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December is a month of extremes isn’t it? There’s the volatile weather. The temptation of eating to excess. The bedlam of booze. It’s a month that can really challenge a runner, an athlete, to stay on the right path. It’s actually OK not to be wholly monastic in your life and diet. People can get […]
I am always up for trying something new. In 2018 I have tried watching reality TV. It was awful. I gave some new training sessions a go. Loved them. I have tried moving to a vegetarian diet. The jury is out. The point is in order to improve as an athlete I need to find […]
I’ve been thinking about this a lot recently. There’s been so much going on in life, work and sport that I have had to become adept at not getting sucked into moments. And you know what, it’s been incredibly liberating and helped settle my mind significantly. Now, that doesn’t mean I am caring less. It […]
We are deep into the winter running season now in Scotland. The ultra-calendar being a 12 month thing these days, it’s hard to see this as the “off season” but for me it is. After 3x 100 mile+ efforts this year – amongst other events – I enjoyed backing off a bit to recharge both […]
When a wee gem of a race resides on your doorstep you just have to get involved. The Tom Robb Memorial Race is in its second year and I couldn’t make the 2016 edition for reasons I can’t recall. The RD is Moira Paterson and the race is in memory of her dad who went […]
It’s nearly a week since the IAU 24 Hour World Championships. I am over it, honest. I really am. Wednesday morning striding (with a Billy Connolly narrated NCP car parking attendant limp) the two miles to work was the first time I’d be truly alone with my thoughts and the enormity of what I had […]
By now most people who will read this will already be aware that I dropped part way through the IAU 24 Hour World Championships in Belfast. It hurts physically, mentally and emotionally. I won’t deny that. I am pretty philosophical about it all. And outwardly that is how I am presenting it. But, I also […]
In the midst of training for the 24 Hour World Champs I felt that doing a sharpener in May would be useful. It’s been over three long months since Rocky Raccoon, and even if these races were to be taper-free, peak week efforts, I would still prepare mentally and nutritionally the same as I would […]
Three weeks ago today – almost to the minute as I type this (given the time difference) – I was just about to start the Rocky Raccoon 100 in Texas. That day went pretty well, and since then I have had a few podcasts, web interviews and a couple of other wee things to do […]
“Ma da’ says you’ve to run your heart out…” Those were the last words said to me by Cookie on the course. It was around mile 93 at the Damnation aid station where he’d stood all day. The instruction was simple in words but tough in body. But, an immediate sense of urgency washed over […]
