In this episode of Mere Mortals in Motion #28, I’m back after a long break with a brutally honest update on marathon prep, injuries, ankle pain, Achilles issues, and the reality of trying to train while life keeps moving.

The big lesson? Goals matter. Discipline matters. But your body gets a vote.

(00:00) - Back After A Long Break
(00:18) - Marathon Prep Has Been Hit By Injuries
(00:58) - Your Body Changes As You Age
(01:23) - Rehab, Prehab & The Cost Of Ignoring Niggles
(02:05) - Three Weeks Without Running
(02:30) - The Real Goal: Being Healthy For Life
(02:53) - When You Miss A Goal, Don’t Hate Yourself
(03:31) - Effort, Discipline & Lessons Beyond Fitness
(03:50) - Family, Work & The Mere Mortal Reality 

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In Episode 18 of the Marathon Series, the honest call gets made: the marathon is off.

With a swollen ankle, ongoing Achilles issues, plantar fascia problems and only around two weeks until race day, pushing through would no longer be discipline. It would be ego dressed up as commitment.

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30 days from the marathon, and the plan is suddenly in doubt. After Achilles pain, ankle issues and now possible plantar fascia trouble, I’m facing the uncomfortable question: is pushing through discipline, or is it just ego?

(00:00) - Not the Update I Wanted to Give
(00:27) - Walking Instead of Running
(00:50) - Achilles, Ankle Pain and Setbacks
(01:15) - The Foot Problem That Changed Everything
(01:44) - Possible Plantar Fascia Trouble
(02:14) - 30 Days Out and Seriously Questioning It
(03:05) - Is This the Turning Point?
(03:25) - The Weekend Test Run
(04:19) - The Two Options I’m Facing
(05:10) - Asking Other Runners for Advice
(05:51) - The Decision Is Coming 

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In this solo takeover of the Mere Mortals In Motion, I got to pit my form against an AI critique. I break down left vs right arm differences, why fingertip support currently feels best and where hip positioning and shoulder elevation are letting me down. I also evaluate the AI’s feedback of what it nailed (hip drop on weight shifts, need for scapular elevation and cleaner transitions) and where it missed the mark (overemphasis on banana back and entry via press handstand for this specific session).

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I created an edited video of just the handstands here: https://youtu.be/V1GD05-cg_8 

Timeline:
(00:00:00) Intro
(00:01:21) Training context and initial left vs right holds
(00:03:18) Reading the AI s first critique: banana back and core tension
(00:06:03) Shoulder elevation, gaze and practical training choices
(00:09:04) One‑arm weight shifting and the hip package
(00:12:09) What really needs work: leading leg pull and stacking
(00:15:11) Requesting world‑level detail and tougher feedback
(00:19:10) Finger balance, sweet spot and subtle weight shifts
(00:22:13) Takeaways, coaching vs AI and sign‑off 

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Marathon prep is not always heroic long runs, clean progress charts, and motivational music.

Sometimes it’s Achilles pain after an 18km run.
Sometimes it’s swapping the road for 100km on a stationary bike.
Sometimes it’s feeling flat, frustrated, and out of rhythm because the routine that was holding you together suddenly disappears.

In this marathon prep update, I talk through the last 10–11 days of injury management, dealing with Achilles tendon pain, unexpected front ankle pain, and finally getting back to running with a very easy 2km treadmill session.

00:00 – Back From The Gym, Back From Running
00:28 – Achilles Pain After The 18km Run
00:51 – Replacing Running With 100km Of Bike Riding
01:12 – The Temptation To Quit Running Altogether
01:52 – The Injury Shifts To The Front Of The Ankle
02:15 – First Run Back: An Easy 2km Treadmill Test
02:41 – Losing Rhythm, Motivation & Routine
03:05 – The Joy Of Feeling The Cadence Again
03:36 – Pain Check: Achilles Zero, Ankle Two Out Of Ten
03:57 – The Hardest Discipline: Not Doing More
04:16 – The Journey Is Getting Messy Again
04:35 – Marathon Day Is Now About Surviving Well
05:00 – Juan’s Training Is Looking Strong
05:20 – Running, Life, Improvement & Keeping It Real

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I wanted marathon prep to be heroic. Instead, it’s become honest. Achilles pain has forced me to stop chasing the impressive version of the story and start choosing the sustainable one.

(00:00) - A Different Kind of Marathon Update
(00:25) - Achilles Problems Have Arrived
(00:50) - The 18km Run That Felt Good… Until It Didn’t
(01:15) - Six Weeks Out & Decisions Need To Be Made
(01:38) - The Trap of Wanting To Be Impressive
(02:25) - Strava, Ego & Marathon Expectations
(03:08) - Adjusting the Plan Without Quitting
(03:48) - Listen To Your Body
(04:07) - Life Happens, Training Plans Break
(04:28) - Final Reflection: Be Present, Not Impressive

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After hundreds of runs, there had never been a single one that wasn’t mostly a mental challenge. Until now.

This is a reflection on a speed run that felt different. The resistance was still there before getting out the door, but once the run began, something had changed. No bargaining. No internal negotiation. Just rhythm, effort, momentum and the feeling that the training was finally paying off.

(00:00) - A specific run, and why it mattered
(00:55) - The mental barrier vs the physical barrier
(02:19) - Cadence, posture and finding the rhythm
(02:36) - Hitting familiar markers with confidence
(02:58) - The final sprint and controlled aggression
(03:58) - Final motivation: hug your loved ones and get after it

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Episode 13 of the Marathon Series is about the ugly side of progress.

This was meant to be a 16km run. It became 13km and 80 minutes of sweat, resistance, self-talk, and grinding through the inner voice that wanted to stop almost from the very beginning.

(00:00) - Drenched Before the Day Is Done
(00:22) - 80 Minutes and 13km
(01:21) - Just Getting Out the Door
(01:33) - Trying to Start Slow
(02:29) - Channeling the Goggins Mentality
(02:41) - Do The Loop Again
(02:55) - Recording the Reality of the Moment
(03:39) - Seven Weeks Until the Marathon
(03:51) - If It Sucks at the Beginning, That’s Okay

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Episode 12 of the Marathon Series is a reminder that endurance is earned in the boring moments.

This one is all about the reality of preparation: running in unexpected heat, adjusting the plan, and still finding a way to get the work done.

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In this episode of the Marathon Series, we get brutally honest about what marathon training actually demands. This is not about fantasy plans, heroic delusion, or pretending you can bluff your way through 42.2 kilometres. It is about fatigue, pacing, discipline, broken sleep, heavy legs, and the deep respect required to take on a marathon properly.

Also forgive the crappiolo audio, tried to fix as best I knew how.

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