How Many Miles?
  • Home
  • Journey
    • Journey

      The End of the Road For How Many Miles?

      September 29, 2019

      Journey

      Can I get fit with PJG Online Personal Training?

      March 18, 2019

      Journey

      Best Laid Plans – Never Give Up and Never Give In

      September 9, 2018

      Journey LetsMoveForABetterWorld

      Let’s Move For a Better World With Glasgow Club and TechnoGym

      March 10, 2018

      Journey

      It’s a new dawn, it’s a new day…and I’m feeling good.

      October 30, 2017

  • Try-Athlete
    • All Commonwealth Games #Team14 DoMore with Strathmore Free Events Kit and Tech Reviews Radio
      Kit and Tech Reviews

      Sit Stand Desk Guide for On Your Feet Britain Day with Sit-Stand.Com

      April 26, 2018

      Free Events LetsMoveforabetterworld

      Join Me For a Free Workout with #LetsMoveForaBetterWorld

      March 25, 2018

      Health

      Win a Naipo Massage Cushion

      February 19, 2018

      Try-Athlete School of Sport

      Try Athleting With the School of Sport and Glasgow Life

      January 24, 2018

      Commonwealth Games #Team14

      Do More Child’s Play

      October 2, 2014

      Commonwealth Games #Team14

      Libby’s Guide to Running

      September 3, 2014

      Commonwealth Games #Team14

      Team14 & Team Scotland Commonwealfies

      August 17, 2014

      Commonwealth Games #Team14

      People Made Glasgow 2014

      August 9, 2014

      DoMore with Strathmore Paralympic Hope

      Scotland’s Paralympic Hopes in Rio 2016

      August 28, 2016

      DoMore with Strathmore

      Do More Child’s Play

      October 2, 2014

      DoMore with Strathmore

      Libby’s Guide to Running

      September 3, 2014

      DoMore with Strathmore

      Can’t Swim, Won’t Swim with Robbie Renwick

      June 26, 2014

      Free Events LetsMoveforabetterworld

      Join Me For a Free Workout with #LetsMoveForaBetterWorld

      March 25, 2018

      Free Events Never Stop Glasgow

      Get Fit For Free with NeverStopGlasgow and The North Face

      October 1, 2016

      Free Events

      Get Fit For Free in Glasgow (and Balloch).

      August 30, 2016

      Kit and Tech Reviews

      Sit Stand Desk Guide for On Your Feet Britain Day with Sit-Stand.Com

      April 26, 2018

      Kit and Tech Reviews

      Win a Naipo Massage Cushion

      February 19, 2018

      Kit and Tech Reviews

      Treadmill or Dreadmill: The Technogym SkillMIll Review

      January 22, 2018

      Kit and Tech Reviews

      Bike Light Guide from Cycle Republic

      December 29, 2017

      Radio

      CamGlen Radio Does Zumba in Glasgow

      August 4, 2016

      Radio

      Don’t Worry, Be Happy

      June 3, 2016

      Radio Hampden Sports Clinic

      Can I Run? My question to Hampden Sports Clinic.

      May 4, 2016

      Radio

      CamGlen Radio’s Adventure Show TryBowls

      April 7, 2016

  • Triathlon
    • All Cycling Running Swimming
      Physical Activity TRI in the Park

      Can’t Open Water Swim , WILL Open Water Swim with TRI in the Park

      July 4, 2018

      Cycling Mountain Bike Guide

      Take Me to the Hills- A Beginners Guide to Mountain Biking

      June 1, 2018

      Physical Activity

      Swimathon Masterclass and Interview with Keri-Anne Payne

      January 30, 2018

      Kit and Tech Reviews

      Treadmill or Dreadmill: The Technogym SkillMIll Review

      January 22, 2018

      Cycling Mountain Bike Guide

      Take Me to the Hills- A Beginners Guide to Mountain Biking

      June 1, 2018

      Cycling

      Bike Light Guide from Cycle Republic

      December 29, 2017

      Cycling What to Wear on Cycle to Work Day

      What to Wear on Cycle to Work Day?

      September 11, 2017

      Cycling Cycle to Work

      What you need to Cycle to Work (my 5 month “expert’ advice).

      July 13, 2017

      Running

      Treadmill or Dreadmill: The Technogym SkillMIll Review

      January 22, 2018

      Running

      I’m Back with a Glasgow Men’s 10K Review

      June 18, 2017

      Running

      The Bishopbriggs Sprint Triathlon Review

      May 8, 2017

      Running

      End Great Run Herbalife Partnership

      April 22, 2017

      Swimming TRI in the Park

      Can’t Open Water Swim , WILL Open Water Swim with TRI in the Park

      July 4, 2018

      Swimming

      Swimathon Masterclass and Interview with Keri-Anne Payne

      January 30, 2018

      Swimming Swimathon 2018

      Time for Star Pupil to Resurface with Swimathon 2018

      January 17, 2018

      Swimming

      Aspire Channel Swim Review and a wee look back at 2017

      December 15, 2017

  • Travel
    • All Asia Australia Europe
      Europe

      Onich Hotel Pods Review-Location, Location, Location

      November 2, 2020

      Europe Yorkshire Staycation

      A Yorkshire Staycation with Together Travel Co

      July 13, 2020

      Europe One Day In Lauterbrunnen

      One Day In Lauterbrunnen Valley, Switzerland

      January 13, 2020

      Europe Christmas in Liverpool

      Christmas in Liverpool – 30 James Street Hotel Review

      November 15, 2019

      Asia Mumbai

      Mumbai- The City That Stole Our Hearts

      November 28, 2016

      Australia Noosa National Park

      Best of Queensland : A walk in Noosa National Park

      August 21, 2016

      Australia

      Best of Queensland : Glasshouse Mountains Walk

      August 14, 2016

      Australia

      Salty Dog Sea Kayaking in the Whitsundays

      July 26, 2016

      Australia Fraser Island Tour

      Fraser Island Tour with Fraser Explorer Tours

      July 18, 2016

      Europe

      Onich Hotel Pods Review-Location, Location, Location

      November 2, 2020

      Europe Yorkshire Staycation

      A Yorkshire Staycation with Together Travel Co

      July 13, 2020

      Europe One Day In Lauterbrunnen

      One Day In Lauterbrunnen Valley, Switzerland

      January 13, 2020

      Europe Christmas in Liverpool

      Christmas in Liverpool – 30 James Street Hotel Review

      November 15, 2019

  • Great Run Blog
  • FSEM Lay View
  • British Medical Journal Blog
  • Home
  • Journey
    • Journey

      The End of the Road For How Many Miles?

      September 29, 2019

      Journey

      Can I get fit with PJG Online Personal Training?

      March 18, 2019

      Journey

      Best Laid Plans – Never Give Up and Never Give In

      September 9, 2018

      Journey LetsMoveForABetterWorld

      Let’s Move For a Better World With Glasgow Club and TechnoGym

      March 10, 2018

      Journey

      It’s a new dawn, it’s a new day…and I’m feeling good.

      October 30, 2017

  • Try-Athlete
    • All Commonwealth Games #Team14 DoMore with Strathmore Free Events Kit and Tech Reviews Radio
      Kit and Tech Reviews

      Sit Stand Desk Guide for On Your Feet Britain Day with Sit-Stand.Com

      April 26, 2018

      Free Events LetsMoveforabetterworld

      Join Me For a Free Workout with #LetsMoveForaBetterWorld

      March 25, 2018

      Health

      Win a Naipo Massage Cushion

      February 19, 2018

      Try-Athlete School of Sport

      Try Athleting With the School of Sport and Glasgow Life

      January 24, 2018

      Commonwealth Games #Team14

      Do More Child’s Play

      October 2, 2014

      Commonwealth Games #Team14

      Libby’s Guide to Running

      September 3, 2014

      Commonwealth Games #Team14

      Team14 & Team Scotland Commonwealfies

      August 17, 2014

      Commonwealth Games #Team14

      People Made Glasgow 2014

      August 9, 2014

      DoMore with Strathmore Paralympic Hope

      Scotland’s Paralympic Hopes in Rio 2016

      August 28, 2016

      DoMore with Strathmore

      Do More Child’s Play

      October 2, 2014

      DoMore with Strathmore

      Libby’s Guide to Running

      September 3, 2014

      DoMore with Strathmore

      Can’t Swim, Won’t Swim with Robbie Renwick

      June 26, 2014

      Free Events LetsMoveforabetterworld

      Join Me For a Free Workout with #LetsMoveForaBetterWorld

      March 25, 2018

      Free Events Never Stop Glasgow

      Get Fit For Free with NeverStopGlasgow and The North Face

      October 1, 2016

      Free Events

      Get Fit For Free in Glasgow (and Balloch).

      August 30, 2016

      Kit and Tech Reviews

      Sit Stand Desk Guide for On Your Feet Britain Day with Sit-Stand.Com

      April 26, 2018

      Kit and Tech Reviews

      Win a Naipo Massage Cushion

      February 19, 2018

      Kit and Tech Reviews

      Treadmill or Dreadmill: The Technogym SkillMIll Review

      January 22, 2018

      Kit and Tech Reviews

      Bike Light Guide from Cycle Republic

      December 29, 2017

      Radio

      CamGlen Radio Does Zumba in Glasgow

      August 4, 2016

      Radio

      Don’t Worry, Be Happy

      June 3, 2016

      Radio Hampden Sports Clinic

      Can I Run? My question to Hampden Sports Clinic.

      May 4, 2016

      Radio

      CamGlen Radio’s Adventure Show TryBowls

      April 7, 2016

  • Triathlon
    • All Cycling Running Swimming
      Physical Activity TRI in the Park

      Can’t Open Water Swim , WILL Open Water Swim with TRI in the Park

      July 4, 2018

      Cycling Mountain Bike Guide

      Take Me to the Hills- A Beginners Guide to Mountain Biking

      June 1, 2018

      Physical Activity

      Swimathon Masterclass and Interview with Keri-Anne Payne

      January 30, 2018

      Kit and Tech Reviews

      Treadmill or Dreadmill: The Technogym SkillMIll Review

      January 22, 2018

      Cycling Mountain Bike Guide

      Take Me to the Hills- A Beginners Guide to Mountain Biking

      June 1, 2018

      Cycling

      Bike Light Guide from Cycle Republic

      December 29, 2017

      Cycling What to Wear on Cycle to Work Day

      What to Wear on Cycle to Work Day?

      September 11, 2017

      Cycling Cycle to Work

      What you need to Cycle to Work (my 5 month “expert’ advice).

      July 13, 2017

      Running

      Treadmill or Dreadmill: The Technogym SkillMIll Review

      January 22, 2018

      Running

      I’m Back with a Glasgow Men’s 10K Review

      June 18, 2017

      Running

      The Bishopbriggs Sprint Triathlon Review

      May 8, 2017

      Running

      End Great Run Herbalife Partnership

      April 22, 2017

      Swimming TRI in the Park

      Can’t Open Water Swim , WILL Open Water Swim with TRI in the Park

      July 4, 2018

      Swimming

      Swimathon Masterclass and Interview with Keri-Anne Payne

      January 30, 2018

      Swimming Swimathon 2018

      Time for Star Pupil to Resurface with Swimathon 2018

      January 17, 2018

      Swimming

      Aspire Channel Swim Review and a wee look back at 2017

      December 15, 2017

  • Travel
    • All Asia Australia Europe
      Europe

      Onich Hotel Pods Review-Location, Location, Location

      November 2, 2020

      Europe Yorkshire Staycation

      A Yorkshire Staycation with Together Travel Co

      July 13, 2020

      Europe One Day In Lauterbrunnen

      One Day In Lauterbrunnen Valley, Switzerland

      January 13, 2020

      Europe Christmas in Liverpool

      Christmas in Liverpool – 30 James Street Hotel Review

      November 15, 2019

      Asia Mumbai

      Mumbai- The City That Stole Our Hearts

      November 28, 2016

      Australia Noosa National Park

      Best of Queensland : A walk in Noosa National Park

      August 21, 2016

      Australia

      Best of Queensland : Glasshouse Mountains Walk

      August 14, 2016

      Australia

      Salty Dog Sea Kayaking in the Whitsundays

      July 26, 2016

      Australia Fraser Island Tour

      Fraser Island Tour with Fraser Explorer Tours

      July 18, 2016

      Europe

      Onich Hotel Pods Review-Location, Location, Location

      November 2, 2020

      Europe Yorkshire Staycation

      A Yorkshire Staycation with Together Travel Co

      July 13, 2020

      Europe One Day In Lauterbrunnen

      One Day In Lauterbrunnen Valley, Switzerland

      January 13, 2020

      Europe Christmas in Liverpool

      Christmas in Liverpool – 30 James Street Hotel Review

      November 15, 2019

  • Great Run Blog
  • FSEM Lay View
  • British Medical Journal Blog

How Many Miles?

A Journey from Morbid Obesity to Try Athlete and Active Traveller

JourneyRunningTriathlon

Happy Trails – A Man V Fat V Mountain Trail Running Challenge

written by Stephen Morrison February 23, 2016

At the end of last year, I had a crisis in confidence. I didn’t feel valued by my running partners and after 10 months of broken promises and dreams and a serious bout of soul searching, I walked away from my roles of running blogger, coach and event coordinator and announced to the world that I was giving up running for a while.

So, when sportsshoes.com asked me to trial some trail kit, I was at first hesitant. I had regained some weight and I had lost a lot of confidence.

But then, I recalled two of my favourite days of 2015. They were two days trail running in the Highland Fling and Jedburgh Three Peaks Ultra Marathon Relays in Scotland. Running along the tree lined banks of Loch Lomond and over the hills in the Borders were as far removed from running in the crowded streets of Glasgow, Edinburgh and Newcastle as you could get and the thought of them had me lacing up my boots.

There are many reasons, why I have found myself drawn to trail running.

Trail running appeals to my inner child.

my 1st pair of trail shoes

#muddytrainersclearmind

Running in winter is often accompanied by rain, sleet and snow (usually on the same day) and normally when running in my city streets , I try to avoid puddles. However , when out in the woods and parks, there is a magnetic force that pulls me towards puddles and mud.

The quality of a trail run is often judged on the quantity of mud accumulated on my shoes.

Trail running is good for both the heart and the mind.

Trail running also delivers a sensory smorgasbord of sights, sounds and smells, with recent research from Stanford University suggesting that spending time in green areas can reduce mental illness, improve our cognitive development and lower levels of rumination. While trail running, we momentarily forget all the negative stuff in our lives and simply enjoy the scenery and serenity around us.

Better than any street view

Better than any street view

Trail running has no rules.

You find a park or a trail and just run. Hell, you can even walk if need be and when the terrain moves from soft mud to hard rocks, you will be forced to scramble. Again, this is reminiscent of my childhood, complete with skint knees.

Quite often, I won’t even have a route or distance in mind. I’ll head out to my local park and go exploring. I’ll wade through streams, climb hills and lose myself spirituality and on occasion literally.

Trail running is better with friends.

Running through the woods alone might instil thoughts of an ill fated horror movie, so why not run with friends? There’s nothing like sharing the magical sight of a deer or celebrating the ascent of a hill with a fellow runner. You are also rarely running at pace and are more focused on not catching your feet on a tree root than catching your breath, so talking isn’t only possible, it’s actively encouraged.

vertical challengers

Trail running takes you to new heights.

A part of me is always seeking new adventures and friends often say that I have my head in the clouds, so when I watched the Adventure Show this weekend (looking for all of my Jedburgh pals ), I was captivated by the feature on the Glen Coe Skyline Race.

I couldn’t hope to compete in the 55 km event traversing across the Glen Coe range of mountains, but the Vertical Kilometre called out to me.

A strength and stamina sapping 1,000 metre ascent over a 5K route that will make this the most trialling trail run ever. Especially for a self-confessed Shite Runner.But what a scintillating place to run.

Gorgeous Glen Coe

It’s too soon to say that I am back, but I am on the right trail and I can’t wait to take on this Man v Fat v Mountain Challenge.

I’ll also be keeping tabs on the SportsShoes.com trail hub for inspiration and discount kit.

Happy Trails – A Man V Fat V Mountain Trail Running Challenge was last modified: August 13th, 2016 by Stephen Morrison
get activeGlencoe SkylineHighland FlingHowmanymilesjedburghMan V FatMuddytrainersclearmindPhysical ActivityRunningShite RunnerSportsshoes.comtrailtrail runningTry-AthleteVertical KM
2 comments
0
Facebook Twitter Google + Pinterest
Exactly what I need
previous post
Spinning at Pure Gym
next post
Using Activity Trackers to Get Scotland Walking

Some more posts that you might enjoy

Pearl Izumi Champion

We are the Pearl Izumi Champions

March 16, 2017

Vidi, Vici, Curro

July 5, 2014

Treadmill or Dreadmill: The Technogym SkillMIll Review

January 22, 2018
Feet For Life

Tough 10, TrailFest & Rainbow Laces Competition

September 20, 2016
Top 10 Running Books

Top 10 Running Books for Inspiration, Knowledge and Enjoyment

November 13, 2016

Time to Come Clean

January 29, 2015

Time to Challenge Myself

January 18, 2015
Swimathon 2018

Time for Star Pupil to Resurface with Swimathon 2018

January 17, 2018

The Secret to My Success

October 16, 2014

The End of the Road For How Many Miles?

September 29, 2019

2 comments

Avatar
Ann Currie February 27, 2016 at 4:33 pm

Brilliant post. “Skint knees” took me back to my childhood in Glasgow as I had plenty of those! I thought about entering the same race but I think it may clash with my plans to do a half marathon in Ireland, If that changes, I will let you know as it sounds great. I will look forward to reading about it in your blog in the future.

Glad you have found your running mojo again; I would feel a bit lost if mine deserted me.
Ann 🙂

Reply
Stephen Morrison
Stephen Morrison March 3, 2016 at 8:24 am

Thanks, Ann.Glad you liked it. Mojo is coming back, but so is my knee injury! Slow and steady progress for me.

Reply

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Once 354lbs, I now use physical activity to add years to my life and life to my years

Instagram Slider

  • This is going to be epic!!
    by howmanymiles_ 2 days ago
    This is going to be epic!!
  • Who knew that at 47 years old that I would discover a love for Mexican music and have the opportunity to support a festival in Sonora, talk on Mexican radio and build a friendship across the seas. Posadelic is live on Hyprr right now. #posadelic2020 #hyprr #mexicanmusic #music
    by howmanymiles_ 2 months ago
    Who knew that at 47 years old that I would discover a love for Mexican music and have the opportunity to support a festival in Sonora, talk on Mexican radio and build a friendship across the seas. Posadelic is live on Hyprr right now.  #posadelic2020   #hyprr   #mexicanmusic   #music 
  • The Only Way is Hampden. Been a while but back giving blood. #giveblood #oneg
    by howmanymiles_ 3 months ago
    The Only Way is Hampden. Been a while but back giving blood.  #giveblood   #oneg 
  • Breaking news. Hyprr is available for iPhone users. Sign up to hyprr.com, complete form and get access to Testflight. https://forms.gle/3eSH9pWX4kucLR2W8 #hyprr #socialmediarevolution #newarrivals
    by howmanymiles_ 3 months ago
    Breaking news. Hyprr is available for iPhone users. Sign up to hyprr.com, complete form and get access to Testflight. https://forms.gle/3eSH9pWX4kucLR2W8  #hyprr   #socialmediarevolution   #newarrivals 
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Google +
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin
  • Youtube
  • Email
  • Bloglovin
  • About HowManyMiles – From Morbid Obesity to Try Athlete and Active Traveller

@2016 - How Many Miles


Back To Top