A lot has happened since former GB international Colin McCourt's last blog post and he updates us on his progress towards a sub-16 minute 5km to avoid getting 17 tattoos

Hi guys,

So, it’s been a while since my last blog! A lot has happened in that time.

Firstly, about five weeks ago while running home from work I collapsed out of the blue in the street. It turned out to be nothing more than a viral infection and a slight bit of over training. I am ok now but it was quite a shock!

When something like that happens, you look at everything in more detail, you overthink everything. Every time I stop at traffic lights to cross a road I panic slightly until I get across and back running again (I went down at traffic lights at a busy junction in Glasgow city centre).

It’s crazy to think but it knocked me out of my rhythm, everything was going well up until then. I was running strong and training better than ever. However, these things are here to test you, push you, make you think! What’s the point of being alive if now and again you don’t question what’s going on or what you are doing?

I am getting there but I have some really anxious days and I am not afraid to admit that. There are days where my head gets in the way I and convince myself not go run, it's really hard. Well, I make it harder by overthinking. Like I always say though, just get out the door let the rest take care of itself.

??Day-241?? Happy Wednesday guys I forgot what day it was. It is definitely Wednesday, I ran late today because Rebacca was at work and I was off to look after the baby! We had loads of fun. My goal was to knacker him out but I think he knackered me out lol. Right I have also come to the conclusion that I need to train my brain as well as my body as I think, I have become a little weak minded. If this weekend has taught me anything that it is I need to toughen up and that is the plan over then next few month I will toughen up and run stronger than I ever have before! The mind in my opinion is so much more important in overall fitness than just doing the gym or running everyday. If you can master your brain you will master your goals! That is my biggest challenge! Let me know, How is your training going let’s talk about it in the comments ??? @sportsshoes

A post shared by Colinmccourt (@colinmccourt) on Sep 27, 2017 at 10:54am PDT

Right, down to the training! Looking at my training more and more I have been averaging 6:20 miles for all my runs regardless of the length. Now I am starting to slow some of them down and move to better quality runs.

I still believe in treating each day as if the day before didn’t happen, but until I am over this anxiety I will just keep a wee eye on my training. I am back up to 50 miles a week and pushing to get back to 70 while holding down a full-time job and keeping my work, life and running balance all in order and trying not to let one or the other slip.

I am starting to do a bit of YouTube as an extension of my Instagram (as I only get a one minute on Instagram and I love talking about running!) So it will just be longer videos and a few shoe reviews (in my own style of course!)

I ran a parkrun the other week, roughly about three weeks after my fall. I ran 17:04 (5km) and all things considered I was ok with that. I can and should be running a lot faster but that’s what I ran so that’s where I was at that day.

I now have three months to get this time down so I need to get training and get working even harder to make sure these 17 tattoos DO NOT happen.

I am running the Simplyhealth Great South 5k on October 22 and I hope I get close to or even smash the time then!

As always, thank you for reading and remember, your only limit is you!

Colin

» You can read more on Colin’s challenge here. Look out for regular blog posts from Colin here, while you can also follow his journey on Instagram here

» Colin will be running the Simplyhealth Great South 5k on October 21 and will be sharing updates on his progress at greatrun.org