At once inspiring, hilarious, and honest, the new book from Alexandra Heminsley chronicles her endeavor to tackle a whole new element, and the ensuing challenges and joys of open water swimming. “It's a meditative act,” they said. But it was far from meditative for Alexandra Heminsley when yet another wave slammed into her face. It was survival. When she laced up her shoes in Running Like a Girl, all she had to do to become a runner was to get out there and run. But swimming was something else entirely. The water was all-consuming, confusing her every move, sabotaging every breath. Determined, Alexandra would learn to adapt, find new strengths, and learn to work with the water. She does not want to stand on the beach looking at the sea any longer. She wants to leap in. In doing so she will learn not just how to accept herself, but how to accept what lay beyond. Soon, she will be able to see water, anywhere in the world and sense not fear but adventure. She will dive into water as she hopes to dive into life. And it has nothing to do with being “sporty” or being the correct shape for a swimsuit. Open water swimming is currently one of the fastest growing sports in the world, and marathon swimming is the only sport where men and women do not race in separate categories. The water welcomes all who are willing and prepared to take part, and as Alexandra shows in her wondrous and funny book, not knowing how to do something is not necessarily a weakness—strength lies within the desire to learn. The time is now to leap in, and revel in what you thought was beyond you, discovering that it was only ever you holding you back.
When Alexandra Heminsley decided to take up running, she had hopes for a blissful runner’s high and immediate physical transformation. After eating three slices of toast with honey and spending ninety minutes creating the perfect playlist, she hit the streets—and failed spectacularly. The stories of her first runs turn on its head the common notion that we are all “born to run”—and exposes the truth about starting to run: it can be brutal. Running Like a Girl tells the story of getting beyond the brutal part, how Alexandra makes running a part of her life, and reaps the rewards: not just the obvious things, like weight loss, health, and glowing skin; but self-confidence and immeasurable daily pleasure, along with a new closeness to her father—a marathon runner—and her brother, with whom she ultimately runs her first marathon. But before her first marathon, she has to figure out the logistics of running: the intimidating questions from a young and arrogant sales assistant when she goes to buy her first running shoes, where to get decent bras for the larger bust, how not to freeze or get sunstroke, and what (and when) to eat before a run. She’s figured out what’s important (pockets) and what isn’t (appearance), and more. For any woman who has ever run, wanted to run, tried to run, or failed to run (even if just around the block), Heminsley’s funny, warm, and motivational personal journey from nonathlete extraordinaire to someone who has completed five marathons is inspiring, entertaining, practical, and fun.
Beautifully written, with such heart. Not only did it make me cry, it made me see the world in a different way' JOANNA CANNON Find escape with the beautiful, moving literary debut from Sunday Times-bestselling author Alexandra Heminsley, a stunning story of sisterhood and wilderness. Clara Seymour is trying to find her feet in London, living away from home for the first time. Brought up by her domineering mother, treasuring time any time with her adoring father, Clara's world is brought to a standstill when her dad abruptly dies. Then, a mystery comes to light in a letter from him. I am sure you are aware that before I met your mother I had a previous marriage. But what we never discussed is that we had a daughter. So begins a journey of discovery that takes Clara to remote Norway and a landscape as brutal as it is bewitching, a voyage fraught with personal and emotional danger to reveal who her father really was - and find the sister she's never met.
We've all been there: one minute you're in a loving relationship, or maybe just on your third date with a guy who's not too weird, the next minute you've been dumped. Now you're a reject, choking back the sobs as you trundle home alone. If Dumped was a kingdom, Alexandra Heminsley would be its queen. She's been dumped in a restaurant, dumped in a stairwell, dumped in a graveyard - the locations changed but the excruciating pain stayed the same. Now in this intimate and witty memoir she shares her experiences, taking us on a laugh-out-loud journey from her initial helpless dejection to the rebound fling and several other failed relationships that finally set her on the road to recovery. She shares the insights she gathered along the way, from what heartbreak really does to your hormones to what he really means when he says, 'It's not you, it's me', as well as what not to do with your hair when you've been dumped. And, of course, the best ways to utilise the healing power of songs - after all, no one wants to get stuck in the Mary J. Blige Contemplative Stage for too long but woe betide the girl who attempts the Eurythmics' 'Thorn in My Side' too soon. Above all, Alexandra reveals the important truth she learns: that being dumped should not be a source of shame but should be a badge of honour. Because unless you're ready to risk all, you'll never find love.
Gedesillusioneerd door het krachthonk en het geyoga beu besloot Alexandra Heminsley te gaan hardlopen. Ze koesterde hoge verwachtingen: de billen van een atlete, de taille van een supermodel en de snelheid van een gazelle. De eerste poging verliep niet bepaald goed. Zes jaar later heeft ze op twee continenten vijf marathons gelopen. Haar vader zei het al: je loopt evenzeer met je hoofd als met je benen. En daarom is dit een boek over hardlopen dat niet alleen maar over hardlopen gaat. Voor iedereen die (na iets te vaak wijn en chips op de late avond) denkt dat-ie... misschien... wel wil gaan hardlopen (like a girl).
In her twenties, Alexandra Heminsley spent more time drinking white wine than she did in pursuit of athletic excellence. When she decided to take up running in her thirties, she had high hopes for a blissful runner's high and immediate physical transformation. After eating three slices of toast with honey and spending ninety minutes on iTunes creating the perfect playlist, she hit the streets--and failed miserably. The stories of her first runs turn the common notion that we are all "born to run" on its head--and exposes the truth about starting to run: it can be brutal. Running Like a Girl tells the story of getting beyond the brutal part, how Alexandra makes running a part of her life, and reaps the rewards: not just the obvious things, like weight loss, health, and glowing skin, but self-confidence and immeasurable daily pleasure, along with a new closeness to her father--a marathon runner--and her brother, with whom she ultimately runs her first marathon"--
We've all been there: one minute you're in a loving relationship, or maybe just on your third date with a guy who's not too weird, the next minute you've been dumped. Now you're a reject, choking back the sobs as you trundle home alone. If Dumped was a kingdom, Alexandra Heminsley would be its queen. She's been dumped in a restaurant, dumped in a stairwell, dumped in a graveyard - the locations changed but the excruciating pain stayed the same. Now in this intimate and witty memoir she shares her experiences, taking us on a laugh-out-loud journey from her initial helpless dejection to the rebound fling and several other failed relationships that finally set her on the road to recovery. She shares the insights she gathered along the way, from what heartbreak really does to your hormones to what he really means when he says, 'It's not you, it's me', as well as what not to do with your hair when you've been dumped. And, of course, the best ways to utilise the healing power of songs - after all, no one wants to get stuck in the Mary J. Blige Contemplative Stage for too long but woe betide the girl who attempts the Eurythmics' 'Thorn in My Side' too soon. Above all, Alexandra reveals the important truth she learns: that being dumped should not be a source of shame but should be a badge of honour. Because unless you're ready to risk all, you'll never find love.
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