Running the Breeze

Kathrine Switzer, the first woman  to run the Boston Marathon as a numbered entrant once said “If you are losing faith in human nature, go out and watch a marathon”, I would like to adapt that to “watch, or better yet run, an Impact Marathon”

" Toeing the starting line of a marathon, regardless of the language you speak, the God you worship or the colour of your skin, we all stand as equal. Perhaps the world would be a better place if more people ran .” - Dean Karnazes

Distance running legend Emil Zatopek is quoted as saying “If you want to run, run a mile. If you want to experience a different life, run a marathon” In 2013 I went from non-runner to completing a marathon, I have been running ever since. The marathon has already changed my life, it can’t do it again...can it?

This race was proof that sometimes you don't need to try new things to have new experiences, and sometimes you can find yourself outside your comfort zone when you are least expecting it! I first did this brilliant race in 2015. Back then it was my first ever fell race. How things have changed in the last four years! Sitting here writing this, excluding relays, I can’t think what my last road race was! It isn’t that I dislike road racing but I have been increasingly drawn to fell and trail races, and with so many to choose from the calendar quickly fills up! Like many good fell races, Simonside is part of a country show. £4 each got us entry to the show and all the prize worthy veg and baking we could want to look at, not to mention the stalls and entertainment in the main ring. There was even the opportunity to play hook-a-duck using a mini digger! No time for that though, registration was already underway for what is also known as the Mark Webb memorial race. It is 6.5 m...

Countdown to Nepal – 7 weeks Next race – Kielder Run-Bike-Run 16 days, Kielder Marathon - 17 days I have done training! Thanks for reading, see you next time! OK, a little more than that…  In my  last update , written from the only seat I could find in Dusseldorf airport next to a working power socket, I talked about how I had carefully crafted a plan then promptly ignored it as I allowed life to overtake me; spending more time in airports and hotels than at home. Well, since then I think it’s fair to say the situation has drastically improved. I am hesitant to say I was playing catch up with my training plan. “Catch-up” echoes of turning up at the bar an hour and a half after everyone else and immediately drinking two pints, a bottle of Apple VK and a shot of jägermeister before being able to enjoy the first normal drink of the night; all so that you can say you have caught up. Playing catch-up with a training plan and your drinking buddies have a lo...

Update 1: 17/09/2019 We have our first offical entry for Tame the Tyne! On a wet Thursday evening Adrian got us out of the blocks with a rapid time. He has set the bar pretty high but I know there are a few others out there ready to take him down! If you fancy getting yourself on the leader board take a look here for all the info you need to enter, and read the route description here! Official Leader Board The results below are all of the official entries ranked by score against the submitted reference times Position Name Club Time Score (%) 1 Adrian Hall Tyne Bridge H. 19:40 93.7 Live Strava Segment The live Strava segment shows all times for the segment. If your time is here but not in the table above then get in touch!

I'm guessing you are here because you have entered, or are thinking about entering " Tame the Tyne ". If you have entered, THANKS! Your support means a great deal to me and even more to the people of Nepal who you are helping! If you haven't entered yet, check out all the info below. I hope the route description inspires you to sign up and help out these great causes! Check out this page for more info:  https://runningthebreeze.blogspot.com/p/tame-tyne.html The best way to view the route is the Strava segment which you can find here: https://www.strava.com/segments/21295874 You can also see a sped up and slightly shaky video of the route here If after reading the description below, watching the video and studying the strava map you still aren't sure, get in touch here or comment below with your question and I will try my best to help. Start Line The start line is the row of bollards on the northern end of the Millennium bridge . P...

Where do I start with this one? If you have never come across Anna McNuff before I suggest you take a few minutes to watch the Tedx talk she gave in 2015 where she touched on her 1100mile ride around America and her run through New Zealand. Or better yet, check out her books, both of which have 5 star ratings on Amazon .

Countdown to Nepal – 17weeks Next race – Thunder run 24 hour relay (20th/21st July) A while back, when I had a generous 20 weeks to go before the Kieldermarathon weekend, where I plan to take on the run bike run and the marathon over the two days, I sat down to write my training plan. Here is my simple, but hopefully not flawed logic: I train for Kielder marathon following a fairly standard 18 week marathon training plan; Throw in a good helping of cross training on the bike (commuting, the occasional long ride), swap one or two of the long runs for Brick sessions (run-bike-run); Smash Kielder weekend like a boss then in the 4 weeks before departing for Nepal focus on recovery and sustaining fitness. Sounds simple and solid even if I do say so myself. Training plan I have written my training plan based around the excellent book from Matt Fitzgerald , “80/20 Running” (On amazon here but, as they say, available from all good bookshops, and probably...

Part two of my mini Fishwick

There is a word in the fell running community that can bring a smile ,and a grimace, to the face of those who know it:  Fishwicking : (verb) To run more fell races than most people deem sensible over a short period.

One of my favourite things that running gives me is a great way to see a new city. Pounding the streets brings you closer than watching the world through the window of the air conditioned taxi as you zip between tourist hot spots. Running often necessitates a visit to a quieter, less touristy place in search of the elbow room, and safety, to run. So when my wife and I set off for our honeymoon in Thailand , naturally, the first thing in my bag was my running shoes!

There is blood on my hands. Dirt clings to my legs and face. Barbs grab at my ankles as I frantically try to make progress towards the track. I can hear them moving through the brush behind me, their sense of urgency as clear as mine. I see a flash of colour as one of them darts through the dense woodland and I lose my footing. I heave myself off the sturdy birch that caught my slide and leap down a small drop, praying I don't snag my ankle and the clawing brambles; now is not the time to take a tumble. I am starting to feel desperate, I must find it soon.  No, I am not being chased by some wild assailants or on the desperate hunt for some exciting treasure. I’m not even running the Barkley marathons….this is orienteering!...Although I might be doing it wrong... In November I attended my first orienteering event organised by Newcastle and Tyneside Orienteers (NATO) set in the beautiful Simonside hills. A few months ago, one of the organisers of that event got in touch t...