Gritty Runners was born toward the end of 2023, initially as a space to write out thoughts, share insights, detail progress, and as a way to hold myself accountable to the ambitious goals set while navigating recovery from cervical myelopathy (medical jargon for severely compressed spinal cord) and subsequent surgery, namely Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF).

In 2023, while on a bouldering trip in Albarracin, one of Spain’s premier climbing destinations, I took a seemingly benign fall from the top of a highball boulder. Initially, this didn’t seem particularly bad (all things considered). I brushed it off and continued climbing for the next week. But over the next few days (and subsequent months), I developed a number of worrying symptoms. On returning to the UK and after a multitude of physiotherapy appointments, trips to the GP, and countless hours scrubbing the web for answers, I was finally taken seriously enough to be granted an MRI scan. This, unfortunately, revealed severe compression of the spinal cord at the C5/6 level and the official diagnosis of cervical myelopathy. ACDF surgery was necessary to prevent further neurological damage, with the operation set for the end of November, 2023.

At the time of writing, I’m six-weeks out from the surgery and, according to typical recovery timelines, shouldn’t even be entertaining the idea of running. Despite this, after three-weeks of doing very little and itching to get back to some form of exercise, I decided to lace up the shiny and chunky New Balance Fresh Foam X More V4 and give running a go (I’ve never been particularly great at following advice). For someone that hasn’t run for years and has never particularly enjoyed the activity (in fact, I’ve always actively disliked running), it seems a strange choice. But, with climbing off the cards for even longer, I knew I needed to find a new obsession.

I’m currently three weeks post-op and averaging 20KMs a week. I’ve signed up for the Great Manchester 10KM, the TCS Virtual London Marathon, and have my eyes firmly set on an Ultra X event towards the end of 2024 (though I’m being reasonably restrained and haven’t actually booked this yet). I’ve also developed an addiction to running shoes, with four in my rotation. You could say I’m a little obsessed.

I’ve always found exercise extremely beneficial for mental health, and running is no exception. In fact, of all the sports I’ve tried, it seems to have the most potential to positively influence one’s mental wellbeing. Running is simply unforgiving. It’s relentless. Equally, I think that’s why it has the potential to be so beneficial. When we push ourselves to our limits, we realise just how capable we really are. Whether it’s an extra minute, mile, or achieving that PB, the opportunity to achieve something is at our disposal every single day. When we achieve more than we thought possible, it filters or flows into other aspects of our lives. Whether it’s a challenge at work, in our relationships, a problem with our physical or mental health, running has the ability to imbue us with an unwavering sense of self-belief. Consequently, it empower us to tackle other challenges head on.

It is hoped that this blog provides inspiration and courage to others, runners and non-runners alike, to tackle the challenges they face in their lives. Moreover, I hope to motivate others to take up the sport, to push themselves irrespective of where they’re currently at in their health and wellbeing journey.

I’ll also be testing and reviewing a plethora of running related products, providing honest reviews and recommending only those items or services I find worthwhile.