Lu Dolton Personal Training

R E C O V E R Y 🛌

Oof. 2 weeks post-race and think I’m finally feeling human again 🤩 .

My legs recovered pretty quickly but I was super fatigued 😴 and really struggling to eat for a good few days after. Not sure if this is a post-40 thing or life with small people thing?!

Did nothing in terms of movement (aside from work) for the first week and once I could eat have been trying to properly fuel my recovery ❤️‍🩹

Focus has been on fun 🎉 (trip to London, seeing the Stereophonics) and getting moving again but without any pressure (rainy bike rides, some gentle runs and a bit of strength 🏋️).

No plans for anything else crazy just yet…

L A ⛰️ M O N T A G N ´ H A R D 🏃‍♀️

54km. 4100m d+. 12.5 hours.

What. A. Day 🎉

I was nervous going into this race. My last big training run had felt so so tough and I seriously doubted whether or not I’d be able to finish.

The course was perfect - 20km to the first checkpoint (which I knew I could do, no problem) and then 7-10km between every other checkpoint 💦 🍌 I broke it down mentally which really helped - especially knowing that I had my incredible support crew 🥰 waiting for me at each checkpoint too.

The start was super slow and bunched up but I realised pretty quickly that slow and steady 🐌 was the only way to go. I kept my heart rate down, kept eating and drinking and just kept moving.

And, I had the best day!! I genuinely can’t believe how good I felt 💕 I had one wobble all day - coming down the into Les Contamines - I’d spent 10 minutes helping a bloke who was puking 🤢 at the side of the trail and then the descent just seemed to never end. Coming into the village and trudging along the tarmac I suddenly felt very, very tired but also realised that I was going to make it 🎉 With just 7km to go, the tears started to flow 😢

That last 7km was so much better than I’d anticipated and I was heading toward the finish line 🏁 in (relatively) no time at all!!

I honestly don’t think I’d have made it without my truly special friends and family taking such amazing care of me 🥰 Thank you for driving me to the start line horribly early in the morning and for taking care of the girls at the end and for just being so calm and encouraging throughout (even if inside you were panicking!!). At every stop .9701 and Jon filled my water 💦 made me eat and just generally kept me going. The kids (Aida, Seren, Annie and Seb) - you rock!! Your boundless enthusiasm for running up hills, fanning me and trying to eat my haribo gave me such a boost! I love you and hope I made you proud. And to Jen’s Dad who went above and beyond and helped me get my shoes off at the end. And every person that sent me a message - it kept me going probably more than you know!

Totally exhausted but totally content. We are so much stronger than we think ❤️

T R A I N I N G 🏁

One more sleep 💤 until I take on a pretty epic challenge.

I’ve been asked a lot lately how I manage to train so thought I’d share a few of my tips here and some of the things I tell my clients who are working towards an event.

I should also say that my life admin is completely out of control 🤪 and I definitely don’t feel the best prepared for what’s to come - but I’ve done my best and I truly believe that that’s enough.

Have you taken on a challenge? Any tips to share?

F R I D A Y 🏔️ N I G H T 🍻

Final training run ✔️

First (and probably last) time doing the double from home. Up and down Pointe des Brasses, a little trot along and then up and down le Môle. 31km and 2500m d+. Temperature approximately 3trillion degrees 🥵

Not going to lie this was really tough and I absolutely could not have done it without the support of my pal and absolute mad woman who joined me for the môle and was the absolute best cheerleader 📣

Also, so unbelievably grateful to the owner of the bar and restaurant at the Lac du Môle mini golf who served two very sweaty 💦 and disheveled looking runners burger 🍔 and chips 🍟 well past serving time. I’d been fantasizing about it for days!!

And in classic mum runner recovery style I was at school helping to set up for the school fair and spectacle less than 12 hours later 🫠

Let the taper begin! J-12 days until 50km 😬

C H R I S T I N A ❤️

This absolutely gorgeous message popped in to my inbox earlier this week and honestly means the world to me 🫶

I pour a lot of thought, care and love into my courses and it makes me so happy when people feel that 🥰 It’s not just about moving and getting sweaty - I’ve seen some truly special connections formed in these classes too and that really is everything.

Obvs not wanting to throw shade on anyone in Zurich 😬

If this sounds like it might be what you are looking for next week is the last chance to join my classes before September - get in touch xx

M O R E 👟 M U D 🏃‍♀️

Trail des Crêtes. 38km. 2600m d+. 7.5 hours.

Another training race under my belt at the weekend. I’ve added quite a few races into my training plan as it forces me to go out in conditions I might otherwise make excuses in 😂 and Sunday was exactly that! After rain ☔️ all week I knew it was going to be a tough day out.

This course had it all, SO MUCH mud, beautiful climbs, waterfalls, river crossings, ropes to hang onto on the down and chains to cling onto on the up 🧗‍♀️, amazing supporters, excitable cows🐮, camaraderie amongst runners and did I mention the mud?!

I felt great on the first climb 🏔️ and then the mud started to take it’s toll - even moving on the flat was exhausting. 5km to go and Guy and the girls 💕 appeared which gave me the boost I needed to shuffle up the last hill and home across the finish line.

I was absolutely wrecked at the end and have definitely needed a few days to process (it was really, really hard!) But I also just keep coming back to what the guy on the mic 🎤 on the start line was saying as we headed out - how lucky am I that I can take on these challenges and what a privilege to be spending my Sunday morning moving my body in the mountains 🥰

Less than 4 weeks until my A race 😬 and then it’s time to have some fun 🎉




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B U M P 🫶 F I T 🤰

I started this class back in March and we’re currently anticipating the arrival of the first bump fit babies 👶

It can be so overwhelming figuring out how to stay fit and active throughout pregnancy and I feel so passionate about helping women do just that!

Movement + new mates is always a win in my book too.

Bookings for June are now open - we’d love for you to join us 💕




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R E S E T 🏝️

Fab few days in the South of France to recharge the batteries 🪫 !

Beach time 🏖️ , family time and whole lot of sunshine ☀️

I love exploring new places with a run 🏃‍♀️ , so with only 5 weeks to go until my race I got up early one morning for the flattest run I’ve done in a very long time.

Absolutely awful journey home 🚘 , almost undoing all of the good work but we made it. Ready to head into the final term of school and all the madness that that brings (slow down please time!)

H O M E 🏃‍♀️ R U N 🏃

Trail du Vouan. 20km. 800m d+.

There’s something pretty cool about finishing the washing up 🧽 and then finding yourself on the start line of a trail race 15 minutes later but that’s what happens when your village hosts a day of races 🏁

I found the first half of this race pretty tough but filled up on coke and pain d’épices at the ravito and was absolutely flying from then until the finish💨 Love discovering new trails so close to home and love seeing so many familiar faces along the route 🥰

Home, quick wash 🚿, lunch and then back for an afternoon of kid’s races. 3km for Aida and her Aunty Nicki and 400m for Seren (and me!!) - so proud of both of them for getting stuck in 💕

Legs feel pretty good so it’s time to up the training… just 7 weeks until my big race and I’m scared!

A B O U T 🎉 L A S T 🎈 N I G H T

Celebrating 2 big birthdays for our climb and dine crew last night in the only way we know how… a sweaty hike up the saleve, featuring fizz 🥂, sparklers in energy bars 🎆, party hats and dinner at the top 🏔️

Could not be more grateful to have these 2 amazing ladies in my life 🥰 and am excited for more adventures to come. 40 rocks 🎉

Also, highly recommend hiking in party hats 🥳 feel like we added some extra joy to lots of people’s evenings!!

B O O S T 💪🏻 ❤️ 🧠

So many reasons to move… happy to help provide a little boost to my clients each week!

I’ve said it a million times before but I ❤️ my job. I get to work with some truly awesome people (and hanging out with them genuinely gives me a boost too 😘).

I’m forever learning and work so hard to look after everyone I work with and take care of their individual needs.

If you need a boost get in touch 📞 ❤️