Life

Fifteen years on from losing my dad to cancer at 50, I look at the weight I gained, the fitness I lost, and how running the Great South Run brought me back to him.

Ahead of the Big Juice Spring Clean, I listed everything needed for Jason Vale’s 5lbs in 5 days Juice Master Detox, from apples and carrots to beetroot, kale and avocados.

In month three of my 2013 self powered miles challenge I ran two half marathons on a plant based diet, cutting 6 minutes off my personal best, taking my yearly total to 592.5 miles.

With my first full marathon ten weeks away, on my birthday, I looked back at a winter of races: a muddy Disney 5k, a wet Gloucester 10k, and two half marathons under 1 hour 45.

Two weeks after my first half marathon, I ran the hilly Warwick Castle course and finished in 1 hour 43 minutes, more than six minutes quicker than Silverstone despite the hills.

Ten years after my cousin’s son died from Cystic Fibrosis aged just 18, I reflected on his cheeky spirit and how his memory drives my 2013 self powered miles challenge.

I completed my first official half marathon at the Adidas Silverstone Half Marathon in 1 hour, 49 minutes and 53 seconds, faster at 10 miles than my Great South Run finish last year.

After going meat free on Mondays through my year without beer, I decided to go completely meat free for the whole of March to see if my health and fitness improve further.

In month two of my 2013 self powered miles challenge I ran, cycled and rowed 200.9 miles, including a Gloucester 10k personal best, taking my yearly total to 406.8 miles.

After losing over 5 stone since 2009, my wedding ring had to be resized by four sizes, and my clothes show I’ve lost about 10 inches off my waist.

I ran the Gloucester 10k in the wind and rain, finishing in 47 minutes and 35 seconds, a personal best by about 3 minutes, as part of my 2013 self powered miles challenge.

In my first month of running 2013 self powered miles, I covered 205.9 miles by running, cycling, rowing and swimming, including a 5k at Disney’s Epcot and a snowy run back home.