My first time running the London Marathon after 10 times trying to get in via lottery, and also first time in London. Looking forward to meet you in the shake out run or at the expo (*congratulations on getting your own booth*). Good luck the rest of your training cycle Ben, I hope your hamstrings feel better soon 😊
I''ll definitely come and say hello and buy something at the London Expo! This year was to be my first London Marathon, but I've torn my meniscus. I'll still be there as an onlooker in April. Your acceptance of setbacks like injuries and missing races is every bit as inspiring as when things go to plan A. This updated really cheered me up as I did my physio exercises today.
Nice to hear you this positive after yet another injury. Good to hear you have a good mindset and finding other ways to keep busy and healthy, both physically and mentally! Good luck with all your plans. I’ve got the spring-marathon of Amstelveen coming up soon (March 17th), then a 5k run on the local university campus in Wageningen in early April, another 5k run at the IJsselloop a couple days later. Then no races planned until later in the year: Ten Miles Tilburg in September. Perhaps also a 14k trail run in the same month. And as the big one: the Amsterdam Marathon on October 20th. I’ve never entered this many races within one year in my life, but I’m looking forward to each and every one of them.
Just in case you aren't aware, Boston is super weird and doesn't normally let you film the race. I don't know if you have gotten special permission or perhaps they have finally changed the rules, but I thought I'd bring it up in case you were unaware. UA-camr called Serious Runner had his vlog from 2021 taken down, among others. I'd just hate to see you make an effort and end up being surprised by this very annoying rule. Looking forward to your vlogs, they are always great! :)
Kofuzi filmed his entire race last year, and there was no issue. I believe there was a major backlash against the BAA after the Serious Runner incident, and they’ve sort of held back on enforcing the rule since.
Just came back from the Osaka Marathon. My next race will be the Wuxi Marathon (aka the China Olympic Trials) at the end of March. After that, the next big thing for me is the UTMB CCC. It’s the only European race I am doing this year. Not sure if you will be running UTMB again this year but would love to meet up.
Comrade's training in full swing now, qualified a few weeks back and ready for my back to back comrades after last year doing my first comrades, hope to see you on the 9th June :)
Can't wait to see Sarah's race vlog on her race. I am inspired by your positive approach to injury. It's nice to see it as an opportunity to do something different, and to come back stronger!
Hi Ben. Great video, interesting to hear what you have on and a more general update Keep up the great content, we love watching it. Hopefully I get to run a major you are at one day and see you at an expo or meet up, or you could come to a New Zealand event again. Take care. Cheers Colin
Hi Ben 😊, I'm currently practicing for Hamburg Marathon mostly using some of the workouts of your plan but mixing it up a little. So many marathons you are doing hope it's not too much but seems you are not racing all of them really hard hopefully. alle the best to you
Hello Ben! Did the same to my calves last week, but with the Boston 12s. Ran as fast as never before last Monday, and here I am, limping, stretching, and having a Half marathon next Sunday. 🤣
Great content as always! I'm staying in Greenwich for the London marathon....I'm part of the pacemaking team again this year! Can't wait! Will you be having a shake out run on the 20th April Ben with your followers? Hope so! I met you and Sarah just after finishing the marathon last year!
Good to see a big smile on your face. If I can’t run it’s like walking around on eggshells with me. My first race after Valencia in 3 weeks time. A nice see where I am 10km. Then some 5 & 10bkms till end of June. Easy/ticking over in July as away and give the body a break then back in August for main goal sub 3 in Valencia. I’m in London in a few weeks and have a 16km easy run to do. Staying around Paddington and wondering what area should I head towards. Wouldn’t mind some sightseeing. It be early Sunday morning. I’ll be putting a route onto my garmin as getting lost in Ghent on a run wasn’t fun.
Done the Humanities Direct Half ultra trail run from Amersham on Saturday, what a challenge with all the mud, flooding and cold. Ben, the 50 km route has got your name all over it for March 2025 😂
Sorry to hear about your injury. How frustrating. Personally I feel that super shoes can't be good for your body. My all time running hero is Abebe Bikila who won the Olympic marathon in Rome...Barefoot! Having bought some shoes that were too tight for him he just decided to run without shoes.. He not only won the gold but broke the world record at the same time. What a unit.
Been using an indoor trainer with Zwift since one week, and I wonder how to use it best to actively recover between runs without inadvertently taxing the legs. Which intensity/lenght do you usually go for? Thanks for the video and best of luck! You always make me smile
I might get a place to run the London Marathon 2024 but I would need to raise £2000 as a minimum requirement for the charity giving me the place. How to hell do you raise that much money
Hi Ben! purchased 10k and Marathon plans a couple of weeks back. really looking forward for the training. as of now I'm dealing with shin splints and thinking of taking a week off . what exercises shoud i do to help get rid of them? thanks and cheers!
I can answer this. Yes the expo is open to everyone. There are usually amazing stalls and good food and drink. 👌 obviously Ben's stall will be the place to be! 😂
Glad you and Sarah are doing well, I enjoy your vlogs... I'm doing 50k(17 March )build up to Twooceans 56km in 13th April and of course my 8th big C #Combrades in June. Thank you everyone, enjoy your runs.
I am running Chicago marathon and Gold coast Australia half marathon and a few other half marathons, running a marathon wiped me out last year so need to be careful.
Ran hampton court last year, would flag the last couple of miles are on grass and get super muddy if its wet. Takes a good minute or so off your pace (and gets you super messy!)
Hopefully I’ll see you in December at Valencia. I’ve got my busiest year of running, Vienna marathon, TEC Brecon half, 50km Goring Gap, Chiltern Wonderland & Valencia .
Great to hear your mental health is in a better place!!! Out of everything PB’s are important but not as important as overall health, thank you for reminding us of that! Will you be doing a Valencia shake out run? I’m doing it for the first time this year (praying I stay injury free)
Glad your and Sarah's injuries are in the past! Also, running Boston and London back to back... I don't know what else to say, it's self-explanatorily (not a word; who cares) mental. In other "news", today was Paris' Half-Marathon and I'm happy to say that following your L4 HM training plan to the letter (well, missed a lot of reinforcement...) paid off splendidly as I ran it in 1:34:48, with a goal of 1:35! (Last PB in November was 1:39, and 1:48 a year ago). Planning to focus on solidifying all this progress now :-)
I am running london Marathon so i will come and check out the stand. i have been thinking about the Valencia Marathon too. ill see how i feel later on in the year if i enter for this one
Hi from Boston! I’m glad you’re both on the mend and excited for the races to come. I can’t wait to see Sarah’s vlogs! I found her channel shortly after she started it and it’s the reason I’m running again. I actually found you through her. 😂 I’d love to hear more about the cycling workouts you target to improve running, and how you’ll handle recovery with two back to back major races. Marathon Monday in Boston is an experience and I hope you both have some time to explore the area when you’re done. Sarah would love a trip north to Franconia Notch in NH. A recovery run along the Charles in the early morning is also amazing. The Cambridge side of the loop down and back up the Mass Ave Bridge is a favorite. Venturing into Backbay or onto the public gardens/the emerald necklace along the coast is also good, though you battle stoplights.
Ah mate if by a miracle you could come to Brussels to run Brussels 20 in may this year, that would be amazing honestly. Truly. Would love to meet you out on a run here. Love your content as always and keep up the good spirits!
I got Achilles problems in the alphafly because I was overstriding in the shoe as well. It’s weird, I don’t ever do that in other shoes but I’m no longer using them for anything faster than marathon pace and easy long runs.
I'm also very much looking forward to Comrades this year. It will be my first up run after two down runs in 2022 and 2023. It's a very special race - I grew up in Pietermaritzburg and I always love to see international runners coming down to SA and soaking up the magic of Comrades. I spoke to Sarah on the course last year and I was so sad to hear that you weren't able to run. I hope your Comrades plans finally work out this year Ben!
Your running technique is beautiful to watch Ben
So great to hear you so positive and in a great place. Big plans for 2024..hope you smash them all!!
My first time running the London Marathon after 10 times trying to get in via lottery, and also first time in London. Looking forward to meet you in the shake out run or at the expo (*congratulations on getting your own booth*). Good luck the rest of your training cycle Ben, I hope your hamstrings feel better soon 😊
I''ll definitely come and say hello and buy something at the London Expo! This year was to be my first London Marathon, but I've torn my meniscus. I'll still be there as an onlooker in April. Your acceptance of setbacks like injuries and missing races is every bit as inspiring as when things go to plan A. This updated really cheered me up as I did my physio exercises today.
Yes Comrades! 🎉🇿🇦
Enjoyed the video. Just did my PR in a local half using your training plan for intermediate. I will be in Valencia this year. 🏃♂️
Nice to hear you this positive after yet another injury. Good to hear you have a good mindset and finding other ways to keep busy and healthy, both physically and mentally!
Good luck with all your plans.
I’ve got the spring-marathon of Amstelveen coming up soon (March 17th), then a 5k run on the local university campus in Wageningen in early April, another 5k run at the IJsselloop a couple days later. Then no races planned until later in the year: Ten Miles Tilburg in September. Perhaps also a 14k trail run in the same month.
And as the big one: the Amsterdam Marathon on October 20th.
I’ve never entered this many races within one year in my life, but I’m looking forward to each and every one of them.
London and Valencia!! See you at London expo :)
Just in case you aren't aware, Boston is super weird and doesn't normally let you film the race. I don't know if you have gotten special permission or perhaps they have finally changed the rules, but I thought I'd bring it up in case you were unaware. UA-camr called Serious Runner had his vlog from 2021 taken down, among others. I'd just hate to see you make an effort and end up being surprised by this very annoying rule. Looking forward to your vlogs, they are always great! :)
Yeh I heard about this recently! Weird rules! 😂
Meh who cares. Keeps it more nostalgic and kind of old school. Not everything has to be a free for all...
Kofuzi filmed his entire race last year, and there was no issue. I believe there was a major backlash against the BAA after the Serious Runner incident, and they’ve sort of held back on enforcing the rule since.
Sounds like the cross training has done you really good Ben, you sound up and about which is awesome to see. Forwards! 💪
Just came back from the Osaka Marathon. My next race will be the Wuxi Marathon (aka the China Olympic Trials) at the end of March. After that, the next big thing for me is the UTMB CCC. It’s the only European race I am doing this year. Not sure if you will be running UTMB again this year but would love to meet up.
Comrade's training in full swing now, qualified a few weeks back and ready for my back to back comrades after last year doing my first comrades, hope to see you on the 9th June :)
Glad to see you back running, hopefully it's for a good amount of time this time! Props on the mental strength progress too!
thanks for always bringing so much positivity!
Can't wait to see Sarah's race vlog on her race. I am inspired by your positive approach to injury. It's nice to see it as an opportunity to do something different, and to come back stronger!
I'm doing Paris Marathon on 7th April, Vitality 10k in September, and Valencia in December. Probably do Big Half too. 👍
Glad you are both healthy and happy, really enjoyed the film/edit of this vlog
I’m in the 312 this year also. I’ll keep and eye out for you. Glad you are back running.
Love it - see you at London Marathon wohoooo
Great update. I think a great reminder for people not to train too much in super shoes!
Nice to see you so happy and well!
I'm training for Manchester marathon and accidently got a place in the centurion 100 hills so look forward to meeting you both there !
Super, see you in Berlin 🎉🎉🎉
You love downhill running on the roads? The Mic Morris 10k from Blaenavon to Pontypool all downhill. You'd love it Ben :)
Interesting to hear what you’re doing this year. For me, 2024 is Cambridge Half (yesterday) and The Big Half.
Hi Ben. Great video, interesting to hear what you have on and a more general update Keep up the great content, we love watching it. Hopefully I get to run a major you are at one day and see you at an expo or meet up, or you could come to a New Zealand event again. Take care. Cheers Colin
I got miami marathon done this year, now training hard for london and chicago 🤘 hope to see you at the expo and get a selfie… cheers from chile 🇨🇱
Great to see how happy you are back running!
Running North Downs Half… see you there!
Hi Ben 😊,
I'm currently practicing for Hamburg Marathon mostly using some of the workouts of your plan but mixing it up a little. So many marathons you are doing hope it's not too much but seems you are not racing all of them really hard hopefully.
alle the best to you
I didn't know you can go to the expo if not running. That is such a good piece of info, I want to check all the goodies
Hello Ben! Did the same to my calves last week, but with the Boston 12s. Ran as fast as never before last Monday, and here I am, limping, stretching, and having a Half marathon next Sunday. 🤣
Great content as always! I'm staying in Greenwich for the London marathon....I'm part of the pacemaking team again this year! Can't wait! Will you be having a shake out run on the 20th April Ben with your followers? Hope so! I met you and Sarah just after finishing the marathon last year!
its hard to keep motivated in cross training when you are 2 years in to injury. motivation comes and goes.
glad that you are back running
Good to see a big smile on your face. If I can’t run it’s like walking around on eggshells with me. My first race after Valencia in 3 weeks time. A nice see where I am 10km. Then some 5 & 10bkms till end of June. Easy/ticking over in July as away and give the body a break then back in August for main goal sub 3 in Valencia. I’m in London in a few weeks and have a 16km easy run to do. Staying around Paddington and wondering what area should I head towards. Wouldn’t mind some sightseeing. It be early Sunday morning. I’ll be putting a route onto my garmin as getting lost in Ghent on a run wasn’t fun.
Done the Humanities Direct Half ultra trail run from Amersham on Saturday, what a challenge with all the mud, flooding and cold. Ben, the 50 km route has got your name all over it for March 2025 😂
Hope to see you in Yorkshire this year?
I hope to get over my Achilles injury so I can make the shakeout run in Berlin!
Hampton court half was like a tough muddy for the last 3-4k, I imagine it will be similar this year with all the rain we’ve had!
I was there last year as well. Knee deep puddles!
Sorry to hear about your injury. How frustrating.
Personally I feel that super shoes can't be good for your body. My all time running hero is Abebe Bikila who won the Olympic marathon in Rome...Barefoot! Having bought some shoes that were too tight for him he just decided to run without shoes.. He not only won the gold but broke the world record at the same time. What a unit.
Been using an indoor trainer with Zwift since one week, and I wonder how to use it best to actively recover between runs without inadvertently taxing the legs. Which intensity/lenght do you usually go for? Thanks for the video and best of luck! You always make me smile
I was set to run Battersea Half this Sunday until I busted my shoulder wahhhhhhhhh! 😞
Were you running in Superblast Ben?
You should come to the Charlotte Marathon in North Carolina :-)
I might get a place to run the London Marathon 2024 but I would need to raise £2000 as a minimum requirement for the charity giving me the place. How to hell do you raise that much money
I am doing London marathon
no honolulu marathon this year?
Hi Ben! purchased 10k and Marathon plans a couple of weeks back. really looking forward for the training. as of now I'm dealing with shin splints and thinking of taking a week off . what exercises shoud i do to help get rid of them? thanks and cheers!
That piper was absolutely not playing auld lang syne 😂
Cool red top. Can anyone visit the marathon expo even if you’re not running?
I can answer this. Yes the expo is open to everyone. There are usually amazing stalls and good food and drink. 👌 obviously Ben's stall will be the place to be! 😂
Hi Ben, are you running the Great South this year? Keep up the great content 👏👏
Glad you and Sarah are doing well, I enjoy your vlogs...
I'm doing 50k(17 March )build up to Twooceans 56km in 13th April and of course my 8th big C #Combrades in June.
Thank you everyone, enjoy your runs.
I am running Chicago marathon and Gold coast Australia half marathon and a few other half marathons, running a marathon wiped me out last year so need to be careful.
Ran hampton court last year, would flag the last couple of miles are on grass and get super muddy if its wet. Takes a good minute or so off your pace (and gets you super messy!)
Hopefully I’ll see you in December at Valencia. I’ve got my busiest year of running, Vienna marathon, TEC Brecon half, 50km Goring Gap, Chiltern Wonderland & Valencia .
Great to hear your mental health is in a better place!!! Out of everything PB’s are important but not as important as overall health, thank you for reminding us of that!
Will you be doing a Valencia shake out run? I’m doing it for the first time this year (praying I stay injury free)
So glad to hear you doing so well Ben! Enjoy the running. Love the video.
Glad your and Sarah's injuries are in the past! Also, running Boston and London back to back... I don't know what else to say, it's self-explanatorily (not a word; who cares) mental.
In other "news", today was Paris' Half-Marathon and I'm happy to say that following your L4 HM training plan to the letter (well, missed a lot of reinforcement...) paid off splendidly as I ran it in 1:34:48, with a goal of 1:35! (Last PB in November was 1:39, and 1:48 a year ago).
Planning to focus on solidifying all this progress now :-)
I am running london Marathon so i will come and check out the stand. i have been thinking about the Valencia Marathon too. ill see how i feel later on in the year if i enter for this one
Are you going do the Cardiff half marathon
Poor Sarah. 😂
Hi from Boston! I’m glad you’re both on the mend and excited for the races to come. I can’t wait to see Sarah’s vlogs! I found her channel shortly after she started it and it’s the reason I’m running again. I actually found you through her. 😂 I’d love to hear more about the cycling workouts you target to improve running, and how you’ll handle recovery with two back to back major races. Marathon Monday in Boston is an experience and I hope you both have some time to explore the area when you’re done. Sarah would love a trip north to Franconia Notch in NH. A recovery run along the Charles in the early morning is also amazing. The Cambridge side of the loop down and back up the Mass Ave Bridge is a favorite. Venturing into Backbay or onto the public gardens/the emerald necklace along the coast is also good, though you battle stoplights.
Very positive video, happy running 🏃🏼♂️🏃🏼♀️
I’m not making it to any of those events, but am going to Amsterdam (from New Zealand) for my first full marathon in October. I’m ridiculously excited
Stoked to see you both at the Boston shake-out run. My first Boston Marathon and I'm flying over from Australia -- should be some crazy jet lag.
Ah mate if by a miracle you could come to Brussels to run Brussels 20 in may this year, that would be amazing honestly. Truly.
Would love to meet you out on a run here. Love your content as always and keep up the good spirits!
I got Achilles problems in the alphafly because I was overstriding in the shoe as well. It’s weird, I don’t ever do that in other shoes but I’m no longer using them for anything faster than marathon pace and easy long runs.
Might see you both on The Mall after the Marathon - am leading a team of volunteers on the baggage lorries - provisionally lorries 15 & 16.
Great video Ben & Sarah, looking forward to your marathon ones🤩
Fantastic to see you doing so well Ben. Good mental health is worth more than any marathon time!
Great to see you smiling despite the injury troubles 🙂
2nd time running London, aiming for sub 3 and hopefully see you at the expo!
I'm also very much looking forward to Comrades this year. It will be my first up run after two down runs in 2022 and 2023. It's a very special race - I grew up in Pietermaritzburg and I always love to see international runners coming down to SA and soaking up the magic of Comrades. I spoke to Sarah on the course last year and I was so sad to hear that you weren't able to run. I hope your Comrades plans finally work out this year Ben!