The Inspiration Station

Inspiration can take many forms. It can be from someone you know. It can be from someone at work. It can be from something you read or see on TV or social media. Wherever it comes from, it is uplifting and heartwarming. Watching the London Marathon (or any marathon to be honest) is one of those occasions where, in my view, you cannot fail to be inspired.

The performances of the elite runners are incredible to watch, but you always have to bear in mind that this is what they do. This is their job. They train every day, preparing sometimes at altitude and in different countries and training camps with other elite runners to prepare for this one day. While their efforts and times are truly staggering (the men’s world record for the marathon equates to around seventeen seconds for one hundred metres for the entire course!) and it was fabulous to see such a close women’s race in particular, true inspiration, for me at least, comes from the others who compete.

“they dedicated themselves”

Three people I know in real life and a load of other runners who I know through social media were lucky enough to run the London Marathon, and it is undoubtedly their performances which I find most inspiring. It does not matter what time they take to get round. It does not matter whether they set a PB or note. What matters is that they dedicated themselves to take on such an incredible challenge and succeeded. That is truly inspiring.

It is very easy to watch something like the London Marathon and to watch thousands of people doing it and think, “well it cannot be that difficult, look at all of those folk of all ages, shapes and sizes, who are doing it”. If you ever do think that, and you have not run a marathon before, I would suggest that you get in your car, set the milometer on the car to zero and just drive twenty six point two miles from your house. I can almost guarantee you that will be amazed at just how far you go before you reach that distance. And then imagine running it. It will give you a different sort of respect for anyone who runs that distance.

The fact that we tend to drive everywhere, I think, gives people a slightly distorted view of distance. One mile is, in fact, a pretty long way. I once saw a quiz question where people were asked how wide Manhattan Island in New York is. The answer is two miles, but people, even those who had been there, were staggered at that. They had all assumed it was much further, because they had done a lot of walking when they were there.

“running is hard”

And so, while people running the marathon distance is inspiring, this should also extend, frankly, to people who run any distance at all. Because running is hard. Running a mile is hard. Running 5k (3.1miles) is hard. A lot of people I know, because we run a lot, will say (me included), “I’m just going out for a 10k”, or “it’s only a half”. This underplays and undersells the achievement of those distances, and I think it is really important to reflect on all of that.

It is too easy to dismiss a run like this

The distances which we run are all relative and based on our experience and previous achievements. And it can become blase to say the things I just mentioned. But we should never forget that every runner starts somewhere. And therefore, while we may downplay what we achieve, we should always recognise and appreciate the effort it has taken to get there. Because the other thing is, while we may not realise it, our efforts may inspire others.

I have friends who started running because they saw how I had changed my life. People have told me they resolved to run a 5k, 10k, or a half, or a marathon, because they knew that I had done it and they thought, “well if he can why can’t I?”. In fact one of my friends has gone into the ballot for the London Marathon next year. He has never run a marathon before, and he told me “If not now, when? If not me, who?”, which is one of my favourite inspirational quotes. And yes, if you are wondering, I am back in the ballot too, fully expecting my annual kick in the teeth come July.

I never set out to inspire anyone. I did not start running thinking, “oh yes, I shall achieve these things and my friends will all follow in my footsteps”. I never, for a second, thought anything like that. I just wanted to make a positive change in my life, and am extremely thankful that I did, but if by doing so I have influenced some others to make a positive choice about their health and wellbeing then that is great.

One of the reasons why I decided to become a jogleader with jogscotland a few years back, to pay back something to others who had helped me in my running journey, and this week I got confirmation that my licence will be renewed for another three years – I had to do a renewal course online – so I should be able to continue to help others who want to make a difference to their lives.

“I am still struggling”

I wrote a few weeks back about my hope to find some consistency in my running, but this is something I am still struggling a bit to find. Work has been pretty full on, so I have not really been able to get back into a happy routine, and that looks likely to continue over at least the next few weeks, so I just need to be patient and enjoy the runs when I manage to fit them in.

That is why it is so important to value the time I do get running, particularly with friends like Susan and Maxine, whom I was out with for a very early 10k this weekend, as this was the only point in the day where I could fit in the run. This was another good reminder to be thankful of time together, even if the rain did come on just as we started, but if life gives you rain, then you need to find rainbows. And we did.

With Susan and Maxine on our early run

Returning to my theme of inspiration and the joy of watching so many people achieve something they never thought possible last weekend at the London Marathon. I firmly believe we are all more capable than we think we are and can achieve far more than we think we can. If you watched the London Marathon and thought, “I could never do that”, trust me, you can. Be inspired. Take on challenges. Do things which scare you. Use the inspiration of others to achieve great things. As the voice says in my favourite film, Field of Dreams, “Go the distance”. You can do it.

What Happens in Vegas….

Travel used to be a defining characteristic of my working life. For more than a decade, I would routinely fly almost every week to various parts of the world for my job. Initially, this led to an unhealthy lifestyle of overindulgence, but then it became an opportunity to explore the places I visited as I would get out and run. This week was a return to those days.

I flew out to Las Vegas to attend a trade show, and while work is important and I would be spending the vast majority of my day on the show floor, this was going to be another chance to run with friends and one that I was not going to miss.

I have been fortunate enough to visit the city in Nevada quite a few times before, so it perhaps does not have quite the allure of a place which you go to for the first time. The sights on the Las Vegas strip are really not quite like anything else you see anywhere else so once I knew where I was going to be staying, then it was a case of planning some 5k routes so at least I would get out and about, though one of our routes would take a rather unexpected turn, but more of that later.

“this was going to need to be an early run”

Quite a few colleagues from my company were also coming to the show, so we began to work out who would be up for a run, and, importantly, at what time. With work commitments from 9am, this was going to need to be an early run. But we had jetlag to thank for making sure we were up at 4am almost every day, though as it was still dark, even that was a bit too early.

But it was shortly after 6am on the first day after I arrived that I met up with my friend Anna in the hotel, and we went out for an early morning run. Like many of my colleagues, it is rare to see them in real life, so it was great to get out with her and also enjoy the cool temperatures at that time of the morning. Social running like this is not about any kind of pace, it is just about enjoying the company and the sights, plus a chance to see daylight before spending most of the day indoors at work!.

Out for a run with Anna on the Vegas strip

Running has become such an important part of my life, as a way for me to find balance between the daily stresses and a chance to relax. I do not know why, but for some reason I found this week pretty stressful, so the early morning runs were a good chance to reset and refocus.

More colleagues were arriving, so the following day I ran with two French friends, David and Arnaud, and we made a plan to run from the hotel up to The Sphere. Now if you have not heard of The Sphere in Las Vegas, it is the most bonkers venue you may ever see in your life. It is a giant ball which looks like it is alive, a visual marvel in a city which likes the bright lights more than most. It is a concert venue (go google U2 Sphere) and is an extraordinary sight.

With David and Arnaud at The Sphere

Everything in Las Vegas is huge, so this picture underplays just how big this place is. To give you a sense of how crazy it is, this is what it looks like at night, and this is from quite some distance away. Twenty four hours a day, it is always alive with constantly changing colours. God only knows what their electric bill is!

The Sphere at night

But speaking of crazy, the following morning would be a run which would be memorable, but not for anything like the pace, the distance or anything normal. No, this would be strange because of the route we took. Let me explain.

Meeting up just with David this time, he had a very badly chapped lip. Las Vegas is in the middle of the desert so everything is unbelievably dry. Anyway, when we met up he said he wanted to visit a shop in the Wynn Hotel, which was nearby, as he knew he could get some lip balm there. It was close to the hotel we were staying in and was on the route anyway, so this was no big deal. And then we got there.

“Running inside a casino…. and then it got even more bizarre”

We went in an entrance to the hotel and, even though, we were inside, David started running. I mean I know what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, but here we were, inside a hotel, in the casino, and we were running. And then it got even more bizarre. We came along to a place where there was a small escalator to go between two levels, but the up escalator was not working. We could not find any stairs, so there was only one thing for it. We had to run up the down escalator – while it was still moving!! So here we were, two blokes in running gear not only casually running around a casino at 6.30 in the morning, but now we were like those contestants in Gladiators trying to get up the Travelator at the end of the obstacle course!!

“we were off again, running past slot machines and roulette wheels”

I was half expecting to be rugby tackled by security at any minute, but as I stumbled off the top of the escalator, we just kept on running. Turning left, turning right, David insisted he knew where the shop was. By this point I was thinking we might never get out of the place. It was like that episode of Father Ted when the priests can’t figure there way out of the lingerie department. But then we turned one corner and sure enough, there was the shop. One lip balm later and we were off again, running past the slot machines and roulette wheels to find our way back out!

Now, you might find this story a bit far-fetched (I mean it is not The Hangover, I realise, but it is a bit unusual), but I have proof. So here is a photo of me and David running through the casino, and the Strava map to prove our route went through the hotel. What a crazy start to the day.

Three days, three different routes, three times to reset the head, enjoy some exercise and spend time with friends doing something we all enjoy. As I really did not sleep well when I was away – maybe that contributed to the stress levels – this was a welcome bit of relaxation. I may not travel anything like as much as I used to, but at least when I do, I make sure to take the chance to explore and stay fit. And better to do it outside rather than in the confines of the hotel gym.

I would have liked to have run again when I was there, but I just did not have time due to work commitments, and then I flew home overnight to enjoy the delights of jet lag on the other side of the Atlantic. To be honest, given how badly I slept in Las Vegas, I have very quickly got back into the routine at home, and got out on Saturday morning for a run with friends here, even if the cooler temperatures were a bit of a shock to the system.

With Susan, Cara and Maxine

The run was also a first chance for me to show off my shirt from the D33 Ultra (spoiler alert for some swearing coming up). It arrived the day I flew out to Las Vegas so I have been itching to put it on ever since. I rather like it and the sentiments it expresses – yes it was the Railway to Hell, but you know, it was a bit epic too.

The race t-shirt from the ultra

All that is left to round off the week is to spend Sunday watching on enviously as thousands of people run the London Marathon. I hope everyone doing it has an amazing experience. My experience this week was a bit extraordinary for sure, but the marathon is a whole other level. David, he of casino running fame, is training for the New York Marathon this year. I need to think if I want to do an autumn race. Maybe the sights of people running London will inspire me to step up once more.

Pace Yourself

Last year my big goal race was in April. This year, my goal race was in March. While it is an enormous sense of achievement to get it done early, it does mean that as we head into peak racing season, I am now jealous of everyone who is now out there getting it done!

April, in many countries, is peak marathon season in particular, with some of the biggest events taking place and we will see that in the next few weeks with Manchester in England, Boston in the USA and the London marathon taking place, and just last weekend we had Paris, Milan, Brighton and more all happening.

“wishing I was also out there with them”

I love seeing people I know complete events – regardless of the distance – and achieve so much through their training and then on the big day itself, but I have to confess it does leave me wishing I was also out there with them. However, I know that I am doing the right thing, for my long term fitness and health, by not attempting to do too much right now.

I wrote last week how I am just trying to get a bit of normality back into my training after pushing myself so hard through the winter to be able to complete my first ultramarathon. It would be very easy, given the amount of fitness I have built up through that period, to keep on pushing, but I do not believe that would be the right thing to do.

“a solid base level from which to build”

That being said, I did go out and run a half marathon distance at the start of last week, just as a training run. One of my goals for last year – and the same for this year – is to run a half marathon every month. This is a great target to have and one which ensures that I maintain a decent level of endurance fitness through the year. It also means that if I do decide to tackle another race, then I have a solid base level from which to build. Not that i am planning another ultramarathon anytime soon (if ever). The half distance was hard, with a long section against the wind coming home, and it did make me wonder how on earth I ran that distance, plus twenty more miles, just a few weeks ago!!

Since completing the D33 event, there has been a load of coverage in the media of some other amazing ultra achievements – from Jasmin Parris and all of the Barkley Marathon finishers to the appropriately name “Tough Geezer” who has just spent the past year running the length of Africa. These are unbelievable achievements for them and I am sure, the culmination of years of effort to get there.

“comparison is the thief of joy”

They certainly put my achievements in the shade, but I am a firm believer in the Theodore Roosevelt quote that “comparison is the thief of joy”, and as such, all of my achievements stand on their own. This is simply because they are my achievements and no one else. I know how much has gone into them. I know how tough they have been for me. I know the sacrifices I have made to achieve them. And as such, no one else knows what I have gone through to reach the various finish lines which I have reached and the joy which these achievements have brought.

It is easy to compare yourself to others – trust me, the reason I am writing this is because over the past few weeks I have looked at these others and thought, “wow, these guys are proper runners” – but this is self defeatist nonsense. Whatever your achievements are, they are the greatest simply because they are yours. This is what I think when I look at my medals on the wall. This is what I think when I look at my book of race bibs. This is what I think when I look back at pictures of me like this.

Before i starting running back in 2016

There is no harm in being proud of anything you have achieved in life, and there is no point in looking around and wishing you had achieved something else just because you see someone else doing it. Far better to be inspired to achieve more by the achievements of others than comparing your achievements to there’s.

This was brought home to me at the weekend when I went to a nearby parkrun to pace thirty six minutes. For me, at my current level of fitness, thirty six minutes for a 5k parkrun is very easy running, but for others, thirty six minutes is a goal they are aiming to achieve, so I am happy to try anything I can to encourage someone to get to that time.

“encouraged her to push to the finish”

In the event, I ran most of the second half of the race with a young woman who was doing the parkrun as part of her first ever attempt to run 10k. As we ran she also told me she had signed up to her first 10k race, and even a half marathon in the summer. We chatted about this on the way round and as we got to the last few hundred yards and I encouraged her to push to the finish, she thanked me for the chat and taking her mind off the run itself.

This what volunteering with running is about for me – whether it is pacing at parkrun or leading at my local jogscotland group. It is about trying to use my experience to encourage others so that they can reach whatever goals they want to set for themselves. And if their goal is to have a nice run and a chat with pals – never mind any racing – then that is good enough. I love the excitement of racing, but I know it is not for everyone. What should be for everyone is finding joy in their achievements, whatever they are.

Over the next few years, yes I will have some FOMO moments. This weekend is the Rotterdam Marathon and the Manchester Marathon, two events I have done in the past. Then there will be the London Marathon, the event I would love to do, and yes I will be entering the ballot once again this year in the faint hope that I manage to get in. But I will also be watching them knowing what I have achieved already this year, and being totally satisfied with that.