Cooking & Lifestyle Blog

So you've established yourself as a 'runner'. You're healthy and happy with your progress, but what if you want to take things a little further? Let our expert advice made easyhelp outline the ways in which you can develop your running; this be be via your personal health or by entering competitions – the world is your oyster!

As your running improves and you begin to go for longer distances, a few additional gadgets will become increasingly important. Any run longer than an hour or so is going to require hydration. This means water, which in turn means you need a way of carrying a water bottle. This might seem straightforward, but the array of bottles available can be bewildering. Similarly, ways of carrying running gels and bars for half-marathons and marathons are amazingly diverse, and when it comes to backpacksthere is also a multitude of options.

Many new runners are reluctant to head out when the seasons change for the worse, but running on a cold, bright winter’s day has its own charms. Even running in rain and snow can be hugely invigorating and, as long as your clothes are fit for the weather, you will quickly discover the joy of year-round training. Besides being comfortable, winter running gear should serve two purposes: it should keep you at just the right temperature and keep the weather on the outside. 

Consider these helpful pieces of advice from our experts, ensuring your running experience is safe and enjoyable.

Water accounts for about 60 per cent of body weight in adult males and 50–55 per cent in females. Lean muscles and the brain are around 75 per cent water, blood is 81 per cent and even bones are 22 per cent. Water fuels every part of the body and, without sufficient water, things can quickly go wrong.

Running is a great way to stay in shape because it's simple and doesn't require much set up. That said, in intense summer heat it can be hard to find the motivation to go outside when you're worried about burning out and become drenched in sweat. Appropriate clothing for summer running is key to combatting this. With light clothing and accessories to carry water, you will find yourself a lot more comfortable when out in the sun.

In the fast paced world of the twenty-first century, more and more people can’t (or won’t) find time to read in the conventional sense. Luckily, more authors are responding to that with some imaginative new mediums. Now reading a story can be as easy as checking your Twitter newsfeed, the latest being David Mitchell’s 280-tweet short story, ‘The Right Sort’ currently being posted on his Twitter page.

When the sun comes out, so do the people and their produce. Summer is a great time to get fresh food at great prices, side-stepping busy supermarkets and disgruntled shop assistants. We're proud of our quick and easy recipes, and simple recipes books, but great food also goes hand in hand with great produce. So here are some of the best food markets in the UK that offer great food and a fun environment.