It’s not unusual to get asked about my training, particularly with the amount I run. People from the local area occasionally stop me to ask, “Do you ever stop running?” while friends who see some of my workouts tend to respond with, “That’s not normal.”

Whilst I take both as compliments, the reality is less unusual than it may appear on the face of it. As with most things in life, dig deeply enough and what seems out of the ordinary usually has a clear explanation.

I’ve mentioned in prior posts the integration of more functional exercises into my training over the past eighteen months or so, however it’s really in the last six months that I’m starting to see the payoff. I’m lifting and sustaining heavier loads, more volume, and longer sessions in the gym.

When I opened Strava recently, I noticed they’d added a new feature showing your streak of active weeks. Mine currently sits at 265, which corresponds to five years of uninterrupted training since I first started tracking. And that’s just what’s been measured since I started using Strava.

Sometimes you sign up for something before asking the sensible questions, like when, where, and how much training you’ll actually need. That’s exactly how I found myself heading to Farnborough in mid-February for my first Turf Games…with a team I’d barely trained with!

When it comes to fitness and physical challenges, my general approach is simple: it’s me versus me. Of course, there are other participants, however as I'm not a fitness professional, I don't necessarily expect to finish top of the pile against trained athletes. What I do expect is that I’ll push myself to my personal limits and leave it all on the track or in the arena.