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.
Training & Race Reviews
Follow me with my current training blog and see what I’m working towards.
Coaching
Some of my favourite coaching tips and training advice for new and experienced runners.
Health & Wellbeing
Here you will find some general health and wellbeing information.
The 2:49 Marathon Project
What is the 2:49 Marathon Project? The 2:49 Marathon Project will be a chronicle of my 16 week training program targeting a 2:49 finish on
2024 Manchester Marathon
The 2024 Manchester Marathon Training I made the decision to bypass my second run in Boston for a more local event at the 2024 Manchester
2023 Valencia Marathon
The 2023 Valencia Marathon I heard a lot of good things about the 2023 Valencia Marathon in the months leading up to it, and boy,
Valencia Marathon – Lowered Expectations
Valencia Marathon Lowered Expectations My training for the Valencia Marathon did not go as planned and I’ve lowered my expectations. Why, well I have a
Post Marathon 5k – Ballyshannon
Post Marathon 5k Race Is there anything better than a post marathon 5k race? Three to four weeks after completing a marathon, training hard for
London Marathon 2023 Race Report
The Lead Up to the London Marathon 2023 The 16 week block of training for the 2023 London Marathon began on January 2nd. Following on
The 2:49 Marathon Project
What is the 2:49 Marathon Project? The 2:49 Marathon Project will be a chronicle of my 16 week training program targeting a 2:49 finish on
Week 16 Training for the London Marathon
Previous Weeks Just a couple of things to start with. Before reading about my week 16 training for the London Marathon, you should start at
Week 15 Training For The London Marathon
Previous Weeks Just a couple of things to start with. Before reading about my week 15 training for the London Marathon, you should start at
Week 14 Training For The London Marathon
Previous Weeks Just a couple of things to start with. Before reading about my week 14 training for the London Marathon, you should start at
Week 13 Training For The London Marathon
Previous Weeks Just a couple of things to start with. Before reading about my week 13 training for the London Marathon, you should start at
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