Training tips, advice and race reports
Going for gold at the Midland Masters
After the ups and downs of the last 18 months it was great to finally get back to racing on the track. What better place to start than at the recent Midland Masters Championships at the Pingles Leisure Complex in Nuneaton. As well as racing myself, I also had two of...
Run Leader Workshops
The last few months have been busy online with a number of Run Leader workshops. In previous years these have been in person as we have taken the sessions around the country. Due to the restrictions caused by the pandemic we had to take the programme online for 2021....
Virtual 5k League winners decided
Just over five months ago I started working on an informal competition for the runners I work with. The idea was to have a bit of friendly competition while also giving people the challenge of improving their 5k times. However, when the first draft was mooted with the...
Which way now?
As we emerge cautiously from the lockdown and a period of what may have seemed to be running hibernation, a common question I am being asked is which way now? Before the 12 week lockdown many runners were emerging from winter training and looking forward to the warmer...
Keeping runners engaged during the Lockdown
Like many coaches I have been unable to work directly with runners during the lockdown period. However, my work continued from a distance guiding and supporting runners through their weekly training and assisting them to adjust within the constraints of the lockdown....
The challenges of keeping active
During these uncertain times, just the process of undertaking a run within the current restrictions may be problematic. Some people may live in an area where they can enjoy the spring air while keeping to the guidelines on social distancing while for others they may...
When you need to run watchless
So there I was recently running along a deserted seafront at Southport in driving rain and wind, battling against the elements when suddenly my gps watch decided to switch itself off. Obviously, I was not the only one who did not like the conditions. The point about...
Using a training diary
Do you keep a record of your training? If so in what in format does it take, written or electronically? There are many methods of recording training including Strava and my favourite, the old-fashioned method of pen and paper. After training record details about the...
Tactically sometimes you have to take a chance
When a run isn’t going as planned do you either: Pull it, slow the pace or make a tactical decision and do something radical that will either make or break the run? Recently during a marathon paced 11 mile run I chose the latter. By 4 miles I was over a minute off the...
Only worry about variables you have control over
When racing not everything always goes to plan the key is to settle down back into your running and regain focus on the desired outcome; not worrying about variables you have no control over. For example, I remember running a 10 mile race in Norfolk a couple of years...