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Mike Smith | Ultra Running, Hiking & Outdoors

@_mikehsmith

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A guy with a stammer | Running | Hiking | Outdoors
LiRF
Ran for Shropshire at XC inter-counties champs and Road events
Wainwrights 63/214

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Things are getting real! Marathon race number arrived… Let’s goooo! 🔥

Who else is at Chester?

@chester.marathon.half.10k.tri @high5sportsnutrition @inov_8 #marathon #running #ukrunning #roadrunning taken in Shropshire by @_mikehsmith

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a day ago

2 weeks until marathon day - reducing the long run to 25K with marathon pace thrown in the middle at @telfordparkrun

#running #longrun #marathontalk taken in Shropshire by @_mikehsmith

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4 days ago

Last marathon training session ✅
20 min tempo + 20 min @ marathon pace
Into the taper to get fresh, ready for the start line! @chester.marathon.half.10k.tri

#marathon #marathontrainingplan #tapertime #running #runtraining taken in Shropshire by @_mikehsmith

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5 days ago

In this world, there are always d**kheafs like this fella.
He isn’t the first and won’t be the last to make a dig at my stammer, you’re not special pal. It’ll only make me stronger and more determined to keep doing what I do and hopefully inspire other in similar situations to keep going.

@stammauk @stammertalk @jessierouxhair @sam_bagshaw_ @bbcnews @bbcshropshire @itvnews @mentalhealthfoundation #stammer #stammeringawareness #stutter #mentalhealthawarenessmonth taken in United Kingdom by @_mikehsmith

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6 days ago

Unwinding the perfect way after a day stuck inside at work.
Nature and an easy relaxed run 🙏🏼

@gbultras #running #easyrun #ukrunning #runningmotivation #runmore taken in Shropshire by @_mikehsmith

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7 days ago

Ever had a run planned… but absolutely no desire to do it? 😴🏃‍♂️

You feel flat.
You feel tired.
The motivation just isn’t there.

So what do you do?

You’ve got a few options.

1️⃣ Don’t go.

Sometimes your body genuinely needs the rest. Listen to it.

2️⃣ Go out — but remove the pressure.

Tell yourself: “I’ll just run easy for 5–10 minutes.”

No pace target.
No session to smash.
Just get moving.

More often than not, once you’ve warmed up, your legs start turning over, your head clears and you realise…

“Actually, I feel alright.”

And suddenly that session you really didn’t want to do becomes one of your best runs of the week. 🔥

3️⃣ Still feel flat?

Keep it easy or turn around and go home.

There’s no failure in that.

The key is learning the difference between “I don’t feel like running” and “I genuinely need to recover.”

Motivation isn’t always there. That’s where consistency and good judgement come in.

Have you ever started a run not wanting to be there… and ended up absolutely smashing it? 👇

#runningmotivation #runningtips #runningismytherapy @stammauk @mentalhealthfoundation @stammertalk @stammer_action taken in Shropshire by @_mikehsmith

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8 days ago

Three weeks to go. Last big long run. 35K ✅

This coming week will be the last for threshold intervals and a tempo run, finish off with 25K next weekend, then into the taper.

Feeling confident for the marathon.

@inov_8 @teamvaga @rab.equipment @high5sportsnutrition #longrun #weekendlongrun #running #marathontraining #runningmotivation taken in United Kingdom by @_mikehsmith

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9 days ago

35k long run in the bag… BOSSSSSHHHHH!!! ✅
Peak marathon long run done and dusted, final week of threshold and tempo work, shorter 25k next weekend and into the 2 week taper.

Marathon training gone well, albeit a short 8 week plan 🤦🏻‍♂️
Trust the process, arrive fresh and ready at the start line.
@chester.marathon.half.10k.tri I’m coming 🔥🔥🔥

Training powered by @high5sportsnutrition

@suunto #longrun #marathontrainingplan #marathon #roadrunning #ukrunning taken in Shropshire by @_mikehsmith

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10 days ago

Motivation vs Discipline 🏃‍♂️

Peak marathon training isn’t always glamorous.

Right now, I’m deep into the biggest weeks of my marathon training block, and the truth is… I don’t always feel motivated to run.

Some mornings I’m tired.
Some sessions feel like a chore.
Sometimes I’d rather stay in bed.

But I’ve learnt that motivation isn’t what gets you through a marathon training block.

Motivation gets you started.

Discipline keeps you going.

It’s turning up for the easy runs, hitting the threshold sessions, getting the long runs done and sticking to the plan when the excitement wears off.

Because fitness isn’t built from the runs you feel like doing.

It’s built from the consistency of doing the work anyway.

The goal is sub-3 hours at Chester Marathon 🎯

And these peak weeks are where the discipline really matters.

You don’t need to feel motivated every day. You just need to keep showing up.

Save this for the next day you don’t feel like running. 👊

#runningmotivation #marathonmotivation #runningtraining #runcoach #runningtips @ukrunchat taken in Shropshire by @_mikehsmith

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11 days ago

8 weeks of marathon training. Can I break 3 hours? 👀🏃‍♂️

I’m approaching the end of my Chester Marathon training block — and it’s been a short, sharp one.

I only got my place with 8 weeks to prepare, so there’s been no traditional 16-week marathon training plan.

But the training has been going well.

🔥 18:33 5K a few weeks ago — on grass and woodland trails
🔥 Marathon training paces being hit
🔥 Threshold sessions getting stronger
🔥 Long runs building
🔥 Plenty of marathon-pace work

The pace is there.

But marathon running isn’t just about having the speed.

The big question is whether I’ve built enough marathon endurance to hold that pace for 42.2km.

Will the lack of a traditional 16-week marathon block catch up with me?

Will I hit the infamous 32K wall? 😬

Or will the training I’ve managed to squeeze into these 8 weeks — followed by a proper taper — be enough to get me ready for sub-3 marathon pace?

That’s what I’m going to find out at Chester.

🎯 Target: sub 3 hours
🏁 42.2km
⏱️ Goal pace: ~4:15/km

After Chester, the road shoes can have a rest… because I’ll be heading straight back to the fells, mountains and trails. ⛰️

That’s where my real passion lies.

But I’ve genuinely loved getting back into a structured road running and marathon training block. I haven’t trained like this since before COVID.

Now there’s only one thing left to do…

Trust the training and see what happens.

👇 Be honest — do you think 8 weeks is enough preparation for a sub-3 marathon?

Follow along for the final weeks of the Road to Chester Marathon. 🏃‍♂️

@chester.marathon.half.10k.tri @strava @the_omm @teamvaga @stammauk #marathontraining #ukrunning #roadrunner #runningcommunity #runningmotivation @ukrunchat taken in United Kingdom by @_mikehsmith

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12 days ago

Who doesn’t love a good tempo session?

Keep progressing but adding time (20 min > 30 min > 2 x 20min etc…)

What’s yours favourite session in your running plan?

@strava @montaneofficial @nikerunning @stammauk #marathon #marathontraining #thresholdtraining #running #ukrunning @ukrunchat taken in United Kingdom by @_mikehsmith

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13 days ago

6 × 4 minutes. 90 seconds recovery. 🔥

One of the key sessions in my Chester Marathon training block.

The workout:

🏃‍♂️ 6 × 4 min @ threshold
⏱️ 90 sec recovery
💨 Controlled, hard effort
🎯 Focus: holding a strong, consistent pace

Threshold training is all about spending time working at a high but sustainable intensity — hard enough to create a strong training stimulus, but controlled enough that you can repeat the effort.

And with 24 minutes of threshold running in this session, the final reps definitely start to test you. 😮‍💨

The goal isn’t to smash the first rep and hang on.

It’s consistency.

Rep after rep. Keep the effort controlled. Finish strong.

Another session ticked off on the road to Chester Marathon. 🏁

👇 RUNNERS — I want to know:

What’s your favourite type of running workout?

Intervals / Tempo / Threshold / Long Run?

Drop yours below 👇

And if you’re currently training for a marathon, save this session for later. 🔖

#runningtips #runtraining #roadrunning #ukrunners #marathon @strava @stammauk taken in United Kingdom by @_mikehsmith

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14 days ago