Category: Running

Another try at running in the heat

Post author By Ray Poynter
Post date July 9, 2025
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Last week, I took part in a great event, the Al Andalus Ultimate Trail, a five-day stage race in Andalusia, Spain. I knew it was going to be hard, and it turned out that way. I did not meet my main goal of completing the whole race, but I did run almost a marathon a day for four days, in temperatures that reached between 38 °C and 40 °C each day, climbing an average of 1080 metres, on rugged trails, often on exposed slopes with no shade from the sun.

Japan Running

The Tonjinbo 62km Ultra

I am just back from taking part in the 2025 Tojinbo 62km ultra, and it has been a great experience. So, at the risk of boring everybody, here is the story, with pictures.

Running

Ray’s Theory of Running 😊

Post author By Ray Poynter
Post date March 25, 2025
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Here is a short post showing my approach to running races. Basically, I control my effort via hear rate and I let my pace be an outcome – which means running is more enjoyable and I still run quite well.

Charity CrossFit Running

Knowing when to throttle back

Post author By Ray Poynter
Post date March 23, 2025
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You have to listen to your body. I nearly typed you sometimes have to listen, but actually you always need to listen to it and I had to do just that, last week.

Running Uncategorized

Success disguised as failure

Post author By Ray Poynter
Post date January 13, 2025
2 Comments on Success disguised as failure

On Sunday morning at 8am I set off running 431km (268 miles) from Edale in the middle of England to Kirk Yetholm in Scotland, along the Pennine Way, as part of the Spine Race. However, I had to drop out at the first checkpoint, 72km (45 miles). It is clear that I did not meet […]

Blog Running Uncategorized

My first FRA, AL Fell Race – by the skin of my teeth

Post author By Ray Poynter
Post date July 28, 2024
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The profile of the race, which gives a sense of just how steep the ups and downs were at times.

I tried a new race today. I knew that I would be under pressure to complete the checkpoints within the time limits, and I did it, just. Here is the story and perhaps a lesson or two.

Blog Running

Sometimes you need a plan C as well as a plan B

Post author By Ray Poynter
Post date July 21, 2024
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Ray Poynter — A happy me at the end of the race

Today, I participated in Rasselbock’s off-road marathon in Sherwood Pines (a nearby forest just south of the more famous Sherwood Forest). I am not training for marathons at the moment; my focus is on the Spine Race in January 2025 (a 268-mile / 440 km race carrying a relatively heavy bag). So, I was not sure how the run would go. At the start of the race, I was in two minds about whether to start with the 4-hour pacer or the 4.5-hour paces. I run road marathons in under 4 hours, but forest tracks are slower than road races.

Blog Running Uncategorized

2001: A Running Odyssey

Today, my run streak (i.e., running every day) reached 2001 days (just under five and a half years). People have different definitions of what running every day means; for me, it means a minimum of 3km (just under two miles).

Blog Japan Running Uncategorized

The Minano 50K Trail Race

Ray at the Minano Trail Race — Registering for the race on a very hot and sunny Saturday afternoon.

I have just had a fantastic weekend participating in the Minano 50K Trail Race (a 52km race in the mountains near Chichibu, Japan). Here is my account of the race.

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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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.