Why running is awesome!

I’ve been wanting to write this post since I started blogging and I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to write it! I love running. I never thought I’d say that four years ago!

I’ve always been a dancer and dancing was a huge part of my life for so long. Since the age of eight I had three hour dance lessons four times a week and competitions on weekends  but as I got older, with exams looming, I decided that it was to much of a commitment and I had to quit. I needed something to fill that void in my life and for me that came in the shape of running. 

1. Fitness  

Running was a great way to keep up my fitness after I stopped dancing and is still my favourite form of cardio. It’s also really easy to see your progress whether that’s being able to run an extra kilometre or cut a minute off your personal best. I also found that at the beginning I progressed quite quickly from not being able to run a single kilometre to running about two or three kilometres in my first few weeks.

2. No excuses

You can run practically anywhere, and with trainers as your only essential equipment, there are NO EXCUSES. This means even when I’m away for a week or two with no access to a gym I can still go out running. I find it really hard to motivate myself to train when I watch youtube workouts or app workouts and often find myself cheating with the times or only putting 50% of my energy and effort into the workout. When I run I can’t cheat, or maybe I’m just less inclined to cheat. I find I always want to do my best when it comes to running.

3. Sociable

 Sick of going out for food or drinks EVERY TIME you meet up with your friends? How about going for a run together instead? It’s so much fun! I have one friend who I don’t get to see very often and when we meet we go for a run and then a catch up in starbucks. It’s something special that’s ours and although we totally don’t break any personal bests it does mix things up a bit! I’m also hoping to join a running club when I get to university as a way to meet like minded people and make friends.

4. Mind

One of the best runs I ever went on was after a really horrible exam. I’d got home and cried hysterically for a good half hour and I was left feeling empty and angry. I was angry at myself for some really stupid mistakes, angry at whoever wrote the paper for giving us such a hard paper and basically angry at the whole world for existing, so what did I do? I went for a run - and kept running until I worked off all my anger and had cleared my mind of all negativity. I use running as an outlet whenever I’m angry, not thinking clearly or just plain sad. I always feel better when I get home.

5. Motivation

I love going running first thing in the morning when the rest of the world is still asleep and the only sounds I can hear are my rhythmic steps on the concrete and my heavy breathing (and some squwaky birds). Going running in the morning sets me up for the rest of the day. I’m more motivated to get stuff done and also find it easier to make healthier decisions when it comes go my diet. Basically a day that starts with a run is going to be a good day.

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Why Dubrovnik should be on your travel Bucket List

Dubrovnik is stunning. I saw pictures on the internet before going but I didn't believe it could possibly be that pretty. It was. Here are a few things I'd recommend doing if you ever get the chance to visit Dubrovnik.

Go on a private tour! 

Tour's are great because you get to know the city and get an idea of where you want to visit. If you get a private tour then you actually have a chance of hearing what's being said and get to choose what you want to see. I learnt a lot about the history of Dubrovnik on our tour and seeing the marks in the walls of Dubrovnik Cathedral caused by bullets and shrapnel brought home the sadness of Dubrovnik's recent history.

Brave the heights!

A trip up Mt Srđ in a cable car is a great way to get some stunning  photos of the city. At the top, there's a bustling restaurant that serves decent food for a reasonable price and a small shop. You can also go up the mountain on buggies which looked like so much fun!

Walking the city walls is another great way to see the city from above. There are four or five cafés along the way and plenty of places to take pictures. 

Explore local cuisine 

I can't say that the food in Dubrovnik was amazing. I think on the whole we probably chose badly but there are a few places I'd recommend trying. The Arsenal has the best view in Dubrovnik. The food in the evening was average so we preferred going there for breakfast. Ordering a croissant and a coffee rather than choosing one of the breakfast options on the menu is a good idea because it's cheaper and that's the best part! 

Being by the sea most restaurants serve mainly seafood but if you're sick of fish I'd recommend the Taj Mahal (definitely not a name I'd associate with food in Dubrovnik!) The Bosnian Restaurant offers mostly meat on the menu and the traditional, tasty food is full of flavour and different to all the other restaurants in Dubrovnik. We finished our night with some Turkish coffees which were served with Turkish Delight and it was the perfect end to a great meal.  

Relax with a Beach Day

The drawback of going to Dubrovnik is that there aren't any sandy beaches - there all pebbly! To get your white sand fix go to Lupud Island. The boat journey is an hour  but it's really worth it! When you come off the boat you can then catch a buggy to the other end of the island where this treasure of a beach hides. This little island honestly took my breath away. Between the turquoise water and the biblical fig, grape and pomegranate trees I was pretty sure I was in paradise. Being pale and ginger a day on the beach doesn't scream relax or fun to me but with plenty of sun loungers available and a bar serving various cocktails I was more than comfortable.

I really enjoyed my time in Dubrovnik. Being right by the sea there are a tone of opportunities to go kayaking and snorkelling which I'm gutted I didn't get the chance to do because I wasn't feeling great but there's always next time! I'm so glad I got to visit Dubrovnik as it's a place I'll never forget. Don't forget to follow me on Twitter, Instagram and Bloglovin

London - What I did!

This blog is so late but this is what I got up to in London a few weeks ago!

THE TATE MODERN

Staying so close to the Tate Modern I thought it would be a crime not to pop in even though I've never been a huge fan of modern art. I decided to go and visit the Georgia O'Keefe exhibition because I'd heard a lot of good things about it and I didn't have a clue where else to start. Georgia O'Keffe was an American artist originally from Wisconsin and the exhibition celebrates the centenary of her work. I was taken aback by the vastness of the collection and the variety of themes that she explored, from her earlier  abstract charcoal drawings to the use of watercolours depicting the plains of Texas, oilpaintincgs of New York city and finally her most renowned paintings of cow skulls in the landscapes of the South West. If like me you have no pervious knowledge of art I’d definitely recommend buying an audio guide which made the visit even more enjoyable as I was able to get a better understanding of the inspiration behind the paintings.

I enjoyed my afternoon so much I went back to the Tate later in the week but without prior knowledge of which exhibits to go and see I was slightly overwhelmed by the sheer number of works at the Tate. Luckily there is a great display to get you started call the Start Display which features some of the “best loved artworks in the Tate collection” including works by Matisse and Kandinsky. I’m definitely planning to spend another afternoon in the Tate next time I’m in London even if that’s just to justify spending all my money the the Tate Modern shops! 

BENEFIT BOAT

Seeing the big pink boat on the bank of a the Thames honestly made me giggle, partly because of it's pinkness and partly out of nerves. I let myself be intimidated.  Was I cool enough to walk on this boat? Would everyone stare because I obviously didn't belong? There was no need for me to worry! The staff were smiley and helpful and within ten minutes I was sat at the bar in with exotic looking cocktail in my hand. 

 The main reason I was on the boat was to see Desiree Birch perform stand up comedy as part of the Funny Women Festival 2016 - Edinburgh Fringe Previews. I’d never seen any stand up comedy before (except for on television) and I wasn’t really sure what to expect but I have to say, I was laughing out loud for the whole hour! Between the small intimate room and Desiree’ s chatty friendly style I felt like I was just listening to an older hilarious friend impart her knowledge on everything from body image to sex in your thirties. I even had a chance to chat with Desiree later in the night and she was just as bubbly and animated then as she was on stage an hour earlier. I had a great night and I really hope to get the opportunity to see Desiree Birch in action again soon!

MORNING RUN

I’ve only ever really gone running in Cardiff, so I made an extra effort to pack my trainers and running gear and vowed to go running at least one morning in London. I wasn’t looking at my time or distance but just wanted the experience of running in such a crowded city! I actually managed to go out twice which I’m quite proud of. The first time I ran from the Tate over London Bridge and back around which was certainly an experience as I dodged businessmen and women hurrying to work - a world away from the Taff’s trail in Cardiff! The second time I decided just to run in the other direction towards Westminster Bridge which was a much nicer run as it was basically straight and the wide pedestrianised banks made zipping in and out of commuters a little easier! Next time I think I’ll try running in a park such as Hyde Park to avoid being trampled! 

What do you like to get up to in London?