tag:darren.me,2005:/posts_feedDarren Singletonhttps://cdn.u.pika.page/mKd_0v_Ba2VZTdp1dVzOTzHZO92zLJC1D7fsTDluPK0/s:100:100/fn:darren-face/plain/s3://pika-production/nmvy9yeebrffi73k78rticu4syv32026-04-22T10:05:13Ztag:darren.me,2005:Post/1002592026-04-22T18:00:00Z2026-04-22T18:00:00ZI’m doing it again...<div class="trix-content">
<p>Well, I’ve gone and done it… whilst celebrating my 40th birthday in Edinburgh, I purchased entry for the 2027 Manchester Marathon!</p>
<p>My <a href="proxy.php?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdarren.me%2Fposts%2Fmarathon">2024 Blackpool Marathon</a>, didn’t go quite as planned. So with 361 days of training ahead of me, and experience from my previous marathon attempt, things will hopefully go MUCH smoother this time around.</p>
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Well, I’ve gone and done it… whilst celebrating my 40th birthday in Edinburgh, I purchased entry for the 2027 Manchester Marathon! My 2024 Blackpool Marathon, didn’t go quite as planned. ...tag:darren.me,2005:Post/1002772026-04-22T15:00:00Z2026-04-22T15:00:00ZStarting, again<div class="trix-content">
<p>I’ve deleted the vast majority of posts and I’m starting this blog anew.</p>
<p>No particular reason other than feeling like now I’m in my forties, I wanted a fresh start for my personal website and blog.</p>
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I’ve deleted the vast majority of posts and I’m starting this blog anew. No particular reason other than feeling like now I’m in my forties, I wanted a fresh start...tag:darren.me,2005:Post/932502026-03-17T13:25:55Z2026-03-17T13:25:55ZIt’s Been Quiet Around Here...<div class="trix-content">
<p>Maybe it is time to kickstart this blog and make it active again…?</p>
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Maybe it is time to kickstart this blog and make it active again…?tag:darren.me,2005:Post/30152024-04-24T08:00:00Z2026-04-22T13:28:38ZMarathon ✅<div class="trix-content">
<p>Three days ago, I ran my very first marathon.</p>
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<img height="1280" width="1280" data-zoom-src="proxy.php?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.u.pika.page%2F8GSdIIPJWZySM0PbsZ6IfoITx4DB706znlyvuooN7bM%2Fs%3A3840%3A3840%2Ffn%3Amy-first-marathon%2Fplain%2Fs3%3A%2F%2Fpika-production%2Fn8jmosynwmudh54lpt4flass8qhm" data-original-src="proxy.php?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.u.pika.page%2FqJGX3vuM5aj6eua0EuAZDGGq3tzB9TdssAtGE0kn4O0%2Ffn%3Amy-first-marathon%2Fplain%2Fs3%3A%2F%2Fpika-production%2Fn8jmosynwmudh54lpt4flass8qhm" alt="An image with filename: my-first-marathon.jpg" src="proxy.php?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.u.pika.page%2Fp0ER0yk2dl7ktg3Z26958G4idb3q3o4c7VuYOFjVXZY%2Fs%3A1800%3A1400%2Ffn%3Amy-first-marathon%2Fplain%2Fs3%3A%2F%2Fpika-production%2Fn8jmosynwmudh54lpt4flass8qhm">
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<p>My legs and feet are almost recovered, they deserve a rest from all the hard work they’ve done!</p>
<p>My mind is still recovering. Pushing through the pain and telling myself to keep on going for 26.2 miles (42km)… I wasn’t expecting the mental challenge to be as great!</p>
<p>I had amazing support in Blackpool for the day. My fiancée Amy, my Mum and my future Mother in Law all came to cheer me on. Every time I saw their faces in the distance, it pushed me harder and reassured me that I could do it.</p>
<p>In moments where it was tough, particularly after mile 17, I thought about when I’d next see them. I also thought about the people who had generously donated their money to <a href="proxy.php?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.justgiving.com%2Fpage%2Fdarrens-first-marathon">sponsor me</a> on this challenge. We’ve raised <strong>£592</strong> for The Stroke Association and <a href="proxy.php?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.justgiving.com%2Fpage%2Fdarrens-first-marathon">donations are still coming</a>! So thank you everybody who has supported me (and The Stroke Association) through this!</p>
<p>I officially finished my first marathon in <em>5 hours, 22 minutes and 10 seconds</em> 🥵</p>
<p>It wasn’t fast... but that’s one item ticked off the bucket list and a <strong>fantastic</strong> way to <a href="proxy.php?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdarren.pika.page%2Fposts%2Fthirty-eight">start my 39th year</a> on this planet.</p>
<blockquote><p><em>Map image generated at </em><a href="proxy.php?url=https%3A%2F%2Finstagpx.com"><em>https://instagpx.com</em></a></p></blockquote>
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Three days ago, I ran my very first marathon. My legs and feet are almost recovered, they deserve a rest from all the hard work they’ve done! My mind is...