You got to dig a little deeper

[col1]

Sorry about your back. I have successfully run (and BQ'ed) marathons on plans that do 3x/week, so it can be done. Granted, that plan didn't have 2 days in a row. But I think if you schedule the runs appropriately, you would be fine. Meaning, don't do speed work the day before your long run, e.g.

Thank you it’s getting better only about 40% as painful I would say much easier to get around.

That’s encouraging to hear on the 3 day plans and I will keep the workout days and long run days separate.

I have uploaded a 3 day plan to my Garmin and will follow that. If I can get through it and the winter without losing any of the gains over last few months I will be happy.

 

[col1]

2025 Review

Just a brief look back over the highs and lows of 2025.

Year started of well with a few months of regular training and steady weight loss leading up to Blackpool Half in April, unfortunately it ended in a DNF at the 10k point.

Looking back it was clear at the time I had trained and was fit enough to complete it albeit in a time that would have been my slowest to date but I just was not ready mentally at that point for a variety of reasons.



Did not do too much running through June, July and August just a combination of getting my head back in the game and quite a few trip for Concerts and my Daughters Wedding on the Isle of Skye.

In July I registered for Regents Park 10k. Training for that went well and shortly before the run in November I headed to the local Park run during Pacers week to try and get below 30 mins which I managed to do. That was a boost going into the 10k.

I had set time goals but they were based on the Garmin training and race predictions from the 5k.

Main goal was to finish no matter what and to just run how i felt and just take the result I got.

I managed to do that and really enjoyed myself although in last couple of
Miles I was feeling good so pushed hard.

I also managed 100 miles in October, only the 2nd time since 2003 when I began running that I have done that so it felt good

I started my 6 month contract immediately after and running has been almost non existent. The combination of long commute and long days with no WFH has saw me struggle with tiredness and my diet has been poor with a regain of 7lbs in 8 weeks.

The job is pretty brutal, it’s fix everything everywhere all at once in a place that’s been neglected for years and not much support.

One thing it has taught me is despite making my career in the rail industry taking on things like this, following my 18 months away it’s not for me anymore I truly am not enjoying it at all, however 86 working days left and it’s back to retirement and the earnings will be a holiday fund with one of the trips hopefully being WDW Marathon Weekend 2028.

I will be working in coming months to refocus on continuing the weight loss and trying to get 2 runs each weekend to keep some level of running fitness. Probably won’t now try for the Half on 1st of March but will do some park runs for time and train through the Summer for a fall half and possible Sub 2 attempt.

Thanks for reading and I hope 2026 brings sees all our running dreams come true.

 

[col1]

Hey everybody

February already not long until spring !!

Congratulations to everyone who ran WDW marathon weekend or Disneyland weekend hope you all had a blast.

Running wise been a bit of a bust so far with 5.1 miles for January

Did 3 miles on the 3rd of Jan and then came down with an awful cold, I felt so bad I got a Covid test but was negative, was enough to have to take a day off work.

It left me with a really annoying cough that I couldn’t shift which meant sleep was an issue, it took about 2 weeks to get rid off it.

To try and combat the mega commute I have occasionally been booking a hotel for a couple of nights nearer work and my DW stays too.

So on the 20th I booked 2 nights in York Monday to Wednesday and made sure hotel had a gym I planned to run before work both days nothing crazy just 30 mins before work plus what I could do at weekend would give me 4 days for the week then try and build on that. Managed it ok day 1 but day 2 just didn’t leave enough time.

On the Wednesday my left knee was hurting, it generally goes one of 2 days , it either improves after 48 hrs or it goes full blown and it’s there for weeks. This time it had faded by Thursday but I did notice some pain in my right heel on the Friday morning turned out it was PF which I still have initially I could hardly walk on it , it’s faded now to just a faint discomfort so I’m hoping maybe by weekend a short run walk may be possible.

I’m not to worried as I don’t have a lot of time to run with work and I have nothing planned in terms of races, main focus is I and now over half way through this contract (only 11 Mondays left ) so would like to have some sort of base by then just about 10 miles a week or so just so when better weather is here I can hopefully train for something in the fall.

Have a great week everyone

Col

 

[col1]

Hey everyone

Still no running but PF has improved a lot only minor discomfort when walking but still not confident in a run will see how it is by the weekend.

There has been a new Half Marathon announced near me which is exciting that now give 3 options a year within a 15 minute drive I just need to get round to running one of them

The new one takes place on 31st of May so thinking it would be possible to train for it I just need to be realistic as where I am just now and limited time to train for next 10 weeks though the whole of May I will have unlimited time. I’ll see how it goes

One of the other local ones is late September so that is definitely on my Calander.

In other news booked a trip to New York for end of April for 5 days so excited, we have only been before for a day as pet of a transatlantic cruise so excited to have more time to see and do more.

I have been saving up my Virgin Atlantic air mikes for last couple of years so caged them in to fly Business Class on way out and Premium coming home, still more than I have ever paid for seat but about 30% of the full price.

Excited to see all the sights and hopefully a run in Central Park.

One think I am glad of is spring is near, I went out on Saturday to walk the Dog with my DW and it’s the first blue sky day in weeks , I go to work in the dark and get home in the dark and weather has been wet and grey.

I enjoyed it very much and it does remind me how good running and getting out daily is for both my physical and mental wellbeing.

Have a great week everyone

Col

 

[jmasgat]

I have been saving up my Virgin Atlantic air mikes for last couple of years so caged them in to fly Business Class on way out and Premium coming home, still more than I have ever paid for seat but about 30% of the full price.

Virgin Upper Class has always been one of my favorite ways to fly. The crew is generally awesome, although last August my plane was definitely an older one and showing wear. You’re probably not flying out of London, right? That Clubhouse is my favorite lounge, and once I did the whole “drive up to the private Upper Class wing”. It was luxe! The killer for VA (and all British flights) is the taxes. Even with miles it’s pretty awful. But enjoy! Right now my credit card is offering a 40% mileage bonus for point transfers. Wish I could take advantage of that, but too much going on.

 

[The Expert]

That Clubhouse is my favorite lounge, and once I did the whole “drive up to the private Upper Class wing”.

One million times THIS! Do it if you can as it's the full VIP experience.

 

[col1]

Virgin Upper Class has always been one of my favorite ways to fly. The crew is generally awesome, although last August my plane was definitely an older one and showing wear. You’re probably not flying out of London, right? That Clubhouse is my favorite lounge, and once I did the whole “drive up to the private Upper Class wing”. It was luxe! The killer for VA (and all British flights) is the taxes. Even with miles it’s pretty awful. But enjoy! Right now my credit card is offering a 40% mileage bonus for point transfers. Wish I could take advantage of that, but too much going on.

The incentives in terms of points earned and rewards are not as good as in the US so take longer to build up a decent amount.

Yes we are flying from Heathrow, is only about a 2hr 30 minute train journey from where we live. We will be getting an uber so we can do the drive up

 

[col1]

One million times THIS! Do it if you can as it's the full VIP experience.

We are so excited for this we have watch too many you tube videos of it now.

Need to get our hotel booked next !

 

[col1]

Hi everyone

Following my last update the PF came back and has lingered.

It has been painful to walk and will come and go regardless of not running. Over the last few weeks it has taken a turn for the better, I have been doing stretching exercises, using theragun, massage ball, ibuprofen gels and I have Insoles/otrthics for my shoes. The insoles are not custom but they are the ones recommended by the NHS.

Given the fact that the issue is not as a direct result of running and comes and goes regardless and that it has been much improved to a 1 out of 10 on discomfort scale I went for my first run in 8 weeks and only my 4th for the year.

I have to say it felt fantastic, sun was shining, I took it easy and ran for 30 minutes covering 2.4 miles. On getting up this morning I would say that discomfort is maybe a 2 out of 10 so I will take that. Back at work today so no more running until Friday when I am working from home.

On the work front I was due to finish this contract on 30th of April. I have been asked to extend another 6 months which I agreed to as it would be much more WFH post May so less 5hr commutes and more opportunity to get back to regular running if my body cooperates

However what I am working on now I am not particularly enjoying and I need to decide if I wish to remain involved, probably that will be clearer over next couple of weeks.

I am hoping I can stay healthy enough to be able to go for a run in Central Park in a couple weeks time that’s the goal I am staying in Midtown and I am close to the South entrance to the park, not sure whether to run from Hotel (The Gotham) and run around the South end or get an uber to an entrance further North and run round the lake. It would be 5 miles to run up to lake and round it then back which I don’t think I would be able if tackle just now, any advice appreciated.

I must say regarding goals and race times I know many of us have them and it’s a good motivation but when you can’t run for an extended period and are able to get back out it’s the best feeling , I enjoyed yesterday’s 30mins so much.

We had a weekend away for my Birthday and at the hotel we were staying at the crew and competitors from Giants live one of the Strongmen completions were staying there. If you watch Worlds Strongest you may be familiar with Gavin Bolton from Wales who has been in the finals. He got in the lift with us OMG !! Also my wife observed at breakfast one of the mornings he had 12 fried eggs on his plate

Hope everyone has a great week and those doing SS have an amazing time at the weekend.

 

[jmasgat]

Glad to hear the PF is getting better, albeit slowly. I get you on the simple pleasure of just being able to go for even a short run. The times I have come back from injury, I have had the same feeling…..even if it was in the dead of winter with cold and snow!

Hope the job decision becomes clearer for you. And have a great time on your trip.

 

[RuntheMouse]

Hang in there with the PF! I struggled off and on for what seemed like forever and then it just oddly got better and hasn’t give me trouble since!