Running has become a friend to me; something that is there when I really need it. 

Like the best of friends, it can give you a kick up the backside when you need it or a big pat on the back when you’ve excelled yourself. 

It’s always there, and I am truly grateful to it, particularly this week. 

Unfortunately, we lost our beloved chocolate Labrador, Max on Tuesday.  

He was 14 and he was the most loving, happy family dog you could wish for. 

He had a great life and lived to a grand age for a lab, but that of course hasn’t detracted from what has been a really difficult week. 

I wish I could say he was a great running partner; but he wasn’t. If truth be known, he rarely listened to me even before his hearing started to fail as he got older.  

When I called him back on a walk he would take a good look around where we were to see if there was a better offer before ambling back to me.  

My wife, Alison, was his master whilst our kids doted on him; he was part of the Armstrong pack and a massive presence in our house that has felt very empty this week. I’ve heard Neil Featherby say on several occasions how ‘they take part of you with them’ and I’ve got to fully understand what he means. 

I’d take running the last three miles of any marathon 10 times over having to tell my children Max had passed over the rainbow bridge. 

Being something of an introvert, I’ve not really wanted to talk to anyone, wary of being asked how I am for fear of breaking down. 

I’ve just wanted to run, so that’s what I’ve done. 

Running has been able to offer brief moments of escapism from the deep sadness that we’ve all been feeling this week that will only subside with the passage of time. 

I came to running as a result of navigating my way through a grieving process for my mum and father-in-law, who both died in 2015 within three weeks of each other. 

I’ve found that I’m able to enter what I have learned to be a mindful state that offers respite from some of the stressors in my life. 

I’ve mentioned before how it has become one of the pillars of my mental health and a complete coping mechanism for how difficult life can feel at times. 

Whilst I know I talk about chasing personal bests at different distances a lot in this column, it really isn’t about that kind of surface level stuff. 

It’s about being able to process all the good and bad things that are going on. 

It’s become one of the good habits and structures in my life to fall back on; eating absolute rubbish is one of the bad ones that’s crept back in but I’ve cut myself a bit of slack this week... thank goodness the mileage is creeping up and burning more calories than normal. 

Of course, I know it can work the other way for people and that’s completely understandable too. 

In more difficult periods, you can feel like you haven’t got anything left. The mental load of simply getting your kit ready and getting out the door can feel too much. 

Alison has felt simply too heartbroken to get out and train this week but fortunately we have got lots of exciting running plans that will help get her back on track. 

At the end of the day running will be there for her when she feels ready. 

Just like any good friend is.