Fancy going on a transformative retreat, booking a race date or investing in planet-friendly activewear to kickstart your fitness journey? It’s all here!

ON YOUR MARKS

Avid runners will be donning compression socks and strapping on timing chips at a host of race dates this spring. The popular TTP Cambridge Half Marathon returns on Sunday, March 5, wending its way past historic landmarks and through the grounds of two iconic colleges. Cambridge Boundary Run presents an opportunity to navigate the outskirts of our scenic city on March 12, clocking up marathon or half-marathon distances, with plenty of encouragement en route.

Runners get to follow trails that criss-cross through nature in the Cambridge Cambourne 10k & Fun Run on April 2, ideal for new runners alongside more experienced athletes. And over in Bury St Edmunds, The Easter Challenge invites entrants to complete 5k, 10k, half, full or ultra-marathons along the Denham Flats, setting off from Suffolk Running Centre on Church Road. Participants have up to six hours to run, and can rest in between laps. Happy days!

FIT AND FUNKY

Need some inspiration to get back in the gym? Then feast your eyes on the latest F&F activewear collaboration with disabled influencer Clara Holmes, AKA Rollin Funky.

Think uplifting ditzy-print leggings, hot pink hoodies, azure body-sculpting co-ords and super-soft joggers, perfect for post work-out snuggling.

Clara, who has Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, was wheelchair-bound by the age of 25, and went on to set up her lifestyle blog, Rollin Funky to challenge stereotypes about black disabled women like herself. The inspiring influencer was signed to a model agency in 2017 – and has been the face of various fashion brands since. What an amazing role model.

F&F x @RollinFunky at Tesco stores

BUNNY GIRLS

See Angel Hill illuminated with a sea of dazzling pink bunny ears on March 4 as fundraisers set off on the Girls Night Out Walk, in aid of St Nicholas Hospice Care.

The annual event was due to take place last September, but was postponed to March as a mark of respect following the death of The Queen.

Pyjama-clad walkers will tackle either a six-mile or 11.2-mile circuit around Bury St Edmunds to raise money for the charity which supports those across West Suffolk and Thetford facing dying, caring, and grief.

Find out more at girlsnightoutwalk.co.uk

POSITIVE POSE

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Ground yourself and reconnect to the earth – whilst caring for the planet – by practising your yoga poses in eco-friendly kit on sustainable mats. The Positive Company carefully curates athleisure, wellness, beauty and fashion brands which are kind to the planet in their production. Our top picks are this Mandala yoga mat, £89, featuring a lotus flower (the symbol of enlightenment, purity, self-regeneration and birth), made from eco-friendly cork, plus these luxurious top and leggings combos made with ECONYL from sustainable brand Veom, £95.99 per set. Make your positive purchase at the positive.co

JOURNEYS WITH JILL

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Fancy getting away from it all – and really focusing on nurturing your body and mind? Jill Christiaens is offering exactly this on her latest transformational retreat at the luxurious Tofte Manor.

Jill, who is based in Duxford (and Portugal), will be joined by a host of professionals, who will lead activities including astrology, crystal healing meditation, Guided Labyrinth Experience, a past lives workshop, guided nature walks, and firepit ritual with ceremonial cacao.

“I've started running transformational running retreats because I love getting people together and providing them with new, life changing experiences!” enthuses Jill.

The retreat at Tofte Manor in Bedford takes place April 28 to 30 and costs £650 for double room occupancy, or £765 for single, with a percentage of the proceeds going to Jill’s cat neutering project in the Algarve.

More information at jillchristiaens.com

11 WAYS TO HELP

The statistics around ovarian cancer make for depressing reading; two thirds of women are diagnosed too late (when the cancer is harder to treat) and every day 11 women die.

So, why not do your bit this Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month by taking on challenges revolving around the figure 11? Join Run 11 at Hyde Park on March 26 to raise funds and awareness, or take part in Step 11, notching up 11,000 steps every day of March. If exercise isn’t your bag, maybe you’d prefer to participate in Rise 11, baking 11 cakes in March and getting your friends to fork out for a slice each.

Symptoms of Ovarian cancer include bloating, needing to wee more often and having no appetite or feeling full quickly after eating.

Find out more at targetovariancancer.org.uk