My second time at Palma Half Marathon (they run a full marathon and 10k distance too). The race is sponsored by 361 Europe (who also support me) and as such I received a free race entry and apparel to wear for the weekend.

If you have never ran Palma (or any winter race) then I really recommend that you do – winter sun definitely hits differently! The course is amazing, with some amazing views across Palma town. Unfortunately I missed the epic finish line in front of huge crowds and the cathedral for the video

I ran in the new Furious Future, carbon plated shoe. I was fortunate to have been gifted them as a 361 Ambassador and only took them for a quick run in the 5km breakfast run the day before. They performed spectacularly and anyone looking for a race shoe, its should be on your watch list.

Deka Fit is a relatively new “Fitness Race” from the Spartan Family. Similar to other fitness races such as Hyrox and Deadly Dozen, its a mix of functional and cardio fitness.

I have taken on the Deka Mile which was a test event at CW-One (local gym), but Deka Fit Derby Arena was the first Deka event in a stadium setting.

Each 500m run was 3 laps of the arena and it was up to you to keep count. Each of the 10 zones was in the middle, whilst spectators could view from areas above the event floor (Derby Arena is a velodrome) and some parts by the side.

Well organised for the first event, and in 2026 they return to Derby as well as a new event in Manchester.

I personally think the area was less “pressure” than any Hyrox venue and of course, as of right now, as it grows, tickets can be purchased (unlike the ballot of Hyrox). 

For any fitness racing enthusiasts, this is an easy recommendation.

I ran in the 361 Europe Ventus

If you know me at all, you know that London South is my favourite race. Many many factors go into this, but mostly as the venue and course is just perfect – undulating, forests, trails, mud (can be VERY muddy) all whilst being very close to civilisation- just a few miles from Crawley.

It is the biggest event of the season (because its London) and you can certainly celeb spot here – KSI and Tom Hardy have been known to turn up incognito to run the course.

Watch the video, look at the gallery and book your place!

I ran both Saturday and Sunday in the 361 Futura 2

Tough Mudder South West is a joint weekend with Spartan (Beast and Sprint) running on the Sunday. This course is flat and fast and usually, only “Mud Mile” is the muddy part. Each Tough Mudder venue has their own characteristics and this one is just described as “flat and fast” no elevation to speak of and as Badminton is home to the world famous hore trials, the running is really good. 

This year was changed up a little bit with the route, but there are defintiely parts that the Spartan race takes on, which could be incorporated into Tough Mudder.

All the fun obstacles are here including “Dong Dangler” which doesn’t appear very often at TM.

I really like this course, but if you’re looking for “muddy” this isn’t it!

I ran in the 361 Futura 2

The Badminton estate (near Bristol) hosts the joint South West weekend of Tough Mudder and Spartan. Spartan runs on the Sunday with the Beast and Sprint races. 

I took the Beast after Tough Mudder South West the day before. 

The whole estate is pretty flat – you could be kind and say “undulating” which makes it very different from any other venue in the UK. Whether you enjoy this type of terrain will then tell you if you would enjoy the race – “Flat and Fast” 

The course takes on some different parts of the estate compared to Tough Mudder, so at least if you do take on both at the weekend, it isnt quite “de ja vu” but there are still some points where you are doubling back on your self.

The weather absolutely made this race this weekend – really nice and sunny meant that we could enjoy taking on the course without worrying about getting cold and wet.

There was quite gauntlet of obstacles towards the end – which means that at some points of the course, there is a lot of running – again, depending on your point of view, this is a good or bad thing. But as an example – the last 8 obstacles took in around the final 2km of the course.

I ran the race in the 361 Futura 2

Highlights from The Cardiff Half Marathon 2025

This was the 4th of my 6 Super Half races – two reasons why it made me happy:
1 – It didnt rain like my other 3 have done!
2 – The support of the crowds across the whole route was amazing – probably the best supported from all the races so far – especially around the docklands and around the 7 mile mark – really felt like parts of UTMB/TDF!

A pretty flat circular route which starts next to the castle and finishes just behind at the Museum and Council Hall.

This is now a balloted event, and my friends who supported it this year, loved the atmosphere so much, they have entered the ballot for 2026

I ran in my new 361 Europe Centauri 3 – really comfortable “workhorse” – I was going at “party pace” and these were perfect.

The 3rd of 6 of my Superhalfs journey and what a beautiful city. Definitely up there with Berlin! The downpour in the morning didn’t dampen the spirits of the crowds which came out in force!

Really well organised with the event village to get your bibs super efficient (no queues for me on the Friday) whilst getting to the start and also through the finish line was really quick.

A very flat route taking you through the beautiful sights of Copenhagen (Nyhaven came and went so fast, I didn’t spot it live, only when I went back to the recordings). Loved it and would go back (ballot allowing of course!)

I ran in the 361 Europe Centauri 3– superior comfort – not really a “race shoe” but one you can run in all day and it will soak in the miles.

This was only the second wear after Malmo parkrun the day before. However, as an ambassador, I know my size and I know the Centauri model very well and had no qualms wearing them for the Half.

I booked this weekend of racing back in 2020, but unfortunately the races were cancelled (it was in Covid times!) on the friday of that weekend!

Have been really looking forward to returning to take on the trifecta weekend in Puerto De La Cruz, Tenerife.

I ran the beast on the Saturday and then the Super and Sprint on the Sunday.

Beast was my favourite – took on all of the obstacles (including Spear throw, rope climb, monky bars, ape hanger) as well as a separate route up hill which doesn’t appear on the sprint or super. This is very different to any UK race, where usually across all the races, you still take parts of the beast course and just take “short cuts”. Whilst the sprint and the super were relatively flat due to being along the sea, the Beast took around 400m of total elevation with the stand out feature (for me) being the “rain run off” up hill trail. 

The Super was pretty much just along the sea front with a minor uphill route (just for fun) and the Sprint was a shorter version of the super missing out most of the run obstacles! I wouldnt recommend “just” doing the Sprint if you were there for the weekend. If the Beast is too much, defintiely choose the Super over the Sprint.

Note the races were in the last weekend of November and the Christmas lights were just being put up – in 2026 the races seem to be the week later (first weekend of December) in which you may get a bit of a Christmassy feel!

We return to the Peak District for another Maverick Race. Selina, is starting her ultra journey and as we had done this race (the 22km version) last year, I suggested we take the 55km Ultra version as the first one as parts would be familiar to her.  Both her and James had never ran this distance before – and spoiler alert, they did it!

You can find the race info here on the Maverick website – 1200m over overall elevation gain. Highlights include:

• Chatsworth House
•  Curbar Edge
• Froggatt Edge
• Stanage Edge
• Hathersage
• Monsal Trail

Really well supported  with 4 pit stops including a “proper” stop in a community centre. Also managed to grab a quick espresso in Hathersage!

For those new to Ultra running, I heartedly recommend this one – only one “big/steep” hill whilst the others are generally just long climbs.

Well done to Selina and James for completing their first Ultra.

I ran in the 361 Europe Lynx