My 2025 was densely packed with running highs and lows, toddler parenting (‘terrible twos’ were mostly good fun, but ‘threenager’…much less so), and a new definition for what ‘busy’ looks like, thanks largely to a breakthrough year for my running nutrition and coaching business.

Unsurprisingly, it was therefore pretty sparse on the blogging front! Something had to give, and this blog (and any semblance of a social life) was sadly first in line for the chop.

So let’s break the silence and kick off what I hope will be an incredibly productive 2026 on all fronts (watch this space), with a trio of running top threes: 2025 highlights, 2025 lowlights, and 2026 goals:

2025 highs:

1. Abingdon Marathon (Oct 19): 2:29:23 (PB and 1^st place)

It’s not often you a) represent England at the marathon in your age group, b) win the whole race, and c) achieve your lifetime running goal of sub 2:30.

I’d come pretty close to sub 2:30 on several occasions in the past couple of years, and was starting to think my chances were slipping away. However, on a day when I genuinely didn’t expect it, I executed a near-perfect race in challenging conditions (blustery and drizzly), and was suitably emotional even before I crossed the line. The stand-out moment of 2025, and in fact one of the best days of my life.

2. Copenhagen Half (Sept 14): 70:41 (PB)

The wettest race of my life bar none, and timely proof that I don’t (always) need perfect conditions to PB. Also, generally just an excellent city, and despite the rain clouds and puddles, a great event that I’d love to come back to. Can see why it sells out so quickly.

3. Battersea parkrun (Sept 6): 15:52 (PB)

The first of these three PBs across three distances, across a beautiful six-week purple patch from late summer into early autumn. Looking back now, I think this one was crucial in setting the tone for the other two, and by giving me the confidence that, at 41, I could still make little improvements if I kept looking after myself.  

2025 lows:

1. Battersea Half (Jan 4): 71:54…and lots of injuries

I knew I was in the best shape of my life as I started the year, and anything other than a PB would have been disappointing. Sadly, it was quite a lot worse than that! On lap two of nine, I had a horrendous fall while trying to pass lapped runners. I made the foolish (or at least stubborn) decision to get back up and run the next 11 miles as best I could, and this will always be my go-to anecdote for the analgesic power of adrenaline, because within seconds of crossing the finishing line, I couldn’t walk, and soon found out I had a broken toe, broken rib, and two badly smashed up knees. The knees were actually slowest to heal of the three injuries, and ended up depriving me of two months of training.  

2. Seville Marathon (Feb 22): 2:58:18

This could have gone in the highs or lows, but the reason it goes here is because the above incident robbed me of the best shape of my life, and what I’m convinced would have been a big marathon PB in my 2025 goal race in Seville. That said, it was actually a very happy day / family holiday, and a rare opportunity to ‘enjoy’ a marathon without worrying about pace, but instead just getting round without discomfort. I was amazed and proud to complete the race, but it will always be bittersweet for me, and left me with unfinished business for 2026…

3. Fulham 10km (Nov 15): 32:51

A mixture of complacency and GPS issues got the better of me, and this ended up being one of my worst executed races in years. This should really have been the day I completed the full house of PBs for the year, but instead I set off at 5K pace, and funnily enough, could barely cling on grimly to marathon pace in the second half. Honestly don’t know what came over me that day, but it was fairly embarrassing as a runner let alone coach!

2026 goals:

1. Seville Marathon PB

2:29 at Abingdon came off a half marathon block with very little time for marathon specific training, on a decent but not super-fast course, and in very average conditions. So, the goal for Seville in February simply has to be a new marathon PB, on the back of (to date at least) a really good, marathon specific block, on a fast course with lots of other sub 2:30 runners. Obviously I had to re-book Seville this year. Unfinished business.

2. Half Marathon sub 70

After 2:29 in the marathon, 69 in the half has been the next in line in terms of peak lifetime running goals. Unlike the marathon, I have never felt especially confident that this one will happen, but after Copenhagen I’m now only 42 seconds away, and that was basically a swim, so surely there’s a chance this year, and I’ll try to give myself a couple of really good shots at it.

3. Keep loving it.

Cheesy but true, and really, this should always be number one on any list, such is its importance in underpinning everything else. Running motivates me, makes me a better person, father, husband (and coach), and keeps my internal fire burning even when life is hectic and, dare I say, stressful. I won’t pretend to enjoy every minute of every cold, dark and rainy run commute, but I genuinely love the process. This is the key to running success, and something I hope to always bring to my clients.