12 Months To Marathon

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12 Months To Marathon Running Coach Specialising in Helping People go From Zero to Marathon in 12 months or Less.

There will ALWAYS be a reason to skip a run.Too tired.Too busy.Too cold.Too dark.Too much going on at work.Too many fami...
15/10/2026

There will ALWAYS be a reason to skip a run.

Too tired.
Too busy.
Too cold.
Too dark.
Too much going on at work.
Too many family commitments.

And sometimes, those reasons are completely legitimate. Rest and recovery matter.

But here’s the problem…

If you wait for the perfect conditions to go running, you’ll spend most of your life waiting.

Especially when you’re over 35, juggling work, family, relationships and everything else life throws at you.

The runners who make progress aren’t necessarily the ones with the most time.

They’re the ones who make the most of the time they’ve got.

They plan ahead.
They adapt when life gets difficult.
They understand that consistency beats perfection.
And they don’t allow one missed run to become a missed week.

You don’t need to be perfect to become a better runner. But you do need to keep showing up.

Your next marathon won’t be built on the days when everything goes perfectly.

It’ll be built on the weeks and months of consistent, intelligent training.

What’s the biggest challenge you face when trying to stay consistent with your running?

Let me know in the

YOU CAN BE CONSISTENT WITH YOUR RUNNING AND STILL NOT BE MAKING PROGRESS.And that’s one of the most frustrating things a...
15/10/2026

YOU CAN BE CONSISTENT WITH YOUR RUNNING AND STILL NOT BE MAKING PROGRESS.

And that’s one of the most frustrating things about marathon training.

You’re putting in the miles.

You’re getting your long runs done.

You’re making sacrifices around work and family.

But your results aren’t reflecting the effort.

Here’s the thing.

Sometimes the problem isn’t how hard you’re working. It’s how your training is structured.

More mileage isn’t always the answer.

Neither is another speed session or pushing harder every time you head out.

Your training needs to develop your fitness, allow you to recover and prepare you for the specific demands of your next race.

And for runners over 35, it also needs to fit around everything else going on in life.

That’s something I focus on heavily with the runners I coach.

Because a good marathon plan shouldn’t just look impressive on paper.

It should actually work for YOU.

I’ve highlighted five signs that your training might need reviewing.

If you are over 35 and want more support

Comment 26.2

15/10/2026

We all know THAT runner on Strava.

7-minute miles. Heart rate through the roof. Every single run labelled “Easy Run”.

I’m not judging. I’m just trying to work out what your hard sessions look like.

In all seriousness, easy running is relative. What’s easy for one runner might be a threshold session for another.

But there’s a difference between running easy and convincing yourself you’re running easy!

Your easy runs should actually feel easy. Recovery matters, especially when you’re training for a marathon.

Be honest now… are you guilty of this, or do you know somebody who is? 👀

When your non-running friend finally joins the running community… 🥹🏃‍♂️You’ve been telling them for YEARS how good runni...
14/10/2026

When your non-running friend finally joins the running community… 🥹🏃‍♂️

You’ve been telling them for YEARS how good running is, and now they’ve finally gone for their first run.

Suddenly, they’re talking about pace, distance, Strava and how good they feel afterwards.

And you’re just sitting there thinking…

WELCOME TO THE CLUB. 😂

Because every runner knows that feeling. Once you’ve discovered what running can do for your physical and mental health, you just want everyone else to experience it too.

Now we just need to convince them to sign up for a marathon. 👀

Tag that friend you’ve been trying to convince to start running!

The biggest mistake runners over 35 make? Measuring their progress against everybody else.After 20 years of consistent f...
14/10/2026

The biggest mistake runners over 35 make? Measuring their progress against everybody else.

After 20 years of consistent fitness and running, I’ve learnt something important.

Your success isn’t determined by how fast somebody else runs, how many miles they complete or what they post on Instagram.

It’s determined by what YOU keep doing.

And when it comes to running and mental health, consistency can be incredibly powerful.

A regular running routine can provide structure, build confidence, support your mental wellbeing and give you a sense of achievement when other areas of life feel difficult.

You don’t need every training session to be perfect.

You don’t need to hit a personal best every month.

And you certainly don’t need to compare yourself to somebody who’s at a completely different stage of their running journey.

Keep showing up. Keep building. Keep moving forwards.

Because consistency isn’t just how you become a better runner.

It’s also how you learn to believe in yourself.

SAVE this for the next time you feel like you’re falling behind.

And tell me: has running helped your mental health?

14/10/2026

My favourite C word? CONSISTENCY.

And after 20 years of fitness, weight loss and running, I can tell you it’s one of the most powerful things you can develop.

Not speed. Not talent. Not how many miles you run each week.

Consistency.

Here’s something I want you to remember, particularly if you’re a runner over 35.

There will ALWAYS be someone running faster than you.

Someone running further than you.

Someone posting better race times, bigger training weeks and more impressive achievements.

But their journey isn’t yours.

And just because someone else appears to be doing better, it doesn’t mean you’re falling behind.

Over the last 20 years, life hasn’t always been straightforward for me. Far from it.

But one thing I’ve consistently done is show up for my health and fitness.

And that’s made an enormous difference, both physically and mentally.

Because consistency isn’t just about getting fitter.

It’s about creating routine.

It’s about keeping promises to yourself.

It’s about building self-belief and knowing that even when life gets difficult, you can still take positive action.

And having that structure and routine can be incredibly beneficial for your mental health.

So stop measuring your progress against somebody else’s highlight reel.

Measure it against your own commitment to showing up.

You don’t need to be perfect.

You don’t need to be the fastest.

You just need to keep doing the things that move you forwards.

Because over time, those small, consistent actions can create extraordinary results.

Consistency builds fitness. Consistency builds confidence. Consistency builds resilience.

And that’s worth far more than a few likes on Instagram.

Keep showing up. You’re doing better than you think.

What’s one thing running consistently has done for your mental health? Let me know below.

14/10/2026

Testing out my new pumpkin socks on this bad boy.

The workout was scarier than the socks TBF 😆

13/10/2026

RUNNING, MENTAL HEALTH & THE DANGERS OF COMPARISON.

You can be physically fit, running well, smashing your training goals and STILL be struggling with your mental health.

I know that because I’m on a bit of a journey myself.

And one thing I’ve become increasingly aware of is how much social media can influence the way we feel about ourselves.

Especially as runners.

You open Instagram for a bit of motivation and suddenly you’re seeing:

* Someone running more miles than you.
* Someone smashing another marathon PB.
* Someone training harder than you.
* Someone seemingly getting everything right.

And before you know it, instead of feeling inspired, you’re questioning your own progress.

That’s the problem with comparison. You’re measuring your entire life against somebody else’s highlights.

Social media can be a fantastic place for encouragement, education and community.

But you have to be selective about what you consume.

Follow people who make you feel better, not worse.

Engage with content that encourages you rather than makes you question yourself.

And remember that running performance is only ONE part of who you are.

Your marathon time doesn’t define your worth.

Your weekly mileage doesn’t determine your value.

And somebody else’s success doesn’t diminish your own.

One final thing.

If you see somebody sharing something positive, helpful or encouraging, SUPPORT THEM.

Like their posts. Leave a comment. Share their content.

Those little actions help good messages reach more people.

And perhaps we can all make this corner of social media a slightly more positive place.

Have you ever found yourself comparing your running progress to others on social media?

Let me know in the comments.

Running more miles doesn’t automatically mean running a faster marathon.I see runners over 35 putting in a huge amount o...
13/10/2026

Running more miles doesn’t automatically mean running a faster marathon.

I see runners over 35 putting in a huge amount of effort.

Four or five runs a week. Long runs every Sunday. Consistency for months.

But they’re still not getting the results they want.

And often, their first instinct is to run MORE.

Sometimes that is the answer.

But sometimes the missing piece is how their training is structured, how they’re recovering, or whether they’re developing the specific fitness their marathon demands.

One of my coaching clients, Neil, ran 2:57 at Brighton aged 41.

His fastest marathon in 10 years.

His preparation focused on structured mileage, long runs, consistency and accountability.

The goal isn’t to run as many miles as possible. It’s to run the appropriate amount, with the right purpose, and recover well enough to improve.

If you’re putting in the work but your marathon times aren’t improving, I’d be interested to know:

What’s your biggest frustration right now?

Pacing, endurance, recovery or simply not knowing whether your training is working?

Let me know below.

13/10/2026

What a privilege it is to be able to push your body to its limits.

Sometimes we forget just how fortunate we are to be able to run, lift weights, train hard and challenge ourselves physically.

That tough session you’re dreading?

That early morning run when you’d rather stay in bed?

That final rep when your muscles are screaming at you to stop?

It’s a privilege, not a punishment.

As we get older, maintaining our strength, fitness and endurance becomes even more important.

And if you’re over 35 and training for a marathon, remember that you’re not just preparing for 26.2 miles.

You’re investing in a stronger, healthier and more capable version of yourself.

Not everyone has the opportunity to do what we do.

So appreciate your body, look after it, recover properly and never take your ability to challenge yourself for granted.

Getting older is inevitable. Giving up on yourself isn’t.

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