Ultra Damo

ALL THE FOMO ahead of , which starts later today.

I was VERY tempted to return...

Last year was one of those rare dream races for me. To win it, at the first attempt, aged 49, and in a time that stands up (albeit in good conditions). At an event that was the Big One domestically when I was getting into this madcap sport and in some ways it still is. I was so chuffed and grateful for that.

Lakeland 100/50 is really special and has stayed authentic as the sport has evolved around it in less edifying ways.

Thanks to all the ace volunteers last year and this. To Anna llewellyn, and Jarlath McKenna for company Out There and for not running last year. Thanks Matt Neale, Mel Sykes and AB for ace support and fun recces and Stuart Smith for that finish line cuppa x

Plus NNormal for top notch kit (Bruts were perfick for that course).

Best wishes to everyone this year and look out for Into Ultra who'll be up there – do come say hello and tell your friends about us.

📸 No Limits Photography,

How it started…

How it finished.

Joss Naylor Challenge in 9:20.

HUGE thanks to impeccable hill and road support. You guys x

🎥 Nicki Lygo

Eating plenty of fruit and vegetables, consuming enough protein to support tissue repair, and getting adequate sleep – when much of the body’s recovery and adaptation takes place – may not sound revolutionary, but these are the foundations upon which performance is built.

It is also important to acknowledge that bodies age, whoever you are, and to adapt your training accordingly.

Good food, good genes, good luck: how Ronaldo, Serena and other top athletes compete in their 40s Serena Williams, Lewis Hamilton and Cristiano Ronaldo are among the stars benefiting from advances in sports science, equipment and facilities

Stand down. Pretty sure that’s climate breakdown sorted.

Running, talking (often round an open fire), competitive cake-making (I took my self-appointed role as judge very seriously), laughter, more running (including a parkrun), trainer repairs (via Pair Ups (Repair your Uppers)), tea. Ace people, brill food, joyful atmosphere.

The inaugural The Green Runners Gathering, at the Peak District’s Mount Cook Adventure Centre, was a right old woke get together for a weekend of top-notch virtue signalling.

This climate and ecology emergency gets me down sometimes. The frustration, the unfairness, the lies, the greed.

But then there are these other times, which replenish the soul. Where you meet people who understand, who bring hope, ideas, momentum, courage, ingenuity, selflessness, compassion and dare I say it, spirituality. Or at last sensational cake and a willingness to wash up.

Here’s to next year’s 🙏👌💚💚💚🙌

Special thanks Dan Beaumont and Nina Davies for incredible work organising and cooking. And thanks Mount Cook for accommodating my private jet.

Yikes. My ultramarathon (19 official dates, plus a bonus chat to the lovely folk in Devizes last night) of a speaking tour is finally over and I'm officially cream crackered and feeling my age (even if my says that's 20).

I enjoyed it far more than I thought, but am also keen for a rest, less time in my EV, Premier Inns, the return of a normal routine and all the healthy practises I've been espousing but not doing.

I'm so grateful to for the opportunity and for cleverly timing a book release with it.

But more so to all of you who bought tickets, came, didn't heckle (much), listened, chortled (sometimes) at my very worst dadjokes, asked questions, told me stories, bought Run Forever, helped me sell books, put me up for the night and, er, made dolls of me.

Especially the very ace folk at who took me for a cracking jog and delicious, multi-cake picnic before the Nottingham gig. I caught up with numerous old friends, made new ones, my athletes, too-briefly the legendary , plus Endless Perfect Circles-author and former Bath Bat .

Thanks a lot. You lot. I'm feeling very blessed x

That the last night coincided with the end of 22 years of disappointment, frustration and heartbreak for my football team was the icing on a very big cake and reminder how special sport is.

How can something so fundamentally meaningless – and so full of ethical issues – be paradoxically so deeply meaningful and bring so much joy to so many?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acAuwTEfSbU

Why You Need To Run With Poles Thinking about using poles for your next ultra but not sure whether...

International Tea Day apparently.

How do you like yours?

Or do you prefer something out of a bottle?

Yikesers (yeah that’s a word). You guys.

Home again after another stint on the road, calling at Cheltenham, Loughborough, Penrith and Sale.

Big thanks to you all for buying tickets, turning up, remaining heckle-resistant, buying Run Forever and my other books, forgiving my indecipherable squiggles and sharing your stories.

Thanks also ace book sales help people, , , seeyouonthetrails, , and .

If anyone can kindly help me out at Glasgow or Peebles, please DM me x

I do think there’s some important info to share which could keep us all running longer, in both senses of the word.

Talking of which, the mere presence of Hannah Cox made me feel like a imposter when I’m banging on about the long ouchy-fun stuff. She recently ran across India, 100 marathons in 100 days. She’s still fundraising for the planet and paying off debt from the trip. If you can help with either, please click on .

10 down, 9 to go. Next up, Middlesbrough (Tuesday), Glasgae (Wednesday), Peebles (Thursday).

After that, Leeds, Buxton, Nottingham, Caernarfon, Pontardawe and Shrewsbury.

Info and tix: https://lnkd.in/e5W36JcR

This Running Forever tour seems to be running on for ever. 🤷‍♂️

I was well out of my comfort zone, but I’m really starting to enjoy it.

📸