Jessica Downey
Jessica is an experienced fitness writer with a passion for running. Her love for keeping fit and fueling her body with healthy and enjoyable food quite naturally led her to write about all things fitness and health-related. If she isn’t out testing the latest fitness products such as the latest running shoe or yoga mat for reviewing then she can be found writing news and features on the best ways to build strength, active aging, female health, and anything in between. Before then she had a small stint writing in local news, has also written for Runners World UK (print and digital), and gained experience with global content marketing agency, Cedar Communications.
Born and raised in Scotland, Jessica is a massive fan of exercising and keeping active outdoors. When at home she can be found running by the sea, swimming in it, or up a mountain. This continued as she studied and trained to become a PPA-accredited magazine journalist in Wales. And since working and living in London, she splits her time between weight training in the gym, trying new fitness classes, and finding scenic running routes. Jessica enjoys documenting this on her fitness-inspired Instagram page @jessrunshere where she loves engaging with like-minded fitness junkies.
She is a big fan of healthy cooking and loves learning more about this area with expert nutritionists she has met over the years. Jessica is a big advocate for building healthy relationships with food rather than building restrictive attitudes towards it. When she isn’t eating or running she also enjoys practicing yoga in her free time as it helps her to unwind and benefits her performance in other sports.
Latest articles by Jessica Downey
I tried this 6-minute mobility routine as soon as I woke up instead of hitting the snooze button — here's what happened
By Jessica Downey published
I don’t always feel like working out as soon as I wake up so I tried completing a six minute mobility routine instead. Here’s what happened.
What to eat before a marathon according to an endurance sports nutritionist
By Jessica Downey published
Endurance sports nutritionist, James LeBaigue, shares when you should start adjusting your diet before a marathon and how best to do it.
How to track your sleep with a Garmin watch
By Jessica Downey published
If you want to get a better night's rest, learning how to track your sleep with a Garmin wearable can offer actionable insights to improve your sleep.
Forget barbells — you need just 1 dumbbell and 6 moves to build bigger glutes
By Jessica Downey last updated
You don't need big fancy gym equipment to build glute muscle, a pair of dumbbells will do the job. Here's how.
Forget sit-ups — this 5-move Pilates routine sculpts your core in just 7 minutes
By Jessica Downey last updated
This Pilates workout uses 5 exercises to strengthen the core and requires no equipment. Just roll out a mat and you're good to go!
Forget the gym — chisel your upper body with just a kettlebell and 5 exercises
By Jessica Downey published
Build upper body muscle with just 1 kettlebell and 5 moves.
Forget squats — this 20-minute dumbbell workout strengthens your lower body in just 4 moves
By Jessica Downey published
Four dumbbell moves to build a stronger lower body — and they don't involve squats.
I’ve been training with electrolytes for the past year — here’s how it’s made me a better runner
By Jessica Downey published
Why do runners take electrolytes? Our fitness writer decided to put training with electrolytes to the test for a year
You don’t need the gym to build a stronger core and upper body — just a pair of dumbbells and 6 moves
By Jessica Downey published
This six-move routine will strengthen your core and upper body muscles with just a set of dumbbells
What is Zone 2 training?
By Jessica Downey published
Zone 2 is one of five heart rate zones you can enter when exercising. But what does this mean for your fitness and how can you benefit from zone 2 training?
Forget the gym — this yoga-inspired workout builds a stronger core and arms in just 5 moves
By Jessica Downey published
This yoga-style workout is a great way to strengthen your arms and core without weights.
7 ways to become a better treadmill runner according to a Peloton Tread instructor
By Jessica Downey published
Peloton Instructor Jermain Johnson shares seven top tips for becoming a better treadmill runner.
Forget crunches — these 5 standing dumbbell exercises build stronger abs
By Jessica Downey published
This all standing workout strengthens your core without any planks or crunches. You just need a pair of dumbbells!
Forget the gym — you just need a pair of dumbbells and 6 exercises to build lower body muscle
By Jessica Downey published
This minimal equipment workout will help to strengthen your lower body and build muscle in your legs and glutes.
You don’t need the gym to build upper body muscle — just 8 exercises and a set of dumbbells
By Jessica Downey published
This eight move workout is designed to build and strengthen muscle, and all you need is a set of dumbbell to train with.
You don’t need crunches to build a stronger core — just 10 minutes and 5 exercises
By Jessica Downey published
The ideal core workout for when you're short on time.
Forget the gym — you just need a pair of dumbbells and 6 exercises to build full-body muscle
By Jessica Downey published
This workout simply uses your body weight and a pair of dumbbells to build and strengthen muscle all over.
I boosted my exercise recovery with heat and cold therapy — here’s what happened
By Jessica Downey published
Heat and cold therapy is rising in popularity, boasting various physical and mental health benefits. Our writer gave it a go, here's what she found.
I use these 5 strength exercises for runners to boost my training and avoid injury
By Jessica Downey published
Our writer who is in the thick of marathon training swears by these five strength exercises. Here's why they benefit her running.
I tried a 15-minute wall Pilates workout — here are my honest thoughts
By Jessica Downey published
Working with a wall in Pilates adds both stability and resistance to your training, and it’s free. But does it offer a good workout? Our writer put it to the test.
Forget the gym — you just need a pair of dumbbells and 5 exercises to sculpt your shoulders
By Jessica Downey published
Strengthen your upper body with this five exercise shoulder pump — grab some dumbbells and you're good to go.
Forget weights — this bodyweight workout strengthens your abs in just 7 moves
By Jessica Downey published
This equipment-free workout helps strengthen your midsection, improve your posture, and build your abs, all without a dumbbell in sight.
You don't need weights to build a stronger core, just this 4-move bodyweight workout
By Jessica Downey published
This short routine works your midsection with three rounds of bodyweight exercise for building a stronger and more defined core.