Monthly Archives: July 2025

07.23.25
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Happy Runnerversary To Me!


My Running Is Now A Teenager, Does That Make Me A Runner Yet?

I started running in June 2012, but yesterday marked the 13th anniversary of my first ever official event, which was the Great North 10k in Gateshead (England, for all of you confused right now). I was asked after the race if I now thought of myself as a runner, and I said I didn’t, but I’m sure I will one day. I’d only been running a month and to be a runner you have to commit long term, compete in multiple races, and be fast, don’t you?

I’d started running as an aid to weight loss and because of the motivation I got watching the Lanzarote Ironman Triathlon (that’s in Lanzarote!). My entire aim was to train for, and finish, the Great North Run Half Marathon which takes place each year in Newcastle (still England). That was happening in September for me and so I’d entered the above 10k because I’d been told it would be a good idea to get a few races done before the big one.

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As you can see from the picture, I didn’t really have a clue. I didn’t have shorts I had longs, and I had not one but TWO bottles with me, water and an energy drink. Plus that dopey looking expression? Ah no wait I still have that.

The 10k went fine (original race report is HERE) and although I was new to the sport, and the day went well, I remember being a bit disappointed with my time of 1hr 8mins. So no, going back to the first paragraph, I didn’t see myself as a runner, not yet anyway.

I went on to finish the Great North Run in a respectable(ish) time (for a new runner) of 2hr 38mins. “Do you feel like a runner now that you’ve done a half marathon?” Not really, no. But I’m sure I will one day.

So the next obvious question was “when are you going to run a marathon?” Never. No thank you! I’d absolutely zero intention of running 26.2 miles. The 13.1 were hard enough! If I was carrying on with running I was going to stick to the 10k distance. Then January came around (as it does every year) and my friend Rob told me he’d entered Blackpool marathon that April. 12 weeks away. On the VERY SAME DAY it was announced that Yorkshire was starting it’s own marathon in October in my favourite city in the world, York. So, sensibly for someone that didn’t like doing a half marathon and said they’d never run a full, I signed up to both. Did I think of myself as a runner, signing up to a 26.2? No, but maybe one day after I’d ticked one off I would.

Between then and now I’ve done (so far) 16 full marathons. I’ve done Blackpool, London, Las Vegas, and Edinburgh (twice). More smugly, I’m one of about 30 people that have run every Yorkshire Marathon since it started in 2013, a total of 11 and counting. (#12 is in October, already signed up of course).

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I’ve run about 12 half marathons, a few 5k races, and… roughly… 70 10k races. Somewhere in the last 13 years of running people started asking me for advice (and they listened to it! Fools) and I got known as “that guy at work that runs, not just runs, but runs marathons.” I’ve got about 100 medals, somewhere in the region of 80 finisher shirts, and a few nice (ONE nice) race photos. So now when people ask if I think of myself a runner I can honestly answer… “Not really, no.”

But I’m sure I will one day.

07.20.25
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Mid To Late July Update


Because I can’t always think of a decent blog title…

Another two weeks of July has gone by (that’s three in total!) and August is fast approaching. That’s good in some ways (got the Scottish 10k in August) and slightly worrying in others (when it’s August there’s only two months until the Yorkshire Marathon) but I can only do what I can do and you know what? I’m doing quite well.

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First week of July was recapped (here!) and I’m chuffed to say that I’ve stuck to it for the next couple week. Healthy eating has stayed with me, and I’ve been out and about with plenty of running. Got a bit daft and ran home after a 12hr night shift too just to make sure I was on track.

I’ve been having a mixture of meals but been including a load of veg/salad in place of the slightly less healthy stuff. Still been having the odd slice of pizza and a burger (separate meals) but made sure that the other stuff on the plate was extra healthy.

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I’ve run eight times in the last two weeks which brings my total of runs for July to 11 so far. Next week will take a hit though, it’s the school holidays here and as a single parent that means that I won’t be able to just nip out for a few miles. Going to try get my boy out on his scooter (weather permitting) and so I’ll be able to do a bit of jogging alongside him. He’s only six, so probably won’t be doing a massive effort.

The week after I’ve got family visiting so the healthy eating will take a slight knock, as will the no alcohol streak. As of today I’m 21 days alcohol free which wasn’t entirely intended, it’s just been a nice aside to the watching what I eat and run commuting home. Hoping for decent weather, it’s been a mix in Scotland this month of sunny days, rainy days, and fog.

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Other than that, just got to keep on keeping on and let the miles add up. On yesterdays run I started to notice a difference, much longer between walking breaks and more pushing myself up the hills. Tomorrow is a rest day, and so tonight is a (VERY) uphill five miles, then home to collapse.

If you’ve got a running/health blog, add a comment and I’ll get following. Same for instagram, drop your @ or follow mine (clicky here) and let’s get some motivation sent!

See you on the start line?

07.07.25
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15 Weeks And Counting To Yorkshire Marathon


Comes Around Quicker Every Year!

As the title says, it’s 15 weeks until Yorkshire Marathon 2025. Time to get planning, time to get serious, time to get training (he says at this time, every year…!) Here’s my first week of July recap:

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I’m week one into my 16 week training plan already to be fair, and its going well so far. Had a good solid week of healthy healthy with my food intake and pretty much stayed aware from (what I call) boredom munching. Trying to get my brain to take a moment and have a think when I’m wanting a snack. “Am I actually hungry or am I just a bit bored?” Nine times outta ten the answer is “just a bit bored.” I think that being a bit more aware of when and why I’m snacking is doing wonders to cut down on said snacking. (SO far).

I’ve had zero alcohol this week (or this month so far!) and my meals have all been mostly healthy (apart from the Friday night cheat meal from the fish n chip shop but that was WELL earned).

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On the fitness side I’ve been out for three runs so far in July (three out of six days is a decent start) and while I’m not burning up the local routes, I’m keeping consistent with it. According to my stats I’m averaging a little over 12,000 steps a day which is decent enough too.

The runs have been a two mile, a four mile, and a 3.1 mile (5k). I’m still settling in to my new house and the new area but it’s giving me a nice way to explore the new roads around where we live and finding some nice new routes to run along.

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As for races I’ve not done an official one since the Edinburgh half back in May due to picking up an injury in that run. I took a few weeks to recover and have just signed up to the Scottish 10k in August, and the Stirling 10k in September. The first is nice and local and the second is about an hour away, both nice and flat. Then after that it’s the big one, back to Yorkshire for the marathon for the 12th time!

My new mantra for when I’m running is:

“If you want to do well, keep doing what you’re doing. If you want to do great, push yourself harder”

Other than that I’ll be back to regular updates as my marathon training season progresses and I’ll see you at a start line, or if you’re insta-savvy I’m at Run Hemingway Run (original name I know…)