Mark J. Keenan

Last year, I had planned to run the “whole truth” - a 50 kilometre, double loop, trail event held in Jarrahdale called Truth and Consequences. I didn’t. Instead, I ran the single loop event, changing my entry to the 25 kilometre course after four weeks of ankle pain. Really, I shouldn’t have run the event at all. And I definitely shouldn’t have kept training afterwards, and then run the City to Surf as well. But that’s how it was last year. Caught up in the excitement of comp

Snakes and Ladders is the ‘jewel in the crown’ of the PTS Summer Series. It is the run we all remember and talk about for weeks after first completing it. Certainly, no other course in the series attracts the same range of emotional responses from trail runners. Many love it; others love to hate it; of course, we all run in it anyway! Even before the event, there is always lots of chatter - most of it centred around the second climb, up the infamous Three Steps. The Three Ste

"There is magic in patience, you know." Zedd. The Sword of Truth, Terry Goodkind. My 2017 running goal, set at the end of last year, was to complete the PTS Bloated Goat trail event. On March 26th, after 18 weeks of training, I did just that. I wasn’t fast - taking just under 5 hours to finish the 30km, 1400m vert course - but, I didn’t die either. And I loved it! The challenge, the solitude; me against the hills, me against the distance, me against me. To cap it all off, Mel

Today marks three years since the day I decided to give up alcohol. A lot has changed in that period of time but one thing hasn’t. I still don’t drink. At the time that I made the decision, things were not that great. One of my sons was suffering from mental health issues and had been hospitalised. I was was over-worked, highly stressed and, as I now know, suffering from depression myself. I was also overweight, nearly 90kgs, eating poorly and with a drinking problem. I was

A few rambling thoughts on trail running and life. Every stick is a snake. No, every stick is NOT a snake but sometimes it will be. Pack a snake first aid kit in your backpack and get out there and run. Don’t let your fear of reptiles slow you down. There are many things in this world that can hurt you. Be aware, don’t be afraid. Hills are your best friends. I like climbing hills. That’s what I tell everyone. In reality I don’t like the climbing so much, just what it does for

This is a post of mine that was shared on the Facebook page for a fantastic group called Perth Trail Series (www.perthtrailseries.com.au) as part of their Trail Tuesday Stories. I have only been running for two and a half years. Before that I thought runners were all crazy. Now, of course, I know they are. And trail runners are the craziest! I got into running for very personal reasons. My family was going through a few challenges - including mental health issues - I needed p