The 24 hours leading up to a race have always been a stressful and anxious time for me. Have I remembered by running shoes? Did I pack my race number? Where did I put my timing chip? All this nervous energy is wasted energy that won't be put to good use where it matters: on [...]
A crisp autumn morning is good for two things, staying in bed admiring the blue sky from the comfort of under the duvet or heading to the park for a race. I chose the later of those two things on Saturday and took my legs (still wearing shorts) for a 5k in Brockwell Park.The ParkRun [...]
The days prior to a race should be spent resting up, drinking plenty of fluid and eating well. So that's what I did. I laid in bed for two whole days straight shivering, sweating and aching; ate handfuls of ibuprofen tablets; and drank plenty of Lemsip. I had a cold and the Saturday night prior [...]
Robin Hood Marathon 2011 Race Report Marathons don't accept excuses. There's no shortcuts and no miracles, you get what you deserve. That's the way I like it and that's why I walk away from Nottingham without my sub-4 time and accept my 4.17, if not happily, then graciously. Because I know, on this occasion, it wasn't on the cards [...]
"You're running how far?" Usually when people say this to me it's with an impressed sound to their voice and I like to do a little, inner, self-satisfied smile. "It's a half-marathon so 13.1 miles" or "A 10k, so about 6 miles" usually precedes this. Or once "It's a cross country so just a couple of miles [...]
Plan A for any runner is to make it to the start of their race well trained and at the peak of their fitness. Sometimes we have to settle for Plan B: make it to the start fit and well. Today was a Plan C kind of race day. Plan C being just make it [...]
If you had told me three years ago that I would run a marathon, enjoy it, plan to run another even quicker, join a running club and run at least four times a week I’d think you were the worst fortune teller ever and demand my money back. Strange as it may have sounded to [...]
When you've been overtaken while out running by someone three times your own age and two guys with one leg (these all happened to me on three seperate runs), you become pretty realistic about your talent as a runner. With a 10K time of 54mins and a marathon PB of 4.31, I'm very much a [...]
My number arrived for the Wimbledon 10K, number 54. It was very exciting, however on the reverse is a form to fill in with your medical details etc 'in case of emergency'. Reassuring!On Saturday I went out for a 5-mile run joined by me flatmate and nemesis. He has put in less training than me [...]