This week on my podcast I am talking about catastrophizing, I discuss what it is and why we do it and how I stopped myself from doing it.   I have some top de clutter tips from organise with Jo. I also discuss self deprecating humour, which  is something that I have done myself, James Blunt is famous for using these type of jokes, Is it healthy, should we be doing it? I also chat about getting my vaccines at a pharmacy travel clinic, pharmacies are offering more and more services to take the strain away from GP appointments. I had an appointment with a former GP practice nurse and had two of the best injection experiences ever.

This week in my podcast I explain how I cope with doubters, those people who make you doubt yourself until you find their words running around in your head and how to stop thinking about what they have said. I use mindfulness and meditation for this.  I also give you a run through about what it was like to do Carfest Glamping and give you a review of the Guosto boxes I have been getting to make meals with.

Following on from my trip to London to see the Marathon and the sign off from my physio to start my running journey again, I review my first 5k rave experience to enable me to plan my training for my next 5k run.  There are hints and tips on what I would do differently next time, it was taking me 45 mins to run 5k in my training runs, but my first race I did in 37 mins.I also chat through what causes cramping and blisters and ways to prevent these from happening when you are running.

This weeks podcast aims to inspire you to go an watch the London Marathon and experience the atmosphere.There are lots of hints and tips for beginner runners.I also chat to my friend David, the man who gets a text from me and it reminds him to put his Nipeaze on before he goes out for a run!  He is doing the London Marathon and we chat about his training, his feet size, marathon fuelling and I get his advice on where to put Vaseline. If you are a bloke who has a right foot size 9 and a left foot sized 8, get in touch and I can put you in touch with him.

This week I tell the story of the awful experience that I have been going through for the last couple of weeks with my Labrador Pippa after she was neutered and had a severe reaction to Metacam.I was unaware of the potential dangers of using the drug having not had any issues with it when giving it to other pets and her brother just a couple of weeks earlier.This podcast contains information on Pippa's symptoms and what medicines I had to syringe into her orally to get her to improve. It also contains information on what to look out for if your pet has had an overdose of Metacam.

This weeks podcast is dedicated to the regular crew of listeners to my podcast, that you are out there listening motivates me to keep doing them, you are awesome thank you.This week I am covering motivation, having dragged myself out on a rainy bank holiday to cycle 6 miles and ride my pony after not having much sleep the night before due to a really sick Labrador I thought I would give you all a scary insight into how my brain works and how I stay motivated, how I set myself up for success and not failure and how I set myself goals and this week you will need a note pad and some paper as I am asking you to do some tasks yourselves.

In this weeks podcase I am chatting to equestrian writer and adventurer Fran McNicol  about her exhilarating ride in the Gaucho Derby billed as the worlds toughest horse rave.  Have a listen to find out how she and her husband Duncan got on.

Having had a riding accident which involved lung surgery I had to learn to breathe again and use all of my lungs, I share this with you and it will help with both exercise and relaxation.  I have also had previous money worries and very stressful jobs, which meant that I have had trouble sleeping, I have had to analyse what the issues were and how to get a good nights sleep and I share all of this with you as well.

In this weeks Podcast, I relate a few more of my secrets on how I remain so positive.  I look a bit more on selfcare and Help you to Work out What Affects your Mood and going through why you might feel like a failure and how to change your thinking on this.

At 50, I have managed to find a way to go from being really unhappy and in a negative place to being really happy without taking any medications or recreational drugs or drinking any alcohol.  I have found happiness and positivity from within myself.  It is becoming increasingly obvious that there is not much support from Mental Health out there, so having experienced poor mental health myself and got myself through it, I am here to help you in the next few weeks with a series of podcast helping you to find your happy.  This week I talk through identifying what it is that is making you feel unhappy, I no that sometimes you can't or do want to talk to anyone about it, now you don't have to you can just listen to me guiding you through what might be causing you stress and worry in your life, from my own personal experience.  When you have identified what is making you unhappy, before you make any changes you need to do a bit of work on yourself to get yourself to a place where you are able to deal with everything and I will talk you through the process of how I did this starting this week with self care.

In this weeks episode, I give a brief update on my recovery, then its part two of my chat with Steven James where we cover, blister prevention and have an open conversation about burnout, depression and anxiety and how running can have a positive impact on your mental health.

This week I chat to Steven James of PFM coaching he is a qualified running coach and a very experienced ultra runner, as well as being an ambassador for Ultra X.  I really hope that you enjoy listening to this as much as I enjoyed chatting to him. First half of the interview this week and here the second half next week.

On this weeks podcast I chat about how quickly I have lost the ability to hold any kind of weights, Jo Bridge gives advice on how to work with just having one set of dumbells in your gym. My neighbour and I have swapped dogs, as Pippas brother Ollie has torn his canine cruciate ligament and needed a similar surgery to mine.  Find out how that all went, I learn all about cruciate ligaments and a bit more about my potential recovery times.  I cover crate boredom tips how to get a dog to eat anti biotics and I test drive the mobility device the IWalk.

Find out how I am managing to stay so positive even though I have broken my leg,  how routine is helping me to keep pushing forwards.  I have an update on how Fran McNichol is getting on in the Goucho Derby and I chat to ex army Ben Turner the  inspirational Adventure Coach about why getting out into nature is so important if you want to challenge yourself and build self confidence.

On my podcast this week, how fortunes can change suddenly, I broke my ankle in a freak accident and this weeks podcast is about coping at home alone on crutches with a non weight bearing leg, while having to cook for myself and look after the car Winston and Labrador Pippa.  I also have some more advice from Jo Bridges about weight loss and beginner fitness and I also get to chat to Published author and adventurer Fran McNicol ahead of her ride with her husband Duncan in the Gaucho Derby.

In this weeks podcast I let you know how my training is going ahead of my Half Marathon, I get a PB which I am really happy about.  I then demonstrate how easy it is to cook a really healthy meal from ingredients and recipes supplied by the Mindful Chef.  There is a snippet from my chat with James Kimber in week two just in case you missed it and Jo Bridges gives advice for beginners either on a running journey of a fitness journey on what to do if you are feeling overwhelmed.

Hi everyone and welcome to Catherine Lorimers Guide to Life Podcast. It is week 3 of my London Marathon Training and a welcome back to Alan (Hello) you were away skiing last week, your fan did email and complain that you were not on the Podcast last week so at least we know one person is listening to us.  Did you have a good break (Yes) Well Alan you are a man of few words, let’s hope I don’t ever have to interview you. Now last week was the 50th episode of my podcast, which you missed Alan while you were on  pieste, probably off pieste  in the bar piesete.I started this podcast in September 2022, I had a break last year, which is something that I will not be doing this year, I am aiming to get a full year so 52 episodes of 1-hour long podcasts in and I have already got some exciting activities and adventures planned for this year.  I have also already got some fantastic and interesting guests to interview lined up.Now coming up in this weeks podcast, I have an update on my training, I will be interviewing / getting some more tips from Jo Bridges, who is a personal Trainer and has her own gym and online membership for some advice on strength and conditioning and Pilates to help with my running. I have been cooking more meals from the Mindful Chef and Alan will, be.  Err what will you be doing Alan (pressing buttons).  Just for anyone who is listening to the podcast for the first time, Alan is the producer, I occasionally get him to read stuff out and he is the one with the fan!My Marathon training has gone really well this week and I am feeling really well prepared for my half marathon this weekend, providing we don’t have any adverse weather that cancels it.  Last week I ended up running 17 miles instead of the 15 miles I had planned to run, this week I have given myself more of a break, doing a 5 mile long run with Pippa while my car gets MOTed and then some shorter 2 mile runs mid week again working on pace and continuous running rather than the walk running that I have been doing. The half marathon I am doing is around a really hilly area, so great training but also challenging, if I get a time under 3 hours for this one I will be happy, I would love a time of between 2 hrs 40 and 2 hrs 50, that would be awesome.  I have a plan to run at my 5k pace for most of the way as I managed that on my 9 mile run last week, then slow the pace slightly after 9 miles and finish the rest at the slower pace, but I will see how it goes as if there are a lot of steep hills, I might walk those and then run the rest of the way at my 3k pace.  What has worked well this week I have been doing more work on continual running and also work on my pace on shorter distances.  Sprint work is probably best for this as well, but I haven’t had chance to do that, as it has been a bit icy this week.What has been challenging this week.The main challenges this week have been the snow and the extreme cold, running in the cold as an asthmatic is difficult and when you have icy conditions it is a bit dicy, I managed to get a couple of runs in, I am tapering this week ahead of my half marathon on Sunday.Strength and conditioning sessionsThis week I am easing off on the strength and conditioning sessions ahead of my half marathon run on Sunday.  I have done one arm session and a platies session and will do stretch session after my run, I use Jo Bridge who I was chatting to earlier one, she has a great one on YouTube.Here is a snippet from one of her sessions. Healthy Eating I am really happy with the food that I have been eating this week, only a couple of suspect biscuits h

London Marathon Training Week 2Hello and welcome to this weeks podcast about my London Marathon Training, for anyone who didn’t listen to week one, I started running in February 2023 after doing a half marathon walk around London and ran my first marathon at the beginning of September, in just 7 months. This podcast is also here to give you some inspiration if you have just started running and to give you some hints and tips and advise you if you are running your first marathon or if you just want some motivation to get fitter and loose some weight.Coming up in the podcast this week, update on my training, I will be interviewing my amazing marathon runner cousin, James Kimber, I have some dumbbell tips from Jo Bridge Fitness I will be letting you know about Mindful Chef and to finish off some beginner running tips.In week one I ran a total of 17 miles over 4 days, this week I have run a total of over 4 days, I wanted to say a bit about planning, I diaries the miles that I need to run each day each week and this really helps me to stick to my training plan.  This week I have done 15 miles, I did a 9 mile long run at the beginning of the week, then I have been tapering ahead of my half marathon next weekend. I have done three 2 mile runs at a faster pace, mainly because I have had two Labradors towing me, Pippa and her sister Rosie who needs to the vet said needed to lose a couple of kgs so I offered to run with her and it has really helped with my pace.  Training issues this weekThe cold weather, I have found this particularly challenging as being an asthmatic I struggle with my breathing, I have had to take it easy for the first couple of miles until I get my breathing under control.It has also been icy conditions so not ideal for running, especially with a Labrador who tends to pull you.Interview with James Kimber from Chester.Strength and conditioning sessionsI did three in week 1 a total of 1hr 10 mins of body conditioning and 40 minutes of Pilates.I am following workouts for The Nu You app and I am also taking dumbbell and pilates session from the 20 minute club run by Jo Bridges and there is access to loads of classes on this and its great value for £14.99 a month. Here is a snippet from Jo’s Instagram account on Dumbbells and which she has given me permission to include in my podcast. This week I have been cooking food from the Mindful chef, for those of you who have not heard of the mindful chef they delivery boxes with all the ingredients in each week for whichever recipe you have chosen. The ingredients supplied is from local and sustainable producers.The idea behind The Mindful Chef is getting good quality local produce but also trying to reduce food waste by supplying just enough ingredients for the amount of people eating the dish.  When you buy from The Mindful Chef you are also donating to one feeds two, so for my three meals a child has received three free school meals.They are promoting healthy eating and trying to get people away from quick fix crash diets as they do not work long term and people like myself need a life style change and to change eating habits completely. The idea is to have a smaller portion of meat or fish from a sustainable source and bulk it out with fresh in season local vegetables. There recipes are also gluten-free with no dairy. If you buy meat and fish produce from local suppliers you can check the quality of welfare at these producers, rather than getting a piece of chicken in a supermarket that has been important from South America and you have no idea of how that animal was treated.  The main principles areLess meat but better qualityNo DairyNatural ingredients, no processed foods, or refined foods or any with added sugarsGrass fed beef, free range chickens, MSC certified fishAll 100% British

Last year to went from a non runner to a marathon runner in 7 months.  Following on from this success, I am determined this year to get even fitter, by eating healthier food, loosing more weight and doing more training to run a better time in the London Marathon in April 2024.Follow my journey my is full of hints and tips if you are running your first marathon or if you just want to start running, In this episode I give some more information on what food I am eating, some of the recipes can be found on my Instagram and youtube channel.  There will also be hints and tips from trainers and I will be interviewing a multiple  marathon runner in the coming weeks to get some more on what he dose in his marathon training.

For New Years this is a short story about a policeman and a tartan carpet.