Imperfect Pace

It's February 4th and if i'm honest, the 'new year energy' has officially met the 'winter reality,'  Getting out of bed before a shift to run in the dark is a mental wrestling match I don't always win on the first round, but it's still a thousand times better than trying to lace up after a long day at the station.  The training team Lately, I've been letting my Garmin's take the lead. It looks at my sleep (or lack of), my heart rate, and my stress, and tells me what i need. Sometimes it's a 48 minute low heart rate run, sometimes its a 'go back to bed' suggestion. When i'm not flying solo, I've got the best - if slightly mismatched - support crew: Walt and Laya. Walt is a seasoned pro who's getting on a bit, so we cap our time to about 50 minutes. Laya has all the youth and  only has little legs so I cap her distance to 30 minutes!  January low-down Miles logged: 88  Favourite tunes: Hamilton playlist, 'Satisfied'...

The Reality Check! When I signed up for this challenge, I had visions of sunset runs and churning the miles like I used to along the back roads of Porthdarfach and Trearddur Bay. I know what it feels like to fly, but right now I'm learning what it feels like to build wings again.  So, the reality? It’s been squeezing in 30-40 minute runs in before a shift or hitting the treadmill on the days we can get gym time. On the odd occasion it's a late at night run while the kids are sleeping. It’s a bit messy, the early mornings are tiring, but every mile is worth it. As well as changing my routine to increase my running miles every week (slowly) I am also changing my mindset. The old me would be focused on pace (min/miles) podiums and Personal Bests. The new me is about consistency, recovery quality and the impact of the charity and mental resilience. I will intentionally not be looking at old data, the rear view mirror is smaller for a reason. Returning to running is like returning t...

It’s Sunday afternoon, and I’m staring at a screen that asks me to commit to the 2026 Chester Triple Series. That means a 10K in March, a Half Marathon in May, and a full, ridiculous Marathon in October. I'm terrified. Not of the 26.2 miles - I’ve done that before. I’m terrified of slipping back into the obsessive runner I used to be, the one who used running as an escape when life got hard, who chased times and neglected her body. I’ve recognised the pattern now, as clear as the horizon on a perfect day. But the fear of old habits returning is real. This time, though, running is about something fundamentally different. It's my chance to challenge myself - not just physically, but mentally and emotionally . A Look in the Rear view Mirror My relationship with running has always been complex. It's where I found my best self, where I met my partner, and it's the only sport that consistently delivers the mood-boosting endorphins I need. But the habit lately? It's been f...