Welcome to not another Runner podcast a running and health-related podcast created by a run-of-the-mill. Yes pun intended every day Runner join me for all things running health and well-being related for the highs and lows of Life Training and chasing girls. This podcast is designed.Keep you motivated and enthusiastic on your journey to health and happiness. Every time I run I discover something new about me and about life be a reason why I run or a discovery of myself. I genuinely find gratitude through Runnin. I am able to stay healthy and fit through the execution of my passion, but furthermore I'm able to achieve peace presents growth and Discovery and I love to hear all your stories on how running has changed your lives and what it's brought to you. I want to connect like-minded people through the power of podcast.Hello and welcome back to not another Runner podcast. Welcome back to you regular listeners. Thanks for tuning in to these weekly episodes. And if you are listening for the first time then thank you for joining and choosing to listen to this episode on to this podcast. Yeah, absolute 22. So if you are a new listener, there are 21 other episodes with some great guests that you can listen to after that you haveListen to Simon and so yeah, today's story is a great story that won't fail to motivate and inspire you to get up and get going. And that's exactly what I aim to achieve with this podcast as I say in the introduction. I also aim to connect like-minded people through the power of podcast. So please get in touch with both. Me and Simon over on Instagram or via Blog the links are in the show notes, which should be below the podcast title if you scroll all the way down do Use the hashtag why I run making sure you tag me in the post so that I don't miss this and let me and Simon know why you run his reason was simply because I can a simple but powerful and effective reason and it got me thinking God. I don't think I can summarize my reason for running and just a short phrase. So I was thinking that was quite clever that he came up with that. Yeah, because I've said before got many many reasons. Why I run so I was thinking a few of you got one simple reason as to why you run and if you do get in touch and let me know using that hashtag why I run and tagging me in the post just quickly before we get to the chat with Simon. I wanted to say a quick shout out to Amy on the Run who posted the other day saying how she tuned in to the podcast. She said grateful for some running wisdom from this man runs today or not another one. A podcast I've been trying to plan next year's races this week with a head full of indecision on one hand the possibility of good for age looms large. But another part of me thinks that there are different challenges. I want to go for longer distances tougher terrain and in between the decision making both ideas have felt equally daunting but two things he said stuck with me one you miss 100% of the shots. You don't take and two you can always find time for what's important to you. So thanks John because either way if I don't push Skills, I'll never know what I can do and if nothing goes to plan, I've given it a go while doing what I love best love that post. So thanks for posting that Amy and reminding me of what brilliant episode that was with this man runs. If you haven't listened to it already, you will want to go back and listen to that and that's episode 5 John never ceases to make me laugh. I think he brightens my day every time I watch her stories. So I'm assuming most of you listening will already be following him. And if you're not you need to go and check him out wanted to mention quickly as well big. Shout out to Michael who posted something this week that really resonated with me was really glad actually that he posted it and that tag me in it because it was a great reminder for myself. So Michael said Michael is under the username I run. To stay alive coach said to nag split 10-mile easy run. So I did cold 21 degrees, but I loved it kindness is important. But you also need to be kind to you remember how important you are and what your needs are. You can't lift someone up when you are down. So be kind to you today listen to podcast today or not. Another Runner with Matt runs UK. He is inspiring if you can follow him on his journey. Please do loved that. You posted that like I said you Michael It was a really really great reminder for me to read definitely need to read that Michael lives in New York, which I was like, oh that's really cool. Was there in January and I do hope to go back one day and hopefully one day when the run the marathon but yeah Big shout out to Michael for that brilliant post. So I think we'll get straight over to the chat now with Simon AKA Run Fatboy Run. Enjoy and let me know your thoughts. Hello and welcome to another episode of the not another Runner podcast. Today's guest is a male runner a father to three a blogger and today's guest decided to take the health and lifestyle more seriously in the last few years. You've got an inspiring story to share or at least I definitely say so as to his followers are not not sure he says himself he's an inspiration, but he is to me and I'm thrilled to be able to catch up with And today's guest is Simon Grace known by the Alias run boy, run. Hi Simon and welcome. How we doing? Right? Yes, really good really good. That was a bit thing there when I was introducing you that I'm thinking do you call yourself an inspiration? Because I look at you and think you'll really inspirational and personally. No, I knew that. Yeah, it's just kind of get open and going to go I need to do. Yeah. On what I'll take it? No you are you do you inspire me and right. So could you tell us just a little bit about yourself then Simon and what it is you do for a Livin. Yeah. So 30 currently work for a national plan hard company that's not sort of hiring out flowers and stuff. Its main construction equipments are look after the power access to Vision across the East Midlands for them been doing that three and a bit years now. It's good fun fits in with my life as well because it can be quite flexible with picking up children. Doctor's appointments for kids Etc. Be Hayes is a challenge but it's it's good fun. I enjoy it and you get a good work-life balance as well. That's the key thing. Isn't it? Massive? Yeah. Yeah, my my managers. He's great. He's really understand him. He's got children as well, which I think adds Matt like big to the whole work life home life. If balance he's a real big fan of that perfect and also always great when you can fit in the running around Wick just just yeah between kids and everything else. Exactly exactly. How could you tell us how it was you've got into running and how long you've been running for? Yeah. I mean at my previous place of employment work on even which half math and were talking about it might been great North run and but after a long conversation with The last phrase that they use first you can do that. There's kind of like a hold your beer moment be right back. Let's see here. Let me see what I can do. So yeah off the back of that kind of I'll be honest with you. I just winged it. I've tried to run what I thought was a mile looking back. It probably wasn't it's probably half a mile maybe 1/4 Mile and I felt awful so then I thought all right, so I went to the gym because we're on the road was tough. If I was carrying more weight than I am now and it kind of sort of spiraled from there. So set quite small but achievable goals, which I think quite key to anyone get into running. So the first one was to just finish 5 kilometers on a treadmill and then it yeah, it just went from there and it's smooth obviously not looking back now. It's it's part of my life day in day out. So for you it was literally some banter at work and someone saying You couldn't do that and that's when you started. Yeah, I mean, I mean incredibly stupid stupid individual. So if you can't if you say I can't do something even if I think you might be right. I'll still give it a go and try to do my best. But yeah, I kind of think that ex-colleague even though the time I saw a bit on our cell for saying it but yeah, give me a chance and I'll show you what I can do. It's funny because so many people I speak to. You and ask how they got into running quite and this is more in within the men they given there's a bit of banter or a bet or no, you can't do that. And then before they know what they've signed up to a race the trade for it and then they fall in love with it and then it becomes part of their life. Yeah. I mean a colleague who used to work to come out now, he ran the great North run basically off the back of exactly what you've just said when out too many beers on a Sunday afternoon, you get a spot in the great North run will sponsor you you can't do it. Blah blah blah and I don't think he enjoyed it but he got round and yeah, it's not quite part of his life full-time, but he still tries to keep his active as he can. Yeah, and what what year was this then so this would be the back probably mid-2015 because I ran my first half marathon in Coventry in 2016, which I think was the end of February maybe. Yeah, so it gave myself maybe five. Or six months to go for him. Yeah, not really moving to trying to call her the house 30 miles which is quite sensible. Really? Yeah agreed. Yeah, and I think looking back it could have been so not easy and that's the wrong phrase. But with now you wouldn't you get into running you see what people are doing and you understand different types of training. Where's mom is very much as soon as I got out on the road. It was very much bright today of that. I think had I think I was using RunKeeper. It's not a problem to get two miles in 3 miles five miles can't go any further at the minute. So I would have a few five miles and there's just zero structure. Yeah, it was all very much. Let's try and plaque off way to the start line and then see what happens. Yeah. It does get it does get easier. Yeah. Yeah, and the the development of right the beginning is like the most addictive It's like because you do see the progress so quickly be an onion. Going from like a non-runner all you know not running hardly anything to then build an app that mileage. It's such an exciting time to like work towards on massively. You say you come on kind of Leaps and Bounds and quite a short time period. Yeah, I think as time goes on those Leaps and Bounds has become smaller and smaller and that's when you have to change things up and you have to change your strategy about how you trained in and ba in the beginning. This is amazing to go through have just done 27 minutes for 5 kilometers and then suddenly after three or four months later. It's 24 minutes. You think I'm not just three minutes of my time. And yeah, that's it addictive. Yeah. Yes it is. So when you did start you said you you literally went you know, 2015. I think, you know, mid-2015 you went from not moving at all. If so, will you not participating? Sitting in any sports at all. As you add just a couple of years of you know less activity. I mean when I was a kid, I was really active up until I went to University 18. So I was swam sort of almost at county level paid for 11 a side football of until I went and left home to go to Mumford then suddenly beer and nights out and being hungover and eating as cheaply and Greasy and fatty foods that was all just surviving really on on nothing and that that became a way of life are sort of three years at University. Then I worked in the pub trade for a couple of years after that which wasn't great. I don't got a desk job which didn't help so I wasn't even I didn't have a Fitbit or garment. I didn't know how many steps I was doing, but they can't have been many on on a weekday must have been to that house. Mm. Maybe I don't I can vouch. Yeah, it's tough. Yeah. Yeah, so when you did start running and get into the gym after this banter bucket, we're we're there any periods that you really struggled or you felt like you wanted to give up I think going back to what I said earlier about being incredibly stupid. I knew I was going to finish the half marathon whether it I almost died trying I was going to get from A to B. But the were sort of many points for I thought we've got to six miles here. That's not quite halfway. And then that suddenly becomes such a daunting challenge of I've got a room what I've just done my first ever run again and a little bit more and then I think due to the fact that I am quite Self-motivated and throwing the stubbornness that it didn't really become a major sort of issue because I wanted to prove to myself and to prove to my only son at the time that you can do things. If you put your mind to it and you work hard and you know, I mean training through the winter regardless of what level you run that is is awful at the best of times but when you're trying to win it by yourself, you don't really know any other runners. It was tough, but you just yeah self-pride a think. Yeah, and I think you said it was the self because yourself motivated. That's what kept you go in. I mean you saying about the winter and training through the winter regardless of what level you are training at whether you're a beginner or you know events group then that is like you really do have to love what you're doing and be disciplined and self-motivated, especially when it is pouring with rain. D like torrential torrential rain or awful wind or even snow is hard so hard to like get yourself out the door. But yeah, I think as I said self pride as well is the kind of that person said you can do that. I don't want to ever prove them wrong. It's a proof of right sorry, so I had to prove them wrong. And yeah, how do you come? Sorry. I was gonna say how did they react when you did accomplish this huge achievement of training and running your first half marathon looking back at they didn't seem that bothered. I think the more thought about it and more people that have asked me. I think it was purely down to the fact that I kind of stuck a middle finger up and when I told you so night. Yeah best bit Yeah, because I hadn't finished. I'd have never heard the end of it. Yeah, that's it. That's not worth it. Even if you hated the sport and you just absolutely hated the training it wouldn't be worth it and even the race if it was like Like if it was all you would finish it regardless exactly exactly and I mean, I didn't really enjoy it that much because I then didn't run again for for eight months or so. I was yeah, I was just about to ask. You know, how did the experience is go? How did it go down? I don't sleep gone. No just in case it didn't go very well at snowy TimeWise. I don't I ran I think it was 140. holy 145 current wow but for someone that had blacked it I didn't know where that time stacked up that point in my life and I didn't I did enjoy it but there were parts during that where I remember it Coventry they think that's the last mile and a half's all downhill now I've never been so glad to kind of how gravity on my side but then coming back through the city center and see my partner my family all there R and seeing my son on the side it kind of all was worth it hmm and yeah it wasn't an enjoyable experience of such but I did like the pre-race build-up and the post-race sort of his medal you're bloody did it mate well done and that yeah that was the highlight and you know afterwards there's eight months you said you didn't run after that what did you do anything did you go back The gym or did you have a bit of downtime that went on for a bit longer? I went from running a little bit to do it bugger. All basically. Yeah, I didn't do anything at all. And the only reason I got back into running so high it might have been 70s six or seven months think about it because then one of my friends had seen that I'd ran the country off and said right I'm signing up next year. Let's do it. So we then both run it in. 2017 and I didn't really enjoy it the second time around to be honest with you and a common the time of that one. I think it was probably slower because it was kind of much more winging it because I thought my head around one once I'm God's gift to run in here we go. And yeah, it was cold. I think and wet and when I did the second half marathon, I think I got a spot of the great North run in 2017 and That didn't burn for two months after that. So then I started to build up to the great North run again in 2017. And that was a whole new experience house. Obviously my first real big event. That was the moment that kind of sparked the right. Simon can have to give this a go properly you can you can have to dig deep and try and run consistently. So that's when I came up with the 2018 Challenger. We're going to run a thousand miles so new I knew that I would do it. Go back to being stubborn. Yeah, keep you running week in week out even when there wasn't anything going on and that's when this world of instagramming parkrun and everything else kind of opened up, right? Okay, that's a great goal to have I've seen a few people do that to keep motivated. However me 1,000 miles for a year, which was actually mine until many a thing popped up this year that's prevent running. And so I think I'm going to have to have that. Again for next year. I don't think it's especially now as I'm not running will not supposed to do right now. I feel like it's really not going to happen now, but we've always got next year 2020 we go again we go again. I lost it. So that's so that's 2018. Then you set that goal of 4,000 miles and that just kept you motivated throughout the year. Yeah completely and I think I created my Instagram account just probably couple weeks after the great North run and it was pure. Early to say to myself you put it into the public. You're going to run a thousand miles. Yes, you've got a as anywhere. Yeah, they're not a couple of strangers bumps me in sort of back end of January and early February. I thought oh shit, you can have to do the have to buy started off really strong in January as well. I think it did a hundred to a hundred and ten maybe in January. Yeah, really strong months and I suddenly thought no I've got 800 Until the Bulldogs to go this year, but it definitely is consistency and this yeah, they can't that really really ignited my love for running and just being outdoors more General. Yeah. Yeah. Oh, yeah appreciating it. You know, there's not many other hobbies that you well perhaps there are for some people but for me, like there's no other hobby that I would actually get outdoors and appreciate my surrounded surroundings as much as I would go in on a long run. Definitely. Yeah, because I wouldn't I wouldn't really like going out for a walk in torrential rain, but I could easily run interrupt request doesn't make sense. It's like completely agree. Yeah. Yeah strange, isn't it? I was just about to ask you something then about the thousand-mile challenge for all yeah, you said about setting up the Instagram. So at that time when you did when you set this goal and you wanted to be accountable, so your accountability was setting up a profile putting Out there to the public which is a great way because you know some of the people then with accountability you might follow a training plan, but you're not really going to have a unique training plan for you know, achieving A Thousand Miles. So was that you know, when you set up your profile was it literally Run Fatboy Run from the very beginning or from the very beginning. Yeah. Okay. Did you did you set it up anonymously or did you set it up like telling your friends and family can't really I think because obviously as many people have highlighted to me over the last couple years has my profile doesn't actually mention my name. It just says Run Fatboy Run because it was I think the first few pictures as well. I probably I probably are of me but then there's just a lot of generic here's a picture of my trainer. Here's a picture of a tree around past because it was more just upload what you've done keep a track of it like a running diary Journal kind of sort of Adventure. I'm yeah, it was all very much purely for accountability. Nothing else. Yeah. Yeah. I always find that interesting. I don't ask everyone I you should ask the first few guests, you know, so did you set it up? Non-misleading you tell people like was it a secret? I love I love knowing but yet when you said about, you know, being a run and diary it that is it works. So well, like if ever you're having a bad day or a bad month or My case a bad few months we are and as much as you want to be it is nice to look back at some of your memories of some races with friends achievements or you know, when you're fit and running really, well, it is nice to go back and be able to see our yeah, I achieve that or I did do that and it kind of motivates you again to go again. Yeah could not agree anymore. I've had a rough. Well what day we are now midden almost well mid-november. Ember it's I've had a rough couple of weeks post Berlin Marathon hmm and flicking back through and catch numbers friends. And you think it's not always bad if you've done quite well. Yeah, it's nice to look back and reminisce but always take the approach of it's good to look back but we always need to make sure we keep looking forward as well. And I think like what you said about I like you've had a bad few weeks post Billet. I think this is a very common thing. I mean like when you've had I can erase or you have a you know, a long-standing training plan for an event that event takes place and then it's gone. It does leave you with some blues like it's a bit like a grieving process is like okay that's gone. Now you kind of need to find something else. It's really strange. I don't think I've ever experienced anything like it in my life of I've got a chalkboard in my living room that I used for the Thousand Miles where Italian mob. Every week this year. It's been for Manchester Marathon. It was right or going to go sub 3:30 didn't make it London. I fell over the week before the marathon her my leg. So we don't talk about that too much, but then for five months it said on there Berlin Marathon sub 3:30. For a long period of time to focus on one day. Oh my God. Yeah. It was almost not soul-destroying but when I crossed the Finish Line, it was kind of I done it. Yeah. Yeah, and I think it's no emotion. We where you did do it as well. You've got your sub 3:30. Hmm, but there was no emotion. It was so bizarre. I'll be honest you I cried when I ran the Manchester Eros and this year obviously being the first one that was really emotional. Now and then Berlin was just sort of I know but I do now. Yeah. Yeah, I didn't know still don't really know what the minute to be honest, but we shall see. But for you like when you sink because it just came to my head. You know, you struggled that when you first went out when you struggled for like what you think was either a quarter half a mile and it was definitely under a mile. You really struggled and you built that distance up slowly slowly slowly and now you can say you've achieved the Marathon distance and free, you know sub 3:30 325. That's incredible. Credible incredible progress. Yeah, and I think it's been great. I think that's down to a couple of sort of main reasons one that half on a lot about 12 felonies. You've got a room that running is all relative. So forget what the likes of you your sub 3 hour marathon runners are doing if you're going to aiming for sub Fort don't worry about that. Don't worry about what the elites of this world are doing be inspired by them by all means They're running a different rates. You've got to focus on running on Purely your own race. Yeah, and I've got hot probably caught up slightly in that in not so much early 2018 but middle of the 2018 because I'd be able to run tests similar 5-kilometer time to someone else but they're ten ten ten kilometer time was so much quicker than mine, but it's different every one is sort of programmed and trains differently. And as I don't know what you're running experiences or the next person, you know, I mean everyone is completely different and but running consistently is the absolute key to everything. Yeah. Yeah, definitely and having a good training plan, you know, you can't in order to progress the fitness. You can't have one. You can't have one element or Fitness. So you can't you can't practice the long run and expect to get better and faster at the long run. If you've not got your intervals to work on your speed or have the strength or You know build up the endurance slowly first so that you can build on every other element of the fitness. Yeah, that was the real sort of vibe. And when I because for Manchester, I just printed off a generic online training plan said sub 3:30 you need to you should have be able to run a half marathon in whatever time it suggested which I could do and then it was very much like we're going to follow this plan and I was surprised of seeing why is it making me do this? Why is it? Making me do that. Yeah, then you start Googling stuff and then you like all right, and it all everything is just a teeny tiny piece of a large puzzle. Yeah. That's what makes it interesting. Yeah. I remember being shocked at my training plan prior to London marathon and looking at like the few runs that I did have to do and the pace and how much lower it was like I get that easy runs and Recovery runs are supposed to be really slow and so much lower than your normal. But these ones they were so much slower. And I know you know now know it's to build up endurance first to build those building blocks ready in order to build up the other elements of Fitness because without endurance you're not going to be able to sustain intervals sessions because you haven't got the endurance to do so. Yeah, and I think I probably learn the hard way because I picked up a little problem before Manchester my foot and that was Just the slow and slower easy. Whichever one you want to call them. They weren't at the right pace and they're probably still aren't now but they're better. So instead of being closer to 8:30 9:00. There were probably 7:45 and that's not easy. That's that's it's all it's all a learning curve, isn't it? Absolutely. Yeah, and I think I think sometimes as well complacency can come in we can forget a b and c and then remember. Oh, yeah. Yeah, we need to go back to basic do this. Yep. Got it ABC's again. And it's like the whole you have to you can't run before you can walk. Yeah. So idea of really neat. You can't just get up and go. Yeah want no one is really Born to Run 26 miles or even further they didn't just wake up one day and go so well, I never in a marathon today. He's got it. It's what about Bill? Arjun and so yeah, you did do exceptionally well recently without Berlin Marathon, you know, you'll build up towards that race. How did it go did it go to plan? I mean, let's be honest. No marathon training plan goes to plan. But how did it go about as as probably perfectly as I probably will ever experience may be smart bold statement Iran. As I said this training plan that I got from took on an online coach for Berlin because I needed something a bit more individual and bit more personalized rather than the click and print kind of one from the internet. So I took on Sam from Head Start coaching and he just said look what you want to achieve where we are and I just come off the back of the London marathon and said, I think I called it operation rebuild. So I think the first week I did for run. Means and not total 30 miles across all four in total for Week 1 and then by the end of it we towards the end. It was 50 miles in a week and it's a real slow build-up. And then yeah, the the last few weeks brilliant. I ran a half marathon Personal Best in Kenilworth, maybe three weeks out. And yeah, it just all everything as we went said earlier about the jigsaw pieces. They'll literally slot it into place. Yeah. But yeah, Berlin could have gone better. That is brilliant. Wow. I mean your first your first marathon. How did that go? I mean did you because I'm curious now because my Marvin build-up was not good. I was like him from the flute whites at least twice or three times it really like, I mean it went well, don't get me wrong. But it yeah, there were two periods of flew in in the in the build-up which put me out God. I think it was four weeks in total for yeah, which is a lot like 1402 two sets of fortnight's. Yeah so to speak but yeah, so and I think that was the impact of that the impact of the the mileage under the you know, the novelty of what I was doing and trying to train for it was new to the body as I think a lot of people training for those specially the first one I learn as well rest. As part of the process. Oh, absolutely. Yeah people think I'm having a Rapture. Yeah, so we don't want to be able to run tomorrow morning about make it to a mile. Yeah, definitely and sleep. I used to get really like actress about sleep. I've never met I need to be in bed. I need to be over my eight hours. I'll be so anxious to get that sleep to try and stay. Well. Yeah, and I'm not the great sleep in the world. Anyway, why do you remember the week prior to the Manchester? And my sleeping was terrible. I was sort of grinding my teeth talking in my sleep waking up at 3 o'clock in the morning. I'm really Crystal Clear vivid dreams. Remember one eye in my dream. I got two mile 20 and my trainers just disintegrated anything. Why is my mind doing to me? Give me a break. Oh my God, that is nerve-racking that is obviously anxiety and stress because it Was new yeah if I was a half marathon and I just need like a log. Yeah. Yes. It's new and I'd never run that far before. You probably felt the same coming up to your first half marathon in probably might not remember as well. Probably trying. Yeah, probably trying to delete that from the mind. Yeah. So what about this year and next year if you got any big goals or achievements that you all working towards, you know, like you're a thousand miles that year. Have you ever thought of like Another doing another year with like a different figure to reach to probably not. I mean this year. I'm hoping I've kind of pencil in a goal of this time finish it 1200. So I finished at 1100 last year and with the missed much three weeks of January couple weeks after London marathon with my leg and there's all these been bits and Bobs several just that's progression when you take them out Oliver. And a lot further if I hadn't have had all those things whereas in 2018, I kind of ran injury-free pretty much just a few minor tweaks. Yeah, but that's for the rest of the year. It's going to be just about enjoying running and really was a smile get some partner and tourism in. Yeah. Yeah doesn't mean I definitely need to do more keep saying it said I'm done it yet, but I think I think there's been another other girls. Running related that I've been working towards so it's kept me very busy. That's the best way. Yeah. Yeah, I think next year's going to be. Well, I hope no hope next is going to be more about running but I've got other plans as well. So we'll see I will die today. Yeah, very so what about with regards to this lost my train of thought now, where was I right about skills and achievements mean really? This is what I wanted to ask. Okay, so I'm going to backtrack just a little bit. Okay. So you said earlier about setting up your Instagram and starting from there and having having that accountability tell me when was it? You started the blog did that come a little while after and what made you want to put your thoughts down and put that out there in the world because that's quite, you know have an Instagram account and posting posts on the On your you know your daily activities your your stories is one thing but doing a Blog which is a little bit normally more intimate and full of more personal details and information is you know, it's a Next Step again, isn't it? Yeah. I mean the blog kind of coincided with the Thousand Miles because especially people that are friends of my parents, for example, they're not really Instagram users. So my mom and dad would be saying now Simon's been doing this and they're like, really. All right, and then they buy our can you get check this out? This is where I used to talk to it almost every other week on a different block to the one that I kind of write a little bit on now and that was very much just to say that here we go. This is what I've done. This is where we go in and it was very much. I'd like some support for the charity I was running for which was Parkinson's UK and yeah. Not great when it comes to to put in words down on paper because my mind probably runs a hundred miles an hour and then when I look back at sentences, it's not quite as I probably mean for them to come across so that the blog doesn't get updated nearly as much as it should have started of almost finished my Berlin recap, but I don't it's still sore for some reason it it's quite quite strange feeling to be saying it's finished. I don't know if I can push publish it yourself not Yeah. Yeah, and on the thing is with the blog it does take a lot more time. It's surprising how much time it can take. I think like when you're already juggling life, you know life life with a family and working full-time in you know, it's busy enough as it is. Anyhow, without trying to you know, have have a hobby that you dedicate weekly or training plan or working towards girls. Let alone that as well. It's like something's got to give sometimes, isn't it? It's hard to try and juggle everything that yeah, you getting from work, right? Let's sit down. I'll probably won't her family dinner because I need to run or have family dinner. Then. I can't run a partner. She might be working late. So I'll pick the boys up from from wherever they're being and then I got get them in bed. No one's here to watch the book and it is a juggling act. But yeah, I think a lot of people in my situation and in similar situations, they kind of find a routine that works for them. M it's marathon training is a whole new ballgame, but when I was running a thousand miles, I knew that I had an hour on a Monday when one of my older one of the two were at football, and then I could run Tuesdays and Thursdays when they were both in bed because her daughter was here to watch them in the house and then Park from Saturday and maybe a few miles on the Sunday, and that's why did almost religiously for the whole year whereas math in training you beg borrow and steal time, don't you? Charlie screams in what you can yeah, because that I always ask, you know how you manage, you know most most of the guests on the podcast especially being a runner and or training for longer distances the marathon and Ultras, you know, it is such a huge commitment with time and like you say you beg borrow steal and it is like it's just massive juggling Act of how you do it and I'm always in all of those of you guys who are parents and still manage it and get Get your girl done get the plan done because you know, I I found it and do find it hard myself and I don't have children. So, you know, you're playing a whole other game and it is admirable as I said, I think it it just comes down to to hold beg borrow steal time, but kind of finding something that works for you. And I the only time I've ever got up regularly to running the before work with Olga's last year when we had that incredible Heat Wave because I knew that I couldn't I couldn't run a 10K on a Tuesday night because it was still 30 degrees. Whereas yeah before work. It was only 19. Yeah, but yeah, you just find something that works time you yeah, because I was going to ask you ever get up early early morning to fit in because at all. Yeah you in the same boat as me. I can't do it. I've done it a few times and every time I do it I feel so proud. To myself. I'm like, yes, I have conquered the wig today and it is a great feeling but halfway through the day. I'm at the desk so I can work and I might oh my God, I'm so tired. Like my eyes are dropping. Yeah, it's I mean every morning I set my alarm 45 minutes earlier. I think I might do something. Yeah, but every day I oversleep by 50 minutes, so I'm 5 minutes behind schedule. Anyways, I'm buggered before I even look out there - yeah, it is a commitment is because It's just so much harder. It's hard enough getting a couple isn't it getting up and getting ready? Just pressing this time of year when the clocks now changed? Yeah. Yeah, so dark, isn't it gosh, so I asked this to everyone. What is your reason for running your hashtag? Why I run that does keep you motivated. Probably quite simple actually because I can well, I like that. Yeah, and that's that's brilliant. Actually. That's not a big heavy at all because it's not about how fast or how far you can run but there will probably be some point in my life where I can't so while I can I shall that's brilliant. I like that simple but so effective. Yes the way I like it. And what would you say is the best thing that running is brought to you in your life new people into my life probably have the same passion and understanding and frustrations that I do and appreciate that training for any event whether it's a 5k a half marathon. Morrison all those insane people that run even further they understand all of that because there are people that how far was your Marathon last week? Well, the marathon is 26 and a bit. Yeah, you don't quite understand it. But I've probably over the last couple of years to 95% of my running by myself, but this year it's been very much going along for the ride with other people and park ruin. And running helping people achieve their peepees with some pacing you can have a beer afterwards and they understand what you go through what they go through each week. And yeah, it's pretty yeah, I love that as well. That's a that's an n one of the reasons for me brings people to your life and love that. So if you could give others listening three tips in getting started and running so it could be getting back into running increasing the distance. Starting from scratch. What would they be you three best tips with running? I've already mentioned it but running is all relative. Don't compare yourself to anybody else. Even if you're the same age, you were born on the same day you run some of the times you don't know their backstory. You don't know how long they've been running for two it so never compare yourself to anyone else run consistently, even if that's a couple of miles three times a week. That's a heck of a lot better. I'm doing bubba row and the third one enjoy the social side of running. It doesn't have to be about going balls out. Every race slow it down talk to people and high-five every person you see on the course when you're running say thank you to anyone in volunteers. Yes. Yes love that one. Love all of those. I'm the special that last bit, you know enjoying the social aspect. I love love that and thanking people at races all Just every time I raced last one thing I love to do is just thanking the volunteers because they always give you so much. They just cheer you on and try and motivate you there clapping. They might have cowbells but this pier and you want to try and complete that race and they given up their time their volunteer and dedicated they could be doing anything else and sometimes I've been at a race with his been awful weather torrential rain and they they have it harder than we do when we're running because as they stood not move in in that awful cold and rain and wet. Yeah giving up their time blessum. So always thank the volunteers new Marshals. Yeah. How about if you could run a race anywhere in the world, where would it be? Tonight at least of thought about this a lot. There are so many. Even just cities that not even with a race that I'd like to run around tired of to run in Central Park or I think the Gold Coast marrinson looks quite good run around Sydney the Great Wall of China. There's so many yeah. I've no idea I can dance with one of the freighter. There's too many. Yeah. Yeah that that New York or China. That was last a good one ultra marathon along the Great Wall of China. Yeah, I think there is and I think that's quite that is that's because we really hard up and down those steps. Yeah. It's a bloody long way as well forget the steps, but even just from as the as the crow flies. It's It said a very very quite and do you have a favorite or uplifting motivational phrase and why that you know something that keeps you keeps you going and either with turning up getting getting daily life done or within Runnin take the shit because that you can take that in any context that you see that you need to take in. Yeah under its You're struggling to get back into running or your jobs causing Carnage. But yeah, as long as you turn up, yeah and yours don't be shit. You can't ask yourself and it's to do anymore. Yeah, so a bit like you can only do what you can do right when one day, you know, I was it that I say there's always like I used to say that I work there's always tomorrow or like literally like you can only do what you can do. So yeah. Yeah, that's quite a good And I did that would you say if there's if work is causing Carnage? Yeah, because work what gets in the way of everything doesn't it? Yeah, what work can literally mean the place of your employment. You've got other things going on in life to take work. It's anything and everything that kind of pulls you away from probably what you want to be doing that. Yes. It's yeah. Yeah. Yeah, and sometimes it can be really hard to try and Achieve that were clear. Balance the trying to strive for that is good as well. Now tell me who would you love to hear on this podcast, I would say run with I think it's room with Ralph. I think I can handle is she has been has a streak in but not literally everyone streaking. I think she's on day six hundred. Three at this moment in time. Maybe. Wow. Yeah, and she signed up to her first marathon next year and she's just done a first half bathroom and I've only met her once but she lives three mark less than three miles from where I live Brian. Weld yeah met through Instagram three miles. Wow. Yeah, but she runs it like 6 o'clock in the morning most mornings whereas 7 if I can the evening kind of Runner. Yeah. Have you guys met Then only once but not oh no twice we met at the 1/6 n k in London and I was on the way to meet and in Birmingham and we bumped into each other in the service station. Wow, isn't that the odds I walked past her Kansai. I know you from somewhere and then before it even got back in my car. She had messaged me saying even so-and-so service station. I was like, yeah, I thought it was you. I'm on my way back. I say hello. Wow, I'll see that that is what I love about like, I think you know what recently there's been so much stick with regards to the community on Instagram the running Community specifically and this is because there's so many people on there. Everyone's got different girls. You can all appreciate everyone different girls, but that's one thing that I love about it is that it does, you know, you can meet so many like-minded people. Like that was one of the reasons for your you said you loved that brought in your life is meeting other people, like like people that you can just totally relate to and not even have to explain but you just understand each other, but I just think that's one of the things that I've really really love and so grateful for it because I've made some some friends for life. We like might not have met yet virtually as I live right at the back and Southwest Wales. I'm so far away from So many people but yeah, I've met people that I do classes great friends and that will be friends for life. I think you just appreciate don't either as you say everyone's got different goals, but we turn up almost day in day out and we do what we can do to achieve those goals. Yeah. Absolutely. Definitely. What I'm going to do now for our final little questions is back by popular demand. I've been I've been told to bring back the Speedy pebes that I used to do at the end of the podcast. So I don't know if you listen to the like the first couple of episodes but this is where I give you two options and you've got to give me your your favorite. So which prefers a bit like I think John Flynn this man runs called it this or that and so let's just have a look haven't actually prepared them for you. So this is all off the cuff. Okay. I am black and it yet I did this the other day when I was he's chatting with Carly. So the you have to be Speedy because it's Speedy pb's okay. So which one is the best for you? All right, so Marathon or 5K marathon running with friends or running with music friends when running alone running with music or podcasts music just just and pre pre race. We'll post race meal both. They're both have that chips or crisps. Oh chips gels or jelly babies gels jelly babies are disgusting controversial. I love Jelly Baby. Jelly. Jellybeans. Jellybeans work. Well if anyone's using sweets on runs, and I'm not keen on Jelly Babies jelly beans are good. Winter or summer training summer winter or spring Marathon. Oh spring just all that winter training though. Yeah. Go in addition to let yeah true very true and mild and boiling hot run or freezing cold boiling hot. Okay, and if right say for example now you've got to do The day and this is anytime you can choose to fit your running because you and your family are so busy. You've either got 5:30 a.m. Or the only other time you could fit in on this training plan of yours is really important to you 10:30 p.m. 5:30 a.m. Wow, that says a lot. Yeah. I'd rather have a beer in the evening. I think hydration is key remember and that says a lot for you. You don't like that before. No, but I'd risk. Kitt yeah, I think I'd have to do five days, you know, it's done and 10:30 is actively you know all day I've got to do this God exists. I've still got my run up as 10 silver silver. So unless you have your main meal at lunch time and then a snacky it sounds like fun. What well, thanks very much for your time today. Could you just tell everyone where they could go to follow your Escapades and your blog Instagram at Run Fatboy Run 2017 and the blog which is taking a bit of a nose dive, but it's Fat Boy dot run. Perfect. What we'll do we put some links in the show notes and then people can go straight there to the blog if they wanted to because to be fair when I had a little read the other day I have now subscribe. So I am awaiting down the that is on No, I'm only joking. There's no Prussia and thank you very much for your time today. I really appreciate it. Thanks so much for having me, and I know how busy your life is. So I do I do really appreciate it so facts Simon take it. Thank you. Thank you. Bye. Thank you guys so much for joining today and listening to not another Runner podcast. Please tell your friends and family who you think would enjoy the content. I'll be sharing. Don't forget you can get in touch with me over on Instagram by a not another Runner. Let me know your thoughts on the Pod casting suggestions on guests or topics. This is greatly appreciated. Send me your questions through as well if you want and use the hashtag white I run to be featured and hey, if you can't hit subscribe to the podcast, this will really help me to be able to give you more. Oh, thank you again. And remember when you get up and exercise or go for a run. You never regret going, but you always regret not go in. Have a great week guys and speak soon.
Simon Grace, AKA @runfatboyrun2017 has inspired me greatly over the past year. He has achieved not only his first Marathon this year at Manchester Marathon start of April, but he also went on to run London Marathon just three weeks later and then his third Marathon in Berlin this October where he achieved his goal of a sub 3:30 Marathon. Yet, when he started running towards the end of 2015 he did not enjoy it, and struggled to run a mile. Simon has a brilliant attitude to running, training and life. Being a father of three, Simon knows too well the art of juggling work and family life with running and training. He tells us how he manages to schedule in his running and training, and he gives some great advice in this chat. Simon tells us just how he got into running, where he struggled with running less than a mile - to completing three marathons this year. He has had incredible progress within his running, progressing from a 2:00 hour half marathon - 90 minutes. Me and Simon also chat about post race/event Blues, How Instagram can be used as a Diary, and Memory Board to help motivate us, and hold ourselves accountable, and also the importance of setting small achievable goals in order to succeed as a runner. Links: Simon’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/runfatboyrun2017/ Simon’s Blog https://fatboy.run/ Natalie - Not Another Runner Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notanotherrunner/ Blog: https://notanotherrunner.home.blog/ 