Adam in Runderland

This Saturday my running buddy John was wanting to achieve his first sub 20 minute parkrun. Last week he PB’d by 9 seconds coming home in 20:13. I agreed to help pace him and try and get us across the line with the clock still on 19 something. After a shorter warm up than usual we were fresh and ready to go at 9am. It was a cold morning, but dry and with only a gentle breeze coming down the hill towards us. We lined up at the front and set off at a good pace. After the first 200m we were sitting around 10 th place and keeping to our target pace of 6:20 miles. We managed to maintain this up the hill and focused on keeping a good cadence as we descended along the twisty path back towards the start/finish line. A mile in now and we were pushing hard but keeping a steady rhythm. I kept glancing at my watch to check our pace which continued to be consistently under 6:30. At the half way turn we had begun to close in on the people in front as they tired. It was tempting to try and surge...

I'm leading a Couch25K group at work and was pleased to have 10 people attend the first session today. Running has done so much for me physically, mentally, spiritually, emotionally and socially, and I want to share that with others. I know the NHS promoted programme gives a good basis for people to be introduced to running, and it is always more successful when people do it with a group to stay motivated. Before Christmas I floated the idea and had a positive reaction. To be honest I didn't expect everyone who said yes to go through with it so it was encouraging to see them all there today in new trainers and eager to start. We began with a five minute brisk walk from the office to the Bandstand on the seafront. Once there I gave a short pep talk and led them in some warm up exercises. We then began with a one minute jog along the Leas promenade in a westerly direction. At the end of sixty seconds I blew my whistle and we slowed to a walk for 90 seconds. When I blew...

Saturday morning is one of my favourite times of the week. Trainers on, Strava set and off I go for a whole morning of running, coffee and cake with my fellow Bald Monkey. This week we planned a long one and John had his mind set on a parkrun PB. I had planned a sneaky segment first thing to try and topple John from his throne and claim a Strava crown. As it happened, we managed to achieve all three of our goals over the course of 5 hours. I left the house at 7:30 fuelled up on porridge, blueberries, chia seeds, coffee and a banana smoothie. I’m making a big effort to fuel and hydrate properly this year, an area I have foolishly never really paid much attention to in the past. My first mile warmed me up and then I launched into a fast 1.8 mile loop which formed a Strava segment. I pushed hard right until the end and claimed top spot by over 2 minutes. It was a nice surprise to realise I had actually scored two crowns as I had also completed another segment within the one I w...

This year I'm looking to run a marathon every month, and what better way to start the challenge than tackling the first one on the first day of the year. A group called Saxons, Normans and Vikings Challenge arrange a number of marathons and ultra marathons in Kent and were staging one in Dymchurch a few miles down the coast. John, the other Bald Monkey, signed up with me. After a quiet New years Eve we were up and in the car by 7.30am and soon arrived in the small seaside town. It was a beautiful morning with clear skies and little wind but plenty of glorious sunshine sparkling on the calm sea. Oh, and it was cold. The start was located on the sea wall in the shelter of two concrete blocks. We received our numbers and greeted the other runners and race organisers. There was a very friendly atmosphere as we shared stories and compared experiences. Something about being together to run a marathon when most people were still in bed or nursing hangovers created a nice buzz and we we...