I’ve just booked my airport parking which can only mean one thing. I’m off for another round of international parkrun.

Tourism normally invokes thoughts and images of exotic travel. And this weekend I will travel to a new country ( albeit for barely 36 hours). But more importantly this kind of tourism is all about the parkrun. Nearly 40 parkruns in total and counting as we reach the month of December. And it all started on the salt flats of Maldon, Essex on a cold and misty January morning.

2023 has all been about a spot of tourism. Not your usual sort of tourism – no airport lounges, interesting food choices, or long bus journeys across windswept tundra.

11 months on and parkrun ( which is a free 5k run on a Saturday morning) has taken me to new places, to meet new faces, all sharing the same experience of running for fun.

I’ve yet to tot up the total miles travelled in pursuit of the alphabet challenge, becoming a Bee Gee, nailing stopwatch bingo and making progress against Namely. But every Saturday when the alarm goes off ( the earliest being 1.30am) I know I’m about to embark on a little adventure.

It’s not David Attenborough stylee but finding the car park, searching for the toilets and sniffing out the post run coffee are the simple joys that make parkrun tourism so enjoyable.

It’s not about your best performances, instead it’s about finding your tribe and being part of the community – even if that’s only for 30 minutes ( give or take a few).

So why is parkrun tourism so compelling.

Because it’s about the people first and foremost. It’s about exploring new towns and villages you would not normally consider worthy of a visit. It’s about the anticipation of the parkrun ‘ping’ ( this is how you get your weekly result).

I’ve been lucky enough to run in some awesome places across Europe and American and if that all has to end because of age or injury I know I can still look forward to my Saturday mornings and the chance to grab first place in my age category.

Long live parkrun – we love you more than you know.

So theory goes to grow you need to push yourself out of your comfort zone. And as a PT professionally I’m helping my clients do just that.

However, personally it can be too easy to ignore my own advice – repeat the same run at the same pace, lift the same weights with the same reps.

So I’ve done something stupid/brave/dumb/challenging/life-changing *delete as appropriate. Until last week I didn’t really know what competitive fitness was but I do now.

And the reason is because I went and signed up to take part in my first HYROX race. A race where you run and then do some burpees, you run and then throw a ball against a wall (100 times), you run and then do some squats and about 90 minutes later you die a sweaty mess.

As an experienced runner and running coach I know strength training will make you a faster, more efficient runner. And guess what? I don’t do enough strength training. So after an autumn race calendar where I under-performed it felt right that I needed to do something different.

Remember Einstein’s theory of madness – keep doing the same things and expect different results. I definitely ticked the madness box.

In five months time I will join several thousand other athletes ‘compete’ to prove how fit I am. I describe it loosely as competing because I just want to finish ( and hope no one else in my age category even enters to get an age-related podium finish)

In reality the real aim is to be more consistent in my training, to measure success differently , and to make new friends in a new sport.

I’ve no idea how to go about scoping and planning my training. I’ve no idea how to balance more intense training with life. I’ve no idea whether I will be able to cope with running less and lifting more. I’ve no idea what shorts to wear…. okay this last point is probably not a dealbreaker but if you look sharp it may help impress the judges with my sled push.

I’m nervous and excited in equal measures. But most importantly I will be out of my comfort zone. So I’m going to try and document this journey in writing and visually so I can share the highs and lows, the bumps and barriers , the tears of joy and frustration, and see how I grow in the process.

So watch this space. Just please don’t judge me on my pathetic number of burpees ( for now).

So that’s the long BH weekend done and dusted and packed away until August. Since January my focus has been on churning out those training miles for 2 marathons a month apart so this weekend it was nice to do it all a bit differently ( although it still involved road trips and races 🤣🤦🏻🤣).

First up – a shorter race , the awesome Hatfield Broad Oak 10k . This was one of my first ever races and remains a firm favourite. It’s a picturesque course , just enough of a challenge and a great race day atmosphere becuase it is embedded into the community.

Next up a park run – nothing unusual there. But this weekend ie Jubilee meant a drive to Hampshire Queen Elizabeth Country Park. This year has all been about parkrun tourism , leaving PBs and age ratings at home, and instead getting out and visiting new places and new experiences (but always with post run coffee☕️).

And then on Sunday a brand new experience as shadow Race Director at the Medway 10k. Course set up, traffic marshalling, cheer squad duties and everything else that goes on to make local races happen. I love being able to give something back on days like this.

So in the space of just over 72 hours I had a number of different experiences – all linked to my love of running.

It doesn’t have to be a marathon major to make your day- get out and look in different places and find some new adventures

Today is 1st May 2023 and four months into the year is time to reflect ( as I sit by the pool – made it away for a sun-kissed break in Majorca).

In those four months I have landed not one but two new roles in the running / fitness sector. I’ve run over 650 miles in preparation for 2 spring marathons, and been involved in some extreme park run ( day trip to Dublin to run 5k with a load of running buddies from the UK).

Now some things have been neglected – the house is still waiting for a paint, I’ve missed a far few episodes of the weekly running podcast I help co-host ( The Long Run ) and I keep threatening to sit down and write a few more chapters of my book – it’s been nearly 2 years to get to 5000 words.

But the scorecard is definitely in the positive column. New people met, new places visited and new experiences to reflect on.

Got some interesting decisions to make over the coming weeks and months. Freelance has its issues but it also comes with more control and freedoms to drive your own destiny. It’s not the safe option but it’s the more satisfying way, right?

I know I can coach, I know I can motivate, I know I can engage but do I have the drive to be my most important sales person?

It’s a skills set I’ve never really had to acquire or develop. And it feels a place I’m not comfortable in. But having said that 2 years ago I was uncomfortable about starting the journey to become a personal trainer. So I’ve got to give myself the chance to learn ( and fail) . The issue is it becomes another potentially selfish decision – one that puts my needs first, over and above those I love and care about.

But you only have one shot at this life…. Don’t live with regrets for not trying.

So I think I’ve made a decision…..

Title of this post says it all……

So completed day 3 of my Gym Instructor course. It’s been long days, hard work, loads of information which has all combined to make it challenging, both physically and mentally.

I’m learning loads and learning I don’t know even more. Now that should’t surprise me or anyone really. I’m not a natural ‘gym bunny’ – in fact I don’t think I ever lifted a dumbbell in anger until summer 2020 ie it was a Covid ‘project’ to take a bit more ownership of my health.

Fast forward nearly a year and starting with that little inkling of ‘ could I ‘ I’m now just hours away from testing myself, and more importantly someone else assessing me, to see if the answer is ‘yes you can’.

Which brings me to the title of this blog post – imposter syndrome.

Something is nagging away telling me this is all wrong – why would someone come to me for help and advice, why would they trust me with their future well-being when less than 5 years ago I didn’t care about me.

And I guess part of the answer, no maybe all of the answer is because I didn’t , then I did, then I did something about it and now I want to pay it forward a little.

The imposter syndrome plays into this in the sense that I feel I’m not quite deserving to be given that trust and responsibility by potential future clients. And it’s something that’s played out previously.

A few years ago I really enjoyed, and I mean really enjoyed my cooking. Would spend hours preparing wonderful 3 and 4 course meals for friends and family and wait for the praise to roll in over the washing up. And then the thought occurred could I make this a career.

What held me back was the recognition that asking people to pay creates a contract that brings with it financial reward but also responsibility. And with a limited, self taught skills base that responsibility felt all to huge . So I carried on with dinner parties, life got busy and that ambition died.

Nearly 20 years on I find myself in a very similar situation – I love my running , I love helping and I think I have a range of skills that gives me a chance this time – but that doubt is back, nagging away, sowing the seeds of self doubt.

But this time I have mechanisms to handle this. Little signals of affirmation that I can show myself that I can because I have!

The VLM 2019 shorts may not mean anything to the casual on-looker but they confirm to me I can overcome obstacles, I can achieve my goals.

Reflecting on this makes me realise those future clients won’t come to me because I’ve lifted more or gone for longer. Instead those clients hopefully recognise I was in their shoes not so long ago, I’ve faced those same challenges, I’ve put in the effort and reaped the rewards. That’s a different kind of credibility that connects I hope.

So which bone does the hip flexor connect to again?

It’s been 2 long years since my first failed attempt at putting my thoughts down in writing about all things running.

In that same time a lot has happened and now is not the time or space to review – we can leave that for others.

So why try again? Simple, at 8.45am on Monday morning (31st May) I will see if the universe is reaching out to me. And?

Ok, put more explicitly I will return to the classroom for the next 7 days with the intention of qualifying as both a PT Level 2 gym instructor AND complete stage 1 (of 3) of my running coaches qualification.

Events have transpired that means that 2 separate courses booked about a year apart now land back-back.

So what’s the universe got to do with all this? Maybe nothing maybe everything.

Since early 2020 I’ve been listening to The Rich Roll podcast – a source of over 500 inspiring and thought-provoking long form conversations that could glibly be called ‘self-help’.

But listening to real people tell their real stories about how they have overcome personal challenges, taken on endurance challenges beyond imagination, and invested in themselves to become the person they deserve to be, has inspired me, had me in tears at time, made me humble….. and most importantly have driven me to make a decision to embrace change.

At 55 most people may be looking at retirement options, spending more time with grandchildren and generally congratulating themselves on getting this far unscathed.

Not me.

I’m seeking to pivot ( to use one of Rich Roll’s key words ) and change career – not just a little, but a lot.

Maybe the fitness sector doesn’t need another middle age man, carrying too much timber, who has adopted a plant- based diet but still craves the occasional sausage and egg muffin. But just maybe it does.

So in the spirit of accountability and in the hope that sharing my vulnerability means that I can attract positive vibes I will be documenting my journey here for others to read (and maybe be inspired just a little).

I have a ‘rough cut’ ‘draft plan’ of where this could all end up but it’s a place I’ve never really been before – normally choosing to follow the safe path, the known path, so I genuinely enter the next 7 days with excitement, coupled with a large dose of fear and a hope that The Universe speaks clearly to me.

Remember, the hardest step is getting past your front door and at around 6.30am on Monday I will be taking that journey.

Namaste…..

Today is RED #24 out of potential 31. Plan was a steady 5k. Reality? An even slower 3k. Felt light headed. Heavy legs. Why?

154 miles year to date. Nothing special if you’re an elite athlete – nay just a typical weeks work for Sir Mo.

As a relatively new marathon runner (Berlin 2019 being my only one so far) the temptation has been to push beyond ‘the plan’. To see how far I can push the training boundaries. To push the body to the edge (of fatigue and possible injury). Today was a reminder that life gets in the way. 130 miles driving to be precise.

Lacing up and hitting the run is still a relatively new experience for me so new challenges are……. new challenges! Training for London 2019 is all about consistency but I’m learning that’s not the same as running the same route at the same pace day after day after day after day after day. Get my drift.

I feel lucky. I am part of a great online running community – Fordy Runs. I need to look, listen and learn from those that are further ahead of me, both in terms of talent and training. Sometimes less is more and when RED January is over, and my streak is complete, I will re-assess.

Until then its 7 more days of RED January……

A little blog from a committed, enthusiastic but ultimately slow marathon runner

“A journey of a thousand miles ( or at least 26.2 miles) begins with a single step”

Ancient Chinese Proverb