Welcome to 'A heart for Running'
Thank you for visiting AHeartForRunning.com. This blog serves as a platform for me to share my life experiences through the lens of running. My perspective is shaped by a life-altering event that forced me to strip life back to its core and rebuild into a content, thriving man and highly motivated athlete.
What happened? At the age of 48, I survived a stroke in February 2017. It was caused by an 11mm hole in my heart that I was born with but never knew about. The stroke left me mentally broken for a large part of the year. In November of the same year, I underwent a heart operation called an ASD closure. This remarkable procedure, almost surreal for those who haven’t heard of it, allowed my heart to work at 100% capacity for the first time in my life.
Running played a crucial role in my life leading up to that fateful February morning, and I’m convinced it was pivotal in both my survival and recovery. In the years that followed, my running has improved significantly. I have broken the 3-hour marathon time for the past three years. In 2024, I achieved my personal record of 2:54:23 in the Manchester Marathon at the age of 55.
Here, I also explore my life as a running coach, discuss nutrition topics, and focus on overall health and well-being. Please contribute your comments and experiences as we grow this running community together.
The 2:49 Marathon Project Week 12 Update
The 2:49 Marathon Project Week 11 Update was beyond positive. I’m finally feeling good once again and now is the time for focussed hard work!
The 2:49 Marathon Project Week 13 Training
The 2:49 Marathon Project Week 13 Training For The 2:49 Marathon Project Week 13 Training sessions I am back to hitting some bigger volume. As
The 2:49 Marathon Project Week 11 Update
The 2:49 Marathon Project Week 11 Update was beyond positive. I’m finally feeling good once again and now is the time for focussed hard work!
The 2:49 Marathon Project Week 12 Training
The 2:49 Marathon Project Week 12 Training For The 2:49 Marathon Project Week 12 Training sessions I am feeling much more positive about this entire
The 2:49 Marathon Project Week 10 Update
The 2:49 Marathon Project Week 10 Update For the 2:49 Marathon Project Week 10 Update all I can say is marathon training is hard work.
The 2:49 Marathon Project Week 11 Training
The 2:49 Marathon Project Week 11 Training For The 2:49 Marathon Project Week 11 Training sessions I seem to be back on track…somewhat. At this
The 2:49 Marathon Project Week 12 Update
The 2:49 Marathon Project Week 11 Update was beyond positive. I’m finally feeling good once again and now is the time for focussed hard work!
The 2:49 Marathon Project Week 13 Training
The 2:49 Marathon Project Week 13 Training For The 2:49 Marathon Project Week 13 Training sessions I am back to hitting some bigger volume. As
The 2:49 Marathon Project Week 11 Update
The 2:49 Marathon Project Week 11 Update was beyond positive. I’m finally feeling good once again and now is the time for focussed hard work!
The 2:49 Marathon Project Week 12 Training
The 2:49 Marathon Project Week 12 Training For The 2:49 Marathon Project Week 12 Training sessions I am feeling much more positive about this entire
The 2:49 Marathon Project Week 10 Update
The 2:49 Marathon Project Week 10 Update For the 2:49 Marathon Project Week 10 Update all I can say is marathon training is hard work.
What is Happiness?
What is happiness? This is a genuine question and I’d appreciate if you would give me your honest opinion. How do you define happiness? I
The Benefits of an Early Morning Routine
Early Morning Routine – How it Started Developing an early morning routine has proven to be life-changing. It started out as what some believed to
Beef Chilli
As winter approaches, we tend to think of more hearty foods, especially when we return from a cold, wet run. Beef Chilli is one of
Sweet Chilli Turkey Bowl
This is a simple recipe that is great for adding lean protein and complex carbohydrates. Perfect for a post run meal and simply packed with
Post-Run Protein
Post workout meals are best served with a good balance of protein and complex carbohydrates. Many endurance athletes neglect to take in enough protein in