New watch day: Garmin Fenix 7X Pro Solar

You know I love my toys...

Well, please meet my new Garmin 7X Pro Solar - a small upgrade on my Fenix 6, but not crazy. The main attraction was the bigger screen (my eyes are not getting any better and I need to see the numbers), built in flashlight and longer battery, helped by solar.

I opted for the same screen design so little change to 'look and feel'. Fortunately, the deal was attractive - Vitality discount + Black Friday discount + Garmin (old stock) sale.

Today, I ran my 6km local loop (nice to be outside rather on treadmill) to ensure I got some proper data to kick off the (enhanced) metrics.

Plan to hit the gym this evening for a strength set, prior to jumping into sauna and cold plunge.

Also been thinking more about my Brompton bikepacking trip in the New Year with a follow up email to the company for the possibility of a P, or T line loan bike - worth a try! 😁

Thinking about next steps

My body is feeling a bit better (recovered) after my trail run on Saturday morning - it was a bit of an eye opener, in that I used to always think I could do a half-marathon with no training, considering my general fitness and general broad base (many years of endurance events under my belt). However, at the grand old age of 57, I don't think I can wing it anymore. I am certainly not hanging up my boots but I need to be realistic - any event (2 hours plus) requires greater thought, and ideally more specific training beforehand.

So what next...

Well, my weight is still heading in the wrong direction and I need to prioritise losing a few kilos, getting stronger but keeping flexible, whilst having some fun along the way.

I have no events planned for 2026, although my greatest interest is a solo bikepacking trip to Brussels (circa. 400km over 5 days). Over the coming weeks and with the heavier (literally) festive days ahead I believe keeping my diet in check and committing to a minimum of 3x strength sets should be top priority. Then throw in some run + cycle workouts in for good measure (and good for the soul) on top, whether outside or on the treadmill / Peloton. My sleep and stress levels have fortunately always been good, so less work needed there, just more of the same.

Over recent months my eyesight has got a little worse, although still fantastic over long distances. That is my excuse for upgrading my Fenix 6 46mm smartwatch for the next level Fenix 7X Pro 51mm - I hope it is not too big. Should get it in the next few days - exciting.

Plan is to hit the gym tonight for at least a 30 min strength set. Will next research best Peloton set, so I am ready to go.

Race result - Race Rebel half-marathon trail run

Feeling a bit tired after my morning effort slip-sliding away on the South Downs. 21km half-marathon distance trail run after 1-2 weeks of heavy rain. Conditions were not great, although rain held off until we finished the race, posting 2:25 on the clock, and a position of 283 (out of 467) - far from a good performance, although what can I expect with little to no training. I say 'we' because I ran with my good friend, and neighbour, Rob Burgess. Rob's training had been a bit more structured than mine and he came a bit more race prepared. He ran fasted (respect), kept within his heart rate zones (walking at points to bring it down), and even checked his ketone levels when we finished.

The pace was relatively easy, however the mud and elevation made everything more difficult and hard going. Running down one of the steeper tracks was also hard work and for some reason I got a stitch about 3km from the finish. Luckily a little walk and I could get back to running.

When I got home Lucy and I spent some time constructing a new table and putting up the Christmas tree, all a bit of an effort - the race took more out of me than I thought.

A nice recovery day planned for tomorrow.

Doing Hard Things (Starts With a Dog Walk)

Every weekday morning, without fail, I get up at exactly the same time, pull on the same walking gear (always in the same place), give Wilfy a quick cuddle, and head straight out the door. Rain or shine, cold or mild, I do not think about it. I just go.

It is almost robotic – I do not negotiate with myself, I do not question the weather, and I do not wonder whether I feel like it. By the time I am down the road, I am already doing the thing. Momentum has taken over.

What has surprised me over the years is how this tiny daily ritual has taught me something much bigger: most hard things become easier the moment you start.

If I allowed myself to think too much about early dog walks, tough runs, long rides, strength sessions, or anything slightly uncomfortable, I would find excuses. Anyone would. But by building one automatic habit into my mornings – a simple walk with the dog – I have strengthened the muscle that says, “Just begin.”

That small act has helped me tackle the things that seem hard, boring or inconvenient. Not because I am more disciplined, but because I have removed the decision.

You start, and the motivation follows.

And Tomorrow… the South Downs Half Marathon

All of this talk about doing hard things is timely, because tomorrow I am lining up for a half-marathon trail run on the South Downs, starting from Plumpton Racecourse. The weather forecast is dreadful. It has rained solidly for a week. The course is going to be a complete mud-fest.

And my specific training? Let us just say that a handful of 30-minute HIIT treadmill sessions are unlikely to be the magic formula I was hoping for. Not ideal. Not clever. But it is where I am.

So tomorrow will be hard. It will be sloppy underfoot, exposed to the wind, and probably uncomfortable from very early on. But that is OK. It is part of the point.

Just like the dog walks, once I start moving, the momentum will take over. The challenge becomes the teacher. The day becomes the story.

I will report back afterwards – whatever the outcome – and log another entry in this long, slightly chaotic training journey that started way back in 2007.

Fine start: 30min upper body set, sauna and cold.plunge

Just a quick follow up from my earlier post (2 blogs in one day - look at me 😄).

Back home, an hour catching up on work emails then into the gym (cave of pain, or garage) for 30mins of upper strength work, courtesy of the Peloton App. Then 15mins sauna, cold shower and then 1min in cold plunge - job done.

If I can get my s**t together, I want to target one upper body, one lower body and one full body workout, a week (30mins each).

Let's see how I do!

The Shift I Need: Less Shiny Tech, More Actual Strength

I am writing this on the train back to Haywards Heath after a few hours in London. The day was a mix of a business meeting, a wander through a few shops, a quick Itsu lunch, and now the journey home. Not exactly a big fitness day, but I still managed to crack out more than 15,000 steps, so I will take that.

Although I would not say my fitness has stalled, it is definitely lacking some direction. My wife made a simple but probably accurate observation the other day – that I could really benefit from a greater focus on strength. At my age, and with the running and cycling challenges I want to keep enjoying, she is right. I hear it all the time.

So why the reluctance? I genuinely do not know. Maybe I find weights and resistance work boring, or maybe I find it too hard. The truth is that I naturally gravitate to what I enjoy: jumping on my bike (or Peloton) or heading out for a run, whether outside or on the treadmill.

However, deep down I know the greatest gains – strength, weight management, body shape, injury prevention, and long-term longevity – will come from actually committing to strength training. I cannot expect real results from one half-hearted attempt every couple of weeks.

If I kept it up and started seeing progress, I know it would motivate me to continue. And with all the resources at my fingertips – TRX routines, Peloton strength classes, YouTube, and even ChatGPT for structure – it is not as if I have a shortage of options. The structure is there if I choose it.

What I need now is commitment. If I can build a stronger foundation, everything else becomes more enjoyable – from my upcoming half-marathon trail run next week to the longer cycling adventures I have planned for the New Year.

So the focus going forward is simple: less obsession with the shiny new toys or the latest data metric, and more commitment to building strength where it matters.

Planning a 2026 Brompton Adventure: From Home to Brussels, the Long Way Round

Every adventure starts as a daydream — and mine begins at home, staring at my old Brompton. It’s carried me through cities, trains, and even the odd commute that felt like an expedition. But in 2026, it’ll be doing something a little different: a bikepacking trip across northern Europe, from the south coast of England to the heart of Belgium.

The plan is simple, which is how I like it. Cycle from home down to Newhaven, catch the afternoon ferry to Dieppe, and set off the next morning along the old Avenue Verte trail. From there, wind through Neufchâtel-en-Bray, Abbeville, and Saint-Omer — those quiet, rolling parts of France that most people only ever see from a car window — before crossing into Belgium and following the canals toward Bruges, Ghent, and finally Brussels.

It’s not about distance or speed — more about rhythm. The rhythm of small gears, gravel paths, and café stops.

I’ll probably remove the electric motor from the Brompton before setting off. Go back to analogue. Lighter, simpler, less to go wrong. There’s a certain satisfaction in knowing that every kilometre comes from your own legs.

I considered taking my gravel bike, but the Brompton wins for this kind of journey. Most of the route is smooth cycle tracks and canal paths — the kind that flow rather than fight you — and when it’s time to come home, it’s far easier to fold the bike, roll onto the Eurostar in Brussels, and be back in London the same day.

Right now, it’s just a plan. But I can already picture the ferry pulling out of Newhaven, the cliffs fading behind me, and the promise of Europe opening up ahead. A small bike, a big adventure — the perfect combination.