Welcome back to the grind....pausing for some reflection on a gentle 3 hour exploratory run through the New Forest.
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After some time off then a bumpy start with lots of nights and on-calls, time has come to start a new chapter in life, with different work/life priorities. .
I’m very excited for what the year ahead holds, so much opportunity lies in diversifying, not staying bottled up in one role or post for too long. .
A lot of work lie ahead to start running well, and I can’t bloody wait to get after it! .
A huge thanks to @philiphatzis1 for agreeing to coach me again for another year, I hope not to disappoint or be too high maintenance!
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#teamworkmakesthedreamwork
#newbeginnings #pause #reflection #running #season #motivation #run #trailrunning #forest #forestpath #explore #exploremore #getoutside #fitnessmotivation #fitnessjourney #outside #iphoneonly #igers #team
Had a blast in Ely this weekend with the flat & fast Monster Racing ultra - 68k along cycle paths and the towpath along the Cam river in just under 5 hours.
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Enjoyed a really close race with 5 of us taking it out at a quick pace down to Cambridge at half way, all going through the check point within about a minute of each other, then watching the legend Craig Holgate (GB 100k & 24hr team...!) show us how it’s done pulling through the field from 4th to 1st, while I managed to take only 2 places in the second half from 5th to come in 3rd behind Craig and Ben. This was my third race with Ben this year! It’s like we’re planning race calendars together - he’s super quick and a pleasure to run with him again. .
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2 great races 2 weeks apart, 82k & 68k, to finish a long season of training and racing with no real pause since October last year, it’s now time to put my feet up for a few weeks, rest up, enjoy some downtime and concentrate on work life a little before getting back into it and getting stronger ready for next year. .
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@g.h.brown a huge thanks for supported once again, en velo this time, & @philiphatzis1 for your guidance. .
🍻🍕here’s to the off season!
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#racing #training #running #trailrunning #fitnessaddict #happy #runner #podium #strongnotskinny #smilesandmiles #ultra #ultrarunning #happiness #runningmotivation #fitnessmotivation #fitnessjourney #igdaily #portrait #igers #travel #getoutside #outdoors
Patience. Purpose. .
After 2 races that didn’t go to plan and a tricky few months of carrying a lot of tiredness from work I am so glad I stuck with it and was rewarded with a podium at this weekend’s Chiltern Wonderland 50 miler.
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Last week was very busy week at work on the Coronary Care Unit with lots of admissions with quite unwell patients, but instead of letting the stress get to me from the hectic days leading into the race I thought more about how it gave me purpose outside of running; how much of an impact we have on peoples lives. Then carried that feeling through as excitement into the weekend, heading out to enjoy a day of running with others who take joy in the sport, not just competitors.
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The race started out fast at the front with very quick runners up ahead. I had to be very strict, rein in the effort and not get caught up in racing early and hold a sustainable pace that I could build on later. Going through the first few checkpoints in 10th was daunting but I kept the effort steady, enjoyed the scenery & company, and slowly picked it up in the second half, working my way through the field and finally feeling that race buzz again as I hammered along the trails as hard as I could with 65k in the legs. 🥉81km, 1,600m gain, 7hrs02.
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A huge thank you to @g.h.brown for putting up with me through work, training & racing, and crewing on the day, @philiphatzis1 for his coaching and having faith in me, and @centurionrunning for the outstanding race. .
#patience #purpose #trailrunning #racing #care #patients #hospital #weekend #running #ultra #thoughts #igers #fitness #ultrarunning #smilesandmiles #runsteepgethigh #fitnessmotivation #landscape #mountains #mountainrunning #landscapephotography #igdaily #movemore #getoutside #podium #igpodium
Treat lunch at @velodomcafe for a breakfast burrito after a 3hr tempo run session. Good coffee and an amazing burrito with fried potato, chorizo, spinach, egg, cheese, jalapeno jam, avocado slaw...what more could you want?!
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Good place to revise advanced life support for my instructor course too - self confessed geek...
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#homeofthebreakfastburrito #treat #treatyourself #food #burrito #velodomestique #lifesupport #revision #study #morale #recovery #geek #geekymedics #instafood #instagood #studygram #medicine #foodismedicine
