From runner to ULTRA runner

31/10/2023

I’m attending a conference this week in Bristol. It’s not a place I know and I do like going for a run in a new place, I always think it’s a good way of exploring. I’m glad I did tonight, as I ran by this commemoration to Mr Plimsoll.
Who else wore Plimsolls for gym at school?
I did not know they got their name from the safety line on a ship. Now I do.

29/10/2023

I really enjoyed the last weekend. It's a good course, which takes place on the old World War 2 runway. The tarmac course has a very gentle slope to it, which you repeat because the 10km is two laps of 5km each. Using the sloping terrain and the windsock you can be tactical to measure effort and run well using the conditions.
I also like that you can see the whole event, from first runner to last runner, so it is a really fun social run that means you can support one another as you pass up and down the runway twice.
The weather was just about perfect, being sunny, cool, dry and with just a gentle wind blowing down the slope of the runway.
With a measured effort running "up" and then really letting the legs open on the way back down, it made for a nice fast day out.
I thoroughly enjoyed running the event with Claire, my wife. You can see in the finish photo how she has her eyes closed, gritting it out to the line, feet both of the floor as she flies home to not only finish her last event of the year with a lifetime best, but she also finished third in her age group. Well run Claire, and everyone who was out enjoying themselves.

21/10/2023

I haven’t been posting much this year because I haven’t been feeling that I’m running at my best. I know it’s all relative. So, I’m sharing this to show the contrast with the celebration posts of when everything is going great. I hope that even just one person is inspired to keep going, even if you’re doing it less than perfect, just feel pleased that you did it anyway.

25/02/2023

Top work from a terrific crewing team today.
To help prepare for the 24-hour track race coming up in April, we went to Samphire Hoe today for a 6-hour Saxons, Vikings & Normans Marathons & Running Challenges event to have a practice at running and crewing.
A few lessons learned around nutrition and pacing, but my team were awesome.
I am also well chuffed with some great PBs.
I’m working with my own coach from the Centurion Running coaching team. We’re focusing on my distance for the Crawley 24-hour, but we’re working on making me faster too.
Very happy with some PBs and a convincing first place. Great result.

28/01/2023

Back at the track again today. Working on form to run easier and more efficiently, to get the body working well for the 24 hours. It’s easy to fall into habits that don’t always necessarily serve you the best. I like the meditation of running and being able to scan through the body. I’ve found that being on the track and away from the distractions of trail running leaves no excuses, just pure running and time to focus.

17/01/2023

Great to finish a progression run session this evening and be rewarded by Garmin with the message ‘new VO2 max recorded’.
You don’t need to be the best, if you’re working towards being better than you were this time last year, you’re winning.
Keep at it.

15/01/2023

I often talk with people about training specificity when prepping for events.
Well, after signing up for a track race, and having never run on a track before, I had my first session today.
Obviously, very different to being on the trails, but it was great to be challenging myself to something new. 24-hours on the track really will be a challenge.
Getting the right coach is really important and for this I have signed up with Centurion Running for their one to one coaching. It’s great to be working with Sarah Cameron, who definitely knows plenty about what it’ll take. It’s great to be able to talk plant based nutrition with her too.
Keep at it everyone. Persistence and progression.

12/01/2023

I love being challenged like this and I’ve missed it a lot. Great group of people that I can’t recommend enough.

Tough endurance workout tonight for our bootcamp team. Awesome effort everyone and see you next week!

09/01/2023

Some of the local cross country routes are tough going after all the rain lately.