Health guru Rhalou

The race season is in full swing! And those of us in the office who were mad enough to sign up for a marathon are easy to spot, as we’re the anxious jittery looking ones, permanently wearing running gear and desperately trying to shape up in time for race day. Despite doing almost all the right things, I still haven’t got quite enough big miles in, and along with my colleagues, I’m slowly starting to lose the plot. Apart from running all the damn time, it’s probably a bit too late to make any drastic changes to my training regime, so my main concern currently is staying fit and healthy and staving off injury so that I’m in tip-top condition for the big event. This is easier said than done when the air-conditioned offices are rife with nasty coughs and colds, and running big miles does have the adverse reaction of making one feel rather knackered, and therefore more susceptible to picking up horrid bugs. And don’t even get me started on the new niggles and twinges pounding the pavements every day mysteriously brings on. From sore knees, to painful shins and chafed armpits to foot rot, long distance running is not without its pitfalls. But rather than let the marathon madness get me down, my training plan has turned into something of a spiritual quest. Provided that I have an enjoyable time on the day, I’m not concerned with speed, but I am hoping to make it round the course alive. To that end I decided to devote my life entirely to living a cleaner, healthier existence. I have given up alcohol (temporarily, no easy task…) upped my fruit and veg intake, taken up yoga and meditation (again), and started ingesting so many supplements that if you gave me a little shake, I’d probably rattle.My first big breakthrough was CherryActive. Being a vegetarian, I can’t take any supplements that contain fish oils, but my weary joints were in dire need of omega assistance, so I was chuffed to discover this wonderful stuff, and feel significantly suppler since taking it every day. Packed with naturally-occurring antioxidants, CherryActive is great for maintaining healthy joints and aids sports recovery. Who knew that cherries contain the answers to the universe? If you’re going to start treating your body like a holistic temple, you may as well go the whole hog, so I ditched my usual skincare routine for Senzimi Skincare and haven’t looked back. Their wonderful moisturiser contains 99.77% natural ingredients specially formulated for sensitive skin, and since dousing myself in it daily my skin has become clear, plump and dewy! I shall never go back to my usual skincare routine again.So what with the extra running alongside my normal fitness regime, the healthy diet, all-natural skincare and alcohol-free existence (10 days and counting) I’m turning into a saint! I’m also really looking forward to The Vitality Show in Earls Court on 24-27 March where I’ll be able to investigate all the very latest in health and fitness trends!But as soon as race day is dealt with (six weeks and counting) I intend to return to my rock star ways with a vengeance. Okay, maybe a slightly healthier more Zen vengeance. I feel so great, I’m secretly getting into this new hippy lifestyle…