Steve Johns

November - Done

Sunday 30th Nov I finished November with a total of 104 miles run, the last of which was 15km/9miles with a decent amount of hill work thrown in for good measure.  Whilst the London Marathon is flat, hills help to build stamina and that's the name of the game.  Great running weather: sunny, cool and blue skies done at a pace where I was able to maintain a conversation with a running buddy who is also running London in April.  It was good to catch up and complete the month injury free.  Share

parkrun Personal Best!

Saturday 22nd Nov My parkrun personal best has stood at 22:00 since 2016… when I last trained for the London Marathon. Today’s session on the plan was a time trial, the weather was raining and when I finished warming up, my glasses steamed up! Share

Week 4

Friday 14th Nov

As I approach the end of week four, we’re now halfway through November, and things are starting to feel very real.  76km/47miles completed so far in November.

Physically, I’m in good shape. I’ve lost a fair bit of weight over the past few months, which has made a huge difference. I’m running four times a week, mixing up the pace, distance and hills with a plan put together by my running club coach, @cardiff_dave. Friday nights are now spent with a personal trainer working on strength, mobility and conditioning… although I’ll be honest, I still go home and eat pizza afterwards! #carbs

Mentally, this time of year is always tough. The dark, cold, wet mornings and evenings make stepping out of a warm house feel like a battle. But once I get going, find my rhythm, and the music kicks in, I usually end up in a good place.

So far, with your support, I’ve raised over £800, which is incredible. With everything going on at the moment, from the cost of living pressures to the latest budget news, I appreciate every single pound that’s donated. It genuinely means a lot.

This time last year, I was in Australia when I got the news that my Uncle Stan had passed away. Stan was my dad’s brother and the youngest of seven. He had his first stroke just a few weeks after retiring, right in the middle of the Covid lockdowns. It left him with severe aphasia. For a man who loved telling stories, jokes and having the craic, losing the ability to communicate clearly was incredibly cruel.

Stan is one of the reasons I’m running for Stroke Awareness. When I’m out training, and when I’m running the marathon, I’ll be thinking of him and his family. I want to help more people recognise the signs of a stroke quickly and support those living with the long term impact, along with the families who care for them.

If you’re able to donate, no matter the amount, it will make a real difference. Thank you for all your support so far, it keeps me moving, even on the cold and wet days.

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Week 2

Saturday 1st Nov Seeing as there’s this blog facility, I suppose I should use it.  Share