For the greater part of the last year, I’ve been a man in transition. For over three decades, The Runners’ Guide shaped much of my working life. Now that chapter has drawn to a close and I find myself asking a question that is both exciting and unsettling.
What now?
It turns out that building a website is a surprisingly good way to find the answer. A website isn’t simply a collection of pages; it becomes a declaration of intent. Every section forces you to decide what matters enough to include it. In many ways, designing a website becomes the manifesto for the next chapter of my life.
The first question such work asks is also the hardest. Who are you? Who am I?
There are no easy answers. After plenty of trial and error, I realised that I want this next season to be centred around three things: writing, speaking and publishing. I’ve done all three before, but always alongside The Runners’ Guide. Now they have become the main event.
Writing has been the thread running through my life for decades. From running books to novels like Five Hour Pilgrim and Millwood, I’ve discovered that stories have the power not only to entertain but also to encourage, challenge and, sometimes, to heal.
Speaking is a newer adventure. Over the years I’ve enjoyed presenting Comrades Marathon talks, especially to novices at Don Oliver’s Comrades Panel Talks. Very recently I’ve developed a series of presentations drawn from my own books and experiences. They explore subjects close to my heart: finding meaning, building endurance, embracing recovery, surviving crisis and discovering the healing power of writing. Some are intimate, personal conversations and some are best suited for corporate presentations. I’m excited to see where they lead.
Of course a website also needs to be practical. My books are available there, along with information about the talks I’m now offering. If either resonates with you, or with your organisation or group you belong to, I would love to hear from you.
But selling isn’t really the heart of the site. Content is. Bill Gates famously said, “Content is king.” I still think he was right.
I’ve spent a lifetime learning from running, recovery, publishing, failure, family, faith and the occasional crisis. The website gathers those lessons into one place. There are articles on endurance, reflections on life, essays on recovery and sobriety, and stories that have shaped the person I’ve become. I hope visitors don’t simply browse, but that you leave with an idea, a question or a little encouragement to carry with you.
Finally, there’s connection.
The website links to my blog and social media, but more importantly there’s a simple button that allows people to contact me directly. Conversation has always mattered more to me than broadcasting. In time I may even add a newsletter, but only if it offers genuine value. The world has enough emails already.
So there you are. An old man in transition, launching a new website into the digital current. After thirty-five years of helping runners find their way, perhaps it’s time to help people in a slightly different way. If you’d like to have a look, I’d be delighted to welcome you.
