fitness

10k

Snowdon Twilight Race

russellsays

Snowdon Twilight is an uphill only race on Snowdon. It starts on a Friday night to avoid the crowds. When I arrived, more than a few people talked to me like I had already won. I wasn’t so sure. Gavin Roberts was on the start line, he has been running very well recently and is a member of the current Welsh team. I knew he would be my main competition.
I was not feeling confident in my mountain ascent. It is a tricky skill to get the hang of, where the line between fine and f**ked is very thin. I let Gavin lead the way with the game plan of kicking on when we entered the final km…

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 10k

Trail Half Marathon Wales

russellsays

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.

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 10k

Make Love To The Measure

russellsays

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.

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 10k

The Alpha Male Tale

russellsays

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.

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 10k

Transition Week™

russellsays

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.

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