{"id":132920,"date":"2020-10-22T15:51:49","date_gmt":"2020-10-22T14:51:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vuelio.com\/uk\/?p=132920"},"modified":"2020-10-22T15:51:49","modified_gmt":"2020-10-22T14:51:49","slug":"running-blogger-spotlight-emma-neachell-the-phd-runner-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vuelio.com\/uk\/blog\/running-blogger-spotlight-emma-neachell-the-phd-runner-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Running Blogger Spotlight: Emma Neachell, The PhD Runner"},"content":{"rendered":"

Don\u2019t have a PhD in running quite yet? No problem \u2013 check out today\u2019s Blogger Spotlight with The PhD Runner<\/a>\u2019s Emma Neachell for the best routes, the best fuel to keep you going and the best things about running a running-related blog. <\/strong><\/p>\n

What got you into running as a hobby and what keeps you passionate about it as a way to keep fit?<\/span><\/strong>
\nI\u2019ve always loved running and joined my local athletics club as soon as I was old enough. While most of my school friends hated running, I thought that cross country running and athletics sessions were the highlight of the school week. I\u2019ve tried a range of other sports including cycling, climbing, walking, tennis, and hockey as a way of keeping fit but running will always remain my passion as I love the post-run endorphins and runners high.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s your favourite thing to post about and why?<\/span><\/strong>
\nI have two favourite things to post about. I love writing product reviews and my regular rants and raves posts. Product reviews because I love getting to thoroughly test out and review running-related products. Some of the products I\u2019ve been sent to review have been amazing and have enhanced my running. My rants and raves posts, too, because I find writing a great way of relieving stress when I\u2019m unable to run.<\/p>\n

Did you take part London Marathon this year? <\/span><\/strong>
\nYes, I took part in the virtual London Marathon. I was unsuccessful in the original ballot so when I saw that entries to the virtual London Marathon were open, I happily parted with the \u00a320 entry fee. I didn\u2019t manage to complete the marathon distance as I stopped when I\u2019d reached 17 miles. I could blame the wet and windy weather conditions but I think the reality is I that hadn\u2019t trained enough due to my knee injury.<\/p>\n

Do you think the different format of the Marathon, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, was a good idea? <\/span><\/strong>
\nI know that a lot of runners don\u2019t agree, but I think the different format of the Marathon was a great idea. Holding an event just for elite runners in the centre of London meant that the elite runners got the opportunity to race and to achieve Olympic qualifying standards. Holding a virtual event for everyone else meant that runners who had raised money for charity got the opportunity to complete their own version of the London Marathon. I hope that the London Marathon organisers do something similar for runners who were unsuccessful in the ballot in future years.<\/p>\n

How did you change your approach and content during lockdown? <\/span><\/strong>
\nAt the start of lockdown, I didn\u2019t feel like blogging as I was focusing all my energy on trying to adapt to the new \u2018normal\u2019 and on my full-time job. I was acutely aware of how fortunate I was (and still am) to have a secure job working for an organisation that encourages working from home. I wasn\u2019t running so I didn\u2019t feel like I had anything to write about. About a month into lockdown I started following the Couch to 5k so I decided to share my progress on my blog.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s the best route you\u2019ve ever taken for a run?<\/span><\/strong>
\nNow, this is a really tricky question to answer. I think my all-time favourite has to be the route of the Cathedral to Castle 10-mile race. The race starts in Lichfield and ends in Tamworth and incorporates some amazing scenery and challenging trials.<\/p>\n

Best snacks\/drinks to take along for a race?<\/span><\/strong>
\nI tend to stick to eating a banana and drinking a bottle of chocolate milkshake.<\/p>\n

What advice would you give to someone who\u2019s never been into running but would like to start? <\/span><\/strong>
\nI would say don\u2019t rush out and spend a fortune on running clothes and trainers until you know that you enjoy running. I would also recommend starting with the Couch to 5k; it really does work. Also, remember to have fun and to enjoy yourself.<\/p>\n

How do you collaborate with brands, and which kind of brands do you really like working with?<\/span><\/strong>
\nI\u2019ve rarely collaborated with brands. I don\u2019t like promoting myself as I\u2019m aware there are more professional, full-time running bloggers out there. Living outside of London puts me at a disadvantage as a blogger; I\u2019ve been invited to events in London but haven\u2019t been able to attend due to work and financial constraints. When I have collaborated with brands, the brand has always contacted me first either through my running blog or email. I really like working with brands that value my time as a blogger and are prepared to offer some form of compensation. I also prefer working with brands who give me plenty of time to try out and to test the product I\u2019m reviewing.<\/p>\n

For PRs looking to work with you and your blog\/website, how would you prefer they approach you? <\/span><\/strong>
\nI prefer that they approach me by email. I work full-time and don\u2019t tend to answer my personal mobile when I\u2019m at work.<\/p>\n

What other blogs do you check out regularly?<\/span><\/strong>
\nI have a selection of blogs I check out regularly, some were included in the Top 10 UK Running Blogs<\/a>. My favourites at the moment are Lazy Girl Running<\/a>, Maria Runs<\/a>, Anna the Apple<\/a>, A Healthier Moo<\/a>, Rula Runs<\/a> and This Bunny Runs<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Reach-the-right-influencers-with-the-Vuelio-media-database\"<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Don\u2019t have a PhD in running quite yet? No problem \u2013 check out today\u2019s Blogger Spotlight with The PhD Runner\u2019s Emma Neachell for the best routes. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":312,"featured_media":132912,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7365,4038,6980],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vuelio.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/132920"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vuelio.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vuelio.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vuelio.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/312"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vuelio.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=132920"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.vuelio.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/132920\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":132922,"href":"https:\/\/www.vuelio.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/132920\/revisions\/132922"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vuelio.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/132912"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vuelio.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=132920"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vuelio.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=132920"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vuelio.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=132920"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}