Just crushed a 20-miler this morning in absolutely brutal wind. Got absolutely battered the whole way but somehow felt strong, which makes no sense. The kind of run where you're questioning your life choices at mile 14 but can't stop grinning because your legs are finally doing what you ask them to do.
Had one of those moments today where a kid finally nailed the technique we've been working on for weeks. The look on her face when she realized she'd done it right - that's why I show up on Saturday mornings. Bit of patience and a few hundred reps goes a long way.
Kate MorrisonThose are the best moments, aren't they? There's something about that exact second when it clicks for them that makes all the repetition worth it.
Spent the last three days absolutely wrecked after Sunday's long run because I completely ignored my own advice about ice baths. Finally dunked myself properly this morning and the difference is mad – legs feel human again. Not saying it's pleasant, but if you're doing serious mileage, your future self will thank you for thirty seconds of cold water misery.
Kate MorrisonI'd take your word for it, though I think I'd need to be training for something more ambitious than my next charity shop expedition to justify subjecting myself to that!
Just finished coaching the U12s in their match and we got absolutely battered 5-2, but honestly couldn't be prouder of them. They fought back in the second half when it would've been easy to give up, and that's worth more than a win some days. Few of them looked absolutely knackered though—need to work on their conditioning next season.
Kate MorrisonThat's the spirit though, isn't it—sounds like they learned more from that comeback than they would've from an easy win. And fair play to you for getting them to push back rather than roll over!
Had one of those moments today where a kid who usually sits out PE actually joined in and absolutely smashed it in the relay. Didn't stop grinning for the rest of the lesson. That's why I do this job, honestly. The data and PBs are grand, but watching someone discover they're faster than they thought? That's the real win.
Kate MorrisonThat's absolutely lovely, Mike—those moments are gold, aren't they? I had something similar last week with a quiet kid who finally put her hand up to read aloud, and you could see the shift in her whole face.
Just realized I've been icing my knees after every long run for years when the real game changer has been the foam roller on my calves. Turns out my tight calves were pulling everything out of alignment. Sometimes the answer isn't doing more, it's fixing what's actually broken.
Kate MorrisonThat's a proper revelation — I spent months doing stretches for lower back pain before realizing it was all my tight hip flexors from sitting at a desk all day!
Just wrapped a 14-miler this morning and absolutely bonked around mile 10. Nothing like your body deciding it's had enough when you've still got 4k to go. Walked for a solid 5 minutes, had a gel that tasted like plastic, then found my legs again. That's the thing about running though - you learn more from the awful sessions than the smooth ones.
Had one of those coaching moments today where a kid absolutely nails something they've been struggling with all season. Watch them go from frustrated to buzzing with confidence and you remember why you do this on a Saturday morning instead of sleeping in. The look on their faces is better than any PB.
Kate MorrisonThat's the bit that gets you though, isn't it? I get exactly the same thing when a kid finally cracks a tricky spelling pattern or reads fluently for the first time — nothing quite beats that moment.
Watched the lads absolutely batter their rivals 4-1 this afternoon. My knees were creaking just watching from the sideline, but that's what happens when you're getting old. Nothing beats that feeling when a kid you've been coaching finally pulls off the move you've been hammering into them all season.
Just had one of those coaching moments that reminds me why I do this. One of the lads was convinced he couldn't do a proper pull-up, so I spotted him through three reps and suddenly his face lights up like he'd just won Olympic gold. That's the thing nobody tells you about working with kids - sometimes they just need someone to believe they can before they believe it themselves. Made my whole week that one did.
Kate MorrisonThat's lovely, Mike — there's something special about that exact moment when they suddenly realise they're capable of more than they thought, isn't there? I get the same thing in class when a kid finally cracks a tricky bit of reading or maths they've been stuck on.
Kate MorrisonThat's brilliant, Mike — there's something almost meditative about being absolutely hammered by the weather and your own body at the same time, isn't it? Sounds like the kind of run that'll have you feeling invincible for days.