“Run Mummy Run” is a formidable network empowering and inspiring women to be fit, healthy and happy. Sport is increasingly considered an opportunity for women to develop social networks and physical skills. Practicing a sport also strengthens our mental and emotional health; it raises our self-esteem and boosts our academic performance.
In this way sport can also help women to gain economic independence. Most of all, women doing a sport have access to community and institutional resources as well as mentors and female role models. These contacts boost their self-determination, encourage them to take the initiative and foster their desire to become leaders.
Run Mummy Run (RMR) began the day Leanne Davies created a Facebook group in 2012. “I’m not an elite athlete or running coach, I’m just a mum who loves to run for all the good it brings, and I’m passionate about helping other women do the same,” she said.
When Leanne became active on social media, she just wanted to motivate a small group of friends to run because when she had children, she could barely fit time into her overloaded schedule to do any kind of exercise. She would often find time to run only in the evening when her husband had finished his work and was back home.
“It would often be late on cold, dark nights when I would pound the pavement alone. I missed having the company and the support of other runners to chat to about my running highs and lows,” Leanne wrote.
In Dec. 2012, after running with her friend Wendy, she told her she was determined to do something about her frustrations and limited time to run. Back home she decided to create a network of like-minded women who shared her love of running and wanted to talk about it. The initial group consisted of three members: Wendy, Leanne and another female friend.
“As well as arranging runs, we motivated and encouraged one another to get out the door, especially on the days when we had no choice but to be alone and staying inside in the warm felt more appealing. We also shared our kit recommendations, funny experiences, and the running knowledge we were gaining via trial and error.”
The group became increasingly popular and the number of members grew to 1,000, then we were 5,000 and at present RMR has more than 50,000 members.
What is so special about this group is the human factor. The members support and encourage each other tremendously. Nobody criticizes or judges anyone. And, said Leanne, “despite the name of the group, you do not have to be a mother. All women are invited to join the group.”
Running provides many physical benefits. It helps to keep your heart healthy, strengthen your bones, muscles and tendons and reduces your risk of developing a serious illness such as cancer. And numerous studies have shown that runners live longer than inactive people. “As running raises the heart rate and burns calories, around 100 per mile on average, it will help you maintain a healthy weight while still allowing you to treat yourself occasionally to cake and chocolate,” Leanne said.
An early-morning run in the fresh air makes you feel so good. And the reason for that is when you run your body releases endorphins. These hormones act as a stress-reliever and they reduce symptoms of depression. When you start running you often find out that something that was bothering you is no longer a problem.
Tracie Kirby runs because her son can’t. “I’m a single mum to a profoundly disabled, gorgeous little boy who was diagnosed with a life-limiting condition. Running helps me zone out and clear my mind,” she said. And Hayley Milam runs to escape. “It’s my ‘me’ time away from three young children. Being a stay-at-home mum is hard work and running is my mental and physical stress release.”
Many women believe they cannot run. They think it’s only for slim and trim women, so RMR has come up with a popular slogan: “She believed she could, so she did.” One of the members of RMR, Sarah Spells, was overweight and convinced she was not meant to run. Then, one day, she had the courage to go to her local gym.
“What a life-changer it has been! I have progressed beyond my wildest expectations. I have lost six stone, had three children and finished an ultramarathon. Running has given me confidence, a belief in myself that anything is possible and lots of friends … Always believe in yourself,” said Sarah.
This book provides a wealth of advice for novice and seasoned runners. One of the first things a recruit learns is the importance of “Jeffing.” Jeffing is an abbreviation of the name Jeff Galloway and stands for the Run Walk Run method developed by this former Olympic athlete. He discovered that regular walking breaks enable novice runners to fight fatigue and reduce their chance of getting injured. Jeffing means that you can run for five minutes, then walk for two minutes and repeat four times to run a total of 20 minutes instead of running for 20 minutes continuously when you have never run before for such a long period of time.
Novice runners also often believe that energy drinks will boost their reserves. Unless you are running a long distance it is much healthier to drink water, and after a long run there is no need to spend money on costly protein drinks and bars. The best way to recover is to have some food that is high in protein, such as a glass of milk, nuts, egg or cheese.
Lately, beetroot has become increasingly popular after studies showed it can enhance one’s stamina and endurance. The secret behind beetroot’s enhancing powers is its high content in nitrates. Drinking beetroot juice regularly or incorporating the vegetable into meals can increase the energy available to muscle cells.
Bananas are also particularly good for runners because of their content in carbohydrates, which play the role of fuel, and they are high in potassium which maintains blood pressure, strengthens the muscles and regulates the body’s fluid levels.
Book Review: Running can change our lives
Book Review: Running can change our lives
What We Are Reading Today: Adam Smith Reconsidered
Author: Paul Sagar
Adam Smith has long been recognized as the father of modern economics. More recently, scholars have emphasized his standing as a moral philosopher—one who was prepared to critique markets as well as to praise them. But Smith’s contributions to political theory are still underappreciated and relatively neglected.
In this bold, revisionary book, Paul Sagar argues that not only have the fundamentals of Smith’s political thought been widely misunderstood, but that once we understand them correctly, our estimations of Smith as economist and as moral philosopher must radically change.
Rather than seeing Smith either as the prophet of the free market, or as a moralist who thought the dangers of commerce lay primarily in the corrupting effects of trade, Sagar shows why Smith is more thoroughly a political thinker who made major contributions to the history of political thought.
What We Are Reading Today: Super Courses by Ken Bain
Book Review: ‘Rifqa’ by Mohammed El-Kurd
Mohammed El-Kurd’s “Rifqa” is a searing and lyrical exploration of identity, resistance and the enduring impact of colonization. Named after El-Kurd’s late grandmother, the poetry collection captures the Palestinian experience with an intensity that is both personal and profoundly universal.
Through vivid language and raw emotion, El-Kurd weaves together memories, history and the lived realities of occupation, crafting a work that is as much a tribute to resilience as it is a call to action.
Through poems that shift between tender recollections of family and sharp critiques of displacement and violence, El-Kurd creates a narrative that refuses to separate the personal from the political. This duality gives the work a profound resonance, as it reminds readers of the humanity at the core of resistance.
El-Kurd’s grandmother, Rifqa, emerges as a symbol of steadfastness in the face of oppression, her life embodying the spirit of defiance that runs through the collection.
His language is evocative and unrelenting, often blurring the lines between poetry and protest. His verses are charged with anger, grief and a fierce love for his homeland, making every word feel urgent and necessary.
Yet, amid the rage and sorrow, there are moments of quiet beauty — glimpses of family life, the olive trees of Jerusalem and the enduring cultural traditions that tether the poet to his roots. These moments serve as a poignant reminder of what is at stake, grounding the collection in the everyday lives and stories of Palestinians.
What sets “Rifqa” apart is its refusal to sanitize or soften its message. El-Kurd speaks truth to power with unapologetic clarity, confronting readers with the stark realities of occupation and the complicity of global systems in perpetuating injustice.
Yet, his voice is not only one of condemnation, but also of hope and resilience. The poems are a testament to the enduring spirit of a people who continue to fight for their land, their identity and their right to exist.
“Rifqa” is a powerful and deeply affecting work that demands to be read as a testament to the resilience of a people and the enduring strength of a grandmother’s legacy.
It is a book that stays with you long after the final page, urging you to listen, to feel and to act. Mohammed El-Kurd has crafted a work that is both a lament and a rallying cry, a reminder that poetry has the power to witness, to resist and to endure.
What We Are Reading Today: A Guide to the Anolis Lizards (Anoles) of Mainland Central and South America
Author: Steven Poe
Anoles are highly visible and aesthetically pleasing lizards that are abundant throughout Central and South America.
The subjects of countless evolutionary and ecological studies that have advanced our understanding of basic principles in biology, these colorful reptiles are notoriously difficult to identify, and species names are often confusing and inconsistent.
“A Guide to the Anolis Lizards (Anoles) of Mainland Central and South America” is the first book to enable the identification of all known species of anole in the region while establishing baseline knowledge for further research.
REVIEW: ‘Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster’ offers reanimated chaos in 4K
LONDON; The “Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster” has arrived, breathing new life into Capcom’s iconic open-world zombie classic.
Almost 20 years after the original’s release, this version strikes a fine balance between a remake and a remaster, modernizing visuals, controls and gameplay while retaining its chaotic charm. With 4K resolution, smoother frame rates and gameplay improvements, “Dead Rising’s” latest iteration has, in a sense, grown up with its audience — although “grown up” might not be the best description for a game where a cactus can be a weapon.
The remaster brings you back to Willamette, Colorado, where you play as the cocky, wise-cracking photojournalist Frank West. His mission? Survive a 72-hour real-time, in-game clock ticking down inside a mall overrun by zombies, with missions to complete, bosses to fight, and absurd items to wield.
The day-night cycle brings shifting challenges and horror-movie ambiance that change the feel of each hour. You’ll often find yourself toggling between planning missions and impulsively grabbing whatever is in sight to fend off the undead. The remaster’s refined graphics and 60fps frame rate make both these approaches more fluid, whether you’re grappling with zombies or sneaking a killer snapshot.
And yes, Frank’s camera skills still matter. In addition to navigating an endless crowd of brain-hungry zombies, the game rewards you for snapping high-quality photos, encouraging you to capture the grotesque and hilarious. This adds an amusing layer of strategy and humor to the game, which doesn’t take itself too seriously. The absurd world of Dead Rising still allows you to dress Frank up in a range of ridiculous costumes, turning him from a somber zombie slayer into a comical hero fighting against the cathedral of consumerism — the mall itself.
As you progress, Frank’s skills evolve, allowing you to transform him into a near-indestructible wrestler, body-slamming zombies and crowd-surfing his way to safety. Missions often involve rescuing NPCs and escorting them to safety, and a roster of larger-than-life “Psychopath” bosses keeps the action intense. Beneath the mindless zombie slaying lies a satirical critique of American consumerism that resonates more with time; the remaster’s updated look adds to the commentary, making the mall’s neon lights and cluttered shelves all the more biting.
Of course, not all issues have been exorcised in this remaster. Some glitches linger, like the odd lift button bug that can render what should be a deadly encounter into an easy escape. Plus, it’s a shame that Capcom didn’t implement a co-op mode — a feature that could have elevated the chaotic fun to new heights.
Ultimately, “Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster” is as humorous as it is brutal, blending laughs with thrilling tension. The game continues to draw players into Frank West’s absurdly dangerous world, now rendered in beautifully gruesome detail. It’s a fantastic journey back to a familiar, zombie-filled playground — ideal for longtime fans and newcomers alike who are ready to face the horde.
