This year I had one clear goal: run a sub four and a half hour marathon. I missed it by eleven minutes. I failed. It was one of the reasons it took me so long to put the Queenstown Marathon story up on the blog because it was my final marathon of the year and … Continue reading I Failed.
Sometimes in life you have to take that leap of faith. A metaphorical stumble into the unknown, blindingly hoping. As I stood on the edge of a bridge in New Zealand about to take a literal leap, with nothing but bungee rope to stop me from plunging to my death, I couldn’t help but think … Continue reading Leap of Faith – My Queenstown Marathon
Much like Rome, a marathon isn’t built in one day. It is built upon hundreds of days, hundreds of miles. Yet, while it might not be built in one day it sure can be tested in one day. My training began in January and it has consisted of a few months of slowly building my … Continue reading All Roads Lead to the Rome Marathon
People ask why I prefer to run alone. The simple answer I usually give is that I prefer the quiet. The truth is somewhat different. The fact is I don't run alone, so to speak. I have tended, of late, to run with myself. To question where I've come from and where I'm going. I run … Continue reading Miles and Memories
One week down, three to go.... The first week has not been a normal week to put it lightly so comparing how my running is being affected is difficult. During the week I moved house; days of loading up boxes, cars and trailers combined with swearing at furniture and shouting "PIVOT" swallowed up most of my … Continue reading A Runners Diet – Week One
To say 2016 was the best year of my life would be a huge understatement. I ran marathons, travelled the world and ticked off a lot of bucket list entries along the way. From eating at Ike's sandwich place in San Francisco to sipping port in Lisbon and every incredible experience in between. The music … Continue reading MY 2016 – 12 SONGS, 12 MONTHS
At it's cruelest I never thought this year would end and yet as it drew to a close I found myself wishing it would carry on forever. Unlike most of the planet, 2016 has been the best year of my life. It ushered a completely new start for me and while I already had so much planned … Continue reading 2016….
Two weekends on the bounce I ran races. The Athens Marathon followed by the Conwy Half Marathon. This meant that not only was I incredibly knackered and wobbly after that week but also it gave me the idea of comparing my experiences with running 13.1 vs 26.2. It also lets me off the hook for … Continue reading The differences between a Half Marathon and a Marathon. Apart from the obvious.
Week One - Denial. To begin with I told myself, the doctor and the physio that it wasn’t that bad. That it was only muscle pain. That the deep, lasting pain in my foot was nothing but a scratch. With only a week until I was meant to be running a marathon I simply couldn’t … Continue reading The Five Weeks of being an Injured Runner
I was once told, when I was living in India, that the key to life is when you are forced to take a step back it is only so you can appeciate how far you have already come. The day after Cheltenham Half Marathon I was forced, unwillingly, to try and apprecaite how far I … Continue reading Highs and Lows
