Running · Beginner kit
Do You Need a Running Watch for Couch to 5K? (Plus 4 Beginner Picks, UK)
Do you need a running watch for Couch to 5K? The honest answer, a 5-point check, and 4 UK picks by budget.
Read the watch guideThe JG Fitness blog
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JG Fitness blog: race reports and training notes
Race days, training notes and the moments behind the finish line. In my own words.
Running · Beginner kit
Best Running Shoes for Beginners UK: 3 Picks Under £80
How to choose your first running shoes in the UK, with 3 picks under £80 and the mistakes to avoid.
Read the shoe guide
Running · Winter kit
What to Wear Running in Winter: UK Beginner's Kit List
What to wear running in a UK winter by temperature, what to buy first on a budget, and how to stay seen in the dark.
Read the kit list
Running · Free training plan
Half Marathon Training Plan for Beginners: Free 16 Weeks
A free 16-week half marathon plan for beginners: 3 runs a week, walk breaks allowed, in minutes not miles.
Read the plan
Strength · Beginner kit
Kettlebell Exercises for Beginners: 6 Moves + What Weight
Six simple kettlebell moves, a 20-minute workout and what weight to buy first.
Read the guide
Swimming · Adult beginners
Too Old to Learn to Swim? No, and Here's How to Start
Never learned to swim? There's no age limit, and you're far from alone.
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Running · Couch to 5K apps
Best Couch to 5K App UK (2026): The Free NHS App vs the Paid Ones, Honestly Compared
Free NHS app or a paid one? UK prices checked on 24 October 2026, and who each Couch to 5K app suits.
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Running · Couch to 5K
Can You Repeat a Week of Couch to 5K? Yes, and Here's When
Stuck on a week of Couch to 5K? Repeating it is allowed, and often the smart move.
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Running · Couch to 5K
Week 5 Couch to 5K: Why the 20-Minute Run Feels So Hard
Week 5 jumps from 8 minutes to a 20-minute run. Feeling it is normal, and slowing down is the fix.
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Race report · Heaton Park, Manchester
Heaton Park Half Marathon: Chasing Sub-1:45 After an Ultra
Four laps, one hill and a fight with the 1:45 pacer. Then my son Jacob gave me the moment I’ll remember most.
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Running · Beginner kit
Couch to 5K on a budget: everything you need for under £50
The NHS app is free. Here’s the beginner running kit worth buying for under £50, and what you can skip.
Read the guide
Running notes · In the gym
Gym muscular endurance for runners: my starting plan
A smaller gym session to support my running, with the original exercise videos and room to recover.
Read my notes
Race report · Peak District
Ladybower 52K Ultra: The Brutal Parts I Couldn’t Film
At ten miles, I thought a sub-six-hour finish was on. By the final descent, I could see the end, but I couldn’t run towards it.
Read the story