I’ve been running long enough now to understand how it can ebb and flow. 

I’ve spoken to a lot of runners who feel like they are in an ‘ebb’ state currently and I would certainly put myself in that category. 

Whenever I feel like this, I try not to overthink things too much and just maintain a level of consistency in my running, trusting that eventually things will turn for the better. 

It’s also good to take a bit more of a wider view on things.  

For instance, I’ve been giving myself a hard time at the fact I’ve been struggling to break 40 minutes again recently for the 10K. 

A few years ago, I’d have bitten your hand off to even be in that vicinity.  

One of my favourite running memories is running 45:03 at the Trowse 10K in 2017 – it was unexpected and sometimes I miss that innocence when you don’t really know what you’re capable of and it’s exciting finding out. 

I want to be fitter and faster, but I also try and give myself credit for the strides I’ve made in my training. 

One of the main reasons for this is the fact I’ve lost weight in a sustainable way since working with a nutritionist. He has helped me understand the need to fuel my workouts and forget about the notion of ‘being on a diet’.  

I still love pizza, cake and beer – things that genuinely bring me joy and as such, I try to enjoy them, but in moderation. 

I’ll give myself permission to eat and drink whatever I like – I just try not to overindulge. I think if anyone can adopt a nutrition plan of eating 80pc nutritious food along with 20pc of whatever you like, then you will be happier and healthier as a result. I also completely understand that it’s often not as simple as that for a lot of people as a relationship with food can be wrapped up in a lot of other things. We all have to work that out. 

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I’ve also rediscovered a love for the gym over the past 12 months and I’ve tried to tailor that to help compliment my running. Concentrating on developing stronger legs, hips and glutes has helped build endurance when combined with my running training. 

I haven’t always got the balance right when it comes to this but after my midweek runs I will strength train on the same day. If I have to use lighter weights as a result to maintain form then so be it.  

Strength and conditioning is an important part of my running puzzle, certainly when it comes to injury prevention and psychologically it makes me feel like I’m doing everything possible to keep the niggles at bay. 

If you can only manage five minutes of single leg exercises when you’re brushing your teeth then so be it. Doing something is always better than nothing. 

Personally, I try to periodise my strength work; deep into a marathon training block I scale back what I’m doing in the gym otherwise I can feel constantly fatigued. 

It’s a balance that I don’t always get right... and if I’m falling asleep in front of the TV at 7pm before my kids have even gone to bed then I have to admit there is the slight possibility I’ve overdone it... 

Seriously, it’s good to constantly check in with how you’re feeling in general life around your training; if your running is making other aspects of your life harder then something has to give. 

But if you can make lots of little changes then they can really start adding up over the long term. There isn’t a magic pill or supplement that’s going to provide a shortcut to you being the best runner you can be. 

Consistency and patience, in all aspects, trumps everything.