How Location and Environment Radically Impact Your Running Performance

I’ve just returned to my home turf in Cambridgeshire after two weeks of running in Spain, and the contrast is staggering. People often ask me how I’ve managed to keep this running streak alive for 1,920 consecutive days, and a huge part of it comes down to understanding how to adapt to different environments.

Today was a massive reminder of that. Running back here in the UK, I literally feel like I’m flying or floating. But for the last 14 days in Spain, it felt like I was running through treacle. When you are on a mission to cover 40,075km,a full lap of the world,to save children's lives, you quickly learn that not all kilometres are created equal.

The Heat Factor

In Spain, I was consistently running in temperatures between 28°C and 32°C. Coming back to 18°C in the UK feels like a different sport. When it’s hot, your heart has to work significantly harder just to keep your body cool. You sweat more, the risk of dehydration skyrockets, and your perceived exertion is much higher for the same pace. I’ve always found that running in heat is far more taxing on the system than running in the cold, where technical gear can usually solve the problem.

The Hidden Challenge: Altitude

Where I live in Cambridgeshire, we are essentially at sea level. The oxygen capacity is at its fullest. In Spain, my first location was around 250 metres above sea level,hardly noticeable. However, the second location sat between 900 and 1,100 metres.

Once you hit that 500-metre to 800-metre threshold, you start to notice your breathing becomes "gaspy." The oxygen is thinning, and your body has to work at a much more exerted rate to fuel your muscles. I’ve run as high as 2,750 metres before, and the impact on your ability to function while exercising is profound.

Elevation and Terrain

Then there is the physical climb. On a standard run at home, I might see 5 metres of elevation gain. In Spain, I was regularly hitting 260 metres of elevation over a 7.5km distance. Running uphill is a different beast, but even running downhill requires a specific skill set and places unique demands on your joints.

The terrain matters too. I’m a road runner by habit; I love smooth tarmac where I can almost run with my eyes closed, knowing my foot placement is solid. Trail running in Spain meant constant vigilance to avoid turning an ankle. There were moments where the incline and the technicality of the ground meant I simply had to walk.

The Bigger Picture

These 14 days were some of the hardest running I’ve done during this entire streak. But if you want to be a well-rounded runner, you have to mix up your training. You have to experience the thin air, the heat, and the hills.

Every step I take, whether it’s on a flat Cambridgeshire road or a technical Spanish trail, is dedicated to my goal of raising £1M for children’s causes. We are chipping away at that 40,075km total every single day. This mission is about resilience, and nothing builds resilience like stepping out of your comfort zone and into a challenging environment.