What would it take?
The last few weeks have been really interesting. For a whole host of reasons I have managed to get out either cycling or running almost every day. This is a return of mojo like I have never experienced before. I must confess that for the last couple of…
Maintaining not training
Training (ˈtreɪnɪŋ/) is defined as the action of undertaking a course of exercise and diet in preparation for a sporting event and I have recently realised that I am not training. Not that I don’t have a sporting event lined up – I do – but I am…
The London marathon: finishers, fans and their stories
What is the London marathon, really? Is it a test of physical preparedness? Or a chance for people to show that they are mentally tough enough to deal with the training required to run 26.2 miles? Maybe it is a great way to honour a relative that has…
Two’s company, three’s a crowd and more is better…
I have certainly written before that I think that training with other people – whether that is one training partner or as a group – is really crucial for me. I can’t imagine how many times I have finished a training session with one or more other people…
Gone to seed or laying fallow?
I was recently talking to my friend and fellow Chaser, Tom Craggs, a coach and personal trainer who is quickly developing a reputation as one of the top running coaches in the UK. Tom and I ran the Berlin marathon together, literally in stride, back when a sub-3…
The death and rebirth of the London Marathon Store
My passion for running is like a Russian doll. Let me explain: In general, I love running. Within that I am really passionate about endurance running. Moreover my real passion is for road running and within that, my particular predilection is for road marathons. At the very heart…
Nike Free 5.0+ review
The people at Nike recently sent me a pair of the new Nike Free 5.0+ to review. Having always had Nike Frees in my ‘collection’ of shoes, I was interested in trying them. But I must admit that I have bought Nike Frees in the past as a…
Virgin London Marathon 2014 entry opens… and slams the door on some GFA runners
After the excitement and razzamatazz of the London marathon, there follows a somewhat unsightly scramble for places the following year. There is a ballot system in place which is capped at 125,000 entries. Once this is reached the ballot entry closes – and that usually takes a few…
My review of the 2013 Virgin London Marathon – a case of risk and reward
Going right back to when – and why – I started running in the first place, control was a big issue. I had lost control of my life, with my health, wealth and happiness all seemingly being managed by a greater and more malevolent force than I could…
The Simple (Simon) Guide to Racing a Marathon – Part four: Psychology
The final post in this mini-series is all about the head. Race day can be stressful and whilst I think that a degree of nerves can be a good thing, I want to keep it under control. And control is what I focus on. Control the things you…