Dominique Fish

🦌 Reindeer Run Training Update: Week 5 and Getting Creative!

I’m now officially on week 5 of Couch to 5K as I build up to December’s RNLI Reindeer Run and I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I’m actually enjoying running now. Who knew?!

The challenge is to move 24 miles throughout December, and it doesn’t all need to be done in one go. On our team call this morning we were chatting about how I might tackle it and got onto the idea of mixing things up…

Sure, I could run all 24 miles, but where’s the festive fun in that?

We joked about doing a mile running, a mile walking, a mile hopping, a mile skipping…and suddenly this challenge has taken on a whole new level of imagination.

So now I’m thinking… why not get creative? Movement is movement, after all!

Here are some ideas we came up with:

✅ One mile running (classic)
✅ One mile walking (still counts!)
✅ One mile skipping (festive energy required)
✅ One mile hopping (may regret this one!)

And here are a few extra ideas I’m tempted to add…

✨ Reindeer-prancing a mile (antlers encouraged)
🧣 Cosy winter stomp with a hot chocolate halfway
🎶 One mile dance-walk to Christmas songs
🐶 ‘Walk the dog and get dragged up hills’ mile
🧑‍🎄 Santa-shuffling in a Christmas jumper
🌊 Beach walk in true RNLI style: mud, sand, salty hair, optional wave to passing lifeboats!
📦 ‘Carrying all the Christmas shopping’ mile (also known as resistance training)

If you’ve got any hilarious or creative suggestions, send them my way - the sillier the better.

I’m doing this to raise money for the RNLI, whose crews drop everything to save lives at sea. Your support really does make a difference. If you can donate, share my page, or even just cheer me on, it genuinely means so much.

My Reindeer Run Challenge

If you’d told me a few months ago that I’d be running a mile a day, I probably would’ve laughed. I’ve never been a runner, in fact, I’ve always hated running. But recently I decided it was time to do something about my fitness, so I started the couch to 5k programme.

What started as a gentle attempt to get moving has somehow turned into a full-blown addiction; my Fitbit has even started warning me that I’m overtraining 😅

So, when my colleagues started talking about the RNLI Reindeer Run, it felt like the perfect next challenge. I’m proud to work for the RNLI and see first-hand the incredible work our crews and volunteers do to save lives at sea. Taking part in this event feels like a great way to combine my personal goal with something that supports a cause I truly believe in.

Every penny raised will help fund the RNLI’s vital work; from the kit that keeps our crews safe, to the training that ensures they can launch in any conditions.

If you can spare a donation, big or small, I’d be so grateful for your support. It’ll help keep me motivated as I tackle this challenge (and probably help justify all the extra snacks I’ll need afterwards too!).

Thank you for supporting me and for supporting the RNLI. 💛