Marathon Women: why we're all running for our lives

Catherine Healy has discovered in training for the Mini Marathon that slow and steady wins the race when it comes to fitness

Irish women channel their inner Beyoncé and Joan of Arc to complete the Women’s Mini Marathon in DublinStephen Collins/Collins Photos

Two weeks ago, on that sunny bank holiday Monday, I reached up to the top shelf of my wardrobe and pulled out my single pair of stretchy jogging pants. You might have spotted me at lunchtime stumbling along the North Circular Road.

Let me tell you, dear reader: I was close to collapsing by the time I reached my local Tesco, where I stopped off to reward myself with a miserable bag of ...