Health Over Pride: Why I’m Not Running The Marathon

Injuries, Ageing & Learning To Train Smarter

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  Connect with Mere Mortals: https://community.stan.store/meremortals/ [https://community.stan.store/meremortals/] Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/ [https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/] Discord: https://discord.gg/Rm9Nw8uVgH [https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU] Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspods [https://twitter.com/meremortalspods] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/ [https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcasts [https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcasts] Value 4 Value Support: Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/support [https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/support] Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast [https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast]

Health Over Pride: Why I’m Not Running The Marathon

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. Connect with Mere Mortals: https://community.stan.store/meremortals/ [https://community.stan.store/meremortals/] Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/ [https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/] Discord: https://discord.gg/Rm9Nw8uVgH [https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU] Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspods [https://twitter.com/meremortalspods] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/ [https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcasts [https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcasts] Value 4 Value Support: Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/support [https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/support] Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast [https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast]

30 Days From My Marathon… And My Body Might Be Saying No

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  Connect with Mere Mortals: https://community.stan.store/meremortals/ [https://community.stan.store/meremortals/] Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/ [https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/] Discord: https://discord.gg/Rm9Nw8uVgH [https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU] Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspods [https://twitter.com/meremortalspods] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/ [https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcasts [https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcasts] Value 4 Value Support: Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/support [https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/support] Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast [https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast]

AI Critiques My One Arm Handstand

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). This is a Value 4 Value show so please provide back any value you got with some time, talent or treasure! I created an edited video of just the handstands here: https://youtu.be/V1GD05-cg_8 [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  Connect with Mere Mortals: https://community.stan.store/meremortals/ [https://community.stan.store/meremortals/] Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/ [https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/] Discord: https://discord.gg/Rm9Nw8uVgH [https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU] Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspods [https://twitter.com/meremortalspods] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/ [https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcasts [https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcasts] Value 4 Value Support: Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/support [https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/support] Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast [https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast]

The Marathon Prep Injury Test: Knowing When NOT To Push

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 Connect with Mere Mortals: Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/ [https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/] Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU [https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU] Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspods [https://twitter.com/meremortalspods] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/ [https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/]  Connect with Mere Mortals: https://community.stan.store/meremortals/ [https://community.stan.store/meremortals/] Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/ [https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/] Discord: https://discord.gg/Rm9Nw8uVgH [https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU] Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspods [https://twitter.com/meremortalspods] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/ [https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcasts [https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcasts] Value 4 Value Support: Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/support [https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/support] Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast [https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast]