Running is more than just a way to cover miles, it’s my space to clear my head, focus on my goals, and face life’s challenges. It’s where I escape the noise and also confront the tough moments head-on. Over time, running has become a way to measure my growth, both physically and mentally. Each run, whether easy or tough, reminds me of my strength and what I’m capable of.
Losing my best friend, Bobby, early in my running journey made running even more meaningful. It became my outlet for grief when words couldn’t do it justice. On tough days, running was the only thing that kept me moving. Every mile after that loss was a step toward healing, a reminder that I could keep going. Running has always been about pushing limits, but after Bobby’s passing, it became about finding strength I never knew I had. It’s not just fitness. It’s therapy, resilience, and a way to carry on when life feels overwhelming.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t take a moment to mention the NSPCC UK and the incredible work they do for children’s lives. Their mission to protect children from abuse and neglect, while supporting families in need, is something I truly believe in. As race day draws closer, knowing that I’m raising money for such an important cause keeps me pushing through the hard miles, especially when fatigue starts to take over. Each step becomes more than just a personal achievement; it’s a way to make a real, lasting impact on the lives of children and families who need help the most. You can help support my journey to raise money for the NSPCC by clicking below.
THE TRAINING PLAN
The Runna app continues to challenge me in all the right ways, but its AI has now twice suggested adjusting my marathon target to a slower time based on my speed workouts. I’m pretty sure this has more to do with how my workouts are being recorded in the app rather than my actual fitness.
It seems like I’m not hitting my target paces when, in reality, the data looks to be recorded wrong. Maybe it’s time to turn off autolap on my watch and see if that makes a difference. Either way, despite these small hiccups, I still feel like the app is putting me in the best position to succeed come race day.
THE GEAR
No major updates on the gear side. My Suunto Race continues to perform well and remains a reliable training partner. One thing I’ve forgotten to mention is my earbuds. I’ve been using the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds, and they’ve delivered clear audio while still allowing me to stay aware of my surroundings.
I did make a bit of a rookie mistake, though. I ran out of Carbs Fuel gels before my 21-mile run. Luckily, I had the mix on hand, and it ended up working out well. It actually felt a bit easier on my gut. Something to keep in mind as race day gets closer.
THE SHOES
Brought an old faithful out of the shadows for tempo runs, the Adidas Boston 12. With the Boston 13 set to debut, it’s definitely worth checking out as prices start to drop. Meanwhile, the Diadora Nucleo 2 and Topo Athletic Aura continue to handle easy miles without issue. The Novablast 5 is still a go-to for harder efforts, delivering a nice mix of bounce and responsiveness.
I also introduced the Diadora Frequenza for tempo and interval days, and so far, I’m excited about what it brings to the rotation. The Mizuno Neo Zen continues to impress on long runs, especially when marathon pace is in the mix. That said, I’ve got a new race day shoe waiting in the wings for my longest run. Hoping its performance translates when it really counts.
THE RUNS
Week 11:
Tuesday kicked things off for my 3rd cutback week with 8 easy miles in the Topo Athletic Aura. Wednesday’s 6.5-mile tempo run in the Adidas Boston 12 reminded me that tempos are still my least favorite, but reminded me I need to reach for the Boston 12 more often.
Friday brought 5 miles of K200 intervals in the Asics Novablast 5, a fun mix of speed and suffering. I wrapped things up Sunday with a 9.5-mile long run in the Mizuno Neo Zen.
Week 12:
Hit my first 50-mile week of training.
Tuesday started with 8 easy miles in the Diadora Nucleo 2. Wednesday’s 8-mile tempo run in the Novablast 5 was a grind (as usual). Thursday was another 8 easy miles, this time in the Topo Athletic Aura.
Friday brought mile repeats in the Hoka Mach 6, a great shoe for picking up the pace. Wrapped up the week with an 18-mile long run in the Mizuno Neo Zen, 8.5 miles of those at targeted marathon pace (8:12/mile)
Week 13:
Family vacation meant shifting the schedule around, which also meant no rest day after last week’s 18-miles. Straight into the grind.
Monday started with 8 miles in the Brooks Glycerin Max, recovery mode on autopilot. Tuesday was pyramid intervals in the Novablast 5; felt strong going up, but coming back down? Not so much. Thursday mixed things up with a 4.5-mile hike with Katie and the boys, trading speed work for some quality time on the trails.
Saturday was back to running with 8 easy miles in the Topo Athletic Aura, then capped the week with a 19-mile long run in the Mizuno Neo Zen. Pushing 9.5 miles at marathon pace has confidence high.
Week 14:
Tuesday started the week with 9.5 easy miles in the Diadora Nucleo 2. Wednesday brought drop set intervals in the Novablast 5, a workout that started feeling manageable but ended based on effort rather than hitting my paces. Thursday was all about recovery with 6.5 miles in the Topo Athletic Aura.
Friday’s 8-mile tempo in the Adidas Boston 12 was encouraging. Had me grateful for dusting them off. Then Sunday was the big one; 21 miles in the Mizuno Neo Zen, with 10.5 at marathon pace. The effort was solid, but those final miles reminded me that race day isn’t giving out free passes. Nearly 54 miles total for the week
Week 15:
This was the last cutback week before taper, and it lined up perfectly with race week for the Azalea Trail Run.
Tuesday’s workout was a spicy one: 600s into 200s for 6 miles in the Asics Novablast 5. Thursday’s 9.5-mile easy run in the Topo Athletic Aura let me dial things back a bit before the race weekend.
Friday was a ‘fun’ one; 5.5 miles of tempo work in a new shoe, the Diadora Frequenza. First impressions? Fast and bouncy, but loud. We’ll see how they hold up in more workouts.
Saturday’s plan called for 12 miles, so I split it into three runs: a 3-mile shakeout, 6.2 miles at the Azalea Trail Run (running alongside my brother Matthew for his first race!), and 3 miles post-race to round things out. Watching him cross that finish line was easily the highlight of the week.
WRAP UP
As I wrap up another few weeks of training, it’s clear that every mile is building toward race day. Each step is a reminder of how far I’ve come. The gear is dialed in, the Runna app is pushing me in all the right ways, and the shoes are holding up as I continue to fine-tune my race-day strategy.
Most importantly, running has continued to be my way of measuring strength; not just in my legs, but in my heart. With race day approaching, I’m ready for whatever comes next, knowing that every mile so far has been part of something bigger than just a run. I’ll be back with more updates soon as I head into the final stretch of this journey and you can catch daily check-ins here.
