Ray Poynter – My collection of views, thoughts, and experiences.

Another try at running in the heat

Post author By Ray Poynter
Post date July 9, 2025
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Last week, I took part in a great event, the Al Andalus Ultimate Trail, a five-day stage race in Andalusia, Spain. I knew it was going to be hard, and it turned out that way. I did not meet my main goal of completing the whole race, but I did run almost a marathon a day for four days, in temperatures that reached between 38 °C and 40 °C each day, climbing an average of 1080 metres, on rugged trails, often on exposed slopes with no shade from the sun.

Japan Running

The Tonjinbo 62km Ultra

I am just back from taking part in the 2025 Tojinbo 62km ultra, and it has been a great experience. So, at the risk of boring everybody, here is the story, with pictures.

Running

Ray’s Theory of Running 😊

Post author By Ray Poynter
Post date March 25, 2025
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Here is a short post showing my approach to running races. Basically, I control my effort via hear rate and I let my pace be an outcome – which means running is more enjoyable and I still run quite well.

Charity CrossFit Running

Knowing when to throttle back

Post author By Ray Poynter
Post date March 23, 2025
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You have to listen to your body. I nearly typed you sometimes have to listen, but actually you always need to listen to it and I had to do just that, last week.

Running Uncategorized

Success disguised as failure

Post author By Ray Poynter
Post date January 13, 2025
2 Comments on Success disguised as failure

On Sunday morning at 8am I set off running 431km (268 miles) from Edale in the middle of England to Kirk Yetholm in Scotland, along the Pennine Way, as part of the Spine Race. However, I had to drop out at the first checkpoint, 72km (45 miles). It is clear that I did not meet […]

Blog Running Uncategorized

My first FRA, AL Fell Race – by the skin of my teeth

Post author By Ray Poynter
Post date July 28, 2024
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The profile of the race, which gives a sense of just how steep the ups and downs were at times.

I tried a new race today. I knew that I would be under pressure to complete the checkpoints within the time limits, and I did it, just. Here is the story and perhaps a lesson or two.

Blog Running

Sometimes you need a plan C as well as a plan B

Post author By Ray Poynter
Post date July 21, 2024
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Ray Poynter — A happy me at the end of the race

Today, I participated in Rasselbock’s off-road marathon in Sherwood Pines (a nearby forest just south of the more famous Sherwood Forest). I am not training for marathons at the moment; my focus is on the Spine Race in January 2025 (a 268-mile / 440 km race carrying a relatively heavy bag). So, I was not sure how the run would go. At the start of the race, I was in two minds about whether to start with the 4-hour pacer or the 4.5-hour paces. I run road marathons in under 4 hours, but forest tracks are slower than road races.

Blog Running Uncategorized

2001: A Running Odyssey

Today, my run streak (i.e., running every day) reached 2001 days (just under five and a half years). People have different definitions of what running every day means; for me, it means a minimum of 3km (just under two miles).

Blog Japan Running Uncategorized

The Minano 50K Trail Race

Ray at the Minano Trail Race — Registering for the race on a very hot and sunny Saturday afternoon.

I have just had a fantastic weekend participating in the Minano 50K Trail Race (a 52km race in the mountains near Chichibu, Japan). Here is my account of the race.

Blog Japan Uncategorized

Enjoying Golden Week

In Japan around the end of April and the start of May is Golden Week. This is a when four public holidays coincide and which has led to a custom of making this a special week, with lots of people going on trips. This week I was lucky enough to be invited by two friends to join them on a four-day, Golden Week, trip to the Hiroshima region. Here are some of the highlights.