06/02/2026
** WHY I STARTED RUNNING AGAIN (And Why You Should Too)**
Two years. That's how long I stayed off the roads after tearing my meniscus. I kept lifting, kept coaching, but running? That was off the table because of pain and fear of doing more damage.
Then two things happened that changed everything:
**Thing One:**
I started snoring. Badly. So badly that I was banished to the sofa. When your wife kicks you out of your own bed, you know something needs to change.
**Thing Two:**
With a surgeon's appointment booked for February 18th, I had a choice—wait and wonder, or prove to myself what I'm still capable of. My last resort is to get surgery. So let's wait and see 🤞
So on January 6th, I laced up and hit the roads around Sligo. 3.09km. Average pace 7:16/km. It hurt, but I finished.
Fast forward to Run Six (February 6th): 6.61km. Average pace 6:04/km.
Let that sink in—in just SIX runs, I've:
✅ Doubled my distance
✅ Dropped 1:12/km off my pace
✅ Had ZERO additional knee pain
✅ Stopped snoring - (hoping to fully reclaime that spot in Bed)
✅ Boosted my cardiovascular fitness
✅ Rediscovered what it feels like to move through nature.
Ive still a long way to go before I do what I love best is sprinting on the pitch. But il get there.
The data doesn't lie. The body is remarkably resilient when you give it the right stimulus and respect the process.
**Whats your Story:**
Whatever's been keeping you from getting back out there—injury, time, fear, or just life getting in the way—it doesn't have to be permanent.
You don't need to be perfect. You just need to start.
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**Thinking about getting back into running after injury or a long break? Drop me a message. Let's build you a plan that respects where you've been and gets you where you want to go.**
🏃♂️ Sports Academy X | Evidence-Based Performance
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