The Exercise Dad

The Exercise Dad James, The Exercise Dad aka TED 🧸
“Just a dad of a beautiful girl committed to being his best self, physically and mentally, for his family.” 🩷

20/04/2026

💪 First Bench Day Back as a Dad 👶🏋️‍♂️

Today was my first time benching since becoming a dad 4 months ago…
and just 8 days after crossing the Brighton Marathon finish line 🏁🙃

Walked in with zero expectations…
Walked out hitting 120kg for 6 clean reps.
Not bad for a sleep‑deprived, bottle‑making, marathon‑running dad.

Feels like the start of a new chapter,
Marathon Dad is retiring (for now!)…
Hybrid Dad incoming.

Stronger. Fitter. Always Happy!

16/04/2026

🏃‍♂️ Baby to Marathon — Journey Complete 👶➡️🏅

3.5‑month‑old daughter 👶
42.2km / 26.2 miles 🥵
5 weeks of training ✔️
Sub‑3:30 finish ⏱️

I’ll take that.

This marathon was full of highs, lows, doubts, and breakthroughs — but one thing kept overpowering every bit of pain and every mental battle…
my daughter, my wife, my family, and my friends waiting for me at the finish line. 🏁

Every time it hurt, every time my legs screamed, every time my mind tried to slow me down — I pictured them. That was my fuel. And the Brighton crowd? Unreal. Their energy carried me further than any training plan ever could.

What I want to teach my daughter as she grows is simple:
No matter the struggle, the discomfort, or the fear — you can push through it with the right mindset.
If I can do this, she’ll be able to do it a hundred times better.

Baby to Marathon… chapter complete.
What’s next?
We’ll find out soon.

Brighton Marathon Weekend

Today was the day - Brighton Marathon Weekend - Baby 👶 to Marathon 🏃‍♂️ completed it mate ☑️I couldn’t have done it with...
12/04/2026

Today was the day - Brighton Marathon Weekend - Baby 👶 to Marathon 🏃‍♂️ completed it mate ☑️

I couldn’t have done it without my beautiful daughter Sofia 👶 and wife supporting me at every step (literally) of the journey, I love you both so much 🥲🩵🩷

Thank you to my running brother together at 32k who smashed it towards the end finishing strong 💪 🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️

Also I can’t forget my wonderful family and friends giving me all the noise, energy and hype! You have no idea how much that helped it windy terrain I faced!

Penguin walking for a few days now 🐧

42.2km (26.2 Miles), still rehabing an achilles injury, 5 weeks of training…. Done 😅🤣🏁

11/04/2026

Tomorrow… the Brighton Marathon.
I’m excited, nervous, buzzing and as ready as I can be.

Five weeks of training (not ideal), an Achilles that’s still deciding to play up on/off but it’s all about one step at a time 👣

This journey has been wild but every smile, every cuddle, every tiny moment with my daughter reminds me why I’m doing this.
To be stronger.
To be healthier.
To be the best version of myself for her.

Tomorrow is the day.
Let’s go.
Baby 👶 to Marathon 🏃‍♂️, time to finish what we started.

11/04/2026

Baby 👶 to Marathon 🏃‍♂️
It’s not just preparing the human mind and body for a marathon… but your shoes too!

04/04/2026

My Gym Spotter and Big Boy Son Murfy 💚

Our daughter’s best friend 🩷💚

Brother Murfy is always there for our little daughter 🥲🩷🥰
31/03/2026

Brother Murfy is always there for our little daughter 🥲🩷🥰

30/03/2026

Baby 👶 to Marathon 🏃‍♂️
Week 3 of 5 Training
2 Weeks to Go❗️

From changing nappies 👶 💩 to chasing the marathon finishing line 🏁 training for the marathon continues 🏃‍♂️!

On Sunday, I ran 35k, my longest ever run! I experienced the Runner’s High 🤩 to Eminem’s Arms like Mum’s Spaghetti 🍝!

But honestly, this tested me… lots of thoughts running through my head,
• Are my legs going to hold up?
• Is my Achilles tear tearing more?
• Am I tired?
• Why doesn’t runners high last longer?
• Please stop the wind!

And then, I remembered David Goggins' 40% rule in my head, when your brain screams “I’m done!”, you are actually only at 40% of your true capacity.

But actually the real game-changer happened… a surprise text with 2k to go from my wife saying she was at the finish with Murfy and our daughter was the extra push I needed! 🥰😍🩷

Being a dad has changed everything — including why I run.
I’m not just training for a marathon.
I’m training to be the strongest version of myself for my family and hoping it would inspire my daughter one day, just like my dad has to me.

Two weeks left.
Can I do it?
Stay tuned, this story isn’t finished! (I hope)
Brighton Marathon Weekend

23/03/2026

Baby 👶 to Marathon 🏃‍♂️
18 Days to Go 🗓️ 😱
Week 2
The Countdown is on and week 2 has been a success as I’ve managed to do 4 runs, one of them was my LONGEST EVER RUN 25Km 🏃‍♂️🔥

I had my marathon brother Connor run alongside for the 25Km running yesterday at marathon pace and the Achilles feels okay being Monday!

This week was also our daughter 3-Month birthday 🎁! She’s growing, smiling and still a loving angel!

The journey to the marathon continues!
Marathon Weekend

23/03/2026

Baby 👶 to Marathon 🏃‍♂️
18 Days to Go 🗓️ 😱
Week 2
The Countdown is on and week 2 has been a success as I’ve managed to do 4 runs, one of them was my LONGEST EVER RUN 25Km 🏃‍♂️🔥

I had my marathon brother Connor run alongside for the 25Km running yesterday at marathon pace and the Achilles feels okay being Monday!

This week was also our daughter 3-Month birthday 🎁! She’s growing, smiling and still a loving angel!

The journey to the marathon continues!

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