For the last 20 years over one weekend in May, 40 teams of runners have taken part in an amazing event organised by The Stragglers Running Club called the Green Belt Relay. There are 22 stages and 11 runners per team, which means that each runner has to run a leg of the relay on … Continue reading Multi-Day Running – Green Belt Relay
Early in 2016, my big sister (affectionately referred to as the Little Big Sis, being of the vertically challenged persuasion), happened to mention that she and her family were seriously considering getting a pet dog, and as such she would need to put some effort into getting fitter to keep up with it. Initially she … Continue reading Sister Act – the Eagles 10k
Being the sensible person he is, my coach put me on a 5 week recovery plan after Rome. At first I embraced this but I’ve been struggling recently with a slight dip in my running mojo. I think this is largely based around two things; I don’t have as structured a framework as I did … Continue reading Life After Maratona – Post Marathon Blues
With all the usual caveats about not being anything like official advice, having only done this once and therefore definitely not being an expert, and only being what seemed to work for me; if you are thinking of signing up for the classic distance for the first time, there are a few things to consider. … Continue reading First Marathon Advice
A few people have asked me about the process of running Rome, since its less well known than choices like Paris or Amsterdam. Here is my practical advice about the Rome marathon. • It is a pain in the arse to apply to. You have to register to the online portal either with an affiliated … Continue reading Maratona di Roma Practicalities
And so to Rome! We flew out on the Friday and headed straight to the Expo to avoid the day-before madness of the Saturday. Number duly collected, race T shirt personalised, we headed back to Colosseo station purely so I could grin widely and not quite hold in the tears at the magnificence of the … Continue reading Maratona Di Roma 2016
March got off to a bang with a couple of good days of pain free training ahead of my first ever 20 mile event, which was the superbly friendly and excellently well stocked goody bag-ed Thames Riverside 20 organised by the Clapham Chasers. The conditions, organisation, and marshalling of this event were all brilliant, which … Continue reading Marathon Training – March
So, not shin splints. Halfway through February, a Saturday long run following a pre-Valentines night on the tiles in unsuitable shoes caused a minor disaster to strike. Heading for lunch after an uneventful 16 mile pootle I went to put on my favourite Converse and OUCH! Major pain in the outside of my right foot, … Continue reading Marathon Training – February
Training started well. I cruised through the weeks’ long runs up to the half marathon distance. As I’d now done 8 half marathons I already knew I could run 13 miles…or could I? At the end of week 3 I was midway through a 13 mile long run, and to entertain myself after my radio … Continue reading Marathon Training – January
The next stage of the journey was an unexpected joy. A few weeks before EHM we decided to join our local running club, the Ealing Eagles. This was partly because I wanted to make sure I kept going after EHM on 27th September and build up a firm base before starting my marathon training. However, … Continue reading Getting Started – Flying with the Eagles
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