Author Archives: Ian Martin

Illness, Planning, and Containment

I’ve been full of a cold since last Wednesday when I led a 300-600-300 wave interval session in the pouring rain at Bubwith. It’s likely my immune system was under strain anyway due to back-to-back 40-mile weeks and a 19-mile-long run the previous weekend.

As a result of the cold, which has been accompanied by a fever, I have had to curb all running, including missing the last of the PECO cross country race on Sunday. Running would have been reckless, and this year is supposed to be about thinking longer term for me — towards London in April and, more importantly, towards longevity of fitness and health.

2026 Miles in 2026 — A Consistency Project

I’m attempting to run 2026 miles in 2026. I’ve never managed to run the year in miles before. The closest I’ve come was in 2022, when I ran just over 1,800 miles — that also happened to be the year I ran my sub-3 marathon at Boston. That was a good year, but I’ve never actually broken 2,000 miles across a calendar year and would like to make a serious attempt in 2026.

Fun Athletics Classes for Kids (4-7) in Sherburn and South Milford. Book Your Child’s Spot Now!

At Vale of York Athletic Community, we believe in nurturing a love for movement at an early age. That’s why we are excited to announce the expansion of our funetics programme – specially designed for children aged 4 to 7 years old!

From November 2025, we are launching three new kids athletics sessions in Sherburn in Elmet and South Milford. If you are looking for a supportive and fun way to get your child active, build their confidence, and teach them the essential run, jump and throw skills of athletics, then funetics is the way to get started.

Who Can Join Vale of York Athletic Community? Understanding Our Inclusive Ethos

Here at Vale of York Athletic Community, our mission is clear. We exist to “provide facilities for athletic activity in a friendly, safe environment for the benefit of children and adults in the Vale of York”.

We’re proud to be a local charity dedicated to improving the physical and mental health of our community through athletics, running and fitness. We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to participate, regardless of their background or ability.

We often get asked about membership. As a sports club with charitable status, our guiding principle is to “encourage broad community participation in healthy sport and recreation”. This means that, in general, we aim to be as open and inclusive as possible.

Nurturing Potential: Introducing the Vale of York Coaching Manifesto

We are pleased to announce the launch of our new coaching manifesto, a document that formalises the values and philosophy at the heart of the Vale of York Athletic community. Agreed at our coaches’ meeting on 3 July 2025, with 18 of our coaches and leaders present, this manifesto is more than just a statement of intent—it’s our commitment to our athletes.