It’s been a while since I posted anything here. That doesn’t mean to say I haven’t been running though. Since the beginning of the year I have been slowly building up the miles with the aim of competing in a 7 hour race at Durham in May and another attempt at the Leeds Endure 24 at the end of June. Following a couple of set backs, a heavy fall resulting in cracked ribs and a really heavy cold which I just couldn’t shake, things seem to be now picking up.  The initial training schedule I drew up didn’t seem to be working either. So following the fall I reviewed and revised it and it s ..read more

 Back in March 2013 I posted a blog where I mentioned a song that highlighted running in its lyrics. The song being Jethro Tull’s  Budapest, from their Crest of a Knave album. I also wondered how many other songs did this. So my interest was peaked again today by a tweet (X) from @adharanand where he had made a playlist of songs about running (not songs to run to). The playlist consists of 30 songs, such as Run Run Run by Jo Jo Gunne and Wasn’t Born to Follow by the Byrds.  Having gone through this playlist I would suggest a further two songs, along with the aforementioned Bud ..read more

 We were in Cologne for the Christmas markets but of course , my running gear was the first thing I packed. Our hotel was ideally situated on the edge of the, over 200 hectare, Stadwald city forest which provided ample space for running. And, so it proved with a number of runners out each morning. Stadwald, of course is not the only place to run in Cologne. There are several kilometres of footpaths that follow the Rhine, both to the north and south of the city, along both banks of the river and linked by numerous bridges. Cologne has quite an extensive greenbelt providing plenti ..read more

 Having been plagued with Calf problems since trying to get back following my broken foot I managed nearly 3 weeks of easy/steady running - obviously time for a race. Not having been on the track for about 10 years the first choice was Blaydon Harriers club mile last Thursday evening where I quickly renewed an old relationship with Lactic Acid as my body didn’t know what had hit as I ground out a 7.34 mile. Next up on Saturday was the first running of the Bishop Wilson Beast. A trail race, with nearly 1200 ft of climbing, it has replaced the Yorkshire Wolds Half Marathon which has been a ..read more

  World and National records may have been tumbling like skittles at last nights Diamond League meeting in Paris but on Tyneside it was a night of Geordie Pride, from Sam Fender’s gig at St James Park to Blaydon Harriers 41st running of the iconic Blaydon Race. Over 4000 runners toed the start line on Newcastle Quayside setting of to the sound of the Geordie Ridley bell which followed a rendition of the famous Blaydon Races anthem. The race was won comfortably by local runner, Gateshead’s Callum Johnson , for the second year running, in 26.44 for the 5.9 mile route. Flloowed by Cameron ..read more

If you go for a run in Athens you will certainly not be on your own, there are plenty of other runners about either in the early morning or evening, to avoid the warmest part of the day. I have just spent a week in Athens. The city is crowded, with lots of traffic and running on some of the roads can be challenging. But, the effort is definitely worth it. We were staying about 120 m from the Panathenaic Stadium and the National Gardens. The gardens are a green oasis in the middle of the city surrounded by historical sites and providing 2 - 3 miles of trails which are popular with runners. E ..read more

Having recently spent a few days here I can confirm that running in Rome can be quite tough but never boring. There are many green parks that seem to be large enough to accommodate a roughly 3 mile route. However, our hotel was not too close to any of these so it was a case of hitting the streets. Traffic in Rome is tumultuous and consequently air quality can suffer. Although the City Authorities are working to curb CO2 levels. I was getting out for my runs around 7am so air conditions were not too bad. Running on Rome’s streets can be a little unpredictable due to the way cars are parked ..read more

 Since breaking my foot towards the end of last year I have found it difficult to get back into running. I had originally thought I would be back, easing into it by Christmas, and I thought that was being generous. As it has turned out it was the end of February before I was able to start. 4 months out, during which I tried to maintain general fitness.  Two weeks in I then picked up a calf injury. After which I am now working my way back. I have found that the foot that I broke becomes painful and aches as I increase the length of my runs. This sometimes results in having to miss s ..read more

Elite athletes will already have their eyes on next year’s Olympics in Paris. The modern Olympics were the brainchild of Baron de Coubertin of course, but a market town , Morpeth, in Northumberland had been hosting its own Olympics since the 1870’s The events at Morpeth included running, high jump, pole vault and wrestling. All of which featured in the last Olympics, held in Tokyo. Alongside Tug of War and handicap Quoits. So, more than 20 years prior to the first Modern Olympics, Morpeth were holding their own equivalent. The last episode taking place in 1958. Much Wenlock in Shropshire als ..read more

 Generally  times for races always continue to improve. With the very best, world and national records highlighted by the media. But are we starting to see an in-depth improvement across all distances?  I read recently that T&F News in America which has tracked every sub 4 minute mile by an American since Dan Bowden first did it on 1957, will no longer do so due to the high number of runners who are now achieving it. 19 in 2020, 36 in 2021, with last year seeing 63 runners breaking the barrier and an expectation of even more this year. (The reason for this breakthrough they ..read more