Adam in Runderland

After a few weeks of discomfort in my lower left leg I finally managed to arrange an appointment with my physio. It was only six weeks ago that I was there asking about a problem with my upper right leg! The treatment and exercises prescribed soon sorted out my hip flexor strain and nerve damage and I was hoping for a equally fast recovery this time. The problem I've experienced has been a sharp pain down the inside of my shin bone. It seems worse when I am at rest than when I run and I have felt less confident planting my left leg causing me to overcompensate at times. I have applied the RICE technique but it has made very little difference. My fear has been that it may be a fracture which would be devastating. My next race is the Great North Run on the 7th September and I have resisted booking any further events unsure whether I will be fit to run. During August I continued to run with the aim of completing the challenge set by my running group of 100 miles and 1000 pre

Over the past year I have taken part in quite a few different events and run close to 1000 miles. Recently I was thinking about where and when I have run and trying to choose my favourite experiences. I thought I would share the top 10 with you. 10 - Night running.   9 - Park Run Christmas Day   8 - Lode Half Marathon   7 - Rock Solid OCR   6 - River Wye 5 - Shires & Spires Ultra My first Ultra Marathon took place just a few miles from home in the heart of the Shires. The 35 mile run took in the beautiful villages of north and west Northamptonshire. The weather was perfect, the scenery stunning and the race exhausting. It was a new experience to be able to stop and eat, to walk up hills and to chat to so many different people on the way around. Not only that but I finished in a pretty decent time too and was back for tea. 4 - Parklands Jog & Run Joining a group has kept me running. If I hadn't go involved with this motley crew I don't think I wou

This week I took part in my first OCR (Obstacle Course Races) training since June's Mud, Sweat and Beers event and I've got to say that it reminded me just how much fun these events are. The sessions are part of the Parklands Jog & Run group I attend on a Monday night. We met in Abington Park at 7:30 in the evening and began with a gentle warm up before the first session. This was relays with a partner involving one of the pair running up a slope and back while the other did continuous exercises. The first 3 minute set was press ups, then burpees followed by sit ups. By the end of this triplet I was feeling pretty knackered as we jogged over to the nearby stream for the muddy part. The park is hilly and slopes down into a gully which the stream runs through. As a result the ground surrounding it is quite wet and soft. There are a number of fallen trees, broken railings and branches to contend with as well as the slippy conditions. The course took us over fi

Over the past year I have taken part in quite a few different events and run close to 1000 miles. Lately I have been thinking about where and when I have run and trying to choose my favourite experiences. I thought I would share the top 10 with you. 10 - Night running During the summer a group of us from Parklands Jog & Run leave our houses just as others are settling in for the night. We venture out as the dusk descends and make our way to the prearranged location. When everyone is ready head torches are switched on and off we go into the darkness. Night running has been a fresh and fun experience for me. Following the bobbing circle of light into the unknown, surrounded only by the stillness and the crunching of gravel underfoot. We run for an hour, half an hour out and then turn around and retrace our steps. This allows people with different paces to take part and gives the security of other runners nearby. I'll usually manage 6-7 miles and return home tire

Parkrun is where it all began for me and remains a highlight of my week. These weekly timed 5K runs take place at parks up and down the country every Saturday morning at 9am. Teams of volunteers help to organise and steward the event to keep it free for all runners. ( www.parkrun.org.uk ) My local Parkrun is held at Northampton Racecourse. It's a flat course with only a couple of slight undulations meaning that visitors have a good chance of gaining a PB. The majority of distance is run on pavements although there is the option to use the grass if needed. The course is made up of one big lap and one slightly smaller one with the finish line located 50 yards into the park itself. Around 200-250 now take part each week with times ranging from 16-46 minutes. All ages and abilities take part and the atmosphere is friendly and fun with a competitive edge. See the route from the back of the lead bike here:  Lead Bike Cam I have now run 67 Parkruns but still find i

Marathon running is often used as an allegory for life. While it serves this purpose well I find that another distance is even more appropriate – the ultra marathon. This year I ran my first ultra, in fact I ran three in a month. The first was the 35 mile Shires and Spires followed a few weeks later by the Round the Isle of Wight race which consisted of 39 and 31 miles back to back over a weekend. During the hours I was jogging and the many more hours in ice baths and recovery I reflected on the lessons that could be learnt and applied to my life. The first was  We are not alone . This time I shall look at Enjoying the journey. 2. Enjoying the journey. The first time I ran a Marathon my goal was simply to finish. Since then I have always aimed to complete the distance in a certain time. In my head I know that I can go the distance but now it is all about how quickly I can get to the end. I have a time in my head - usually a PB - and I run with that goal in mind.  Enter