Run, run, run

For those of you who follow me on Twitter and Instagram, you'll have probably seen various tweets/photos about my running antics and training for some long distance events.

I took up running a couple of years ago and entered the Great North Run for the first time in 2011, but unfortunately, injury kept rearing it's ugly head - I've always had incredibly weak ankles and at one point pulled my Achilles tendon. The actual worst.

So, after deferring 2011's run, I got back into the training.

Last year, I ran the GNR for the first time in 2 hours 12 mins - a time I'm pretty damn pleased with considering I don't think of my myself as a super fast runner.

The past year has seen me completely up the training, change diet and lifestyle, and as well as running, I've been focussing on strength training and overall stamina. This has been massively helpful in improving my running times and hopefully will help me get the holy grail of a sub-2 hour half marathon this year.

So, next month, I'll be lacing up my Asics Gel 3030s to run the GNR for the brilliant charity Help for Heroes - check out my Just Giving site here.

And the day after the run? I jet off to LA - can you think of a better recovery than In-N-Out Burgers, Coronaritas and sunbathing on Venice Beach?!

Are you doing the Great North Run this year? I love a running nerd - share your tips.

Slacker

Like the title of this post, that's what I've been lately.

Life has been a blur of work, running, holiday planning...the last 2 months have literally flown by.

Here's a sneak peak into AMB's world over the past few weeks.

1. Getting my fill of all things cultural with Monocle / 2. Naughty purchases from Space NK (well, not naughty, but some very vital Institut Esthederm for my upcoming holiday to California / 3. RUNNING. I'm training for the Great North Run (4 weeks today!), so training has been taking up most of my free time. / 4. Getting my foody fill at The Grazer's Ouseburn Festival Feast. / 5. The gorgeous airstream caravan down at The Cycle Hub / 6. The Miller's Daughter's yummy sweet treats; she does a mean bake. / 7. New pooch addition to J's family, Poppy / 8. Brightening up some neutral postcard prints with acid green Washi tape / 9. Big Bro.

1. Street art in Heaton / 2. Riley's Fish Shack goodies down at King Eddie's Bay / 3. Going green for Newcastle Racecourse's Ladies Day / 4. Studying the race card / 5. Smarty pants / 6. Recovery food at Lola's (MUCH needed after one too many Pimm's / 7. Taking Somerby for a ride; in love with my new basket / 8. Joe's vintage Mini, perfect for coastal drives on sunny days / 9. Pretty flowers on the bar in Barca

1. Posh beers on a recent Friday night / 2. Sa'll about the hipster / 3. Beautiful sunset after a heavy thunderstorm in the Toon / 4. Flat White at Sugarloaf  / 5. Anchor nails for Kate's hen do / 6. Vibrant flags down at Tynemouth Sailing Club for Riley's Fish Shack pop-up curry night / 7. Our hen donning some fancy dress finery / 8. The classiest club in Penrith / 9. Finally, GNR pack game. Hoping to smash 1.55 this year! I'm raising vital funds for Help For Heroes.