I hear the phrase ‘this event changed my life’ a lot. I wouldn’t say that’s the case with this one. I’d say this one affirmed my life rather than changed it. This one gave everything I’ve learnt in the last 18 months (since my last and hopefully final severe mental health crisis) the opportunity to be put into practice. This event brought everything together. It has calmed me down a bit, it has helped me believe I am good enough just as I am. How long that will last I don’t know. It’s made me believe that doing the work – mental and physical – and doing it well, is non negotiable and will go o ..read more

I first met Kirsty a couple of years ago at The Ox – that race has a lot to answer for. She came second lady and was just a powerhouse of awesome – plus we share a love of the New Forest and trail running which meant we could yap on about ponies and trails for ages.  Kirsty answered the call to action and I am thrilled that she is the final piece of our little running jigsaw!  “I absolutely adore Scotland and am always keen to visit new places” says Kirsty. “I have wanted to do a supported event for sometime, to focus more on running and distance rather than carrying all your kit. I ..read more

On the 1st June 2022 I am joining 6 other amazing runners to run the entire length of the UK, from Lands End to John O’Groats in just 35 days. The route totals around 1015 miles (or 1,634km if you’re a man and so want to make it seem longer and harder than it actually is) with 70,000ft of ascent - that’s twice up Everest, Nim’s fans. The route includes some of the most brutal and epic trails in the UK including the SWCP, The West Highland Way and parts of Offas Dyke. It’s 50% trail and 50% road and as far as we know, has never been done before – certainly not in this way. We will be running fo ..read more

I’ll try and keep this short and there are no pictures – sorry! It’s a Sunday and I am supposed to be chilling out with my dog. But yesterday I had a couple of conversations with people – ones I’ve had a number of times before . They sparked such a range of emotions in me that I feel duty bound to write this today. Because maybe today will be the day you read it and understand how you’re being lied to every time you click that little camera square on your phone and head to Instagram to get your fix of “inspirational” running content.  Yesterday, at a lapped ultra-event in Gerrards Cross ..read more

“For me. Part of the super-long stuff is about digging the biggest hole I can, skirting around the edge of it and then, if I fall in, find out how I can get out. Sometimes you just end up crying on the side of the road. Other times you push through. So discovering what makes the difference between those two is fascinating to me”  Robbie Britton, In It For The Long Run.  Monday 31st January 2022 7pm  On Saturday 29th Jan 2022 at about 10.45 am, at mile 73 of the Arc of Attrition (or mile 75 for me because, well, shit nav), I DNF’d the Arc of Attrition 2021.  For ..read more

I’ve been umming and ahhing over publishing this blog – it feels a bit self-indulgent TBH, but the process of writing it has helped me no end, so I suppose if it helps one other person balance the shitty part of their brain with the sensible kind part, then that’s job done, right?  Back in October, I finished a course of therapy with a pretty ace therapist who suggested I write a ‘compassionate letter’ to myself – something I am doing in fits and starts - because it’s just too painful to do in one go. It’s too hard. But over the last few weeks I’ve had a few days when I just couldn’t get ..read more

This blog is a bit different to the usual ones I do about races. Usually I talk you through it, how it went, what was easy, what was hard, when I did some swears and when I thought about why the fuck I was even doing it in the first place. And that’s all here - but I feel like this one has another purpose.  Happy little Bailey before shit got real.  Do you remember at the start of lockdown when people were pillaging toilet rolls and pasta from the shelves of supermarkets for no fucking reason at all? This race was the opposite of that. This race showed just what humans can do togeth ..read more

I’ve put off writing this blog because I really don’t want it to feel like I’m bragging. I even had a meltdown about the title not making me sound like a total dick, so had to text my friend Susi for sense check. So that title is from her (cheers Susi!). I don’t even know if the title makes sense, but that’s what it is. I am extremely uneasy about writing a blog about how far I have run or what I have achieved. Usually my blogs are about something else - a story or a journey or a battle. I write stuff all the time on my instagram, but that’s like a diary of what I am doing day to day - half to ..read more

It’s taken me a while to finish this blog because I’ve been struggling with what it’s really about. I started writing it after talking to some of the race directors I know about how fucked their businesses were – people asking for refunds, pulling out of events, having to cancel stuff, not forward planning etc. As much as I understand the financial, emotional and logisitical issues people are facing at this point, it made me massively sad that the very people that have given us such joy, community and amazing experiences are suffering to the point that some of them won’t survive. It also made ..read more

I first met Anja through the amazing Bad Boy Running community. I can’t really remember when, but I remember thinking this girl is a fucking badass and I like her. I do remember finding out about what had happened to her as she went through treatment, and it was completely unbelievable. We struck up a bit of a relationship through messenger, and I guess have been friends ever since. Long story short, Anja took on the MDS whilst, unbeknownst to her, she was suffering from TB. She has already been through illness, confusion and isolation - three things that are effecting every single person on e ..read more