RUN 202 - 'Something' really is better than nothing

A short run, but totally worth it, you don't have to commit hours or multiple miles every time you step outside the door, so long as you keep getting out there, rain or shine, happy or sad. [1.02m – 10:48 – 10:34/mi]

[Fulham Bank of the Thames]

RUN 201 - I Run to eat!

The truth is i run to eat! (and drink) how fat and unhealthy might i be if i didn't run!!?? i often wonder that, and very often when running in the city, I'm confronted with sights like this!  I didn't stop to eat a Full Fryup, but i definitely cook one that night! [6.99m – 01:00:27 – 08:39/mi]

RUN 200 - Athens, birthplace of the Marathon

A pretty amazing run and view to mark my 200th blog post today! Not the longest of runs, but challenging nonetheless given the 270m climb up Lycabettus Hill to a beautiful little church, and a perfect view of the Acropolis and the Olympic Stadium.  To be in the birthplace of the Marathon is awe-inspiring, running races, training and meeting other runners on the road has exposed me to an untold number of amazing people, places and stories; who inspire each other.  The challenging of running is for us each to make of it what we choose; there will always be someone faster and stronger who i strive to be more like, motivating me to push myself, which in turn i hope can inspire others into discovering their potential too.

[Athens, Greece, the birthplace of the Marathon!]

RUN 199 - I really don't like treadmills, even if they're in Athens

When i started running again almost three years ago, during the Chicago winter, it was in a basement gym with my friends Nici & Melissa, on a treadmill... i really enjoyed it at first, and trained up to 13/14 miles on that machine! ... that's a long time to spend staring at a wall, that's when we started running outside, and i've not been on a treadmill since.  My running has become so much more that a get fit routine, so much more than the treadmill can give me... even if the view through the window is of the Athens city and mountains beyond.

[Treadmills, not for me anymore]

RUN 198 - Tube Strike #2

Second 24hr tube strike today, with a couple more to come in the next couple of months. Not that I'd notice other than the heavier pedestrian traffic on the streets. Not everyone can run ur cycle to work, either physically or geographically, but I do wonder what my limits are, I'm not the first, others have wondered much more than I ever will and achieved it too... If we don't ask ourselves these questions and challenge our own preconceptions of who we are, well never know what were capable of.

[Old Street]

RUN 197 - Running makes me richer

Running takes you places, obvious; yes... but what i mean is that take a typical day without a run and theres no comparison it to the variety of places and people I'm exposed to while running.  That's why i don't listen to music while running and i don't run in a gym, i want to see things, go places i wouldn't have otherwise... share them with a running partner, or share your stories with friends and family... it might be a small effort by comparison to others, but i know I'm richer for it.

[Stop and look, theres so much to see which we let pass by]

RUN 196 - Freedom & power

There is so much we rely on to 'survive' the lives we've created for ourselves, so much that were sure we can't live without, even those things which grind on us, take them away and we expect to suffer or fail.  Rise up and you might surprise yourself how little we really need to be happy, embrace those parts of life you have the power to take into your own hands (or feet!) and the freedom brings happiness with it.

[Chinatown]

RUN 195 - Running again

My running; and blogging (sorry!) routine has been right off recently, today marks the first step back to normal, it felt great to throw my gear on, run out the door and keep going as long as I had time for without tiring or pain.

[Low tide on the Thames]

RUN 194 - Race day anxiety

I love race day, the thrill of the challenge, looking forward to discovering how much I can achieve under the organized pressure against myself and other competitors. It's always an exciting morning, but slightly nervous too, and I'm certainly not the easiest person to be around at that time... Races start early and there's lots to do on those mornings. I'm massively fortunate to have people who love a d support me, and put up with my anxiousness, wish me well, then cheer me across the line, hours later. I can't thank you enough! My first  race in a month or more, (The inaugural Farnham Pilgrim Half Marathon) and my first run over 5 miles in a month since my back pain, I was extra anxious to say the least... I also didn't pick the easiest course to ease my way back in, multi terrain, lots of undulation, some bigger hills and lots of deep sandy bridal ways! My goal was to finish in under 2hrs which I did, and I placed 87 out of about 400, 35th in my age group, not bad all things considered...  and best of all, no back pain!

    [Running up that hill...]

    

RUN 193 - Pain free again in Malmo Sweden

A month on and only two visits to an Osteopath who could easily double as a David Brent impersonator, I find myself running along the southern Swedish coastline with an old friend and his son, with little to no discomfort in my back! The constant nagging pain I felt before which my muscles were tensing to protect has  past and loosened up.  The constant cut to the bone pain at the base of the spine which followed has past too, as if it had slowly migrated down and dropped right off! Good thing as my next race is in Sunday, a quiet little half marathon an hour outside London. I'll set a very steady pace and treat it like a recovery run, forget the time and just jog through to the finish. Without running I'm a less motivated, moodier, sadder person. I need it, and have promised myself to better prepare my body to ensure I keep on running...

[My running Swedish running coach]