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 to another episode of the not another Runner podcast and to episode 26. Thank you guys so much for all the lovely messages both me and genre have received in the past week. Lots of you've got in touch to say how much you really enjoyed that episode between me and John we had a very less formal chat together. It was literally a catch up. We tried a lot about John's recent.And Antics over the past six months and of course his current challenge that he is embarking on and that is the run and home for Christmas. He has already completed 55 miles in these first 10 days of December and the aim will be to run. I think it was 325 miles in total in The 25 Days leading up to Christmas and including Christmas day all for a brilliant cause and razing Money for Trinity Winchester to support the homeless. If you haven't listened to the episode already, please go back and listen to episode 25 after you've heard from James today. It is really good on fun episode. And if anything just to listen in to John hear him talk about his Challenge and how you could support him. It's definitely definitely worth a listen. So before we get on today's show, I just wanted to also say thank you to everyone. For the continued support. Thanks for keeping in touch. Let me know you're listening in and which episode you enjoy all the recommendations. I continue to receive and write in a message. Don't forget you can email me when you visit my homepage on Instagram. You can use the email tab and that's Sometimes the best way to put in a recommendation or if you've got a product or business or you want to be a part of the podcast you can message on there. That's the best. Way to get in touch rather than messaging on Instagram. So I also wanted to say a couple of shoutouts one big shout-out to Jess keep running who is currently training for Manchester Marathon just posted a lovely poster the day with some picture of her Frosty morning run and which said 40 Frosty minutes of easy running around the common listening to not another on a podcast which kept me And my first run up to Christmas miles challenge feeling motivated today and going to share as much of my journey to Manchester Marathon as possible. Happy months. Happy Monday Instagram. Thanks Jess for sharing that loved looking at that. I was very long in for a run looking at those photos feeling just a little bit envious. But so glad that you're out and you're enjoying and what looked like very lovely weather lot's of luck for your Esther marathon training hoping it's going well, and you keeping yourself healthy. Keep us updated on your training, of course and good luck to everyone else taking part in the run up to Christmas miles challenge. I'm not sure how many miles you were doing Jess, or how many people do tend to do. I've not actually done run up to Christmas before but if you are doing this challenge get in touch. Let me know. I love to hear what everyone's getting up to and what challenges you're taking on. Thanks also to No just in running is the handle on Instagram and the post was a it was a photo of here near club club members after a run and it was saying it was it. This is one of my reasons why I run morally running club is my home Club who I run who I am a run leader for the club is fantastic and they've helped me an unbelievable amounts of Destroying, so it's fantastic to be able to give something back. I love that post to thank you for sharing that. It's so true that it is great to give something back. So is lovely it's actually a really enjoyable experience to be able to volunteer or help in any way possible for others and what better feeling than being able to to run with club members. It's yes just a brilliant feeling don't forget you can share your posts using your reasons as to why you why you love running. And by using the hashtag white I run make sure you tag me in the post so I don't miss it and you and all your friends or Club could be mentioned. So today's guest is James, of course James shoulder and we had a brilliant child. I was so much fun. So I'm really excited that you guys get to listen to this James started running for years ago when he started getting into the gym to improve his Fitness and he was inspired by his friend who was training for a marathon at the time. So he signed up for a marathon to and this chat. We have a lot of laughs. We don't take things too seriously, but there's some great topics. Six in here, obviously do's and don'ts to Martin trained in a marathon race day as well as the girls that James has set himself and a couple of other deuce and terms. He's a talented Runner a brilliant character hilariously funny, and he's got heart gold, and this is a fun fun episode that you do not want to miss. So, please enjoy get in touch with both me and James to let us know that you've been listening. Thanks. Oh and welcome to another episode of the not another Runner podcast. Today's gas is none other than James akh older Runner despite working for a popular airline and subsequently away from home quite regularly and working long shifts in multiple time zones, James still manages to stay consistent with his training plan and train for marathons. James is part of the 1/6 front-runner team and an ambassador for Science and sports. Welcome to show James. Oh baby, baby blush already. We haven't even started. That wasn't that wasn't a long introduction either. That was just it was really nice. Thank you. I can't believe that were finally here like Third Time Lucky and I know they say, you know save the best allow some Third Time Lucky. Yeah, here we are. Wow. I mean we both we can pause if you want to go grab one now. I've got a big island spring bottle of water. So we'll leave it at that. Okay with that anyway, hey and I'm sure lots of people already know you James but in case they need to know a little bit more about you or for some people we need to have more. Yeah. Yeah, just tell us a little bit about yourself and what you do for all right, this question, I really do so high. Yeah. Hi. I'm Dave. Yeah fly around the world for a job pretty March and I just ride in my spare time pretty much been running the last last four years now and yeah that pretty much I'm so boring. So so, you know, that's pretty good. I am that slipped this to know when people like follow me and stuff to thinking why are you following me for what reason but it's just my stories is apparently just make people laugh. So we'll just go with that. Really. Yeah. Yeah and to be honest like when I look at you or I'm like, oh, you know you've done another race. I never think to myself like that. You're like still like a relatively new Runner because for years isn't that long? But like to me, you'll always see such an experienced Runner to me first. Yeah, I do. I think everything is so structured now for me as well to understand where Jordan and she's my coaches virus literally stick to plans and I'm so so so like make sure that I do stick to plan to have something to be accountable for really yeah. Yeah, I do but now I've literally 2006 what year we announced 2019. So yeah, it's summer of 2016 it all kicked off of me. Really? Yeah, but what made you what would what made you like want to put on your trainers and just go for a run there? And what was I I rejoined the gym because I stopped going to the gym. I rejoined the gym quite a little bit fat David used to say to me. You've got your Christmas boobs because literally at Christmas time, I caught a little bit movie and I was just like, oh my God, I need to get back in the gym, you know when you get comfortable in a relationship. Yeah, everything goes out the window. Is that so I started going back to the gym start to go back on the treadmill and I said to my friend Katie once I'm back in the gym and doing the treadmill and she goes, oh my God, babe. You should come round the park with me and we've got like Virginia Waters and if you've heard of it, it's a lovely park around. Sorry / Windsor. So I went with a run with her around the park getting it's like just over Four Mile loop around with her and then literally got a little bit obsessed and a fork to know what I'm going to do this again, because the thing is with me, I'm quite what I was quite shocked. I was running I used to hate. I hate the thought of running around the local area and people like recognizing me and I just hate that fought and fought in the park. At least I can hide so it's not going back to the park more and more and more and then slowly got obsessed with that and then I got talking to my other friend Carla and she was like, oh my God, I'm running the marathon. I was like shut up. I said if you come on it I can pledge about it. So I started like talking to all these different charities because I missed the ballot completely the 2017 and ended up getting spot with children with cancer, which was a fabulous. Try that raise money for And then that was it really 6 my fans down the line here. We are. Gosh, I'd let you literally had been running for probably six months then before you get under pretty much I did a 10K in the July and then yeah the 8 go after Iran London. I really wanted London to be my first mayor of it as well. Yeah. Yeah, really next it to be. You know what I was I was exactly the same as not weird, and I genuinely there wasn't going to be no other Marathon for my first marvelous know exactly and it has to be long Then like yeah, the hype the adrenaline the excitement. I was like it has to be London and they're now I've done it up Tick that box, but obviously we always put in the ballot don't we but I'm so so lucky that my company has like their own one group and they support the marathon and volunteering stint. So we manage the crossing. So the last two marathons I've been able to volunteer and stuff and that is just as fun and just as rewarding as well. So I always like to put my tailor win if I can yeah. Yeah. Yeah, and how did you so how did you train for? All that matters and I was there a lot of the you know, what was the majority of the training done just by yourself or with your friend completely blindly by myself. I went on Google and I typed in a novice little mouth and plan thinking how the fuck am I going to be able to learn so I got a little bit cocky and I found a little twelve-week plan and back in the day did if you've got remembered are used to do really like gay and flamboyant Meyer from plant. I used to like color them out get sticky card stuff like that and I did all that. So I just followed a really basic. Twelve-week plan and then manage to do it off did free 354 350 times though. I was so so happy. So happy that I just did it by myself head down got it done. And then you just focus on the next one, don't you? Yeah, that's it. Isn't it? That's a brilliant first time especially if you so I can say you said you'll train and you just did it blind in didn't know that that is a brilliant time, but I suppose like you just said you You went on there straight away to do another one you not happy. So thank Joe. Were you not happy with that time? No, I was I really really would but you know when you get a little bit cocky, yeah, I could have done better than that I can do is I can do that. I'm invincible and then I got in my head where I thought you know what I'm going to try and do two marathons a year and just try and improve keep getting better. Keep going about and I hate it when I say to myself. Oh, I don't run for time, but I do run for time and I know a lot of people Like what do they say Finish Line's not finish times or something like that and that's fabulous for you and that's amazing. But for me, I always want to be better at once I get better. So I always am always focusing on the next challenge. So yeah, just want to get my times down and just try and do two year and like because my job as well because I get to travel hell of a lot. I want to use my which chemical lab not a freebie, but you know your little perk so if I can travel around the world and run marathons as well, that'd be great. So try to 1 u k 1 and one international a year and I've managed to do that so far. So I broke the bank a few times that it's the only thing that keeps me sane. If I'm totally honest I was going to say like surely like to me. Okay, I've only done one so I can't I can't really have like a huge opinion on it. But like I doing to every year that's quite that's quite a big commitment, you know, you know she with you have staged this. Well, yeah, but you're always in a cycle like I'll come out of cycle have a month to myself, but then I go into it again. And with my plans and stuff because I'm a daughter as well or like you have like a rest month as such so you're not pounding the pavement every single day that you was before but you have a bit of a rest of the best for moment that I can't I can't bear it some tell you honestly, I feel like I always have to have something to be alien or something to be looking forward to as well. So yeah, the next challenge me now is Brighton. Yes try and get that elusive free 15. I so didn't get bloody Amsterdam was so upset. I would cry. I felt like a right tit massively bet what get there, you know. So for Amsterdam then that was your number six wasn't it was a 66? Yeah. So for you in the lead-up to that then how how was your how was that training cycle? Did it go to plan? I mean, you know, none of them go to plan. But how did it go? But this is a big headed like this was the best I could yeah that ever had like part Burns. I was smashing them out. Week I was getting so consistent with my part and some 20s. That's what I wanted to do this year. I've managed to hit some sub 40 in my 10K off math distances. I just getting stronger and stronger and better and better and better and when I got to that start line in Amsterdam our psyche 315 I can do better than that and just like my cocky ego came out and I thought you know what? Let's just go out as quick as I can and to see how long I can hold it and basically raced it how you shouldn't raise it basically, but But I thought rather dies see what happened and subsequently, it didn't go my way but I've learned that we always say this don't we launch so much on race day, but I genuinely have learned so much. I'm glad you know, that is true that have been they're just going to take it forward now just try and change it how it's going to happen in April, hopefully, yeah. Yeah, that's good because I when you were saying you didn't get your time you really sad and you'll cry and Etc. You didn't get the time blah blah blah. I just rinsed us basically. I was thinking though and this I use this approach so in like so often in life, I do remind people that like if you got your girl first time round number one, you're not setting your girl's high enough and number two so lame, but I think it came from Schilling Flanagan. That was really good. So credit to her number two. We was my number two. I'm going to just lost my train of thought and so number two was oh, yes. Yes. It's this. So if you hit your girl first, I'm around it wouldn't be as satisfying or as happy or you wouldn't be as grateful because it would be a little bit Bittersweet. Whereas when you do achieve it like second third fifth tenth time round. It is so much better of a feeling so true because when I did yorkshare back in October last year, I tried when I did London, I just wanted to finish it. I wanted to sub for I did it and then the left and I did borma from Paris. I was injured through those. I just wanted to sub 3 That's all I wanted. So when I finally hit it yorkshare you're so right. Like literally I felt so on top of the world. It was such an incredible unbelievable feeling like in my photos. You can just see me crying before I even hit the Finish Line before Oh my God, I done it. Yeah or very sacrifices. I'm not going out getting absolutely shit-faced has come down to this moment. Yeah, and it paid off its really paid off. Yeah, and it does it does when you do actually put yourself, you know, you know follow that plan consistently and like you say you're not Getting drunk. You're not going out having late babe. It's their world. They win it like what you do to go out on a Saturday night with the girls or just go to bed at 8:00 and just wake up the next morning without a long run. It's so hard to balance it. I did a bit of both I did when I was doing my Martha drink and live as well. But then you feel like still didn't bloody it it anyway. Yeah, that's it. Isn't it? That's it. I remember doing a 22 Mile run that and that was my longest. Strum in my my trainer and I remember when I when I finished that run and like being in mind I ran in three, I think it was four different towns overall in the country and someone someone message me to say, oh my God, I literally saw you in like three different town today like all throughout the day whilst I've gone for lunch gone forth. Oh God and there and then after that I went home and I actually felt like, you know when you've had like one too many like yes few too many and you're like you really hung over. Following day and you just can't eat anything you feel so sick. You just need to in the corner. Don't you? Like what am I doing? That's what I was like afterwards. I just couldn't eat or refuel like anything and then I went to celebrate someone's birthday and I'm still had to have a couple of drinks in few glasses of wine at a very late night. I think we don't get it but I think didn't go to bed till about three o'clock and I have it was sweet girl. That's good and right at this age 11 Connor care anymore. Yeah view I think. Sometimes like I do think we need to remind ourselves or some like it's not the be-all and end-all the yes, you know, you can try but like I think we have to remember to live as well because of my God. Yeah because we run for fun. Like I will never be mo Farah or never be a Paula Radcliffe unless I do shit in a bush, but I will never I will never be that elitist. You know what I mean? So just have fun and just yeah enjoy it. Yes, that's it. That's that's what we're doing it for, isn't it? It's just some loose the way a little business. So it's so easy to get lost in that as well completely, especially when you're like striving striving striving and you've had a run a successful run. So yeah. Yeah, and there's there's nothing wrong with being self motivated and dedicated. I think it's a great great great qualities to have. Yes, definitely but like you say just need to remember to have a laugh and have fun along the way really remind me remind me again. Then during March of next year. Yeah, when go out drink. Yeah, you know when you did Amsterdam, I'm wondering how long have you been under PMG Cochin for now? So a year now, we're going yeah, I say, mr. Daugherty of tear can't believe I'm pretty quick. It's gone to be honest. Yeah, of course because she did say I remember saying when I interviewed her that, you know, it was set I can't believe it's this time of year. They were and it was yes, honestly she is fantastic. Like she's so good. So so good with everybody within the team. She's motivating her teams of a team programs are fantastic and like they are so happy today when people say planned only personalized because they just stick your name on it, but it's so personalized to you as an individual and so tailored to you'd like with me. Everybody knows don't talk to me Landing days because I'm horrendous. So the neck the worst thing I want to do is then if I landed from a Johannesburg, whatever after a night flight do I want to go for a run apps? No, not and she respects that and Iraq had her left breast day on that day and stuff. So it really is tailored to you as an individual. Yeah, that's and that's a lot of work to do that. Hmm massively massively, but the proof is in the pudding because like my five k's and now down 10 K times a down like she helped me get my free free 16 at Manchester. Yeah. We were just saying how Jordan helped you and you achieve that tax. Yeah, so we've like yeah 316 to do performed consistently again and like I don't keep going on about Amsterdam so facts or fantastic time, but I just generated to get cocky and I remember that she messaged me on the day of the race because whatever you do do not go for a time that we've not trained you for and what did I do did complete opposites so snows the times that you're capable of yeah help you. Not jump the gun if that makes sense. Yeah. Yeah, and it's yeah, that's the thing isn't it? And I think Madison is such a long way. You've really got a lot out the distance respecter distant respect. Your training is all I'll say about that. Yeah, you never told us. How was the first experience your first marathon? I know you said it was 354. How did it go? Like did you did you struggle at all? Did you feel confident you feeling okay if I'm honest massive blur. Massive massive, but I went in yeah literally went in I think obviously like pain six seven or eight one of those ones and I just like standing around and just a sea of people and you know, you say I each other up you thinking. Oh, yeah. Look at you for fridge on your back. Look at you two to eyeing each other up and then literally the gun went and you just literally just go and like sounds awful again, and I don't want to like disrespect anybody that you know when you're like you've trained so well, you just suddenly think I'm in the wrong pain. Yeah, and I spent a lot of that race for me is a lot of weaving and I just wasn't I was in the wrong pain for my pace. So I learned so much that day in regards like making sure I was in the right pain, but at the same time when I first signed up for it, I wanted a sub force. I was in the right pain for us up for something friendly when you're training does go. Well you just improve in that time, but it was it was a great great experience at the atmosphere was fantastic. I thought everybody that I I need to stay so it was really really really good day. Yeah, and I think like if you have a charity space or competition plays you really didn't have a huge saying where your place of different zones that you've got the Bluetooth. Yeah. Yeah. Definitely. I mean runs a right at the back aren't they? Yeah. Yeah, and I mean you can go you can go back a pen be can't go forward a pair which is totally understandable. So I just rode I just rode it really just growed it. Yeah, it was a good day really good today. I think I got sunburned that day. Ginger's you need to make sure you wear sun lotion because you will burn this even if even if it's mild, even if there's one yeah, you can get you can get those son queens that lasts all day the sports ones. You can just smell it. Water content that is saying no. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, we'll be careful with that. Hmm, especially if your sweat and sweat ones just as well not good how so you've told us you've completed six marathons already because you've done two years since that yet. That's crazy. Are you do you think you'll have a you know, you have a little bit of time off next year. We're going to still go if I don't know. I mean, I've got Brighton and I've got Chicago in the ballot. So we're going to see what Ins there so I don't know I'd just like to have something to aim for a like being in a cycle and like just having something to work towards and I think like it really does keep I know we keep saying mental health mental health. It really generally does keep me sane as well because when I was injured I wasn't running. Yeah, I used to get so I mean, I work in quite a high pressure job anyway with customers as we all know how that care best of times and you just need a release you need a break. They generalize need to do that frustration. Don't you? Yeah, massively so and it's and it's really weird that you're saying this because the the most recent episode that I've just recorded was with carry the running life of Curry and I love her. She's yeah, she's brilliant. She is so lovely and and is actually titled running to keep the crazy at Bay because she said that's what you know, that's part of why she like I loves to run chooses to run is for to have better head space. Yeah, I kind of agree with it more. I think it's brilliant. Haiti radios really is so you've done your fair share of Martin's now five more than a what what would you say are the biggest do's and don'ts are to train in and running a marathon. I would say definitely respect the training and don't think you're bigger than what your work while you're at the moment. You know, I mean, it's great to have goals. It's great to have aspirations. But if you want to run a sub free you've only ran Set free 45 well depends how your training is going to go really because you can never say never I've seen some fantastic and choose a Transformations on Instagram where one person ran something one year and the next year that time they've knocked like two and a half hours off which is fantastic. But I think you just need to know where your training is at and where it's going to go and if you have the time and basically the effort to commit to it, really yeah. Oh, yeah massively massively and just be prepared to make sacrifices. Syd I know that we joked about saying or you can't go out or have a drink or whatever but you need to be able to if you are going to knock it back absolutely fine, but if you've got to do a long run of 12 miles and legs day don't sacrifice it and don't play catch-up in the week because you will Tire yourself out hmm. You absolutely strength training is a massive thing as well because that's where I went wrong and I got injured or mathiason never ever ever ever again. Will I never ever strength train? Well, I never not strength train. Should I say because literally my quads completely broke and end up with one. Maybe because I was just not looking at my glutes and my hips. Yeah, it's like that so I was out like on and off for like six months and then when I run Paris Marathon that was just literally get round to get round get round. So that was awful. Really. Yeah really painful. It wasn't it wasn't a few it was more painful. It was more frustrating more than anything because there was one time I remember on Christmas Day. I really wanted to go to Park Friday and I just literally couldn't even run to the top of the road. She's like happy Christmas to me. And I know that people like always or forward. Yeah just awful awful awful. So I just like this and then he couldn't put his finger on it. I'm like I'm telling you. It's because come back in a week and we'll do this. I'm like, no babe. Tell me it's one is knee and start trying to get money out of me. You know, I need really well. Yeah. Yeah just have to do self diagnosis. Sometimes don't end up you're dying, but we don't need that in our lives right now. No, so Added up having to do a bit of self diagnosis, but I'm sorry of digressed again. Do's and don'ts of marathon training. Basically that really no strength train. Yeah, and obviously you need to respect your training respect the distance with Shrek respect placidly. Yes, just that it doesn't it? Yeah, you're embarking on something massive and you know, it takes a lot of training and it like you say it takes sacrifices. Yes, we joked earlier, but you do even if you you know, you you balance things out so you can still Lll go and see your friends still have a drink but you know, what have have to have to win angle homes still go to bed that water. You need to tell me that on Saturday nights because that doesn't mean anything to me. Well have another one will have a shot of Jager then we'll go on staying out all night. Yeah, but then are you in your like build-up phase are you in your block one like as in your endurance prep, so like where you can get away with that or are ya and I am yeah, definitely and I feel like sometimes it still is hard though because your best friend. De wever wedding. We've got this and you've got Yeah, that just like James your normal. Oh, you are not mouth. So what are you going to do? And I'd hate to look back and think oh my God, I did have a great time that night on my best friend's failure because you had this to do the next day. So it really is you need to like yeah yourself sometimes because at the end of the day, they'll always be another Marathon. That's right. That's so true always will be another Marathon maybe never met a night out and you'll always have memories from that messy now. Yeah. I am not I used to like Swap this is so bad for the coach because like if they spend hours making your plan I used to like because it was in training Peak so I could like edit the plan. I'll stop did. Yeah, I did I did a couple times but she didn't mind because she was like, yeah, I know that works. That's fine. As long as I wasn't like, you know put into you know, speed sessions nitrogen excretion. If I did a sensible swap from like a Saturday and Sunday run around so I could do the the major one on the Saturday then still go to that evening out and then the easy run on the Sunday then. It could work within reason but yeah, but yeah, I was like and I think that that's a good example of like fitting it all in is looking and sometimes you you know, if you're not tied into a big, you know major plan. If you've got your own plan you've you know, you've printed from one line you can swap things around is not the only other definitely at the same time as well. Listen to your body as well if you are Yeah again, or if you have had a really stressful hard week and you just can't fit it all in because you're so knackered don't go out that 5K elements do doesn't matter. It's not going to hinder anything because it no God. No really isn't. I mean when I ran Paris, I think only one the most of 18 miles and I still got round. Yeah wasn't the time I wanted but you still get round. You just have to adjust your goals. Really, don't you? Yeah. Yeah, that's it. And did you know when you had that injury where you did you have Private health insurance? No, no. Wow. This is another thing that tipped me over. So we're gonna test went to the doctor's I was like, hon, I need help. This is the situation because I will put you in because I really never knew what it was for is it runner's knee and then I was thinking what actually is it so she goes will put you in for an x-ray. So what month are we in now November 2009 T. This happened April? Well beginning of last year 2018. I'm still waiting for that appointment. Yeah. This is it. This is where I'm going to jump in and say this is a bigot. This is a huge do if you can and get some Private health insurance, not you, but I know because I'm paying the price for it now quite literally with my chiropractor Sasha and me a fortune and like I'm so sorry that I didn't didn't pay it now because it's only like you can get some really good ones like sympathy card. Yeah or a 20 pound a month and then you know, if something does happen God forbid, you've got an injury at least for that quarter as well. Yeah, and you've got results sooner as well and also helps it frees up that we don't have to go to our NHS as well. So exactly exactly also it was MRIs if you can go online as well, I think in London and I think there's some clinics around the country as well. You can pay for an MRI there and then it is dead pricey. I think it's 250 or something. Don't quote me on it. But if you get your results there and then see if you can afford to get it done. Yeah getting down just for a peace of mind. Yeah. Yeah, but then I again and I've definitely you know paying this price because I've I paid a fortune Alberta chiropractor. Mmmm. There we are. We live and learn don't we we do we do but the NHS does do a fabulous fabulous fabulous tour absolutely just a shame that we have to wait after way and another thing back to the whole mouth and thing and do and don't obviously Instagram fantastic platforms. Don't compare yourself. Yes. Yeah, if that's not the road is going up to 20 miles and Sunday. Don't make sure that you have to go out for 20 miles on Sunday. Yeah. Yeah. That's so true time was and everything so hard. So hard comparison is the thief of joy as they say babe. Yes. The only person I compare myself to is myself exactly cancel my this time this time last year. I was like super uber fit perfectly. Whereas now this year. It's just literally like since May it's just take an absolute nosedive. But you know what, it will return in January. It's always lovely. Will it matter and like you said earlier you will be so grateful for it tastes so much better when you are back out. Yeah. Yes. Yes. Yeah, I can't wait SoDo. How are you managing to juggle your training Cycles your training because you are you are committed you are self-motivated even if you do have a party here and there and obviously with your schedule. It's not you know, it's not your normal working part-time and I am it must be really difficult. So I'm I don't know like how do you do it? It's I don't know I think because I've been I've been flying 10 years next year. So I've always He's been in this environment for spacing and stuff like that. So I've always been able to juggle my time and stuff like that and quite I'm quite lucky in the respect that if I do a long-haul, sometimes you don't report until like the afternoon so you can get up in the morning get your undone. And then when you're down Rue you can get up in the morning and then you fly home that same day. So it's kind of good. I have a lot of time but I don't have a lot of time if you know what I mean. Tiredness is the most eggs. Well, it is exhausting. That's the most hardest thing. I do tend to deal with because if you do a night flight home sometime. If we are lucky to have bunks and board you can have an hours sleep two hours sleep and you have to get up again and crack on with the flight and the work and stuff. So Landing days. I really tough for me. So back in the day when I didn't have drawed and I didn't have a plan or a personalized plan. I'd have to go out and do seven miles and Landing date and that was really really hard. But I somehow managed to do I think is when we were younger back in the day when we were younger, but now it's just because now I've got Jordan, she's great. She can she can do that for me, but I just think it all comes down to Me is how much do I want it? How much do I want to see free 15 next to my name on Marathon day. How much do I want to see sub-20 on parkrun day? I think that's all it means to me is results results results. Yeah. Yeah. That's how we get through it. Really? Yeah. Oh you are so dedicated and but at the same time I take my hat off to you guys like Monday to Friday or your office jobs or stuff like that because when we have ground days, I mean in like the training center at like 8:00 and I finish at 4, I am why Like I don't know how you guys can be in an office environment or whatever type of environment that's not what I'm not do I don't know how you do or you get up in the morning when it's pitch-black we go home and its Pitch Black. It's like I take my hat like people children as well. Like how they do it. Everyone is fantastic it just like finding the time and getting the motivation to go out and get it done really it's nice that we all have that same drive to get out as well. Yes. Yes it is and it's like everyone's reason to So Different. Yeah. That's my cue to saying you know, you are motivated you are dedicated and I ask everyone. What is your hashtag? Why I run? I mean we did mention earlier. It does keep keeps us sane. But if you got any of them that you want to say, I don't know really I think a bit of it when I was younger as well typical little story when I was younger, like obviously I was shit at sport. I was not popular with the boys in regards to like sports and athletic. Stuff like that and basically sometimes I look back and it's there for two finger to that little situation when I was younger because I am good at something now and I like to make sure that I am still striving and still performing work around still doing good. Basically to say that I am I am good at something because really I look back and I think I wasn't very good at anything really and now I found my Niche such it's nice to have something to go out and work hard at and Perform where that really? Yeah. Yeah. I love that. And yes you are. You are good at something and I hope that you are and you were saying when we were asking about we when I was asking about do's and don'ts to Martin training you said about not appear to others. So, you know, obviously the Instagram platform is it is a brilliant place for support and motivation. It's great. And obviously you started documenting all Runnin Journey over on the platform. How did come about initially like when did you start to do keep it Anonymous or did you tell your friends and family? So was I had a normal Instagram account and then I just started running and I start to like put photos up on Facebook and stuff like that and like people I'd have like people say to me I'll she's gone another ran or all she's done this and I'm thinking I'm not attracting the right people that I want to attract and when I want to support me in this journey is like to think and I started follow a few Runners and Instagram and just throw the platform and the messages and the inspiration and like you were saying they were giving out of four to know what I can do something a little bit like this. I can give my only little turn of events as well. So I just set that up and that was in October 20. Yeah 2016. I set that up and literally it's just gone from there really and I was very open about it my friends still with me for it now really, but they've seen how you get on. That only comes Toto runaway found around on my shop shop. I feel like I feel like I've managed to like put positive messages out there on behalf of me and I feel like managed to motivate a lot of people like specialist lying as well. There's a lot of people out there that want to stay fit to Unruh or have something to do and I just say just come for a run with me or if I get on board, they'll be like, oh my God, my friend knows you she follows me on Instagram. She says you're a runner. I said we just come for a run with me then baby. You know, I mean, it's not to be fast enough to be slow go you're around. Pays and a lot of people have taken up running purely because of my Instagram page which is quite nice to hear and to see really yeah, so that's that's crazy. So you're right part of the cabin crew and you have people on Fight that recognize you yeah. Oh my God heck is what lady come into the galley ones? I don't know if you're listening to this was gonna go bad and she said, oh my God, I follow you and I'm like, oh my God, this is so exciting. I've never had this happen to me before but I'll never forget I did the winter run this year and this lady came up to me. She goes, it's like meeting. Reborn, I was like baby cries. If you're comparing me to Gary Barlow was mortified the same time but it's like I'm the Gary Barlow of running. Thanks. That was that funny. Oh my gosh, that's crazy. Yes, I'm crazy. But now it is great. It's a great platform. Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. And that's funny that your friends will take the mick. Well, they do they really really do and then I was going to change my name and a fourtner, but it's so far away. Exactly all these new people that come up to me. I'll do you one with your shoulder that do you unlock a crap. I said know who is my surname everyone thinks I'm run with my shoulders sideways and that if that's how we can finish me running then that's down to you doll, but I was like, I found it funny that is funny. That is funny. Yes. I can't ever your friends taking the mick out of you are the is this both female and male friend to know what I don't really have a lot of boyfriends. I'm literally Always been friends with those really always been friends of girls. My boyfriend rips me for a hates me being on it all the time all the time. Sometimes have to like literally my phone upstairs because you do just end up. It's just scrolling don't you? I think we do that with everything though. I think like I think unfortunately this day and age like these people devising. These apps are very clever. Oh times Ted. Yeah, absolutely and it's the lights. It's the it's the The notifications a little red heart. I think it just draws you in there's something you know, what they can be very interesting when they take the likes away. Mmm on Instagram just to see how ya gonna be as obsessed with it. I mean I used to be really upset and obsessed when I wouldn't get to a certain like on the photo and that's when I thought you know what it's not all about that James anymore. Do you know what I mean is about you and I used to always get bummed about my God. What's my post about today? Two people one hearing about today and I've got I've got one message and it was just like you're so like repetitive in your posts and I just really wanted to put two things up. Yeah, some say well darling, you know where the unfollow button is to know where mean to me. This is still a bit of a running diary and I still post my daily runs on stuff like that. And if it gets if it gets the attention it gets the attention but now I don't do it for that. Yeah, just do it for me really, you know, if you want have a read fabulous if you don't know crack on I think it's hard because I think when you when you started like you have and it is a running diary you continue with it and it is for you the main purpose and you would support network that you've got from the platform, but it can be difficult when people have started to props follow you and you've got people messaging you or you know, there's a lot of people on there and it can be really hard because you kind of want to share stuff with the friends that you've made in the network that you have when you surround yourself, you know, that's supportive positive net, but it can be it can Be a little bit frustrating them because there are other people that have obviously joined but I think like you just said, you know, it's remembering that that person can inform didn't want them. Yeah, but it couldn't be because you have a self up to you know for people to to following know about you know, your story exactly and if they if you put yourself this is what I say to people as well like there's a lot of criticism and some people can say comments about you that you might not want to hear and you might want to read but like you say you put yourself Off out on that platform and you are going to be judged. Yeah, you put yourself out there and that's going to be talked about. Yeah, absolutely depends how you take it. Yes. Yeah, really really is mean 99.9% of everything. I've come across in its account has been positive and everyone I've met has been so lovely which is in so so so so nice so, I mean, I can't really say a bad word about it. I have seen the now must be tired of it as well. But like you say, it's how you take it, isn't it? Yeah, and I do see it on other like Pages as well and I just yeah. Massively massively. I mean I've read some things about myself this week, but it is just how you take it and it's over the head over the head. Yes, and then just put your shoes on and go for a run. Absolutely over 40 met your dancing shoes. They're like, yeah. Yes Chillin hand-powered definitely. So what has been your favorite rice memory over the years then I don't know, you know, there's been so many and I feel like the one for me have been the ones where I've done what I've set out to do. So like Manchester was an amazing amazing day amazing day. There's a video with Jordan. He's got a bloody tambourine thinking she's Beyonce. She comes running out the crowd perhaps my hard to like take me out that last two kilometers and that was an amazing moment for me. I think you ought to share will always be one of my top. Could be one of my top moments to be fair when I read. I just saw that clock and it was like 327. I just like bawling all the way down there start-finish line that will always be something for me as well. I think yeah if you just may need them to because I feel like with a matter of food, you act like we said you sacrificed everything for six months however, many weeks and you only get one shot at it and I think when it doesn't go your way, it's really heartbreaking and when it does go your way. It's such an amazing thing to like celebrate and stuff like that because with a 5K Okay, if it doesn't go your way you can always go next week aren't you? Yeah, that's it is it's a matter of fact and you can't you've set. Yeah. Yeah everything aside these One race that you will only do once a year or once in your whole entire lifetime. So I think every Tino I think every every man - I think is always going to be up there for me like Paris again. I never thought I was going to get around with this knee, but I managed to get around and even managed to get PB or any by minute. I still managed to do it. So I think that was an important race for me as well. But yeah, I think I free every little race really are the same thing so much riding on the marathon. Like you say you you literally dedicate commit to six months to it come back and do it again. Yeah you did you, you know, like a 5k couple of weeks. To break their pay and you're good to go again. But yeah, exactly and I just think that's what's so awful about Marvin as well because like you can have the most amazing cycle and then you wake up and it's the most horrendous heat-waver you've ever experienced in your whole entire life completely ruins the race that you wanted to have. Well, you forget your breakfast. Yeah all like me. Nobody did this. Yeah. Yeah. How did you manage to forget your breakfast baked Donuts that and Tesco bag when I got a window sill? So I was like Mom I said is this a joke was so upset. So what did you do? I just had two bloody Bagels playing Bagels as a little satin bed crying into my black coffee thinking. Oh my God, my roof is ruined but you just have to make do don't you? Yeah, that's it really tastes but I completely cut you up there Vapors you going to say? No, I was just saying yeah, that's what I get. You get a heat wave forget your breakfast. Like you said you could be L like me I had a bug which you just don't know like if anything can happen on the day. Yeah. So RB just have to just make do don't you? Yeah. Yeah, that's it. So, what about this this year? And next year? I know we spoke briefly about some events that you might well not this year because obviously we're coming towards the end, but you might have to scary. How is it how is it? That's Mom. I know next week is the next week. Yes. Next next. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah crazy. So what are your next big girls or achievements that you were so I think obviously got Brighton in April and I think I'm just literally taking everything back taking everything back to basics because I just desperately want that free 15 if even if I do free 14:59 a desperately want that so that is my Big Goal moving forward and obviously I've got hopefully Chicago in October, but we find out that on the 12th of December. It's at the election day as well. Yes it is. Yeah, so that's a big day for all of us. What about the ballot back day, but I don't know because I don't get in me and my own little running girls from work. We don't know whether we're going to do Philadelphia if we don't get in that's a great idea Mike, but then my friend Ellie she's just been in Vegas and she was there for the Vegas Marathon. She just happened to be there and she goes out looked fabulous as well. So now I'm like, what do I do? Do I not go to Philly and do Vegas and said, I don't know. You know when the Philadelphia in Vegas what time of year they then similar? Yes. Oh, October I think is that I think to know I think it's end of October beginning of November Vegas was last weekend. It's one of those rock and roll once you know that all your fabulous event. Okay. So Vegas was last weekend. That's like so mid mid November. Yes. It's a great time to learn. I have six or seven months in between them both like Bryson and the next yeah, so that's what I'd like to do. But then obviously with the house I'm going to be so like what do I do? I'm going to be so broke. Yeah. This is a this is it and you've got one fingers. Yeah, you do have to make her wear. I'm realizing now as I'm well seem to be agent quickly circumstances in life, and I'm realizing. Oh, no genuinely now James is it's really fast. I'm like, okay, so I can't do that race can't do that race can't do that holiday, like literally like this. Okay. What are my God? I know what you mean. Yeah, do we redecorate the bathroom or do we go an American? Holiday is hard? Yeah. Yeah. I'm just thinking like all of mine are going to be local next year unless I went ahead and like no I mean because I was only looking at some of sorry keep cutting you up, babe. No, it's okay you carry on no because I've been I'm looking like abandon. I've heard really good things about Abington as well. Haven't here disaster in the UK. Yeah, that's me UK. Which ones have you been looking up? Well, so, you know New York Marathon like guys I really want to do when I was in New York in January and I would love nothing more than to go back. I just think I just love for this a fantastic City a really really is it'll be and I've been there twice now, but I I'd love love love to go back and so, you know next year is the 50th, New York. Yes. Did you go for the palette then? Well, I was going to but because because of this house moving house change. I was like no I'm gonna have to be satisfied. I've got the money to do it. So and I think close them. Well they did they opened it for like 50 hours for people to enter and basically they were going to announce 50 entrance. And then if you were unsuccessful, they would put you back into the general ballot in the new year. So you've kind of got even though like you haven't because they're still drawing the same number. Yeah, but at least you know earlier so you can put lights and whatever I am still debating entering it next year is just trying to work out. Can I it's money, isn't it these that's all it comes out. I'm in Chicago hundred and eighty pound God. I knew this is what I don't get air like a bird obviously World major. How come London 39 pounds and then you've got Chicago and yet New York how they like so And so yet they're under the same umbrella. Yeah State and that goes down to the hosting 50 and Country, unfortunately, and that's the other thing. You know, I think New York is actually 214 or something ridiculous something. Yeah, so I'm not sure. I mean, I've I'm gonna have to relook and revisit. I think to be honest with you, but I did enter long time ago this summer an ultra from may start with me baby. Good luck. I'm there's ones that one. And it's just a small local one to me and in Wales. So it's called Saint Agatha turds - so it's like about an hour away from here. So not too far but it's quite a few of us from my club doing it. I would be nice. Yeah, and like all ages all of us ladies all together. Just walking jogging lots of snacks on the way and it's no pressure. No pressure. That's what you need. And if that's if that's the route you want to go down. What a lovely first visual first Ultra. Yeah. What a nice it once like get you into. - well Dad, yeah. Yeah, so when I'm not sure whether because I think London Marathon would be the week before that event. So I think a lot of the girls that all kind of like well, I don't really want to get into the ballot this year of of all years because now we signed up to that. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. We'll see it's hard decision to make isn't it? Like is it really really is and then like things and circumstances change all the time over time? They really do they Ali but the thing is with running I say this to people like me and board or type they're like in their late forties early fifties. I know I could never mind I think running is such an inclusive Sport and I think running is such a forever sport. So I'm going to look after yourself. You can run forever and ever and ever I really do believe in that because they said the average marathon is like between 45 and 55. Yeah. We've got a years on them. Yeah. And as long as you continue strength training with good, oh my God times 10. Absolutely. Yeah. Yeah bring it up Bob. And those squats and everything is your best friend. Yeah. Oh, I'm just thinking I'm so far. I'm supposed to be in my gym membership to know what I did though. Get yourself Tamsin. I got myself my you know those steps with the little box things. I got my own step and I went are ghosts but my own bar by then everything's finally like buying houses. You can't have anything outgoing Kenya because it's go through your space your union your expenditures, didn't they? So I bought my whole little things. I just need to do that in my back room for like that. Our six seven months. Yeah, and it is and if I think Dan and if you think about it is actually quite a kind of a think the weird escapes me now, but it is a good money saving hmm thing to do. So I'm like maybe I Look to do that. Yeah, definitely and then like you belong or can't be bothered. It's only downstairs and your back room, babe. Yeah. I said there's no excuses. No, excuse whatever you say that I still put it off. But once you get going, you're fine. Yeah, it just got to put a good good music on. Absolutely. Yeah. We where do you see yourself now and five years time, you know, we were just saying about like yeah, we got using running or life. You know what you can however you do that because don't go running some good life and I like both because I do like really don't know though, if I'm totally honest with you, so I 28 and 31 to 33 year old beefs carries that I honestly don't know I'd love to still be fair healthy. Ali still running doing what I want to do. Yeah. Maybe you have the majors all done. I'm not sure but like you said that it's such an expensive goal. I'll probably will still be flying. I still be pushing a cart until I'm 80 this Ray by techno, really? East one of these questions to get in the interview you don't you like though. I want to be CEO and stuff. Yeah. Yeah. It's know. I don't know sometimes I'm still happy. I've got a good relationship with like running. I can still balance it good relationship right food and drink and family and friends then I'll be happy really I'm very easily pleased. Really easily glue. So I don't know really I'd very much take each day as it comes apart from like goals of like math and training my lights have something to aim for but day-to-day and I have just take it take it as it comes. Really? Yeah. Yeah. I don't like extra pressure. Do you know what I mean? No, that's good. That is good like that. I like that a lot of my friends still aren't married. So we're still in the same little Sailing Boat. Yes fine. Yeah, it is. No is really good to take it day by day and just enjoy, isn't it Nick Cause I feel like if you are why not marry at 32 if you had a lovely life so far. Yeah. Well, there's no pressure that you know what I mean so long as you're happy happiness is so important and I know we keep going on about mental health and everything else like that. But ultimately you're the only person that can steer that ship and if you're happy then fuck everyone else. Yes. Yeah. Now that that you know, what you've just said like that is a good point like doesn't matter if you haven't done a b or c, you know exercise that if you're happy then who cares exactly so long as I've got my little dog, I'll be fine. Yeah, I love that. Well, that's brilliantly. Okay. So this I asked everyone there so I know we've done and don'ts to Marvin training. This is a good this is easy. So you don't need to just three tips that you would give to anyone getting started in running and or marathon training. Free tips on what I would do is what I when I first started to do then is look and Research into training plans know what your strengths and your weaknesses are in that respect is what I know what you can commit to as well. There's no point in getting a training plan and you're going to have to try and do six runs a week when you know, you can't run six times because of other commitments and stuff like that. So I think know what yourself getting what you're getting yourself into. With your plans go and get your gate checked because if you are completely new Runner and you just wearing a pair of trainers out of ten years old, they're not going to serve you well go and get your gate checked. I know sasak stores have been done. We can go to Runners need or other little shops running local running stops. Just going to get your gate chats, and they'll be able to say if you're an over pronator underpaid a neutral whatever like that. So they'll be the best people and just have a goal have something to aim for so if you are Marvin Drake will see you Look at a marathon training you haven't got a Mac and ultimately trained for but we don't have to start big even if you do couch to 5K. That's such a great age. I've got so many friends. I've known have done couch to 5K and then they've just gone on from there. Really? Yeah, but just don't be afraid to like get out there and run because there's so many people that are like it never run. How do you know you can't run? Oh, I could never run a marathon. How how do you know you could never run a marathon there all the time. I don't be so hard on yourself is are Jessica. Which side I just go out and even if you just want to the top of the road, you know, I mean just tell ya just get yourself down part for on. I'm such a great advocate for part one like a literally love parkrun so much just case. I found up run even if you just like walk around it. You're going to see how inclusive part fun is. Not only just part one how to Lucid the sport and running is because everyone is that all walks of life races sizes. It's just amazing to see like General Community spirit. Between everybody. Yeah, that's so true. And it is so inclusive and it like you say, it doesn't matter even if you do walk or if you walk it out. So what the devil's yeah, exactly and leaving and in anyone can do it as long as you are committed you put yourself to that challenge you can clearly and don't let one bad rotten tip you over the edge because I've had so many bad barrage of I'm never running again. I'm never doing this. I'm never doing that. Papa sleep have a cry get you a pair of trainers on again the next day go again. I can tell you that of completely different experience. That's so true. So true like so now we come along too. So my take on personal bests, so I'm going to name two things or situations and you've choose which one you like best. So and Speedy because it's a PB. So, it's your personal best to you what you learn. Okay, so easy or Tempo runs What if I had to choose? Yeah, do you know what I completely changed my way of training? So I would say easy ones now because when I first started training, I'd always run fast all my runs with Tempo runs. I'd be funny that's know that their marathon pace. Yeah. That's right. Yeah can't be doing that and gents. This has gotta be Speedy now. I'm naming all of these and you've got to be fire ball quick on worldwide. Yeah, like watching an explanation. I like hey, I'll get it now like word association the first come it's you know, this man runs, you know, John Flynn he calls it this or that so I give you 2 and then your name which one you prefer why things aren't really sorry. But okay. So here we go. Okay. Okay. I'm ready. I'm in this - Martha. No, 5K mmm. Oh marathon music or podcasts to run to or want to be controversial and say neither. Oh, yeah, but I'm gonna have to interrupt now and just say do you work when you're running alone? You just run with no front of my own. Yeah, it's just me me myself and I mean Beyond so just running along side by side. Do you know what before I used to always run with music and music. I would find with always dictate my Pace. Yeah, especially if Mixer on honesty get lost or whatever. Yeah, you run faster and stuff like that important now because if you're running an event where there's no music allowed. Yeah. Yeah, you're not going to be used to it. Are you and then with podcast totally get it as well, but I just like to get lost in my own fault because when I did Amsterdam well to be fair around Manchester ran the first Mile with music and the headphones broke and then that for me was the biggest test because I had no music and I ran the whole race with nothing but my thoughts and everything. Cars like that. So that's a great endurance test for me really just to run hearing your breathing which is horrendous is it is just getting it done. That's right. We've completely gone off the PBC. I just thinking like I always always listen to music when I when I when I can't listen I because I know a lot of people listen to podcasts a lot of people message me to say in there listening on there while they run it and I love that and I huge podcasts keep like I listen to podcasts. All the time, but if I'm running I can't I can't do that. I've got to listen to music and I can't train with no music. But how do you know but I've done it before and it's not as enjoyable. It's not it's I can do it. But but when it comes to a race or an event, I don't need my music. I don't need it because I'm because I'm and I'm actually okay with that and you run quicker. I suppose it depends but never Italian in there as well within their really. Yeah the It is and I like people like a lot of friends who run with music like well, how do you do that on a race day? Like if you always train with music I might because I'm so used to racing without headphones. Like that's if I had have headphones at the start line. That's just a stress and worry. Yeah, like so true nothing around with headphones. No, we had a strange and okay. So my final question to you is and I don't know if you will have prepared for this. So this is going to put you on the spot now. Who would you love to listen to on this podcast? Oh. Literally anybody in the whole entire world. I mean, yeah, they've got to be like living could it be because you could say who you'd love to run with like Dead Alive famous well-known famous, but because this is cut like even if it is quite like out of the out of the ballpark and you know what the odds of them coming on the show, but what to be some element of all maybe one day maybe one day. Do you know who I really am obsessed with and I literally found girl her all the time. It is all about Cliff. Yes. She is amazing, and I think I've seen So many or Franco everyday Runners bumped into her braces. They've only ever said good things about her and I think yeah just comes across a dead normal. Yeah. Yeah always up for a chat are always up for a laugh. I'd love to have a little run with her and I would listen to her with you. Yeah, I mean I do ya know I love her as well. Absolutely. That's pretty cop out on so really in it. No. No because I think someone else's I think she'll smile said Paul about cliff. Oh did they say I can't remember there was one quite famous person and I was like all the odds of that happening are very slim. You never know. You never know. Maybe five years time. Yeah, exactly Never Say Never baby, but honestly everyone that you've had on this show so far has been fantastic. And like I said, she well it was so nice to listen to like everyday people having their own like goals and aspirations and just seeing how people just get it done. Yeah. Yeah, it sounds so nice and so refreshed shaking it is it is it is What it's been lovely speaking with you James. Thank you so much. Are we signing off? We are now for today. I got another one to do one. I'll do you really yeah. I have another one again in the future and what we will we 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 are not another Runner. Let me I know your thoughts on the podcast any 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. 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.
James started running four years ago when he started getting into the gym to improve fitness, and keep in shape. Inspired by his friend, who was training for a Marathon - he signed up for his first Marathon just six months into running and went on to Run London Marathon in 2016. James has run 6 marathons to date, and he tells us in this episode what works for him in Marathon Training, including the do’s and don’t’s to Marathon Training, and Race Day. We talk about his progress in the Marathon, and his ability to be self-motivated and the goals he has set himself. We talk about the importance to enjoying life, and not taking training too seriously, and how brilliantly inclusive Park Run is - and why we ought to get down to a Park Run. Mental Health and well-being is a strong topic in this chat, and James reminds us how we are the only one truly responsible for our own happiness. James, not only is he a talented runner - but a brilliant character, he is charismatic, hilariously funny, and has a heart of gold - this is a fun episode, not to be missed! Links James Shoulder aka shoulder_runner https://www.instagram.com/shoulder_runner/  Natalie - Not Another Runner Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notanotherrunner/ Blog: https://notanotherrunner.home.blog/ 