My mental health Journey

13/07/2025

Last week, I ran a 10K in 1 hour 15 minutes. This week? 1 hour 5 minutes. That’s a 10-minute improvement in just 7 days.
What changed? Not more miles. Not more speed work.

👉 More rest. More recovery. More respect for my body and mind.

Here’s what the science says:
🧠 Mental Health: Rest reduces cortisol (stress hormone), improves focus, and prevents burnout.

💪 Running Performance: Sleep and recovery boost endurance, muscle repair, and even running form.

📊 Studies show that rest days and quality sleep can increase athletic performance by up to 20% and reduce injury risk by over 30%.
So if you're grinding non-stop, remember:
Rest isn’t weakness. It’s strategy.

11/07/2025

09/07/2025

👉New Challenge. Same Mission. Let’s Talk. 💬

After running every single day through May and June, I’m stepping up for a new challenge—two half marathons and two full marathons—to raise awareness and support for a cause close to my heart: Men and Their Emotions.

This isn’t just about miles. It’s about the stories behind them.

August – Southampton Running Festival Half Marathon
October – Goodwood Circuit Half Marathon
December – Portsmouth Marathon
April 2026 – Brighton Marathon (unfinished business…)

I’ve run through injury, exhaustion, and rejection—but I’ve also run through healing, growth, and connection.

This campaign is about showing that it’s okay to feel, to struggle, and to speak up.

👉Join the Journey: Follow, Share, and Spread the Word

This campaign is about more than running — it’s about opening up conversations around men’s mental health and emotional wellbeing.

📲 Follow my journey here and on Instagram for updates, training insights, and honest reflections.

💬 Like, share, and comment to help spread the word.

📢 Tag a friend who might want to join a run, support the cause, or just hear that it’s okay to talk.

The more people we reach, the more awareness we raise — and that’s how we make real change.

👉
👉 https://strava.app.link/FSwocQfcQUb
👉 https://www.menandtheiremotions.org.uk/donate

💚How You Can Get Involved:

Donate: Every penny goes to supporting men’s mental health and emotional wellbeing.

Join the Journey: Follow and share to help grow the campaign and reach more people.

⭐️Run & Chat: Join the Strava group, come for a training run, and let’s talk—about running, life, or anything in between.

After each run, I’ll be sharing a photo and a short conversation with the person who joined me. It’s a chance to hear real voices, real stories, and show that no one has to run—or feel—alone.

Let’s run with purpose. Let’s talk with honesty. Let’s support each other.

27/06/2025

There’s been a reason you haven’t seen me all sweaty for a few days — and here’s why.

I’m still out there, running 4 miles every day — only three days left to go. But this journey has become about more than just the miles. It’s about mental strength, emotional awareness, and breaking the silence.

Men are often taught to “man up,” to stay quiet, to push through. But that silence? It’s dangerous. It’s one of the reasons men are less likely to seek help for mental health issues, and why su***de remains one of the leading causes of death among men globally.

What’s more, changes in habits — like withdrawing from activities, disrupted sleep, or even skipping the gym — can be early signs of mental health struggles. I didn’t realize it at first, but sometimes our bodies and routines reflect what our minds are trying to hide.

So here’s the truth: it’s okay to not be okay. And it’s more than okay to talk about it.

A simple “How are you?” can go a long way. Research shows that regular check-ins and social support significantly reduce feelings of isolation and depression. You never know what someone’s carrying behind a smile or a silence.

If you’re reading this and you’re struggling — or even just feeling off — I want you to know you’re not alone. I cannot speak more higher of Men and Their Emotions group. You don’t have to post. You don’t even have to talk. But you might just find out that your thoughts aren’t as uncommon as you think.

👉 Join here

https://m.facebook.com/groups/menandtheiremotions/?locale=ps_AF

Let’s normalize checking in. Let’s normalize talking. Let’s normalize healing.

18/06/2025

Men And Their Emotions | Charity

This June, one of our project managers, Paul Shepherd, set himself a powerful challenge: run 4️⃣ miles every day to raise awareness for men’s mental health. So far, he’s already clocked up 68 miles – and he’s not slowing down. 🏃🏻‍♂️

Why is he doing it? Because 1️⃣ in 8️⃣ men in the UK experience a mental health problem, yet many don’t feel able to speak up. Paul is determined to help change that.💪🏻

He’s supporting the brilliant charity, Men and Their Emotions (M.A.T.E) – a peer-led organisation that creates safe spaces for men to talk, connect, and support one another. Their work is rooted in lived experience and community.

💬 Paul has also launched a Strava group – – to encourage others to join the movement. Whether you walk, jog, or run, every mile helps raise awareness and break the stigma.

Let’s support Paul, support each other, and keep the conversation going.

Together, we can make a real difference.💙

17/06/2025

This Week, I’m Speaking My Truth
This week, I want to open up — not for sympathy, but for strength. I want to talk about my life, my journey, and the silent battles I fight every single day. I wake up and wrestle with the idea of being “normal,” whatever that even means. But deep down, I know — that’s not me.
And maybe that’s not you either.
I’ve stumbled through life feeling misshaped, awkward, clumsy — like a demon carrying the weight of my own chaos. But those pieces of me, the ones I used to hide or hate, are the very parts that push me to speak out. To create. To show up. To remind every man, every person, that we are all a little broken inside.
And that’s okay.
We need to stop being afraid of saying it out loud: “I’m not okay.” Because there’s power in that honesty. There’s healing in that truth. I didn’t get here by being perfect — I got here by surviving. By growing. By refusing to give up.
Now, I stand as I am — for better or worse — and I choose to be something more. Not flawless. Not fixed. But real. And that’s what I want to show my children. That’s what I want to show the world.
It’s okay to not be okay. And it’s brave to keep going anyway.

08/06/2025

So some amazing news one look at this vest amazing and fills me with pride to run in.

Shameless plug 👇

https://www.menandtheiremotions.org.uk/merchandise

An more amazing the Strava group has reached up to 96 miles this week so far some amazing people out there thank you. If you want to get involve please do you don’t have to run you could take a walk at lunch bike ride what ever. Just getting the message out maters. That no man is alone and M.A.T.E is theirs for them.