Sometimes You Need to See It

Two parkrun photos, a new personal best and a growing sense of confidence. I reflect on the progress I can see, the support behind it and the everyday habits helping me feel more comfortable in myself.
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Two parkrun photos, a new personal best and a growing sense of confidence. I reflect on the progress I can see, the support behind it and the everyday habits helping me feel more comfortable in myself.

More than nine years of private weight data has revealed a striking milestone: I’m now passing back through the weight I last crossed on 7 January 2022, turning old numbers into signposts for the road ahead.

After the high of my fastest 5km in two and a half years, the next challenge has been resisting the urge to do too much—and remembering that restraint, strength and recovery are all part of moving forwards.

My fastest 5km in two and a half years—and my daughter’s sub-25-minute triumph—showed why you shouldn’t underestimate yourself and why shared goals matter.

Numbers give me something tangible to interact with. Whether weight, heart rate, pace or power moves in the direction I expect or not, the data tells me what is working, what isn’t, and what to question next.

There are plenty of ways to convince yourself that training is working. The scales can move. Clothes can fit differently. A weight that once felt heavy suddenly feels manageable. You can look in a mirror and wonder whether the person…

A few days ago I wrote about barriers. For me, the biggest barrier to exercise has often been mental rather than physical. Getting through the door of the gym, getting into a busy swimming lane, or being willing to run…