Run 4 Your Life - Ultra Running

The London marathon 2026 did not disappoint. From the crowds to the enormity of participants. They really have perfected the organisation. I would recommend the experience to anyone.

Running the London marathon in a few days. The taper is forcing me to deal with the mental side of training and these events. It’s going to be great to see runners at all different points in the progress. After all running is for everyone.

This weeks episode was a real pleasure to welcome Chris Ryan, founder of Chris Ryan Fitness. Chris gives us a brief insight on ways to create a fit, strong and sustainable body. How consistency and ‘Showing up’ week in week out holds the key. Clever insights on how to balance your fitness within our every day lives. Longevity and his perspective on the marathon.Links to his Instagram, TikTok:https://www.instagram.com/chrisryanfitness?igsh=aGUzMWcyNnpxNHo3https://www.tiktok.com/@chrisryanfitness?_r=1&_t=ZN-95aHAznmOeM7 day free trial of his fitness app:https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/chris-ryan-fitness-home-gym/id6479923896

Finished running your training block. Maranoia - phantom pains, doubt the training , restlessness, urge to run. No confirmation of your fitness just time to think. This is a good time to delve into your thought processes.

We can be so focused on the running. Increasing speed, strength and endurance while marathon training. Trying to create an unstoppable mind that we forget rest and recovery. We will ache and be tired mentally and physically but watch out for signs of over training.

Weekly refocus. Running can improve your cardio quickly but sometimes to quickly for you body. Strength training to help your tendons, ligaments and joints keep up with the load as you grow into your running. Progress isn’t just adding it can be releasing old habits to create room for new. Finished off with a poem.

Thank you to Podcasthon for inviting me to be a part of this global movement. My chosen charity to bring awareness to is VICTA - Visually Impaired Children Taking Action. There is also a link below for Michael Peachey’s fund raising page. Raising money for VICTA by running the London Marathon this year. Thank you for listening.https://www.victa.org.uk/https://2026tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/pf/michael-peacheyhttps://podcasthon.org/

Wow! I done it! These bodies are great. Cambridge Half marathon PB four days after running the St Edmund’s Way Ultra. Thank you to Feedspot for listing me on the top 80 ultra running podcasts. Please see link below.https://www.feedspot.com/fs/tk/GEbRwJNP6esc4RQeBslMzRVDzLORH%2BruS%2BYUHdTGGv7iFMSwZCIU5x0TFxjX%2BEf7EQ7A9Y9S8PYR3R9KHAkj2RdWCPChI%2BLlVSAVSAUIWscVR%2FnkoVkiKhMUIFLTClINIUPz8qNXIR9TGBBVE%2FlJ%2BiJWB69tTxgbSRoVItzMFtLlGsymjVwlGSIX40QK%2BkcNJFT55I1OIBdOHd0RGA5W%2Fuwi%2Bu%2BaVSItWiE%3D

I take on the St Edmund’s path with my buddy Julian. 80 miles trail running self supported. What an adventure of a day, I got out of it everything I wanted and needed. Not so much more fitness but the fuelling, kit and time on feet.

With the Tarpley 20 road race completed successfully focus is now on the St Edmunds Way self supported trail ultra. Julian and I start our second attempt next week and hope for completion this time.

Benefits of barefoot running, keeping your mind at peace with the ups and downs of training and weight loss. Focus on the process and the pb’s will follow.

When beginning your running journey there’s so many things to listen to and take into account. I wish I knew more at the start to speed up the process but I was a different mindset back then. There’s no hiding the fact that it’s very hard when you start so maybe the main thing to focus on is just getting it done. How ever bad or hard it is show up every time. Build your endurance and fitness foundation. The rest can be added on in time.

It’s good to stop and be accountable once a week. Make sure the ship is still going in the right direction. Have you gone stagnant or is there more you can do. Go all in on your passion and follow where it leads you. Running changed my life and still is week on week.

“If you don’t stop and look around once in a while you could miss it”. Run while you can, experience as much as you are passionate about. Try things, you never know, that might be your thing. We are here to do more than the mundane chores. Necessary chores but fit living in somewhere. My thing is running so I’m going all in and run!

Special episode for Julian running the Arc of Attrition 2026. Race number 708. Scheduled for upload at 2 am to help through the night. Come on buddy! You’ve got this! 💪

The bodies naturally rhythm running in the correct form. Finding your own running rhythm. Dealing with psoriatic arthritis and how running has helped. Also how it has help my running. The Arc of Attrition this weekend. Follow 708 Julian Holland on the Live Trail app.

Running related waffle - forming good habits, stacking days together, natural elastic running, trainers and events.

Convert the new years motivation to start or re-start running in a plan for the year. Move through quitters day and form a healthy habit of running and strength training. Focus on longevity m, we want to run into our 90’s. Nutrition is a big a part of it as any.

A reflection on 2025’s running and what to take into 2026. It shouldn’t be “New year new you” more “New year, be you”. Let yourself through and stop protecting yourself. We can do more than the limits we set ourselves. Start running and begin.

A big thank you for listening, I’m looking forward to next year and seeing how it will help me grow and how it will evolve. Merry Christmas 🎄

Following some well appreciated feedback I start breaking down the running form. If you can start your running journey with good form, you will see the benefits much quicker and reduce risk of injury along the way.

We get inspired by others on our running journey. I briefly run through one particular story so far. I hope it inspires you as much as it has me. Get started and see where it leads you. The world opens up as you go.

Building a solid base fitness is easier than you think. Running in heart rate zone 2 for most of your weekly training will build endurance and your aerobic base. It’s also known as the fat burning zone. This makes it more inviting to start. To slow and easy.

As with life, running has its setbacks. But it also builds you a community of inspiring people. They don’t just want you to PB they will you back from setbacks. We are all in this together and we are certainly getting there.

The Larnaca marathon Cyprus. Definitely one to recommend. I run through my experience of running it along side 4 other runners from the UK. The work we put in daily means we get to do these things.

The build up to the Larnaka marathon in Cyprus. I wanted to share the apprehension and nerves that we create before an event. It’s all in our own minds. We chose to do these things. This is the growth part, putting ourselves out there. I’m going in!

It is all about you. It starts with you. Looking after yourself should come first. You can then be your best self for the people close to you and around you. Treat yourself like you would your own pet. You wouldn’t neglect your pet for weeks at a time. Run for YOUR life. Let’s see where it can take you.

Thanks for listening, episode 10 already. I wanted to touch on the running shoe. As a beginner when I started running I just picked a shoe and went. I have evolved and now have a better understand what is needed for the job. Hopefully this can help you from the start. We are getting there!

Episode 9 - Spread the word, we can run! After the couch to 5k in the last episode I thought I’d carry on so we don’t do the 5k to couch. You now have a good running base fitness. It’s easier to maintain then to start. I talk about a few different ways of keeping going after the challenge has been completed. What can we achieve from here!

Episode 8 - Why not start with a focus, couch to 5k. I give a guide line or 10 week plan for a beginner looking to start running. Once achieved we can work on continuing and not letting the 5k to couch happen. A great way to start and get moving. Hopefully this with lead to a snowball effort.

Episode 7 - I talked before about the psychical technique to start running. It is also very important to train your mind. It all begins in the mind, from that initial spark to believing you can do it. Again, these are my own findings to past on. If I can help in any way please feel free to message. After all we are all here to help each other, whether starting out of building up to a 100 mile ultra running event.

Episode 6 - The Why. Normally we talk about the why to keep you going while out running. There is also a why to get you started or even out of bed early to make time for your run. Find your why’s and lock them in. You can then pull on them when doubt creeps in. They will help get you out on the run and also keep you going while running.

Episode 5Run for yourself. When we see people running in the headlines we are seeing people at the very top of their game. As much as this is inspiring, it can also be an excuse not to start. It can cause doubt, thinking you can never be as good as them. Well you don’t need to be. The elite are good to learn from as a beginner but not a goal of where you are aiming for. Your aim might be to be able to run your local Park-run each week, a charity 10k or cross country events. Train or start running for you, build endurance and strength. Prepare yourself so you are ready.

I finally talk about my Centurion South Downs Way 100 mile attempt. As I was talking I realised this was for me more than anything but I hope it can help to. I am a relative novice or beginner in the ultra running world. I may not have completed the event but the lessons and experience gained are incredible. It has inspired me in my day to day training. Ready to go for it again next June.

Part 2 of episode 3. Apologies for cutting off part 1. Here I go into how I have been repairing my on going achilles injury. Injury or pain from running is your body telling you something. It might be telling you to stop but not always. It can also be telling you where you need to tweak and improve things. We can use these things to focus our training. Ultra running certainly brings out the weak areas! We then know where the work is needed.

Episode 3 Part 1 - Injury. When starting out or beginning running there will be muscles, tendons and ligaments being put under more stress. It is very important to build slowly with the correct running form from the start. I will finish in part 2 about my Achilles tendon injury and how I finally overcome it after a year and a half. Thanks for listening.

Episode 2 - Following your passion. Everyone has a passion, the hardest part is trying to find it. Most times it can only be found by trial and error. Try something, if it’s not for you at least you’ve moved from point A. Looking back, running has been a passion for me. I used to enjoy it at school but it took me to 43 years old to focus on it. It led me to find ultra trail running. I knew from my first go it was for me.

Episode 1 - The Beginning. If you’re thinking of starting running or have just started I give a few pointers on form or gait. If you can build using the correct gait from the start it will speed up progress and reduce injury further down the line. Hope you enjoy and find this running for beginners start sheet helpful. We will all be ultra running before we know it. We are getting there.

Here’s my burnt pancake. Just jump in and start. Recording my findings on the road to 100. We are better together. An introduction of my path to completing the 100 mile ultra marathon running distance and all the obstacles along the way. A daily growth mindset of discipline and consistency over comfort.