Struggling with running goals? Be kind to yourself…

Are you finding that time is quickly passing you by and that you are struggling to find the motivation to achieve the New Year goals you set yourself only a few weeks ago? I know I am and talking with friends, family and colleagues, many of us are feeling flat as one day washes into […]

7 benefits of running every day for a year

Today, I ran 5 miles to complete my first year’s run-streak, running at least a mile a day every day for 365 consecutive days and I plan to continue this daily rhythm throughout 2021. When this run-streak started, none of us had any idea what a life changing year lay ahead. Whichever country is your […]

Lyme’s Disease, Running and Sparkle!

Well my wife, Melissa says I’m getting my sparkle back and this week I started to feel a bit of bounce back in my stride. So, there is progress! For those of you not familiar with the effects of Lyme’s disease, it can be very debilitating with the bacteria hiding in points of inflammation in […]

Superfit @ 50: no more ultra-running for a while …..!?

It has been a while since my last post during which I mentioned that my Lyme’s disease seemed to be causing a problem with my right hip. A visit to the doctor followed by an x-ray revealed that the cartilage in my hip was thin with that my left hip looking a little better; the […]

Running and exercise during a prolonged fast

I’ve been considering a three-day fast for some time now. Extended fasts have been credited with a range of potential health benefits, including ‘resetting’ the immune system. Although the scientific jury is still out in terms of credible research studies, anecdotally fasting is thought to have helped people over generations to refresh systems in the […]

Unexpected health update #2: Trail running & Lyme Disease

According to the NHS, Lyme Disease is a ‘bacterial infection that can be spread to humans by infected ticks. It’s usually easier to treat if diagnosed early… In the UK, ticks that may cause Lyme Disease are found all over the UK, but high-risk areas include grassy and wooded areas in southern England, and the […]

Running through the unexpected: Ultrarunning and epilepsy

Life isn’t without its surprises – good and bad. I haven’t published a post on here for over a month due to something unexpected that happened back at the start of June. One of those ‘big’ health events, it’s got me thinking about what it means for the things I love, including ultrarunning. Together with […]

Ever felt like just a yardstick for someone else’s progress?

This week, a running client shared her frustrations at feeling used by her friend (a stronger runner) as a yardstick. They always seemed to go one better, to run a bit further or a bit faster. It got me thinking about how we think about ourselves in relation to other runners… You can’t change how […]

Lockdown, cross-training and ultra-running: using this time as a runner

The current lockdown restrictions have got us all rethinking the way we live. As an ultra-runner and an ultra coach with XNRG, I’m keen to apply an ‘endurance mindset’ to life’s challenges, and this is no different. It’s got me mulling over how runners – of all levels, speeds and distances – can use this […]

Marathon to ultra – is it all about distance training?

With spring and summer marathons cancelled, it’s given us all more time to reflect on training for distance races – so here’s what I’ve learnt from running marathons (and beyond into ultras). My first marathon was the Marathon du Mont St Michel some 20 years ago. At the time, I would have described myself as […]