My Son’s Pre-Season Football Training:

Running in the Spanish Mountains

Today, I want to share a unique and memorable chapter from our family holiday: my 14-year-old son’s pre-season football training, with a twist running in the mountains of southern Spain.

As a parent of a teen who loves football, keeping him active during the off-season can be a challenge. During our break in Vejer de la Frontera, this beautiful hilltop town about an hour from Gibraltar, I found the perfect opportunity to blend family bonding with some serious fitness benefits. The football season in the UK was on pause for his age group, and with the move up to full-size pitches and 90-minute matches in the coming season, we both knew the pre-season mattered.

Inspired by my own commitment to daily running (part of my ultimate ultra marathon challenge to raise funds and save children's lives), I suggested my son run with me every day since we weren't travelling twelve days out of our fifteen away. What neither of us anticipated was just how different and challenging the Spanish terrain would be compared to the flat Cambridgeshire runs we’re used to. At home, we barely see 5 metres of elevation. In Spain, we hit 7.6km runs with over 260 metres of climbing, a huge leap in intensity!

To put that into perspective, some of the marathons I’ve completed this year had less elevation altogether than we tackled in a single hilly holiday run. The fitness benefits, especially for football, are massive: not just stamina, but leg strength, mental resilience, and the ability to keep going when things get tough.

These daily sessions became much more than just training; they were precious moments of connection away from screens and distractions. Sure, in the moment, the runs weren’t easy for him but I can tell he feels proud afterwards. I know this effort will pay off when football season starts again. Plus, for me, there’s nothing better than sharing the miles, the conversation, and the Spanish countryside with my eldest.

If you’re a parent trying to keep your kids active, my advice is: seize the chance to get moving together, however you can, and make the most of any environment you find yourself in. You’ll build memories, resilience, and maybe even a stronger athlete along the way.

Remember, our journey is part of a bigger mission raising awareness and funds through my consecutive daily run vlogs. If you’d like to support or follow along, a subscribe, share, or comment goes a long way!

Stay positive, stay happy and I’ll see you on the next run.