Running Wild

Joshua Barrow could have taken the path of least resistance. But the Congleton trail runner decided to climb mountains to discover what he truly wanted from life

- Emma Mayoh

We’ve all done it – made that decision we’re going to commit to a healthier lifestyle, eat better, spend time outdoors and do more exercise. It’s a promise many make to themselves at the start of a new week, new month or new year only to hit a bump in the road a few days, weeks and months later.

But for Joshua Barrow, it was different. Once he decided he wanted to make big changes in his life, he stood fast. He was keen to swap the bars and restaurants near his then Hale home – which until then had taken up a good portion of his social life – with something more meaningful.

‘I knew I wanted something different,’ said Josh, who now lives in Congleton with a partner, model Sophie Sparrow. ‘I was living in Hale and life very much revolved around leaving work and going to a bar. That makes a lot of people happy and there is nothing wrong with that.

‘But I was at gridlock. I reflected on my life and realized I had to be careful about how I should spend my time. I started to expect more of myself.’

The changes Josh was proposing were far more involved than a new diet, cutting back on alcohol or more gym visits. He wasn’t craving small changes; he wanted a complete life overhaul, he wanted to rewire his brain. It was after reading research on dopamine and its powerful effect on motivation and the ability to help people make changes; he started to think about what he could do.

He believes his childhood experiences – he was one of five siblings – meant he already had an in-built sense of adventure and ability to cope and adapt. He’d grown up in Bowdon before moving to Florida when he was 12, then Lake Como two years later with his dad Chris’ job – he is a life coach helping budding dentistry businesses flourish. But there was one major milestone that changed everything for Josh – running the London Marathon, aged 18.