So the Olympics is over, and I get a little rest before returning to London for the Paralympics, there is a certain amount of irony in working at the biggest sporting events in the world because they have actually slowed down my running.

Despite working 15 hour days, I have always made sure that I got one run a week under my belt and despite looking like one big sweaty mess at the end of my runs, I can now run for 10k  (6.2 mile) again without too many aches and pains the following few days.

The good news is that because I was walking 8-10 miles a day on the Olympic Park, my weight has stabilised under 14 stone, to be honest I had no idea how overweight I actually was until I saw a video entitled “Neil eats a cake” which was filmed back in January. This video alone gave me one of those infamous Gok Wan moments.

Seriously though, I feel so much better now and the fact that I actually enjoy going out for a run, is something that still baffles me to this day. Maybe it’s because I can combine my love of listening to music, iPhoneongraphy and being in the great outdoors. To be able do what you actually love and enjoy is a special gift in my eyes.

My original goal when this self confessed gaming, geek loving couch potato started this malarkey way back in March, was to enter the Birmingham Half Marathon in October. Have I given myself an unrealistic target? Is a question that I have asked myself a few times, especially considering the huge chunk of my time that has been taken up by working away.

However, I can be quite stubborn and determined when I want to be, so my plan is to try and push myself to 7-8 mile over the next 10 days before committing to pulling  this off, but I predict there will be an entry to the half marathon with my name on it.

I am not interested in being the best of the best or getting a better time than anyone else that I know, this is something that I want to prove to myself and if an overweight geek with zero fitness that sits at a desk at work or an armchair at home can do it, then anyone can. The fact it has not eaten into any of my personal time and doesn’t require any expensive gym memberships either, really leaves no room for any excuses.

My first challenge came this week, when my 6 month free Spotify Premium trial from Virgin Media came to an end, but as my running playlist is my best friend, it was a very easy decision to make. I even dabbled with a playlist containing songs from the Olympic Opening Ceremony and A Message To You Rudy by The Specials set the scene perfectly for a summer run.

Neil’s Final Thoughts

For me the Olympics inspired so many and gave the nation something to be proud of again, for a moment this celebrity obsessed country forgot about The Only Way Is Essex, Geordie Shore, Big Brother, Kardashians and the X-Factor.

You cannot help but think that if the media promoted role models like Jessica Ennis and less of your Jordan’s or Big Brother contestants, maybe our children would grow up with more positive role models.

If everyone stopped watching inane, self-inflated people on that box in the corner of the room and realised that being famous for 15 minutes is actually quite a miserable and empty existence compared to the rewards gained by dedicating ourselves to good old fashioned hard work to achieve what we once never thought possible, then maybe just maybe this world would be a much better place.

Suddenly I hear myself talking like my Dad, so maybe its time to sign off, until next time, take care of yourselves and each other.