Louise is a Dundee based person trainer and endurance athlete. She has spent her career focusing on improving the mental and physical health of women, utilising her expansive knowledge to adapt recommendations to allow each individual to strive for an improvement in their health.
Louise has struggled with depression throughout her life. This in turn has been the driving motivation for the fundraising Louise has undertaken over several years. To give an example of the extent of her running ability, one of the races she ran in 2016 was the Marathon des Sables, raising over £5,000 for Dundee Association for Mental Health, covering 154 miles over 6 days in gruelling conditions.
Louise describes herself as a ‘middle to back of the pack’ runner, loving to chat with fellow runners along the way, to hear their stories and what has brought them to take on their current challenge.
Louise is passionate about raising the profile of mental health, holding talks in schools and businesses as well as the general public. 2017 saw the launch of Dundee mental health awareness week – Heart Tay Heart, started by Louise herself.
2020 will see Louise take on her biggest challenge to date #2020RunNorthSea it involves 7 countries, 2 feet and over 3,000 miles in approximately 100 days.
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Show notes
Who is Louise and what she does
Her passion for rugby and running
Deciding to become a personal trainer
Sports and self esteem
Sharing more about her journey of mental health
Managing her own mental health
Taking photos while out running
Having alternatives to manage your mental health apart from exercise
Needed to get out of her own head
Continuing to learn about herself and what works
Having a gratitude journal - A positivity journal
The 100 Day Run in the Cotswolds
Having her eyes opened to a whole new world of people and challenges
Starting to do fundraising
Running the Marathon des Sables in 2016
Going back to university while working full time
The MDS - “Being brilliant and awful in equal measures”
Having too much time in her own head
Rolling her ankle on the first day of MDS
The horrific sandstorm on the 1st day
Having a good cry and letting it all out
Growing into the challenge
Wanting to go back and do the challenge again
2017 - The West Highland Way Race - 95 miles in 35 hrs
Dealing with some of the worst weather in Scotland
How having a 20 min power sleep made all the difference
Finishing the race in 30 hrs with thanks to her support crew
Key lessons learned from extreme endurance events
Having physical fitness and being able to go to the next level mentally
2017 - Launching Dundee mental health awareness week – Heart Tay Heart
Focusing on the services that are being provided to help support mental health
Starting the run from her home town in Dundee
Aiming to do 100 days - approx 40 miles per day - with a rest day every 7 days
Key aims and objectives from doing this challenge
Hopping that people will come and join her on the route
Getting support from so many people in the local community
Deciding to do this challenge…
Doing the challenge solo
Dealing with other peoples fears and concerns
Don’t let other people limit you and your dreams
How to fund and pay for the challenge - Feed Me Days - £25
The challenge of female hormones on training and day to day life
Working with your monthly cycle
Follow Louise on Social Media
Final words of advice
Social Media
Instagram @silverfoxm3h
Facebook @louisejohnstoneOCR
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