What Happens When Marathon Training Goes Wrong? 

Have you ever found yourself staring down the barrel of a marathon plan—dreaming of a personal best—only to feel your body start betraying you? That’s me. Right now. But giving up is not an option. Not when the dream is bigger than me: raising £1,000,000 for children's causes, pushing beyond day 4,292 of the Runpreneur Challenge, and running the full 40,075km—barefoot around the world.

Let me take you inside my latest setback… and show you how I’m turning injury into fuel for my mission.

When Injury Strikes on the Road to Manchester

Eight weeks out from the Manchester Marathon—my carefully chosen PB course —and what happens? On a family skiing trip in Andorra, my hamstring pops. Not enough to stop me running (and skiing, I might add!), but enough to throw a gigantic spanner in my meticulously planned training regime.

Imagine it: sprinting up airy slopes at 1,700 metres, mind racing through elevation as much as the wounds in my leg. Every step, a question: How far can I push without breaking down altogether?

This is what no marathon training plan prepares you for—the psychological battle that begins when your own body decides it’s time to play hardball.

Listen to Your Body, But Don’t Ignore Your Dreams

Here’s the thing — my relentless nature screams, “Just get to the start line! Power through!” But I know, deep down (and you probably do too), that’s a risky game. Aggravate it now, and it’s not just Manchester at stake, but Edinburgh a month later… my two best chances at the elusive sub-3:15 marathon.

So what’s my game plan?

• Recovery running: I’m scaling back to gentle, steady-pace runs — not chasing times, just keeping the streak alive.

• Expert advice: Booking in with my trusted sports masseuse and physio; it’s time to get clinical about the next steps.

• Smart planning: If Manchester becomes a “build-up marathon” rather than a PB attempt, so be it. Edinburgh might just be my moment.

Most importantly: I refuse to jeopardise the bigger picture. My daily running streak (now 1,736 days and counting) and this mission for children's lives are non-negotiable.

The Toughest Lesson: Knowing When To Hold Back

If you’re reading this while battling your own injury setbacks—if your goals seem to be slipping just out of reach—I get it. The heartbreak is real. But let me tell you: if you blow it all now, recovery is twice as brutal. Fitness is so much easier to maintain than it is to “come back” from rock bottom. It isn’t about being stubborn; it’s about being strategic.

Expert input, listening to your body, and keeping your purpose front and centre—that’s the real marathon.

Join Me: Every Step Still Counts

This isn’t just my challenge; it’s OUR mission. Every day I run is another chance to get closer to £1,000,000 raised, another step towards 40,075km, another child’s life changed forever.

Follow my journey. Cheer me on. Share your own battles. Let’s lift each other up—because pain is temporary, but impact lasts forever.

👇 Drop your injury storeys, training battles, and recovery wins in the comments. If you believe in the mission—saving children’s lives, one barefoot mile at a time—please share, subscribe, like, and spread the word. The more people we reach, the more children’s lives we save. That’s why I run, every single day.

Stay positive. Stay happy. And I’ll see you out there – no matter what obstacles we face.