My motivation this year is to try and stay as physically and mentally well as possible after various setbacks last year including 7 months of painful gut issues which affected any exercise I tried to do. I set myself a task of completing a different challenge and something I had never done before each month for 2015 this way when a challenge has been completed I roll into training for the next one keeping motivated and focussed the whole time. In January it was to try and beat my Park Run PB, which I did, February was to run a Brutal Run, March was a double-whammy with a Brutal Duathlon followed by the Reading Half Marathon having only ever ran 11 miles twice before. Lots more totally different challenges for the year ahead, with my eye on something big by 2017.

A lot of people train and lose interest when they haven’t got an end goal in sight. Trying to set a goal or a challenge is so important to give you something to strive for, and when you have reached it aim for another one, keep it rolling, stay focussed, keep feeling good. It doesn’t have to be anything extreme, it may be you just want to run a 5k for the first time, but that feeling when you have smashed your goal and crossed the line needs to be remembered so keep challenging yourself.

A wise person once said “If it doesn’t challenge, you it doesn’t change you”, there are so many events out there from beginners to advanced that there is no excuse to try something new.

I hope this post doesn’t come across as too self-indulgent my aim is to hopefully motivate you to get out there and do something for you!

On the bike leg of the Brutal Duathlon, heading past Corfe Castle, Swanage stunning scenery but some crazy steep hills on the running sections.

At Reading Half Marathon

With my finishers medal and a time of 1:48:35 , not bad for a first go. Still buzzing!