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Mark

@wishrunner10

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Dad to my two hero’s.
Love coffee & sunsets 🌅
⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️marathon majors 🎗️

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5th Marathon Major done ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. Just to get on the start line was the achievement. Gave it everything. Very hot and knee gave up on me at mile 17 but having been told to stop running 6 months ago I got over that finish line. Job done. What’s next will be body dependent but I am super proud I got to this point. My training consisted of two 30 min treadmill runs a week and a long run to project the knee as much as I could. Not ideal training but loved every minute of the race and digging in when I needed to in those last miles to get in under 4 hours made the pain worthwhile. What’s next no idea. Enjoying the rest of the holiday with my amazing 6 star finisher girlfriend ⭐️ @runner_claud is all I am focused on right now. Thanks to all those that have supported me and to everyone that finished yesterday 🙌.
#tokyo #tokyomarathon2026 #running #marathonmajors #runningmotivation taken in Tokyo, Japan by @wishrunner10

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8 months ago

As achievements go this one is bigger than any PB or medal in my book. 3 years ago after another night at home drinking and waking up feeling horrendous I decided that it had to stop. Having been in the same cycle for a number of years and struggling with life the realisation hit me. It had to stop before it destroyed me. When I started running in 2016 it really did save me but it didn’t stop the drinking and the pain I was feeling. The decision to try and get back in shape after injury and to turn things around mentally had to be done with full clarity. Every day I have worked hard to keep on this journey so to get to three years feels massive and I am in such a great place even without being able to run. Going back a few years the news about my knee would have sent me over the edge. Having lost a very close friend recently to mental health and alcohol struggles was hard to take so I feel lucky to be here to tell my story. Always here if anyone wants to talk. Thanks to those that have always stood with me before and now and to my boys who have always been my why to get through the next day and for my beautiful girlfriend Claud for inspiring me to be the best version of myself. Whatever happens moving forward my heart is full and I am proud of what I have achieved so far.
#sober #soberliving #soberityjourney #soberity #proud #running by @wishrunner10

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a year ago

My 1st @hackneymoves half marathon. Well organised, great crowds, I have never had so many people shout my name and it wasn’t too hot. 🙌

I had no expectations as I am building after further injuries over the last 6 months and this was my longest run of this year. So my plan was to enjoy it and get to the end. After quite a bit of traffic over the first few miles I settled into a good pace around 7:30 min miles. I only dropped of this for a quick wee stop and to say hello to the man that gets me on starts lines @itsmyphysioadrian .

Having not been able to do tempo or speed work and only managing 3 runs a week since my big injuries holding this consistent pace was very satisfying. As my mum pointed out so kindly it was one of my worst times. But for me it was one of my best races as I didn’t go off like an idiot and it was my longest run of the year and my first half as a 50 year old, and I am super proud of what I achieved today and the most important thing I had fun. Chasing times is great but running with a smile on your face is much more precious.
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The plan now is to keep working hard in the gym and keep enjoying my running and have another go at Budapest Half in September.
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Massive thank you to my beautiful girlfriend @runner_claud who literally got in from work at 5am having been up for 24 hours made us coffee and we headed to the race. That support is everything. Thank you ❤️.
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So overall I managed to come in the top 15% of all runners and top 25% of all males. I would say that’s a win and I am incredibly grateful to have been out in that field today.
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#hackneymoves #addidasrunning #compressport #running #halfmarathon #runnersofinstagram #comeonyouspurs taken in Hackney Marshes by @wishrunner10

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a year ago

@nycmarathon Marathon major 4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

My toughest marathon on virtually no training with nothing over 11 miles due to injury and huge doubt on even making it to the start line.

My only goal was to get that medal. 🥇

Goal accomplished. The crowds will be a memory that will last a lifetime especially coming off the bridge at mile 16

Now time to fully rehab.

Huge thanks to the people that got me to the start line @itsmyphysioadrian @sbumstead_81

To my boys for always encouraging me and putting up with me moaning when injured

@runner_claud thank you for always believing in me ❤️

#newyork #newyorkmarathon #runningmotivation #running #marathonmajors #abbottmarathonmajors #nevergiveup taken in TCS New York City Marathon by @wishrunner10

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2 years ago

What a day! I can now tick off Ultra runner from the bucket list having completed @thresholdtrailseries RTTK 50Km costal. This was however a day that nearly didn’t happen on a number of occasions.

Rewind 6 weeks and I was getting pain in my chest repeatedly while running. Went to the doctor who diagnosed heartburn. It got worse and I went back and a different doctor sent me straight to hospital with potential angina. I will never forget his words. Cancel your ultra immediately, you could drop down dead. ECG showed something he wasn’t happy with. Hospital did bloods, X-rays etc and gave me all clear. The doctor wasn’t happy. After taking tablets for a week and some improvement, he reluctantly said I could run. But if he was right and it got worse to come back immediately. To be honest it was a struggle still. The long run we planned to hit a marathon distance was a disaster.

Then my Achillies flamed up again so I made the decision to not run for 3 weeks prior.

On the eve of the race, Claud came down with an awful cold and it was very touch and go and how she managed it is beyond me. Absolute legend ❤️

Overall despite the wind, rain, hills I had no idea existed, injury and illness this was always just something to have fun with and not something to be raced. That comes in November at New York marathon.

The event was well run, great pit stops and food and lovely to be able to just run up and not have to queue for portaloos.

Thank you for the continued support @runner_claud and being there when I really needed it. ❤️ Bring on New York but first we recover and relax and look forward to a holiday. ☀️.
#rttk #ultrarunning #unbreakable #runningcommunity #thresholdtrailseries taken in West Dean Gardens by @wishrunner10

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2 years ago

Really honest post below. Coming back from long term injuries is tough, with lots of ups and downs.

Since returning to running in May , Chicago was the target. That came off better than I can ever have imagined. The high of that was something else. Todays race I couldn’t have felt much lower. The joys of running. The constant testing of our mental strength. Since Chicago I have been trying to get to quality for New York. 3 weeks after I ran a half and it was awful conditions and more of a cross country than a road race. Came in at 1:31. I needed sub 1:28. Since then I have had a neck procedure so that meant I had to wait until today to do another half.

It went badly wrong. Yes I know I’m being harsh on myself. Really harsh. Since returning from two years out I am on limited miles and no speed work (my favourite sessions) as they can irritate my injuries. This is leaving me struggling to hit my paces I need and way off what I was achieving previously. I know that’s going to take more time but without the speed work it’s proving tough. Today again great for 4-5 miles then mentally knew I wasn’t going to get a time I needed and I feel apart. I kept trying to push but just didn’t have it and have gone backwards from the last half. It was a twisty course today with quite a few short ups and downs but that isn’t an excuse. Mentally and physically I got beaten up today.

I always said that it was just about wanting to get back to running and I can’t compare where I was 4 years ago to now as I’ve missed so much. It’s tough though not to compare as deep down I still feel I am capable but I have to have a very deep look into how I achieve that and keep fighting. Today hurts and today running ripped the heart out of me and taught me a lesson. But tomorrow is another day and I am not done with you yet running because you’ve motivated me even more 👊

On a massive positive though the medal is banging 🥇 and the race was really well organised by @mkwinterhalf taken in Willen Lake by @wishrunner10

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3 years ago

For the first time since my injuries I was chasing a time today with a late entry to the @riverthameshalf I wanted to go sub 1:28 but I also wanted to see where I was at compared to my pb time of 1:25. Today was going to be one of two things, glory or glorious failure. In the end it wasn’t to be but the difference now is having been out so long, I love every race for what it is so these are the positives/what I have learnt
Really well run organised event with lovely supportive people ✅.
I had a right go at it(possibly too much of a go in the first 5 miles 😂 but had to try).✅
I managed to dig in and come through a tough race when I wanted to walk off at 5.5 miles.✅
The course is quick but when it’s rained for a week and the course has trail and lots of mud and puddles carbon shoes are not the one! The road sections were great though.✅.
I am sure the dog that ran across my path was just playing ✅
I came 2nd in my age category and 40th overall ✅.
Also don’t panic that your car as been stolen before you check the right floor of the car park 😩
The 2.5 hr journey home in the rain not fun ❌
Overall I didn’t get the time I wanted but that will come and I know more about where I am in my journey and I am proud of that.
#riverthameshalfmarathon #runnersofinstagram #running #halfmarathon #motivated taken in Walton-on-Thames by @wishrunner10

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3 years ago

This is my story of coming back from multiple injuries to running @chimarathon
In November 2019 I had an Achilles operation on my right foot. Thanks to @itsmyphysioadrian the rehab was amazing and I was close to full fitness again and then I ran across a field and my ankle got caught in a hole 5 more months out and back to scratch.
In October 2021 I was diagnosed with nerve damage all down my left leg
Nothing worked and over and over I tried and broke down again and again.
I might not have been running but I was in the gym working on my strength for nearly 2 years. This wasn’t how my story would end..

May 2023 I hadn’t run more than a few miles for 18 month’s and hadn’t raced since 2019 but, I had this crazy idea to try one more time and get to Chicago (my deferred place from 2020 was about to expire) I kept quiet and went about seeing if I could make it happen. I had 21 weeks

With the best support in @runner_claud and working with @itsmyphysioadrian again we went to work.

I was doing 2x 30-45 min runs at around 9-8:45 miles to start then progressed to adding a long run.
In July I raced for the first time in 4 years and managed a 1:37 half marathon, I was delighted.

I then raced the big half and somehow managed 1:30:57 I was totally shocked at the progress

My 21 weeks of training consisted of 368:56 miles at an average of 17.5 miles per week. After two years out that’s all my body would allow.

When I crossed the line at Chicago I broke down. Everything I had enjoyed was taken away for so long and this was my biggest achievement just getting there and finishing that race and having the best fun doing it. When I saw the time of 3:20:03 words can’t describe how I felt, 40 seconds off a PB after 4 years of injuries. Nearly 2 years of no running and an average of 17.5 miles a week during marathon training. Still it hasn’t sunk in but now I know nothing will stop me completing my 6 @wmmajors

None of this would have been possible without you @runner_claud Thank you for being the light that has helped me shine again ❤️❤️❤️
#runner #comeback #comebackstronger #marathon running taken in Chicago, Illinois by @wishrunner10

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3 years ago

by @wishrunner10

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3 years ago

Medal Monday @chimarathon ⭐️⭐️⭐️
#chicago #medalmonday #chicagomarathon taken in Navy Pier Chicago Ilinois by @wishrunner10

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3 years ago

5 long years of injury. 21 weeks ago I tried coming back again to get that 3rd ⭐️⭐️⭐️ @chimarathon that I had deferred over and over.
I had two goals to start the race and finish the race and enjoy everything in between. No time pressure just fun.
To achieve 3:20:03 is my proudest moment in running, I know I am determined but even I couldn’t see that happening. Today was a win for comebacks and never giving up. The emotion and complete breakdown at the end was all those years of not running coming out. Now to order pizza 🍕 taken in Chicago, Illinois by @wishrunner10

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3 years ago

What a weekend. Yesterday I felt full of anxiety about todays race and my neck issue decided to year it’s ugly head meaning yesterday evening I was in awful pain. In only my 2nd race in four years having raced for the first time 6 weeks ago and achieving a 1:37 it was a test to see where I was at and had I improved having increased the long runs but still only able to do 3 runs a week with no real speed work allowed still.

Thankfully this morning the pain had subsided enough but the anxiety hadn’t. Luckily I have @runner_claud to balance me and give me all the motivation I need which means everything ❤️.

Even on the start line I didn’t really know what I was going to race at until at the last minute I said to Claud I have a plan! I think I am just going to try and smash it, not really a plan as the sun that wasn’t supposed to be turning up today decided to come out in all its glory. So hot!

This was a race 5 years ago that beat me when I should have done so much better and I have carried that for 5 years. Today was not going to be a repeat and despite the heat and the not really knowing where I was at as I settled in to running 7min miles which was a surprise I was able to do that. At mile 9 the heat was rough but had to really dig deep and managed to get through the last 4 miles and come away with 1:30:57 a massive improvement and huge confidence boost for future goals to get back to my 2018/19 times before all the injuries.
Step by step things are starting to work and I am elated by today and long may it continue as I love running and I’ve missed way to much.

#bighalf #running #runningcommunity #comeback taken in London Bridge by @wishrunner10

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3 years ago