning curve was huge...

Get out there, no matter what the weather. Some reasons to run in the rain...

A runner working on  running form is like a golfer working their golf swing. It is one of the ways we improve as runners. Good running form will help your efficiency and so keep you running longer with less effort. It will work toward keeping you injury free.

Facing the facts that your body needs time out can be hard, especially when you are unwell, it can be frustrating as a runner, but put your energy into other endeavours and you will be back to it when the time is right.