Optimum Humans Coaching

19/07/2025

Great little move for those who struggle to shift some chronic LBP related to pelvic floor issues.

08/06/2025

Absolutely blown away by this event and how much I enjoyed it. Also super chuffed we finished 5th in our category (small mixed team), especially as it was the first time 4/5 of us had done anything like this in terms of endurance time.

An event where you do a continuous run relay over the space of 24hrs around an 8km circuit (which wasn't flat!) 3 of us did 7 laps, 35miles, 1 got the extra bonus last lap and did 8 - 40miles - while our last minute substitute member helped us out with strategically placed 4 laps - 20miles, which gave us extra rest time when needed, meant we covered 33 laps (165miles) between us.

Not just a test of physical endurance but also of strategy. We worked out what we were going to do on the Saturday morning, just before we started. 3 single laps each, double laps through the night, then 2 more laps to bring it home. A last minute push meant we moved from 8th to 5th ☺️

Also tested was how to fuel in-between runs (my night laps started at 1.30am-3.15am - miles 16-25, just to have to get ready to do a single again at 6.20am) and manage all of this on very little sleep - my recorded actual sleep from Saturday to Sunday was 1hr 24mins 🤣

Would I do it again? Absolutely yes! Despite the weather (rain, wind, more rain then finally done sun) which meant the route became extremely muddy underfoot (tough when running using the light of a headtorch) it was an incredibly friendly and supportive event both on and off the course. Being able to watch some of the Solo athletes getting their 100mile goal ticked off (20laps) was truly inspiring, amazing and emotional. It's a big goal for Soloists in this kind of event, only managed by a few. Equally impressive were some of the lap times (as seen in the start video). 5min/mile pace by some of the faster athletes, just phenomenal 🏃🏼‍♂️🏃🏼‍♀️💨

What a weekend!

06/06/2025

It's time!!!!! The event I've not prepared for and tried not to think about 🤣😂🤣
How many 8km laps can a team of 5 run continuously in 24hrs???
4,5,6, or 6+ laps each.....?

We'll find out after 12pm on Sunday. 🏃🏼‍♂️🏃🏼‍♂️🏃🏼‍♀️🏃🏼‍♂️🏃🏼‍♂️

28/04/2025

*marathon spam*

Why yes, I did run a marathon this weekend 🤣 a much more relaxed mass start in the world of off-road trail running than at Manchester or London this weekend. Touch more elevation (3000ft overall gain, anyone?), some big differences in pace at food stations (and nature wee stops), different weather than Sunday but probably the same emotions, grins, sore toes and feelings of pride at finishing... Doing what I enjoy the most, seeing how far I can go on very little training* 😂🤣😂

*As a coach & sports therapist, I do not recommend this approach. Huge kudos to those of you who stuck at your training and approached your marathons the correct way!

21/04/2025

Sometimes I do other things... 2019's little trip to the USA on May on my way to race Escape from Alcatraz. Racing can let you travel to places you sometimes wouldn't go both physically and mentally.

16/02/2025

02/02/2025

Trying to get myself run fit again by putting myself into uncomfortable situations 🙈😁

It's always hard to put yourself on a start line when you don't feel at your best but training, learning and improvement come from working hard even when you find things tough (mentally & physically in terms of these races) and may finish further down the results sheet then you'd like.

Feedback is key and it's important to recognise the improvements whatever their form - time, perceived effort, equipment required, HR, fun/enjoyment rating....

Each of these courses had their own challenges but today felt the toughest even though the elevation was the least. Getting faster each time though and enjoying them more as fitness returns. ⛰️🏃🏼‍♀️🥵

Sometimes, you have to get comfortable with being uncomfortable 😣 and push through, understanding afterwards what different levels of effort feel like in order to improve - NOT EVERYTHING NEEDS TO BE HARD. A lot of times, training is repetitive and mundane and you need to get started before you feel the motivation or see the results. 💪🏼

One thing's for sure, training is going the right way for the but I'm getting the impression swimming the 11 miles of Windermere in September will feel much easier than these training runs!

11/10/2024

New run shoes for new run goals. Only on week 2 of a new training programme as I've secretly been quite ill for the last couple of years. Feeling back to health and ready to train, just need to book some races 🤣👟🏊🏼‍♀️🚴🏼‍♀️🏃🏼‍♀️

24/09/2024

So proud of our athletes Wales this weekend. It's a tough, tough course that all 3 of us coaches have experienced previously... Who knows, we may have been convinced to do it again year 🤷🏼‍♀️🙄🙊🙈

30/07/2024

You've got to love supporters. It's what makes athletes thrive! Fantastic video showing just how much our support teams (family, friends, teammates, other athletes) go through. It's not just about the athletes! Who's your top supporter?

15/07/2024

I did the first day of this about 7/8 years ago (31 miles) and promised myself I'd come back one day and complete it (day 2, the second half of the route, another 31+miles). Slight change of plan and we decided to do the whole thing (100km/62+miles) in one day. I've never been so under prepared in terms of training (almost none. Our longest run was 25 miles and we only did that once 🙈 no back to back weekend runs to practice running on fatigued legs or any of the things I knew we should do) and the most unfit I've been for about 15 years. However, never underestimate the power of experience, years of base fitness and mental strength and tenacity. It took a few hours longer than we had planned, we finished in the dark but we had great fun, enjoyed it and managed to run the furthest either of us ever have. Team work really made it work. I had a massive wobble between 31-43 miles and could easily have called it a day. James let me let the way (and pace it out to push us home) from the 45 mile mark - "only 15 to go. That's 3x5miles or 3x8km. That's doable!" Was my internal voice when I got my second wind and his was waning... But we finished together with smiles to get the Big Shiny Medal 🏅 A 3hr wait for the coach back to the start then a 90 minute coach journey and short drive back to our accommodation meant we got in around 5am, having got up at 5.30am the day before. Lessons were learnt re: time at feed stations, how much to really carry and what the body is really capable of. Really enjoyable route. Well marked. Well stocked feed stations and a whole range of runners/walkers taking part - a super bunch of really friendly and supportive people. Honestly, one of the nicest event environments I've been in. Not put-off by ultra, ultra distance. Who knows what might be next... 🤔🫣

31/05/2024

Reasons to stay strong 💪🏼

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