Echoes - The Pink Floyd

Everything you need to know about life in 29.37 minutes

Running well is a state of mind. When I look back to my first ULTRA on this very day back in 1995 my mind was totally open at the start line to what the next thirty-three miles and 1660 yards had in store.

It was a truly overwhelming and life-changing experience, a moment in time that shaped a future you might say. A moment where everything in life slotted together perfectly, a moment when the world went 4K colour focussed and a moment when I discovered that running mega-long distances was right up my street.

 

It seems like yesterday but feels like a lifetime ago.

 

As an athlete I’ve thought long and hard about how I felt that day and how I’d prepared to run my first ultra. The only thing I can really remember is, that I just felt alive, I mean it is 27 years ago! And the rose-coloured specs get more tinted as the years go by.

 

In that time, Ultramarathon running has changed immeasurably. There were only a few Ultras in the UK. It was a time where GPS watches, Energy gels and Spot-trackers simply didn’t exist. It was 'Old School'.

 

However, what did exist was a hard attitude not to fail and a strong urge to finish at all costs. Excuses didn't exist. Don’t get me wrong the best runners are better nowadays yet most of the Ultra best times were set before the year 2000. It was more about the time and not the experience back then perhaps. I do remember in the London to Brighton Road Race of those years having a 9.5 hours' time limit and no walking rule for it's 55 miles. The sub 3:30 marathon qualification weeded out most of the slower runners and I'm glad to say I have a 3/3 record including a sub 9 finish time which I'm super-proud of.

 

Anyway, back in the room and nowadays, my aim as a coach is to distill what made me and makes me different and project this to the people that I work with. Call it tough love, a kick up the arse or good old common sense but I believe there are people who could do a whole lot better if they had the right thought process or the means to process the right thoughts.

 

Get the mind right and the results follow. And remember there's nothing as good as running F A S T.

1,136 Marathons - 264 Ultras - 9 Guinness World Records - 15 MDS - 1 Mind