Author: Ray Poynter

Making the most of opportunities

Post author By Ray Poynter
Post date April 28, 2024
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Compared with most people, I am very lucky in the opportunities I get. One skill I have developed over the years is to grab opportunities when they arise and seek to enjoy the moment. This weekend was a good example of luck and of seizing the moment. I am in Japan for just under a month, a mixture of work and pleasure. Although I am in reasonable running condition, I have a tricky 50km trail race in a couple of weeks, and I could do with sharpening my running.

Blog Japan Running Uncategorized

A tough, different, and enjoyable half-marathon

Post author By Ray Poynter
Post date April 20, 2024
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Ray at the end of the race — At the end of the race, no medal, but I did get an hard boiled black egg, from the 80C volcanic springs.

On Friday, I landed in Japan (from the UK), met two friends, and travelled to Hakone to a hotel near Lake Ashi (芦ノ湖). Saturday (yesterday), we all took part in the Hakone running festival. I chose the half marathon, which was a hilly out-and-back course. I knew I would be sub-par from the travel, so my plan was to take it steady, and I achieved that.

Blog CrossFit

Enjoy your achievements, especially the small ones – like jumping onto a box!

Post author By Ray Poynter
Post date April 5, 2024
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Stock photo showing two people jumping onto boxes with extra height.

A post about how how I celebrate my achievements, even when they are small compared with other people’s performance.

Blog Running Uncategorized

3 weeks of participating in races

Post author By Ray Poynter
Post date March 24, 2024
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This is a bit of a catchup post, talking about the last three weekends, but there is a common theme, focusing on participating, rather than racing. On each of the last three weekends, I have participated in races.

Blog Running Uncategorized

Thoughts about ‘comfortable’ running

Post author By Ray Poynter
Post date February 17, 2024
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In this post I will share some thoughts about what I am calling ‘comfortable running’. The impetus for this way of thinking about running came from two sources. First, back in mid-January, I had a try at the Spine Race, running 169 miles in just under four days, and this resulted in my being tired, stiff, and with my running pace much reduced. Secondly, two of my friends in my running club have just come back to running after a pause and are signed up to run a half marathon on 7 April, and they wanted a plan to be able to do this.

Running Uncategorized

Being comfortable with modest gains

Post author By Ray Poynter
Post date January 28, 2024
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My recent Spine ultra has had a big impact on my regular running. In this post I look at how I have started my road back to normal running.

Running Ultras

The Winter Spine Race – 2024

Post author By Ray Poynter
Post date January 19, 2024
16 Comments on The Winter Spine Race – 2024

Spine Race Photo — Getting my race number the night before the race.

Over the last few days, I have been taking part in the hardest event I have ever attempted, the Winter Spine Race. The Race is 268 miles (431km), along the Pennine Way from Edale in the middle of England to Kirk Yetholm in Scotland. I was not able to complete the full distance, but I ran further in winter conditions than I had ever run before, and it was a magnificent adventure.

Running

A great day on Kinder Scout

Post author By Ray Poynter
Post date December 30, 2023
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Yesterday, I took part in a 24km social run on Kinder Scout organized by my good friend and clubmate Pete Henley. It was another wonderful day on the hills with lovely people. Running can be quite solitary, but it can also be a great social activity. Thirty of us met at the car park in Edale and headed up towards the fells.

Blog Running

Fitting Running into a Busy Schedule

Post author By Ray Poynter
Post date December 17, 2023
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I run every day, I have done it for five years, and here is how I fit it into my schedule – and why i do it.

Blog Running

What is the difference between a race and a social run? Sometimes, nothing!

Post author By Ray Poynter
Post date November 22, 2023
No Comments on What is the difference between a race and a social run? Sometimes, nothing!

Monsal Train — Monsal Trail, we ran down to it, then up the other side

Over the weekend, I took part in one of my favourite events, the Ranger Ultras Peak District South and North. This race can be seen as a two-day, 93km stage race or as two standalone races (50km on Saturday and 43km on Sunday). If you run just the Saturday or just the Sunday, it is a standard fell race. If you run the Saturday and Sunday, your times for the two races are added together to give you your total time.