Since starting to run on a fateful New Year’s Day in 2016 it has become so many different things. 

Escapism, therapy and more often than not, a challenge.

However, lately it’s felt a bit too much like hard work. It’s perhaps not coming as easy as it did, and I have to be honest in saying that I’ve plateaued.

Don’t get me wrong - I’m still logging miles but a lot of runs just feel that touch harder at the moment, every mile a little longer.

I’m still getting the work done and I try to celebrate that. Running has become such a part of my life (too much at times but that’s another column) that it’s a non-negotiable. If I’m fit enough to run, then I will.

Sometimes I wonder what for? But then I remember the enjoyment from the experiences I’ve been lucky to have so far. Exploring different countries, discovering what makes me tick but perhaps most importantly, making some cracking mates along the way.

And it’s my friends that I’ve been relying upon recently to keep me accountable. If I tell someone I’m going to meet them for a run, then I’ll show up. If there is such a thing as a running hack then finding your running tribe is definitely one of them. As much as running looks like a solo sport from the outside, it really isn’t when it comes to training.

A friend and I whiled away a good half hour or so on a midweek run just by trying to recount who are the Premier League’s top 10 all-time goalscorers (and before I receive a message from Neil Featherby, yes, I know that football started well before 1992).

We were so ensconced that I didn’t notice that my gloves, pretty expensive ones at that, had fallen out of my pocket. (If anyone sees a pair of stray gloves on Marriotts Way then they probably belong to me... I’ll buy you a coffee upon their safe return...)

The good news this week is that I’ve reduced some of the overthinking that has been going on for the past 10 days about my ankle. It’s gradually getting better and, thankfully, I’ve kept the intensity of my runs to a level where it isn’t making it any worse thus far.

With just seven weeks to go until the Barcelona Marathon, I’m hoping it’s one of those things that works itself out with some careful management.

The bigger question, of course, is what my marathon pace will be.

Truthfully, I have no idea. I’ve got about five weeks to figure it out before the taper starts, so for now, I’m banking on some consistent training and a few honest sessions to help me dial in.

This weekend brings the Reedham Ten, the first race in the Sportlink Grand Prix Series. I need to rein in my natural instinct to go at it all guns blazing, looking for a PB. I want to run it progressively and use it as a guide as to what I can train towards ahead of Barcelona. It will hopefully be a great way to bank some decent miles and enjoy the atmosphere of the first race in the 2025 Sportlink GP Series.

If I’ve learned anything over the years, it’s that running isn’t always easy, but it’s always worth it. The tough runs, the lost gloves, the niggles – they’re all part of the journey. And at the end of the day, I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

So, if you’re struggling to get out the door right now, find a friend to meet you or a race to look forward to. And if all else fails, remind yourself that every run – no matter how slow, hard – is a step forward.

Here’s to finding the joy, one mile at a time. And if you see my missing gloves, do let me know – it’s cold out there.