For ten weeks straight, I’ve been running.

Better times. Better movement. Slightly more efficiency.

And yet… it still feels just as hard as week one.

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 In this Mere Mortals in Motion, we cut through the productivity clichés.

Yes, work smarter. But if you’re not also working hard, sweating, showing up, and getting the reps in, you hit a hard cap. Theory, gear, cadence, reviews… none of it replaces effort.

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Today I ran 3.45km (just over 2 miles) at a faster pace than my usual training… and it revealed the real problem I have to solve before race day.

Because this isn’t just about fitness.
So this episode is about the “mental reps”:

Testing speed on shorter runs (without ego-tripping)
Building the volume that creates confidence
Training the mind to stay calm when everything starts screaming “stop”

Subscribe for the full Marathon Series.

(00:00) Quick recap: just ran 3.45km
(01:43) The last half marathon: what actually happened
(02:29) Training volume vs reality (40–50km weeks… then setbacks)
(04:18) The obvious fix: distance + pace that holds under pressure
(05:08) The real focus: mental strength through “proof runs”
(06:06) Why squats are easy mentally (and running isn’t)
(06:52) The mission: reps, weeks, and building the stronger mind
(07:17) Final punch: “It’s going to suck… and I can do it.”

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 Most people drift into their week.

This is why they feel behind by Wednesday.

In this Mere Mortals in Motion episode, I break down why Monday is non-negotiable. Why your first action of the week sets the psychological tone for everything that follows. Why one hard workout can shift your entire mental positioning.

(00:00) – Welcome Back to Mere Mortals in Motion
(01:05) – The Origin of “Mere Mortals Monday Movement”
(02:00) – Why Monday Morning Is Sacred
(02:45) – The Psychological Edge of Early Training
(03:45) – Making Monday Non-Negotiable
(04:05) – Your Personal Ritual That Sets the Week

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Some days you’re not at your best. Your throat’s cooked, your energy’s low, and motivation feels like a luxury item.

If you’re unwell, undercooked, or mentally flat: take the pressure off perfection. Do the minimum. Do a little extra in a different mode. Keep the chain alive.

(00:00) Welcome back + mid-walk check-in
(00:23) Why I’m walking: one car + still need to get somewhere
(01:03) The plan: 90 mins there, 90 mins back
(02:15) “Better than nothing”: time on feet + marathon mindset
(02:38) If you’re unwell: do the minimum, stay moving

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Today’s marathon training session was a straight-up negotiation with my own mind.

I got the 10km done—split up into run/walk/run—but the real story wasn’t the pace… it was the mental games. The “just stop here”, the “turn around”, the “go back to bed” voice. And the uncomfortable realisation that marathon prep isn’t just physical fitness, it’s learning to tolerate discomfort without making it mean anything.

(00:00) Beanbag debrief + what I just did
(00:23) Splits + pace breakdown (run/walk/run)
(00:58) “Holy sh*t” moment: can I even hit marathon distance?
(02:29) “Feeble, weak” — not enough time in the crucible (yet)
(03:38) The hard truth: it’s going to be difficult
(03:59) It’s not a duty to suffer — it’s gratitude and grace (Tony Robbins)
(04:41) Smile through it: grateful I can do this

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Today’s run was meant to be a write-off… because I lost my headphones (again). No music. No podcasts. Just raw friction.

But that’s the point: the mental game is the training. When you don’t feel like doing the thing, you don’t negotiate with your mood, you shrink the task until you can’t say no.

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 Episode 3 of my Marathon Series: I did a 5K run and noticed something wild changing shoes made the pace feel way easier. I’m not an elite runner, so I didn’t expect equipment to matter this much… but it genuinely shifted the effort level for hitting my target pace.

0:00 Intro + “virtual chat” vibe
0:23 Yesterday’s 5K run
0:50 Shoe swap: old trainers vs lighter/faster pair
2:22 The run felt effortless at target pace
3:09 Does equipment matter more than we think?
4:09 What else might help (shorts/socks/shirt/warm-up)?
5:11 Club run = more fun, more consistency

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 Want a simple way to know if your marathon goal is realistic?

This episode shows the exact framework I’m using:

pace targets for a sub-2 half + ~4-hour marathon
weekly structure (repeatability + long run focus)
colour-coding wins/losses so you can’t self-delude
how to train around real life without quitting the goal
The plan isn’t magic. It’s consistency + honest tracking.

(00:00) Marathon Series returns + the big question: “How are you tracking this?”
(02:22) The real constraint: life, priorities, and training time
(04:13) Weekly structure example: distances + time targets
(05:08) The point: training honesty (not vibes)
(06:41) Why the long run matters most (durability anchor)
(07:21) Building volume safely: increase without breaking
(08:05) Sneaky speed: running some sessions faster than plan
(09:11) The confidence markers: 60km weeks + 30–35km long run
(10:12) Newbie gains, joy, and what happens next

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 After a rough night and emotional family morning, this episode dives into the raw reality of doing what needs to be done even when everything in you says don’t. It’s not a motivational speech, it’s a confrontation with life’s chaos and the discipline that cuts through it. From dead car keys to daycare tears, this is the power of showing up anyway.

(00:00) - The Struggle Is Real: Waking Up Late & Emotional Morning
(00:50) - The Broken Key Fob That Nearly Broke Me
(01:11) - The Temptation to Quit: Why We Say “F*ck It”
(01:49) - Movement as Medicine: How 5K Changed Everything
(02:26) - Minimal Emotion, Maximum Motion: Training Your Inner Voice

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