I was standing in the start corral in Shinjuku with 39,000 other runners, running on two nights of four hours’ sleep and three weeks removed from the worst tonsillitis-flu combination I’ve had in years. Not exactly the preparation I’d planned. But I was there, and I was ready. The target was to beat my Berlin time of 3:44 — illness or not, I wasn’t lowering the bar. My watch had
I signed up for Berlin knowing it would be my first step towards completing all seven World Marathon Majors. After running my first marathon ten months ago, this felt like the natural next challenge. Training: Structure and Surprises On 1st July I began training with the Runna app. It gave me the most structured program I’ve ever followed, and for the first time I was doing proper speed work. It
Somewhere along the way, it became a badge of honour not to sleep enough. A terrible idea. There have always been people claiming they run companies or smash workouts on four hours’ sleep. I’m sure a few genuinely can — but I suspect most are fooling themselves. A couple of years ago, I started paying closer attention to my body, especially with my running. The difference was obvious. With 7
I’ve learned to like achievable challenges. The kind that push me just far enough out of my comfort zone that I grow — in health, mindset, and experience. That’s what drew me to my next goal: completing all 7 World Marathon Majors. It started with a simple thought: What’s the next challenge? What Are the World Marathon Majors? The Abbott World Marathon Majors include seven of the most iconic races
Five days. 80+ miles. One friend, two backpacks, a lot of lemon trees, and a whole lot of duct tape. When one of my best friends said she had always dreamed of walking the Camino since visiting Santiago in her twenties, it didn’t take much convincing. She was coming to visit me in Portugal 🇵🇹, and I thought, why not? It would be a fun, meaningful adventure—a few long walks,
My marathon journey continues to evolve – filled with highs, lows, and lessons along the way. Since my last update, I’ve hit a new half marathon PR, battled a frustrating back injury, and completed the Ventura Marathon with a PR—10 minutes faster than my last full marathon! Now, my sights are set on an even bigger challenge: tackling my first Marathon Major in Berlin this September, with the ultimate goal
When I tipped the scale at 245 pounds, I knew I needed to make a change. I’d always been on the bigger side, but for the first time, I started thinking seriously about getting healthy. At that point, I didn’t know what “healthy” even looked like for me. I didn’t have specific goals in mind—I just knew I wanted to feel better and be better. Like many, I initially considered
If you want to win something, run 100 meters. If you want to experience something, run a marathon. Emil Zatopek (Olympic Champion) I Made It! 3:59:50—just under 4 hours! Crossing that finish line was one of the most painful yet fantastic moments I’ve had. My internal goal was to finish under 3:45, but I always said I’d be happy with anything under 4 hours. Knowing I pushed through to meet
It’s very hard in the beginning to understand that the whole idea is not to beat the other runners. Eventually you learn that the competition is against the little voice inside you that wants you to quit. George Sheehan Tweet It’s been a fun 2 weeks leading up to the marathon with runs in LA, Boston, NY and Porto! and some fun time with my kids in Boston! I ended
While COVID disrupted many parts of my life, it also gave me something priceless – uninterrupted time with my children. Looking back, the pandemic was an unexpected opportunity to strengthen our bond. With my son, we quickly fell into a rhythm. We spent most evenings together for four years—three days a week weightlifting and two days boxing. These hours were sacred, not just for the physical benefits but for the
