“A Coventry Way” (Unofficial) Ultra

“A Coventry Way” is a 40 mile route circumnavigating the city of Coventry. Although you’re never more than 5 miles or so from the city centre, the large majority of the route is off-road and passes through mainly agricultural land in Warwickshire and Solihull. A couple of friends had completed the route and having lived

Normal is no Longer the Norm: Covid-19

It’s been 4 months since my last race – and subsequently my last post. The world has changed. The Covid-19 outbreak has been a global pandemic which has threatened our health and lifestyle choices; causing so much fear, stress and anxiety to many. The norm is no longer normal and daily routines are non existent.

Running Review of 2019

In reflection, 2019 has been by far the most successful, rewarding and challenging year since I started this running journey back in 2015. It’s been a year of personal achievements and milestones as well as having it’s fair share of tears, injuries and mental health issues. Running has turned from an addiction into a lifestyle

Post-Race Blues and Stuggling to find my Mojo

It’s been two weeks since I completed Lakes in a Day and I’ve done very little in terms of running. In all honesty, I’ve struggled with fatigue and illness but more worryingly, I seemed to have lost my mojo. It’s not uncommon, I know I’ve felt like this post marathon or milestone run before. It

Lakes in a Day

It was 07:59 and I was standing at the start line for the Lakes in a Day 2019 ultramarathon. Everyone around me looked nervous, it felt unnervingly quiet and I felt sick to the stomach. What lay ahead was a 50 mile race from Caldbeck to Cartmel covering the length of the Lake District from

Additional Kit, Nutrition and the Final Long Run

Week 19 – Taper Phase w/c 23.09.2019 Recommended mileage: 14 milesActual mileage: 28.1 miles I’d booked Monday and Tuesday off work. Ruth was away in the Lake District, enjoying a relaxing week at Centre Parcs whilst I got to spend some quality time with Thomas whilst James and Oliver were at school. It also gave

Sports Massage, Stretches and a Last Minute Half Marathon

Week 18 – Peak Phase w/c 16.09.2019 Recommended mileage: 60 milesActual mileage: 35.2 miles On paper, this was to be the toughest week of the training programme. The final ‘Peak Session’ with a recommended mileage of 60 miles, after which, I would start to taper. I woke up Monday morning feeling exhausted. The boys had

Trailffest Half Marathon

About to board the train to the start line What a brilliant race! The Trailffest Half Marathon is billed as ‘one of the most scenic you could hope to run, with dramatic changes of scenery and terrain the whole way to the finish line’, I wouldn’t disagree. Everything about this race, from the steam train

Working Away, Night Running and a Return to the Malverns…

Week 17 – Peak Phase w/c 09.09.2019 Recommended mileage: 55 milesActual mileage: 40.3 miles I was fortunate enough to be working in Cornwall this week but only managed to get in a couple of runs due to work commitments. Both were circular coastal runs; one from Cardis Bay to Hayle and the other slightly further

Navigation Training and a LiaD Recce

Week 16 – Peak Phase w/c 02.09.2019 Recommended mileage: 50 milesActual mileage: 48.8 miles Monday came around fairly quickly. Ruth and I were at the Moseley Folk Festival all day Saturday and Sunday was spent tobogganing for Oliver’s birthday – I still can’t believe he’s 5! I’d rested the knee somewhat in terms of running

Post Holiday Blues and Another Injury Scare

Week 15 – Build Phase w/c 26.08.2019 Recommended mileage: 40 milesActual mileage: 21 miles I’m aware that I’ve not posted for a couple of weeks but I’ve just returned from a 2-week family holiday on the Isle of Wight and went on a social media sabbatical; which was just what I needed! I’ve learnt not

The Isle of Wight Half Marathon 2019

The Isle of Wight Half Marathon is organised by Ryde Harriers and is best described as an undulating, two-lap, scenic race held on hard packed farm tracks and bridleways. It attracts over 250 runners made up from local running clubs and tourists alike. The event is held in August and starts and finishes in Appley

Rest, Recovery and Aching Limbs

Week 12 – Build Phase w/c 06.08.2019 Recommended mileage: 40 milesActual mileage:  3.4 miles I did it! I ran the length of the River Tees, from it’s source in Durham to the sea in Redcar. 92 miles! Yes, 92 MILES!  I’m still buzzing. I’m still overwhelmed. I’m still in pain. My feet are in bits,

Working Away and Weekend Camping

Week 10 – Build Phase w/c 22.07.2019 Recommended mileage: 40 milesActual mileage: 17.9 miles Work took me to East Anglia on Monday. I’d based myself in a quaint little B&B in the historic village of Weston Longville, just outside Norwich. The B&B was situated above a family restaurant and country inn; which would prove to

Canals, Country Lanes and Calorie Counting

Week 9 – Build Phase w/c 15.07.2019 Recommended mileage: 35 milesActual mileage: 35.4 miles The week started with a trip to physio. Rehab had been going well. I’d been strict on myself with the exercise program, doing them religiously 2-3 times a day and I felt there were definite signs of improvement over the past

A Welcome Return to Running

Week 7 – Build Phasew/c 01.07.2019 Recommended mileage: 35 milesActual mileage: 9 miles Monday started with a trip to the physio and in all honesty, I was feeling slightly apprehensive. The swelling had gone down but both the ankle and the lower calf still felt tight. I had the first appointment of the day and

Turbo Training and Swimming in Circles

Week 6 – Base Trainingw/c 24.06.2019 I finally got the all clear to drive and returned back to work on Monday. I’d been confined to the home office for the past two weeks and it was a relief to get out of the office, visit some customers and not be stuck behind a desk. I

Let the Training Plan Commence…

Week 1 – Base Trainingw/c 20.05.2019 Recommended mileage: 20 milesActual mileage: 43.1 miles Well, the first week of training didn’t necessarily go to plan so not the best start !?!  In exceeding my recommended mileage and not doing any strength work (which I’ve no doubt will be the hardest regime to stick to) is not

The Training Plan

I’ve always been meticulous and methodical when it comes to keeping a training diary. I don’t necessarily follow a plan of such, but I do like to keep a note of all the runs I do and be mindful of my weekly mileage. Since I ran my first marathon in 2016, I’ve recorded all of

The Next Challenge…

So why LiaD?   I turned 40 this year and had been thinking of a new challenge for quite some time. Something that would push me to my limits, something that would fill me with fear like a marathon used to do. I’m not saying its the norm now not to get a little nervous or

Introduction…

So, I, like thousands of other like-minded people have decided to start a blog to record my running journey. Not for self gratification (Ok, that maybe a small part of it) but hopefully so that one day my kids will read this and be inspired to do something similar.  7 years ago I could barely