While the second attempt had been much more successful than the first, I still felt that with the right preparation, determination and fair share of luck, I could do it quicker. Putting such thoughts to the back of my mind for a couple of years, until in 2018 I suggested the idea of a thirdContinue reading "on the subject of…..the 3 peaks (part 3)"

After the complete hash we made of our first attempt at the 3 peaks in 2005, Andrew regarded it as a nightmare to which he'd never return. I regarded it as failure and unfinished business, to which I had to return.  But it was 10 years before I actually got round to it. In 2015Continue reading "on the subject of…..the 3 peaks (part 2)"

A trilogy in every sense!!! The national three peaks challenge is to climb the highest mountains in each of Scotland (Ben Nevis), England (Sca fell pike) and Wales (Mt Snowdon), with the necessary driving in between as a single event and to complete it within 24 hours. Many people attempt it as part of anContinue reading "on the subject of…..the 3 peaks (part 1)"

Just a brief update on progress towards running the Wealdway at the end of March. After a pretty depressed start to the year, a month ago I had almost given up on the Wealdway plan, and with the first flicker of interest only coming back to me on the last day of January, the pressureContinue reading "Wealdway 2021 – diary notes #2"

If you’re going to compete on a running track as an adult, ideally you need some ability and the courage to expose your abilities in an arena where there’s no place to hide. Whether you race well or are having a nightmare, spectators are witnessing it at close quarters. To do so when you haveContinue reading "on the subject of…..the track"

OK, I admit it. Having sentimental memories about long deceased running shoes is a bit weird, but I bet I’m not alone in looking back over the years and remembering shoes that were just so damned good you wished they’d last forever. When you’re making your decision about your next pair and preparing to handContinue reading "on the subject of…..running shoes – gettin’ sentimental…"

Last week I was trying to persuade you to get out into the countryside. If you are feeling tempted, but aren’t too familiar with what lies the other side of the hedgerow then the best idea is to pick up a copy of the Ordnance Survey map from the Explorer series, which covers your immediateContinue reading "on the subject of…..ordnance survey maps"

Sometime during 2020 the idea came to me to have some sort of revisit of my 1986 running the Wealdway end to end. I’m certain I don’t have the physical capability and definitely don’t have the inclination to put in the sort of mileage preparation that would be needed to tackle it as a oneContinue reading "Wealdway 2021 – diary notes"

Running doesn’t all have to be about “training”. And it definitely doesn’t all have to be on the road. The countryside is where much more fun can happen. Road and pavement is the right environment for when your session involves the need for outright speed or a quick tempo training run, as it gives consistencyContinue reading "on the subject of…..the countryside"

You’ll be very lucky if as a runner, you don’t go through the occasional bad patch. I hadn’t planned for this week’s post to be on that subject, but as I suddenly find myself struggling, with every run being slow, laboured and difficult, it feels like the right moment to consider why it happens andContinue reading "on the subject of…..a bad patch"