From fitness-phobe and insecure weirdo to running person with medals and stuff, I may still be an insecure weirdo at times, but at least I know I'll always have running to help me out. It took me ages to allow myself to entertain the idea of exercise, and appreciate how good it is for my mind, so if you are in need of a little pep talk to help fast-track you to positivity, et voila! I've written this especially for YOU.

Discovering exercise has changed my life - from how I see myself to how I approach my career to how I have relationships. Exercise has boosted my self-confidence, helped me like my body and respect it for what it can do. Factoring it into my life isn't about fitting into a certain clothes size or looking like a superstar - it's a way to feel strong and happy.

But having gone from an official non-sporty person running a total of zero miles to a born-again runner taking on two major marathons in sixth months (to then not running for ages to then starting up again to then losing my mojo, then regaining it and so on...), I know a few things about the highs and lows of running motivation. But the one thing I never, ever forget now is that I can run. Where once I thought it was a physical impossibility for me, like flying, turning invisible or just eating one Jaffa Cake instead of five, it turns out running is a thing I now know I can always do - even if it doesn't always feel easy. I often get people saying to me that running just isn't for them, and I always say...