A 20-year warm-up
To a 7-month tune-up
December 2024, I was lying in the bath doom-scrolling Instagram. My algorithm feeds me running posts and cats (separately). So, there I was, seeing 20-somethings get PBs on the daily, influencers flaunting their freebies and a social sphere of runners that I just couldn’t relate to anymore.
Here I was, a shell of a runner, with 20 years of running accomplishments behind me, 31 marathons down, a cabinet full of trophies and medals, and a dirty little secret… I’d started stopping, in training, which then led to pulling up in races.
I couldn’t run half a mile without stopping. Which is really embarrassing to admit now I’ve kicked it, but even worse back then when the habit was living its best life.
It happened gradually. I had Covid a number of times, and suffered nerve damage down the back of both legs, which turned my hamstrings into the Tin Man. I saw 7 physios. Had blood tests. Acupuncture. Upped the supplements. Total rest. Changed the shoes. Cross-trained. Nothing worked.
So, like anyone in pain, I managed it.
I started stopping in races. Run a bit, stop for a bit, run a bit more, stop for a bit. I did this at every distance from 10k to marathon. I just sort of accepted it. I crossed finish lines, got medals, took selfies, did all the challenging and fun things all runners do. But I was surviving, never running, never in full flow, never really able to get into my stride. That competitor I used to be? She’s been replaced with a Tesco version.
What’s worse is no one in races knew what I was doing. People would try and encourage me when I had pulled up. ‘You can do it!’ – I know I can do it, but I’m in chronic pain! But the chronic pain wasn’t enough (or maybe I’m just too stubborn) to let it stop me entering.
The turning point came when I saw Nebula launch on Instagram.
Before then I hadn’t even considered coaching. But Nebula looked different. The credibility of the athletes, the authenticity, the fresh vibes. It was all there. I took a call with Dan, who I’d known previously on the Oxfordshire running scene and we spent almost an hour thrashing out what I’d been going through.
For the first time in a long time, I felt seen. And I had hope that I could get out of this rut.
Dan isn’t a doctor (unless you want to call him a Doctor of Discipline…) and I wasn’t thinking that my leg pain would be sorted through coaching. But I knew I had to try something different. Because if nothing changes, nothing changes. And on the cusp of a new year, this was the resolution I needed to kick-start my journey back to the athlete I knew I still was deep down.
We took it slowly, establishing what would work in the athlete:coach relationship and realising where I was at fitness-wise. I’m not gonna lie, it was exposing. Showing someone your true pace, when you had been lying to yourself about your perceived level of fitness, because you were stopping through chronic pain, definitely brought up some ego issues.
But that’s another great thing about Nebula – you learn to leave your ego at the door.
Once I’d realised I was starting from scratch (but with a 20 year warm up on my side!), I went all in. I committed to the sessions and we started mixing it up – tempo, hill sessions, speed within longer runs. I also accepted that to perform better, I needed to fuel better. I’d hated on gels for 20 years, but now? They were my new secret weapon. No more eating sandwiches at the edge of the race!
And I upgraded my watch, starting using the lap function to show my coach how I was doing on hill and speed reps, and put Spotify on it too. All of these little upgrades have been GAME CHANGING. And something I wouldn’t have done without the push from my coach. I’m someone who hates change, so it would have not happened.
I made solid progress and it just kept on going. And what’s even more incredible – my chronic leg pain went away with the new variety and intensity of sessions, and I never felt the pain again.
The first race I entered was at the end of January, just under a month since I started being coached. The difference in my confidence levels were insane. Sure, I was anxious like everyone is before the race. But it was more of an excited nervous, than all out panic. I knew I had done the training to do well.
Races flew past, and I continued to do better. I was 3rd woman at a local 10k trail race, and I took 10 minutes off a recent half marathon finish, in a heatwave, on a hilly course. At every race this year, I have felt more in control, more confident and more strategic about my race plan. My race plan before? Was simply to just run hard from the gun and try to not die.
Being coached by Nebula has meant I train smarter. It feels like a different sport at times. Because I was so rigid in my ‘training’ previously, running the same pace for every distance. I had youth on my side back then, when I ran 1.28 in the half and a 40 minute 10k felt effortless. While I’m not back at those times yet, I know I’m doing everything I can to get there.
Having access to pro athletes in the community chats is also super inspiring. Everyone is so humble. It feels refreshing in the influencer era we live in. And seeing Nebula athletes post about their training and racing keeps it real for everyone.
Being part of Nebula has also helped me to feel a sense of belonging. Long distance running can be really lonely and isolating at times. So just knowing you can check in with athletes and coaches that have your back, while advising on everything from gear to injury prevention, feels like an investment at whatever your level.
I’m 7 months into training with Nebula now, targeting my 32nd marathon this September, and I feel like a new runner, with a refreshed mindset.
If you’re a runner or a triathlete, Nebula will help transform your training and nail your next race. The additional confidence they have given me has been so rewarding. And I’ve genuinely evolved as an athlete, which has had a positive effect on other areas of my life too.
