Up and Running Great name. And back then still pretty original. My reasoning behind setting up my version of the early sweatshop was (1) There was an untapped demand for such a shop in West Kent (2) It would happen sooner or later anyway, and if anyone was going to do it, it was goingContinue reading "on the subject of…..a tale of two running gear shops (part two)"

The Sweatshop Olympic gold medalist and founder of the London Marathon, Chris Brasher was ahead of the curve in the late 1970s. He had opened a sports shop a few years earlier, but perhaps anticipating the running boom, it had become focused almost entirely on running gear. The first London Marathon in 1981 was aContinue reading "On the subject of…..a tale of two running gear shops (part one)"

It’s tempting to play this game in the last few days of the year; a look back on what’s just gone and to have a few thoughts about what lies in store in the New Year, but you can be excused from playing it this year if you’re feeling frazzled or fragile!  I’ll keep thisContinue reading "on the subject of…..looking back, looking forward."

I’m writing this sitting at my kitchen table, mid-evening, midweek, mid-December, contemplating the fact that I’m running twice tomorrow. The first run will be at around 6.30 am to get to work, then the same route in reverse at about 5.30 pm to get back again. So a big consideration for tomorrow is the weatherContinue reading "on the subject of…..whatever the weather!"

Sometimes when it’s cold, it’s raining and it’s dark outside, even the most committed among us might struggle to find the enthusiasm to get our gear on and step out for the training run we’d planned. When this situation arises ( as it quite often does ) there are usually two options: The first isContinue reading "on the subject of…..inspirational books"

I had always loved running anyway, but taking part in the 1981 London Marathon moved things to a different level for me. That was when I realised that this sport was going to play a large part in my life and it prompted me to start a diary to record all of my running, training,Continue reading "on the subject of…..the diary"

As we move into December and officially winter later this week, it seems a good moment to reflect on the seasons from a runner’s perspective. I’ve always been a country boy, so enjoying the different conditions that nature creates through the year comes naturally. But getting out there in your running gear is where youContinue reading "on the subject of…..the seasons"

"What a drag it is getting old" (to quote the Rolling Stones) Despite that sombre start, don’t be despondent, there are reasons to be cheerful !  Maybe there’s no getting away from the fact that aging isn’t a non-stop laugh, but all you can do is take care and make the best of what you’veContinue reading "on the subject of…..getting older and slower"

Having made our mark in the British Powerjog championships, unexpectedly we received an invitation to take part in a demonstration race at the 1984 London Marathon exhibition “pasta party”. I suspect that word had got around about this guy who had developed a new twist on being a human cannonball, using a treadmill rather thanContinue reading "on the subject of…..treadmills #2"

Although I don’t like running on them,  I’ve had a couple of entertaining incidents involving treadmills. The first was way back in 1983, when against my better judgment I went along with an idea to enter an event called the British Powerjog championships being advertised in Athletics Weekly. Our completely ill-prepared 3 man team travelledContinue reading "on the subject of…..treadmills #1"