Mere Mortals In Motion

After hundreds of runs, there had never been a single one that wasn’t mostly a mental challenge. Until now.

This is a reflection on a speed run that felt different. The resistance was still there before getting out the door, but once the run began, something had changed. No bargaining. No internal negotiation. Just rhythm, effort, momentum and the feeling that the training was finally paying off.

(00:00) - A specific run, and why it mattered
(00:55) - The mental barrier vs the physical barrier
(02:19) - Cadence, posture and finding the rhythm
(02:36) - Hi...

Episode 13 of the Marathon Series is about the ugly side of progress.

This was meant to be a 16km run. It became 13km and 80 minutes of sweat, resistance, self-talk, and grinding through the inner voice that wanted to stop almost from the very beginning.

(00:00) - Drenched Before the Day Is Done
(00:22) - 80 Minutes and 13km
(01:21) - Just Getting Out the Door
(01:33) - Trying to Start Slow
(02:29) - Channeling the Goggins Mentality
(02:41) - Do The Loop Again
(02:55) - Recording the Reality of the Moment
(03:39) - Seven Weeks Until the...

Episode 12 of the Marathon Series is a reminder that endurance is earned in the boring moments.

This one is all about the reality of preparation: running in unexpected heat, adjusting the plan, and still finding a way to get the work done.

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In this episode of the Marathon Series, we get brutally honest about what marathon training actually demands. This is not about fantasy plans, heroic delusion, or pretending you can bluff your way through 42.2 kilometres. It is about fatigue, pacing, discipline, broken sleep, heavy legs, and the deep respect required to take on a marathon properly.

Also forgive the crappiolo audio, tried to fix as best I knew how.

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I reflect on why I always seem to overdo leg day, especially when squats are involved, even while training for a marathon. It’s a personal look at discipline, ageing, recovery, and the tension between pushing hard and training smart.

(00:00) - Early Morning Start
(00:24) - Why I Always Overdo Leg Day
(00:52) - The Bigger Lesson Behind Doing Too Much
(01:10) - From Two Leg Sessions to One
(01:32) - Squats Are Where It Gets Out of Hand
(01:57) - Marathon Training Changes the Equation
(02:15) - Recovery Hits Different as You Get Older
(02:35) - Kn...

In this Mere Mortals in Motion episode, I reflect on the reality of training early, especially when life gets full and the margins get tight. This is about discipline over convenience, working with your natural rhythms, and recognising that long-term consistency builds a body and mindset that can be maintained with less than what it took to build them. Connect with Mere Mortals:

(00:00) - Training in the Dark at 4:38AM
(00:34) - When You’ve Got Kids, You Train When You Can
(01:17) - I’m Built for Early Mornings, Not Late Nights
(01:39) - Stop Fighting Your...

 10 weeks to go.
This marathon update is a raw one. Training has been messy, life has been full, sleep has been hit hard with the baby, and the distance still feels intimidating. But the mission is simple now: build enough endurance, get to the start line, and finish what I started.

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 11 weeks to go.
In this marathon training update, I break down a surprisingly strong 29km week, the chaos of balancing training with a newborn, and the brutal truth that I’m already feeling over the long-distance grind.

(00:00) - Welcome Back
(00:18) - 29km in a Week With a Newborn
(01:05) - The Treadmill Session That Fell Apart
(01:24) - The Honest Truth: I’m Over the Long Runs
(01:43) - Do Marathoners All Feel This?
(02:20) - Chasing ‘Local Legend’ on the Loop
(02:47) - Missing the Segment and Getting Crushed
(03:00) - Tiny Motivations Matter

 Twelve weeks out from the marathon. Four days into life with a newborn.

This is where the fantasy dies. No perfect routine. No full night of sleep. No clean, optimised training block.

In this episode of the Mere Mortals Marathon, I’m stepping back into training after the birth of my second daughter. Not with confidence. Not with momentum. But with a decision: start anyway.

(00:00) - 12 Weeks Out
(00:32) - Life With a Newborn
(01:07) - Recovery Is Different Now
(01:16) - Time to Start Again
(02:13) - The 1km Restart
(02:38) - No...

 For ten weeks straight, I’ve been running.

Better times. Better movement. Slightly more efficiency.

And yet… it still feels just as hard as week one.

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 In this Mere Mortals in Motion, we cut through the productivity clichés.

Yes, work smarter. But if you’re not also working hard, sweating, showing up, and getting the reps in, you hit a hard cap. Theory, gear, cadence, reviews… none of it replaces effort.

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Today I ran 3.45km (just over 2 miles) at a faster pace than my usual training… and it revealed the real problem I have to solve before race day.

Because this isn’t just about fitness.
So this episode is about the “mental reps”:

Testing speed on shorter runs (without ego-tripping)
Building the volume that creates confidence
Training the mind to stay calm when everything starts screaming “stop”

Subscribe for the full Marathon Series.

(00:00) Quick recap: just ran 3.45km
(01:43) The last half marathon: what actually happened
(02:29) Training volume vs re...

 Most people drift into their week.

This is why they feel behind by Wednesday.

In this Mere Mortals in Motion episode, I break down why Monday is non-negotiable. Why your first action of the week sets the psychological tone for everything that follows. Why one hard workout can shift your entire mental positioning.

(00:00) – Welcome Back to Mere Mortals in Motion
(01:05) – The Origin of “Mere Mortals Monday Movement”
(02:00) – Why Monday Morning Is Sacred
(02:45) – The Psychological Edge of Early Training
(03:45) – Making Monday Non-Negotiable
(04:05) – Your Personal Ritual That Sets the Week

Connec...

Some days you’re not at your best. Your throat’s cooked, your energy’s low, and motivation feels like a luxury item.

If you’re unwell, undercooked, or mentally flat: take the pressure off perfection. Do the minimum. Do a little extra in a different mode. Keep the chain alive.

(00:00) Welcome back + mid-walk check-in
(00:23) Why I’m walking: one car + still need to get somewhere
(01:03) The plan: 90 mins there, 90 mins back
(02:15) “Better than nothing”: time on feet + marathon mindset
(02:38) If you’re unwell: do the minimum, stay moving

Connect with Mer...

Today’s marathon training session was a straight-up negotiation with my own mind.

I got the 10km done—split up into run/walk/run—but the real story wasn’t the pace… it was the mental games. The “just stop here”, the “turn around”, the “go back to bed” voice. And the uncomfortable realisation that marathon prep isn’t just physical fitness, it’s learning to tolerate discomfort without making it mean anything.

(00:00) Beanbag debrief + what I just did
(00:23) Splits + pace breakdown (run/walk/run)
(00:58) “Holy sh*t” moment: can I even hit marathon distance?
(02:29...

Today’s run was meant to be a write-off… because I lost my headphones (again). No music. No podcasts. Just raw friction.

But that’s the point: the mental game is the training. When you don’t feel like doing the thing, you don’t negotiate with your mood, you shrink the task until you can’t say no.

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 Episode 3 of my Marathon Series: I did a 5K run and noticed something wild changing shoes made the pace feel way easier. I’m not an elite runner, so I didn’t expect equipment to matter this much… but it genuinely shifted the effort level for hitting my target pace.

0:00 Intro + “virtual chat” vibe
0:23 Yesterday’s 5K run
0:50 Shoe swap: old trainers vs lighter/faster pair
2:22 The run felt effortless at target pace
3:09 Does equipment matter more than we think?
4:09 What else might help (shorts/socks/shirt/warm-up)?
5:11 Club run = more fun, more con...

 Want a simple way to know if your marathon goal is realistic?

This episode shows the exact framework I’m using:

pace targets for a sub-2 half + ~4-hour marathon
weekly structure (repeatability + long run focus)
colour-coding wins/losses so you can’t self-delude
how to train around real life without quitting the goal
The plan isn’t magic. It’s consistency + honest tracking.

(00:00) Marathon Series returns + the big question: “How are you tracking this?”
(02:22) The real constraint: life, priorities, and training time
(04:13) Weekly structure example: distances + time targets
...

 After a rough night and emotional family morning, this episode dives into the raw reality of doing what needs to be done even when everything in you says don’t. It’s not a motivational speech, it’s a confrontation with life’s chaos and the discipline that cuts through it. From dead car keys to daycare tears, this is the power of showing up anyway.

(00:00) - The Struggle Is Real: Waking Up Late & Emotional Morning
(00:50) - The Broken Key Fob That Nearly Broke Me
(01:11) - The Temptation to Quit: Why We Say “F*ck It”
(0...

 I’m training for a marathon inside a full life, work deadlines, family, and real constraints.
This is Episode 1: a simple 2 mile run, and the mindset required to actually show up.

00:00 – The reality of starting (time, rain, work, life)
01:00 – First formal week of marathon training
02:10 – Stop comparing. It doesn’t help.
03:15 – It’s the doing. It’s the running.
04:20 – Comfort vs commitment (why I would’ve skipped)
05:10 – You can do anything, but you can’t do everything
06:25 – What’s most important right now (priority + presence)
11:40 – The run ends: the quiet win of finishing
12...

 It’s 3:52am on a Monday. I’m running on scraps of sleep. The body wants comfort. The mind wants excuses.
And that’s exactly why this matters.

This is the real work: consistency. Not the hype. Not the perfect week. Not the “when I feel like it” fantasy.
It’s showing up when you feel good… and especially when you don’t.

In this MM in Motion, I talk about:

Why motivation is unreliable (and discipline isn’t)

The difference between thinking about doing the thing and doing the thing

 Another run in the new year, new foundations being set.

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 I’m training for my first marathon while working full-time, raising a family, and preparing for a second child.
This series documents the process honestly — the discipline, the doubt, and the trade-offs.

00:00 – The Decision
00:45 – Why This Isn’t About Becoming a Runner
02:15 – Where I’m Starting From
04:30 – Life, Work, and Family Constraints
07:10 – The Marathon & Half Marathon Goals
09:40 – Why I’m Documenting This
12:30 – What This Series Is (And Isn’t)
14:00 – The Deeper Why
15:30 – What Comes Next

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 Training a few days after christmas means maximum usage of food and drinks into a focused workout.

Connect with Mere Mortals:
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Filmed mid-day, mid-life, mid-effort this is a reflection on removing friction from discipline. No metrics obsession. No perfect conditions. Just movement. A treadmill. And a decision to show up.

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 This episode dives into the evolution of training as a lifelong practice — from ego-driven lifting to a disciplined anchor that holds together family life, mental clarity, and a grounded sense of purpose.

Connect with Mere Mortals:
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 Got up for a humid 5km run I honestly didn’t want to do… and it turned into a surprisingly fun session thanks to an AI-focused running club. This episode is a reminder that if something feels hard, you can make it easier by pairing it with people and topics you genuinely care about.

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 In this MM in Motion, I talk through a conscious decision: easing off the running pedal in December so I can come back stronger, not just fitter. It’s about shifting from “go hard every week” to a more realistic balance between running, strength training, family and creating Mere Mortals content.

(00:00) – Early morning intro & new setup
(00:57) – 14–15 weeks of effort and the need for a break
(01:25) – New balance: less running, more lifting & weekly training structure
(02:23) – Family changes, limited time & being realistic with goals
(03:09) – Planning a quieter Mere Mortals week & Q1 content reset
(03:40) – Using December to plan book...

In this MM in Motion, I dive into the tension between heavy lifting and high-volume training, and how my body forced me to recalibrate after weeks of accumulated fatigue.

(00:00) — Driving to the Gym & Session Overview
(01:03) — What “Heavy” Really Means (Low Reps, High Weight)
(01:33) — What “Volume” Really Means (More Reps, More Sets)
(03:36) — Returning to Heavy Training & Enjoying It
(05:10) — How Recovery Changes in Your 20s vs 30s
(06:09) — Training Is Mental as Much as Physical
(06:31) — Final Thoughts: Focus, Belief & Enjoying the Work

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From iron addict to pavement pounder. Today I riff on why I’ve shifted from bodybuilding and powerlifting into longer runs—how a humble 5km at parkrun snowballed into a first half marathon before my wedding, and why none of it’s about medals. It’s about momentum, presence, and men’s health. Move your body. Any dose counts.

00:00 – Windy run intro & mental reset
01:22 – First love affair with running: 1–3 km → 5 km (parkrun)
03:15 – Rewriting the story: “I never thought I’d be a runner”
04:18 – Boredom → change: choosing movement over labels
05:14 – Fitness phases: races, Hyrox, CrossFit, or just play
06:1...

After battling sickness and a concussion, I reflect on the frustrating cycle of restarting my training routine and what it means to truly build rhythm over time.

(00:00) - Back from Sickness and Concussion
(00:47) - Planning the Week: The Training Spreadsheet
(01:27) - Groundhog Day: Repeating the Same Week Again
(02:19) - Strength Goals: The Six Times Bodyweight Mission
(03:02) - Lessons from a Younger Self: Pushing Too Hard
(03:46) - The Reality of Training in Your 30s
(04:23) - Patience and Longevity Over Ego
(04:41) - Lessons from the Podcast Journey: Discipline vs Rhythm
(05:32...

You can crush 5km and still feel like you’ve failed. Expectations creep, standards rise, and suddenly “good” isn’t good enough. Tonight’s run became a mirror: Should you soften and rebalance… or sharpen and push harder? I wrestle with the tension between using “negative” energy (anger, frustration) vs calm, composed effort and what that means for progress, recovery, and staying in motion.

(00:00) Welcome back & the expectations trap
(00:29) When longer runs become the new “normal”
(01:33) “Why am I beating myself up?”
(02:22) In the moment, it just feels… crap
(03:38) Use frustration or cultivate calm?
(04:07) Amped-u...

After a week of storms, downed power and a forced slowdown, I’m back in motion. I share what it’s like to restart after a deload week, how training has evolved for me in my 30s, and why I’ve swapped the supplement stack for simplicity and consistency.

(00:00) – Storms, lights, and the chaos before the gym
(00:26) – Fresh start: new week, new training phase
(01:06) – Planning and adaptation after a deload week
(01:49) – The excitement of restarting after rest
(02:55) – Lessons from training in your 20s vs 30s
(03:29) – Supplements, energy, and why coffee now replaces pre-workout
...

A candid walk-and-talk about the power of a deload week, when to pull back, how much to cut, and why recovery is a competitive advantage. I share my own numbers (gym and running) and the mindset shift that stops you waiting “till the wheels fall off.”

(00:00) – Walk & iced-coffee intro
(00:57) – Old mindset: “train till the wheels fall off”
(01:15) – My numbers: gym ↓ from ~4h→~3h; weights lighter
(01:42) – Running volume: ~30–40km → ~10–15km
(02:25) – Ageing & recovery reality check
(02:47) – Philosophy: step back to go longer, stronger
(03:08) – Plan it: monthly & annual cycles
(03:42) – Deload ≠ doing nothing; be smart

Connect with Mere Mortals...

In this Mere Mortals in Motion, I reflect on the art of building habits and making discomfort more sustainable. While out on a run, I explored the balance between discipline and enjoyment.

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It’s early and I’m back at it. In this episode, I talk through my morning routine, why journaling has become a non-negotiable part of my day, and how I deal with the frustration of missing a workout. This is about more than just training; it’s about being honest with yourself, knowing your limits, and finding discipline through realism rather than self-deception.

(00:00) – Early Mornings & Journaling
(01:10) – When Plans Fall Apart
(02:15) – Knowing Yourself & Training Honestly
(04:05) – Getting Back on Track

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Feeling bloody good again and fired up for chest day. I’ve been using AI to write my workouts for ~7–8 weeks and learned a hard truth: when you over-engineer the prompt, the training gets worse. Simplicity wins. Today’s a push focus (chest/shoulders/tris), with a stretch-first approach, wave-loading on bench, and a 5km run to close. Here’s why I’m shifting from fiddling with prompts back to principles and manual planning.

Key ideas:

Overprompting breaks the plan; simple targets work best.

Manual planning improves recall and execution.

Push day struct...

In this episode of Mere Mortals in Motion, I reflect on the brutal truth that you only truly appreciate health when it’s taken from you. After battling sickness, motion sickness, and the frustration of being bedridden, I share what it feels like to be stripped of energy and strength — and why recovery is more than just getting back on your feet.

(00:00) - Walking on the treadmill & battling sickness
(00:26) - Motion sickness after go-karting
(01:18) - Missing the gym and the gift of movement
(02:41) - Surviving on toast & garlic before the game
(03:05) - Wanting to r...

After an uncharacteristic break from training, I reflect on how illness stripped me of motivation, clarity, and presence. This episode dives deep into the often overlooked mental cost of poor health, and how getting back in motion — even with uncertainty — is the only way forward. It’s not about smashing records; it’s about not letting your mind stagnate.

(00:00) – Health, Goddammit
(01:26) – Gut Issues & Food Poisoning
(02:25) – Back to the Gym (Finally)
(02:47) – The Plan (and Probable Failure)
(03:09) – 85% Recovery & Fleeting Gratitude
(03:36) – Forgetting How Bad It Was
(04:02) – Stay Moving, Mere Mortals

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In this brutally honest episode, I walk through a phhysically rough morning, all my own doing. Physical metrics, terrible sleep and more.

(00:00) - Battling the Aftermath: Alcohol, Age & Regret
(00:33) - A Night of Fun, A Morning of Consequences
(01:05) - Tracking Health with Wearables: What the Data Says
(02:01) - How Drinking Wrecks Sleep & Recovery
(03:00) - Feeling the Pain, But Showing Up Anyway
(03:51) - The Routine That Saves You
(04:33) - Systems Built in Europe, Honed in Discipline
(05:02) - Proof from the Past: You Can Train Through Pain
(05:34) - Accepting Aging & Moderation...