if I can do it, so can you (maybe)
The focus of this week was Trail Half Marathon Wales, a great event that takes place in the gorgeous Coed Y Brenin. I knew Max Nichols was going to be in my race. He has been running exceptionally well lately and has recently made the GB Mountain Running squad. Nonetheless, I decided to have a really good crack at beating him here. I recced the course three times in the week, and had my action plan fixed in my head.
View post to subscribe to site newsletter.
The world is distracted, and becoming increasingly more so. It is hard to decipher real news from fake. Find a measure that is never going to lie to you. Don’t measure by Strava or GPS, measure on something real. Testing yourself frequently in this way keeps you humble and hungry. That hurt. I have weaknesses. How could I do better?
That is what I want for my kids. For them to be in a position to have as many choices and opportunities as possible. Being fit and strong helps. Running a bit, every day, is the best single way of achieving that.
View post to subscribe to site newsletter.
I have just finished reading Running With The Buffaloes, which followed a team of university athletes for a season as they trained for the USA Cross Country team title (they came 3rd). I should have read this book years ago, as it has gone down in the running world as a cult classic. Reading it brought forward a stark contrast of memories for me, of my time living and training with an elite group of Kenyan athletes, as they trained for the World Cross Country team title (they came 1st). The difference between how the athletes and coach behaved are profound. I sometimes wish I wrote an account of it then, but, at the time I was fully immersed, and I wonder if the note taking and interviews would have changed the experience I had.
View post to subscribe to site newsletter.
I’ve read everyone else’s tips on how to ‘slay the dragon’. Here are mine. I haven’t seen these anywhere else, so hopefully they bring something new. Please forgive me if anything below sounds harsh. I will try to be as gentle as possible. The truth is, it is a harsh race, and there are some harsh realities that come with it…
View post to subscribe to site newsletter.
While I was learning Swahili in Kenya, I would take the opportunity to practise speaking with school kids that ran alongside me. They would be on their way to or from school, barefoot mostly. They had no idea that they were doing this mythical, legendary thing that the whole running world talks about. They were just a bit tired and wanted to get home for dinner. Sometimes they would run, sometimes they would walk. They were not training for the next Olympics, there was no plan, it was just a part of their daily life. Most of them would not grow up to be involved in running, or any other sport. But, being fit and strong enough, most could, if they had the opportunity.
That is what I want for my kids. For them to be in a position to have as many choices and opportunities as possible. Being fit and strong helps. Running a bit, every day, is the best single way of achieving that.
View post to subscribe to site newsletter.
If you look at my race results for 2019, it has been a disaster. No legit Personal Bests anywhere, two atrocious road marathons, 2 failures to make the GB team, and even a few DNFs (Did Not Finish) next to my name.
Thankfully, the results aren’t what I remember. Well, of course I remember them, but they are not as important to me as all the adventures I’ve had. It has been an incredible year for adventuring, both in running, in life, and in running life. Silly.
