Welcome to PB with J: It's About More Than Personal Bests
/By Josh Maddocks | 27 October 2026
If you'd told me a few years ago that I'd be writing a running blog, interviewing runners, visiting running clubs and preparing for the London Marathon, I'd probably have laughed.
But here we are.
Welcome to PB with J, or Personal Best with Josh.
And before anyone asks, yes, the peanut butter and jam connection is entirely intentional.
I'm Josh Maddocks, a runner from King's Lynn in Norfolk. I'm a husband, a dad, a magician by trade, and someone who has discovered that running can change your life in ways you never expected.
Me after a 10k in the morning, feeling amazing!
I'm certainly not an elite athlete. I'm not winning races, and I'm usually nowhere near the front of the pack.
But I absolutely love running.
And that's really what this is all about.
My Running Journey
My relationship with running hasn't exactly been straightforward.
I've struggled with my weight, started and stopped more times than I can remember, and had plenty of moments when giving up seemed easier than carrying on.
In 2025, I completed Couch to 5K, which helped me rediscover something I'd been trying to achieve for years.
Since then, I've taken part in 5Ks, 10Ks and half marathons, joined running clubs and met some genuinely incredible people along the way.
I've also discovered that a personal best doesn't always mean a faster time.
Sometimes it's running a little further than you thought possible.
Sometimes it's getting out of the door when your motivation has disappeared.
And sometimes it's simply crossing a finish line you once thought you'd never reach.
In April 2027, I'll be running the London Marathon for the first time, alongside my wife Emily, who's raising money for Rays of Sunshine.
That's a sentence I still can't quite believe I'm writing.
Discovering the Running Community
One of the best things to come out of my running journey has been discovering the people who make this sport so special.
Over the last few months, I've been visiting running clubs and groups across King's Lynn and West Norfolk.
From established athletics clubs to smaller social running groups, I've met people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds.
Some are chasing personal bests. Some are training for marathons. Others simply want a bit of exercise, a chat and some company.
And every group has its own story.
I've also started interviewing runners, volunteers and people doing brilliant things within our sport.
Me and Emily volunteering at King’s Lynn Junior parkrun
The more people I meet, the more I realise just how many stories deserve to be told.
That's one of the biggest reasons I've started this blog.
So, What Exactly Is PB with J?
PB with J is a place for running stories, conversations and experiences.
Not just mine, either.
I want to shine a light on the people, clubs, events and communities that make running what it is.
interviewing volunteers at Sandringham parkrun
You can expect:
Running club features: Exploring local running groups, what makes them different and how to get involved.
Runner interviews: Real conversations with people from across the running community.
Race experiences: Honest accounts of events I've entered, including the good bits and the difficult ones.
My running journey: Training, challenges, achievements and everything I'm learning along the way.
Community conversations: Discussing issues that matter to everyday runners and helping give people a voice.
I also want this to be somewhere new runners feel welcome.
You don't need expensive equipment, an impressive race history or a particular pace to belong in the running community.
If you run, you're a runner.
It's as simple as that.
More Than Just Running
Something I've learned is that running isn't always about running.
It's about confidence, friendships, mental wellbeing, family and finding something that makes you feel good about yourself.
It's about the volunteers standing in the rain so hundreds of people can enjoy parkrun.
It's about the person finishing their first 5K while everyone cheers them home.
It's about the running clubs where nobody gets left behind.
And it's about ordinary people achieving things they once thought were impossible.
Those are the stories I want to tell.
Let's See Where This Goes
I don't know exactly where PB with J will take me.
Maybe it'll grow into something bigger. Maybe I'll get to interview some incredible people or visit running communities further afield.
For now, I'm just excited to get started.
I'll be sharing stories here alongside the videos and interviews on my Josh Maddocks Runs YouTube channel and social media pages.
If you're a runner, part of a local club, organising an event or have a story you think deserves to be told, I'd genuinely love to hear from you.
And if you're just starting your running journey, welcome.
You belong here too.
Because your personal best isn't necessarily the fastest you've ever run.
Sometimes it's becoming someone you never thought you could be.
Welcome to PB with J.
Josh