28th May 2025

This is getting serious

With the 10k now weeks behind me I've now started my training plan for the Great North Run in earnest - and the plan has already had me running 9k - with no crowds, no medal and no sausage bap afterwards! 

I'm using an app called Runna which, when it works out how you currently run, creates a custom training plan based on your abilities. Some days are easy runs, others include hills, some days have you sprinting, each week includes a long run.

I'm pleased to say training is going well. Next week I'm on holiday and you can tell Runna this, asking it to go a little easier on you. But once back from holiday it'll be full on training for the half marathon.

Thank you for everyone who has supported me up to this point - I really do appreciate it and it really helps with the motivation.

This week I ran wearing my Bowel Cancer UK TShirt. Bowel Cancer UK are the UK's leading charity for Bowel Cancer and they are determined to save lives and improve the quality of life for those affected by Bowel Cancer.  My wife Heather died of Stage 4 bowel cancer at the age of 35. Please help me help those affected by this cruel disease and consider donating here  - thanks! 

12th May 2025

Well that was fun!

Well, not all fun — a slightly sleepless night before the race, with thoughts that I'd come last, fall over, or pick up an injury, wasn’t ideal. But the day itself was great.

With 5,000 runners across the three events — 3k (kids), 10k, and half marathon — the start line was buzzing with energy. There were runners, affiliated charities (Red Sky were everywhere!), a compere in a loud suit, and a rock choir.

At 9:45, it was time to head to the start funnel with thousands of others. My stomach was doing somersaults with anticipation.

And then it was 10am and we were off into Sunderland. Damn — my training/pacing app hadn’t started properly! I needed it to make sure I didn’t run too fast and burn out. A quick fumble with my phone, pressing every button in sight, and it finally started working.

Within minutes, people who had gone out too fast were stopping without warning in front of me, and it took a few quick moves to avoid them.

But soon I found my stride. With the pacing app helping me stay at a manageable pace, I thought to myself, “I’ve got this.” But then came the hills. In the blazing sun, they were tough. I ran as much of them as I could, but, taking a cue from others around me, I chose to do a fast walk up the steepest parts instead.

The course itself was great — closed roads, with much of the route following the coastline. Water stops came at just the right times, though I need to learn how to take on water while running. Not quite as easy as you'd think (or I’d hoped!).

After crossing the Wearmouth Bridge for the second time and passing the 200m mark, I somehow still had energy left in the tank, so I “sprinted” to the finish — the photo of me running was taken during that sprint.

I finished with a chip time of 1 hour, 12 minutes, and 30 seconds. Although I was out of breath from the final push, I felt good. Now I want to go back and see if I can do it faster — maybe run up those hills or spend less time taking on water. My Pilates teacher finished in 59 minutes, so I’d love to see if I can do a sub-60-minute 10k at some point!

We — my super supporter Lynne and I — celebrated my finish with a bigger-than-usual sausage sandwich at the nearby Sheepfolds Stables, followed by a Homer Simpson doughnut.

For the next seven days, I have some planned recovery time, and then it’s full blast into training for the Great North Run. From 10k to 21k — in just a couple of weeks, I’ll be doing another 10k, though with fewer crowds and no doughnuts at the end — eek!

Thank you to everyone who has supported me with donations up to and following this point. No one told me that training to run distances like 10k (or more!) would be quite so hard, and your generosity really helps keep me motivated.

10k : 1:12:30 (PB) - (if 100 runners, I'd have finished 85th)

I ran the 10k for each of the three charities as you can see from my shirt. If you'd like to help me help them you can do so (and feel good by doing so) by donating here  - thanks! 

22nd April 2025

I didn't realise it had been so long!  

So apologies, if you've been reading this blog, that I've not written in a while. 

At the end of January/beginning of February I went out for a regular run, maybe a bit longer than my usual but everything went ok. Home ok, after a few hours I felt my back stiffen up and ouch it suddenly became painful to sit down or stand up.

A few visits to the physio later and I was diagnosed with IT band problems (ironic huh?) and I was recommended to rest, not that running would be that easy anyway.

Roll forward to a few weeks back and with the Sunderland Runs 10km looming I got back to it and everything seems to be going ok.

And I'm now up to 10 park runs (plus have volunteered twice).

Oh and we (myself and Lynne) have signed up for 10 weeks of Pilates to help improve our core muscles and get rid of back / hip pain. First lesson done and I hope we'll see results, engaging my core while running instead of using my back muscles (that really don't like it).

I'm now in the middle of training for the 10km with the Runna app and this morning did a 3.8 mile run (including 1km repeats). 

This week I'm running wearing my Willow T-Shirt. While Heather was on chemo Willow arranged a fantastic weekend away with afternoon tea and a West End show. a real rest bite and had her smiling for weeks, both before and after. If you're inspired by my attempts to go from watching telly on the couch to running a half marathon you can help spur me on by donating here  - thanks! 

7th December 2024

Almost at the end of C25k!  Who am I? 

After all the success of last week aches, pains and some rubbish weather (including ice and Storm Darragh) I only managed one run this week, albeit for 35 minutes.

This week I ran wearing my WAY Widowed and Young TShirt. WAY are an amazing organisation who support those widowed, married or not, before their 51st birthday. Although I didn't find WAY until I was two years into my "journey" I can honestly say that I don't know how I would have survived grief without them. If you'd like me to help me help them and many other widows please donate here  - thanks! 

24th November 2024

Almost at the end of C25k!  Who am I? 

This week the temperature plummeted to near zero with snow and ice and I almost almost considered not going for my early morning run on Tuesday. 

But wanting to complete C25K has really kicked in and I seem to have a mini addiction to running.

Each run this week was 28 minutes with the usual 5 minute warm up at the start and 5 minute cooldown at the end. Around 10 minutes in on each run I felt "I want to stop" but knowing I'd passed 10 minutes before kept me going.

On Saturday I had to forgo my usual park run as the four closest park runs got cancelled due to Storm Burt that was brining in heavy rain and strong winds.  

Instead we deferred our run until Sunday and ran along the coast at Roker followed by coffee and breakfast at Fausto's. Yumm! 

Next week is three 30 minute runs and the final week of C25K. 

This week I ran wearing my Willow T-Shirt. While Heather was on chemo Willow arranged a fantastic weekend away with afternoon tea and a West End show. a real rest bite and had her smiling for weeks, both before and after. If you're inspired by my attempts to go from watching telly on the couch to running a half marathon you can help spur me on by donating here  - thanks! 

9th November 2024

Into the sixth week of Couch to 5K and things are starting to get serious! 

The first run of the week was 5 mins, 8 mins and then 5 mins and should have been easy after a 20 minute run on Saturday - right? But nope, it was tough. I think I started with too much confidence, went out too fast and started aching before too long. I ended the second 8 mins with both my calves and shins screaming.

Trying to learn from this I went slightly slower on my second run which was two lots of 10 minute runs with a 3 minute cool down in the middle. Again, this was tough but before I started out I did some additional shin and calf stretching. It helped but I was still sore afterwards.

Still feeling sore on Friday night with the odd shot of pain from my shins I almost decided to opt out of my planned parkrun on Saturday but decided to do it just at a slower pace and while also trying to keep my average heart rate down. 

I managed to slow the pace and got my personal worst (opposite of personal best?) parkrun time (I've only done 3!) but I think my shins and calves thanked me. C25K demanded I ran for 25 minutes in one go. 

Again watch thought I'd only run for 4.7km so I ran a bit more to take it up to 5. 

Next week is three 25 minute runs. 

Parkrun time:  39:28 (PW)    Garmin time: 41:52

This week I ran wearing my Bowel Cancer UK TShirt. Bowel Cancer UK are the UK's leading charity for Bowel Cancer and they are determined to save lives and improve the quality of life for those affected by Bowel Cancer.  My wife Heather died of Stage 4 bowel cancer at the age of 35. Please help me help those affected by this cruel disease and consider donating here  - thanks! 

26th October 2024

I might be at the end of week four of C25K but who said I couldn't take part in a park run before the training is over?  Not me, so while in Ambleside for the weekend with Lynne we did just that. 

I didn't know quite what to expect but it was a really relaxed friendly thing to do. 

The race director stood on some step ladders, shouted a friendly welcome and the continued to explain the route and how to take part.  Not great at following directions at the best of times (especially early morning on a Saturday, time usually reserved for a lie in) I was soon a little lost and worried about losing my way. 

But before we knew it we were off the words "just follow the person in front" ringing in my ears. Not knowing what speed we'd do we started from the back jogging as if it was a usual weekday C25K run. 

What we didn't realise is all the people with dogs start at the back too and I almost went head over feet as one enthusiastic hound ran across my path followed by its short lead and owner close behind.

But I soon settled in and ran for about 8 minutes in one go, walked for a bit, than ran some more, the walked, ran, walked, and then ran to the end completing the 5km in 36m 58s.

Caught the bug now. Planning on my next one at the weekend to finish off week five of C25K where I have to run for 20 minutes in one go! 

Parkrun time:  36:58

This week I ran wearing my WAY Widowed and Young TShirt. WAY are an amazing organisation who support those widowed, married or not, before their 51st birthday. Although I didn't find WAY until I was two years into my "journey" I can honestly say that I don't know how I would have survived grief without them. If you'd like me to help me help them and many other widows please donate here  - thanks!