Running It's Grim Up North's Christmas Cracker Marathon - Day 2 on the Leeds Liverpool Canal 

Thank you so much Rich, yes I can totally see how toxic it was now but love can make you blind and break ups are messy and heartbreaking 💔 I know that it's not my fault but Al told me it was and did a slow hand clap and said "well done, look what you made me do" rather than apologising and it all just really messed with my head. I'm looking forward to 2024 and a new start 🥰

What a lovely comment, thank you so much ❤️ I think if I wasn't positive then I'd be crushed by all the bad stuff. Life is too short for that so positivity wins... And there's always something that can make you smile 🥰

@@NicolaRuns positive and motivating ! Always keep smiling.

@@arsbrowne I'll certainly try 🤗🤗🤗

Oh my goodness Keith, thank you so much. This is such a beautiful comment, I really appreciate you taking the time to write it ❤️

Thank you, yes it's funny because I know this but afterwards he did a slow hand clap and said "Well done, look what you made me do" rather than apologising 😭😭😭 It's so confusing and was something I never thought would happen

Thank you my lovely ❤️ Yes the shame and embarrassment thing is really weird. I know I made the right decision and that it wasn't my fault but the feelings that surround it are so strange. Oh well... Chalked up to experience and onwards and upwards ☺️

Thank you so much and oh my goodness how was it?! I really hope you enjoyed it. Sometimes it can take a few visits to get it, or to meet the right people or get the right weather. Hopefully you got all of that 🤞❤️

Thank you so much... I'm not sure I successfully managed to end it immediately in real life but breakups are messy and difficult, it definitely mentally ended that day, even if walking away was harder than I thought it would be... Or actually probably when Al didn't come over to Ireland in the summer for my 40th birthday like we planned without telling me he wasn't coming. I don't know... It's been rubbish for ages. The important thing is that I've moved on now and that this year is going to be better than the last ❤️❤️❤️

Thank you so much 🤗🤗🤗

Thank you so much, we've been with my mum up in Scotland and it's been awesome thanks 🤗

Thank you so much, I really appreciate it. And never say never! You never know 😃🤗

Thank you so much, it was a hard day at the office but I was so happy to have managed a marathon with no knee pain! 🎉 I definitely needed this boost because breakups are super hard whether you know it's the right thing or not 💔

@@NicolaRuns on a very different scale, I am reminded of smashing out a half-marathon PB not just once, but twice in 3 weeks after a break up many moons ago. Running with purpose is so amazingly cathartic 💛

@@hilfoster oh my goodness well I'm going to take this and try to channel it! That would be amazing! 😍😍😍

Thank you so much, that's really kind of you and much appreciated 🤗

Thank you so much, I know in my heart you're right but Al told me it was my fault... Afterwards he did a slow hand clap and said "look what you made me do" rather than apologising 💔 it's all been really difficult to process. Breakups suck, even when they absolutely need to happen.

Thanks Debbie, onwards and upwards indeed. I can't wait for a fresh start in 2024 and to put that bad chapter behind me ❤️

Thank you, yes it's not been easy. Things haven't been good for a really long time, Al is under a lot of pressure with some legal stuff he needs to sort out. Hopefully everything will be okay for him. Nothing excuses what he did but I'm just saying that yes, you definitely don't know what's going on for people. I never ever thought Al was like this, it's been a massive heartbreaking shock to find out and it's really messed with my head. I feel like I don't know who I was with the past 3.5 years. I really hope he learns from this but I worry he won't as apparently he's done the same to previous partners 💔 Onwards and upwards, to 2024 and all of the amazing opportunities it holds! ❤️

Ooh a social media/internet break sounds wonderful. I hope it refreshed you. Happy New Year! Thanks btw... Onwards and upwards 😊

Isn't she just?! She's such a genuine, true inspiration! ❤️❤️❤️

I'm really sorry to hear that, it's all too common isn't it. Which is even more reason to talk about it and call out people who treat others in ways that are unacceptable. It sounds like you might be looking forward to 2024 as much as I am! New year, new start, heartbreak left in 2023! Surround ourselves with people that are better for us going forwards. Wishing you happy new year for tomorrow ❤️

Thank you so much 😊 and the same to you 😃

Thank you so much, and thanks for the reassurance. I hope you're right 🤗

Thank you ❤️ life has it's ups and downs. I'm concentrating on the fact that it says nothing about me and everything about him. It's been a tough time though that's for sure! I'm happy now I am out of it and can see what it was. It should have ended a very long time ago! 💔

Thanks and the same to you 🥰🥰🥰

Thank you so much 😊 Oh my goodness one of the Punk Panther races I did... I think it was 65 miles, was the worst! I was heavy rain for hours and hours and it's the closest I've ever been to dropping out just because I wasn't enjoying it. Luckily I didn't give up and ended up loving it! 😃

Thanks Andy, it's been a tough few months but I'm looking forward to a new start in a new year 😊 roll on 2024 🎉

Thank you so much Nicky. Yeah, totally knocked me for six. I never thought I'd be in a situation like that. Not good 💔

Thank you Matt, and thanks for being there for me for chats ☺️

Did you watch the end of the vid?

Thank you. Oops, yes maybe watch until the end. Al and I are no longer together. Wishing you a great Christmas ⛄🎁🎄

Oh I did, how did I miss that, sorry for what’s happened and for my mistake. Feel really bad now. 🙁Take care Nicola and you and Poppy have a fantastic day 🎅

@@tonystrange7224 oh please don't feel bad, it's easily done. Plus no harm done 😊

Thank you so much, yeah it's not been great but onwards and upwards. It was a double whammy really because I got injured. I'm thankful to be back running and I'm grateful to have the running community and friends and family 🥰 here's to 2024 ☺️

@@NicolaRuns Good girl , we are behind you all the way , legend 😊

@@bren70ssss94 that means a lot 🤗 and also I'd LOVE to come back to Ireland. It'll always have a special place in my heart after our magical summer 😃

Thank you so much for such a lovely message. Ooh I'm excited for you for your first event! Which one is it?

@@NicolaRuns I've not pulled the trigger yet, but they do events on Saturday's unlike many other event organisers so just need to find one in a gap and get it booked. 👍

@@Stephen_K I'm the opposite, I can't do Saturdays! I'm sure whichever you pick will be awesome 😃

Thank you so much 🤗

Thank you so much 🤗 the same to you 😃

Thank you so much John. Al wasn't always like this, just once and it came out of the blue... But once is one too many times! Obviously it was devastating but what can you do but learn from it and move on 🤷🏻‍♀️ I properly laughed at Oh yeah - cows 🤣🤣🤣 It's funny because it's true! 🤣🤣🤣 😱😱😱🐄🐮🐄🐮🐄😱😱😱

Awww thank you ☺️☺️☺️

Thank you so much, it's all on the up now! It's been super tough but... A marathon with no knee pain 🎉 Time which heals a broken heart 🎉 No gaslighting and abuse anymore 🎉 New year with new goals and things to get excited about! 🎉 Sometimes being an eternal optimist can be a really bad thing. I just always believed things would get better 🤷🏻‍♀️ It took things getting really bad before I knew I needed to get out of it and now I look back I feel really silly for not leaving sooner. It was an extremely toxic relationship 💔 Onwards and upwards ❤️😃❤️

@NicolaRuns I completely understand this! When I wrote my initial message I thought about putting something like "stay positive" or something along those lines but I didnt because although I do not know you personally, you always seem so positive and upbeat but sometimes it is okay to not be that person and to reflect on what is really happening and to feel down about thing. It helps us deal better with what is really happening. You have a lot of exciting things to look forward to and I am so glad you have pain free running to help with clarity and mental health 🙌 it really is the best medicine. You really seem like such an amazing and wonderful person, and I wish you nothing but happiness and love ❤️

@@TheShazzawebb thank you, these are very wise and lovely words and I really appreciate them 💓 Ironic isn't it?! Being positive and optimistic can keep you in a really crap situation 🙈 I've learnt a lot to take forward though 🤗 Thank you so much for your kind words 🥰

Thanks Josh 🤗😊

Yeah thanks, it's not been great. Plus being injured was a double whammy! But onwards and upwards. Oh that's awesome! I'm excited for you. Hope your training goes well 😃

Happy Christmas ⛄🎁🎄

Thank you, yes you have a very good memory! I ran the Spring Canal Canter where they use the same course 😃 it's a bit of a different feeling in winter 🤣🌧️🌧️🌧️ I'm so thankful that there is a veggie option afterwards. I remember coming to the US and being offered an empty burger bun as the veggie option 😂😂😂😂😂

Thank you so much for such a lovely message. Very wise words and I'll try to listen to them ❤️ And you're right, time is the answer and I can't wait to be in 2024 as I really feel I need a fresh start ❤️

Thank you so much my lovely. Yes it was a total shock. Al is under a lot of pressure. He's on bail at the moment so is very very stressed and has so much going on. He really needs his sentencing hearing to be over so that he can get himself in a better place. I'm worried about him but it doesn't excuse his behaviour. He is a very toxic human but I needed to be out of it before I could see it. Obviously I still have a lot of love for him. It's all very difficult and confusing and heartbreaking 💔 I can't wait for the new year, you're right, I need a new start

Bless you darlin hope things improve for him and he gets in a better place, all best wishes for 2024, someone else will be around the corner, someone who deserves you xx

@@ChingolaChick-tz3dx thank you so much. I hope things get better for both of us. We're definitely better apart 🤷🏻‍♀️

Defo by the sounds of it!!!!😞

Thank you so much 🤗 I've only done Cologne marathon on a club trip but loved it! Ooh... Favourite food is probably Cadburys chocolate 🤣 it's not practical though 🤣

@@NicolaRuns would you like to try and juggle a marathon like that man

@@bertiepowell3027 I'd LOVE to... I can't even juggle standing still though 🙈🤣

Thank you so much. This is such a lovely comment, I'll try to take all that on board 🤗 It's not been a good few months, I've definitely struggled but I am excited for 2024 to be a new chapter 😃

@@NicolaRuns absolutely. 2024 is your year for you doing what you want to do with people you want to be with. Life is too short. Explore, Experience, Enjoy (and video it for us who can't be with you 😁)

@@adriansaunders7392 I love this Adrian and plan to do exactly this 🤗

Thanks Richard, that sounds like a solid plan. Sorry you've had a tough time too 💔

Thank you, I'm trying 😊 breakups really suck don't they?! 💔

I didn't put a pod on in the end, I just sat with my thoughts ❤️ I hope you have the best Christmas Drew 🤗 hope to run with you sometime next year ☺️

Oh Olivia, this is such a lovely comment it made me cry 😢 but in a sort of happy, sad, lovely way. It's been really tough as after Al got physical he did a slow hand clap and said in a really horrible way "Well done, look what you made me do" and whilst I know it's all nonsense and just his manipulation/gaslighting of me, it really did effect me mentally. Mainly because nobody has ever been close to treating me as badly as Al did and it just didn't make any sense to my brain. I am an eternal optimist and I think that let me down in that relationship. I kept thinking that things would change and that he'd wake up and want to try to work together and make things better. In a way I'm glad he snapped and showed his true colours as the rest of his toxic behaviour wasn't quite enough to make me realise that I needed to get out of it. I still have a lot of love for him which confuses me but I think it's natural and that breakups are hard 🤷🏻‍♀️ I've really tried to focus on carrying on having adventures, although taking Poppy to Pont-y-Bala was one of them and was a total disaster 😂😂😂 Life isn't always smooth sailing hey?! I definitely think its worth taking a moment to see the best in things, it is so good for your soul ❤️ Life is so exciting if you let it be, and if you appreciate the small things and don't follow the "rules" of what is expected of adults. I don't know whose idea it was that adults should be sensible?! Poppy teaches me a lot about how to have fun and live in the moment. Thanks for your lovely words ❤️ They've really touched me ❤️

P.S. My top tip would be to enter a marathon... Then work backwards and get training! 😃 If it were me I'd choose a trail marathon as then there's usually someone who will feed me biscuits at several points and there's less focus on time and more on enjoyment. Good luck whatever you decide 💕

Penny this made me laugh so much! Thank you ❤️ I think that's the exact moral! 😂😂😂 It totally hasn't spoiled 2023's adventures. It probably made them better as I paid for Al to come on 2 of our holidays and he didn't come. He then didn't bother coming to visit us in Ireland for my 40th birthday, or bother getting me a present or doing anything nice for me when we got back. He just kept saying things like "What sort of person would leave their partner for 3 months?" 🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️ I'm thankful that he didn't come on any of our adventures as that would have definitely spoilt them with his negativity. As it is it was just me and my girl exploring the world and that makes me happy and proud ❤️ The breakup has been really difficult as although things were crap then it still came out of the blue as I never thought for a second that Al would get physically aggressive. It really messed with my head but time is a great healer. I just hope it doesn't effect my ability to trust people going forwards 🤞

@@NicolaRuns I’m glad you thought it was funny - I was a bit worried saying it on social media to someone I don’t really know. What you’re describing sounds like coercive control - toxic AF. Keep on walking. I too hope it doesn’t affect your ability to trust other people - but at least you know you can trust yourself to get out if it’s bad. 💛

@@pennysimpson2777 thank you, I've 95% walked but can still see him in my rear view mirror. I just need to work on that last little bit ❤️❤️❤️

@@NicolaRuns glad you have lots of love and support around you. 💛

Ooh maybe?! It didn't look much like one but I'm not an expert. I thought rowing with a drum looked super fun! 😃

Thanks ☺️

I was going to ask them when they came back past but they didn't! 🙃

Oh my goodness, that's so strange! Sometimes the world can be funny like that can't it! Thanks for posting. I hope you had a wonderful Xmas lunch 😊

Thank goodness for the word veggie hey?! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

@@NicolaRuns 😂

Not all of the events have tags. Sometimes it's on the back of your number. It depends, but they'll look after you on the day so don't worry ☺️ I'm sorry you've not had a great evening. Christmas is a hard time of year. Things with Al were hard as he wouldn't leave when I asked him to get out but he's out on bail so I felt I couldn't call the police

I mean I couldn't call them because I loved him and didn't want him to go to prison! But really when he wouldn't leave I should have called them to remove him

@@NicolaRuns At least we are not in Gaza.

@@alanrobinson2229 so true, what is happening there is beyond belief. I don't know what else to say other than that humans can be horrific

@@NicolaRuns Is he on bail for hitting you? or is this a different incident? SO shocked by all this and feeling so sorry for you, please believe you have done the right thing for you and Poppy getting out.

Thanks Ian 😊 I've done over 30 marathons, I'm hoping to get to 40 by August as I want to have run 40 marathons as I'm 40! 😃 I'm a marathon pacer too which I absolutely LOVE! It's so rewarding to help others around 26.2 miles. Trail ultras are my favourite though. Running somewhere beautiful while people feed you?! What's not to love?! 😜😃

@@NicolaRuns keep up the great work I am on a journey to 100 marathons done 94 but not managed any since 2020 hopefully 2024 will be the year I complete what I started way back in 2012

@@ianpullen5471 oh wow! That's impressive! Good luck and fingers crossed 🤞☺️