Jog On...

Distance S IV Tech Specs COLOUR - White / Orange/ Yellow / Red WEIGHT - 204 g HEEL-TO-TOE DROP - 2.0mm INTENDED TESTING - Free run, sprint session, long runs SURFACE TESTED - Treadmill, Track & Road Thank you to the team at Newton for sending me a pair of Newton Distance S to test out and report back on how I got on. I moved to Newton stability running trainers back in 2012 and haven't looked back, I used to have big problems with my calf muscles but Newtons have really helped with sorting this problem. I said this in my last review but these trainers are great and they keep getting better, a better fit, better stability feel and they look great, Newton are always bringing out bright coloured trainers so you always get noticed. They are also reflective so its the little things that help you get seen at night when running in the late evenings. They are very quick to dry to so even if you wear them in the rain they will be dry for your next session, which helps a...

The past 13 weeks have been leading up to this race, I had learnt a lot from Brighton and I wanted to put in practise what I had changed from April. I was really looking forward to this this race.. Until 3 days previous I got hit with a stomach virus (and to save on details) I was sat on the white porcelain phone for most of the 72 hours pre race. Not a great start to my race day weekend, I drank lots of water to keep hydrated and went through my pre-race meals, along with some imodium to help me out, I woke up 05:00 Sunday morning as my wife was running the half marathon so it was an early start for me as my race didn't start till 10:00. I lied in bed, and nearly said I'm staying here, but I thought people run marathons with serious illnesses and I'm complaining about a stomach bug, man up and get out of bed and get into your running clothes.   We jumped in the car, an hours drive and we were soon parked up and walking to the start line, I waiting with my...

Well that's it I've done my training train, the past 12 weeks has finished... Was it hard, was it easy, was it long enough, was it focused in the right areas...? I ran Brighton Marathon in April, it was my 1st marathon "only" race, (I did Long Course weekend which was the Wales Marathon)  and I learned a lot from the day. The biggest lesson I learned is that it hurt, I wasn't conditioned enough for the race after 14 miles so the last 12 miles hurt... a lot! I could go out an run 8/10/12/14 miles with no issues and often my shortest runs would be in the 8-12 mile space. I needed to plan my time better, as this was the main reason I didn't get over the 14 mile marker as I had other commitments to the family, work etc, so when I entered my next marathon I knew I had to get the planning sorted. I did enter the Wales marathon but due to a family emergency 4 weeks out I knew I wouldn't get to the start line, so I took my foot off the gas and eased up on ...

I've gone an done it... I've entered ironman Wales 2016. It's something I've wanted to do since the 1st year in 2011, and with now the full support of my family I've gone and entered it at 15:04 (entries opened at 15:00 on Monday 14th September).. I was very keen... Fingers crossed I hit that red carpet next September before mid night. Roll on the 1st week of May as that's day 1 of the training plan (20 weeks) and it gives me 2 weeks off to rest after racing Brighton Marathon in April. YAY! I cant wait to start planning my 2016 season and it will all lead to my A race, Ironman Wales... I'll get printing out the year planner and attack it with some highlighters to plot the year. At least I'll have post September 2016 off which I'm sure I'll need! Now lets get planning!

Well where has 2015 gone, the year has gone lightening quick! I know most of my focus has been on training for marathons this year but I think I'll be happy for the break after Bournemouth marathon. I have pencilled in a off road race but I'll see how it works out in November. I'm currently in week 7 of 12 for my Bournemouth marathon training plan and I'm feeling fast im progressively putting out 6.30 / 7/ 8 minute mile pace on 8 mile runs which is great. Not sure this will help me on the 26.2 distance but the weekend long runs seem to be getting easier. I've had to reschedule how I train during the week now as I've changed jobs so a lot of the mid week session are on on new routes or the treadmill which could be worse, but I'm also tried to track my cals in/out which is hard when your eating in restaurants 3/4 nights a week. I've entered Brighton half again to get a new PB it was a great race, so I wanted to go back and my wife wanted to run...

The day arrived after 18 weeks of "sort of" committed training since Christmas week I was race ready, I could have been in better shape but its been a long 18 weeks, and by the end of the race I could tell I could have done that little bit more. We (me and my wife) arrived in Brighton on the Saturday, collected our race packs, did a little bit of shopping in the expo and ended getting my name printed on my shirt, if I ever needed support it was going to be at mile 16+... so I got this done.. I didn't want to hang around to long on my feet on Saturday so did the social "hellos and hows sales going" with my mates at Runbreeze & 2XU and then off to check in at the Premier Inn in Crawley. (which was about 25 minutes away) I decided to get out of the hussle and bussle of 16000 athletes and not have to worry about parking fees and queueing all night for a restaurant table. It also was far cheaper than staying in Brighton too. I slept great for...

2014 is now well and truly over and 2015 is here.. What does this mean for me.. well not Ironman Wales.. which is gutting for me but there is always next year. I've decided on running marathons this year and so far I've entered Brighton, Edinburgh, The Wales Marathon and there is room for 1 more at the moment and its still to be decided. I'll report back one the plans have been firmed up..