Privacy Policy

Last updated: 27/03/2026

1. Who We Are

Historical Runner (“we”, “us”, or “our”) is a personal website run by Duncan Talbot.
Our website address is: https://historicalrunner.com

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your data, you can contact us at:

historicalrunner@gmail.com

2. What Personal Data We Collect and Why

A. Contact Form

When you submit a message through our contact form, we collect:

  • Your name
  • Your email address
  • Your message

Purpose:
To respond to your enquiry and provide the information you have requested.

B. Newsletter Sign-Up

If you subscribe to the Historical Runner newsletter, we collect:

  • Your email address
  • Your marketing consent

Purpose:
To send you email updates, newsletters, and announcements.
We only send marketing emails if you give us explicit consent.

C. Blog Comments

If you leave a comment on a blog post, we collect:

  • The data shown in the comment form
  • Your IP address and browser user agent (for spam protection)

If you use Gravatar, an anonymised hash of your email may be sent to check for an associated profile.
Gravatar’s privacy policy: https://automattic.com/privacy/

D. Website Analytics (Optional)

If you’re using tools like Jetpack, Google Analytics, or WPForms stats, your usage data may be collected (e.g. pages visited, device type).
This helps us understand how people use the site and improve it.

E. Cookies

We may use cookies to:

  • Remember your preferences
  • Keep you logged in (only for admins)
  • Improve site performance
  • Prevent spam submissions

You can clear or block cookies at any time in your browser.

3. Embedded Content From Other Websites

Blog posts may include embedded content (e.g. YouTube videos, Instagram embeds, or maps).
These act exactly as if you visited that external site directly.

Those websites may collect data about you, including:

  • Cookies
  • Tracking
  • Interaction data

We do not control third-party tracking.

4. Who We Share Your Data With

We only share your data with services that help us run the site safely and legally, such as:

  • Email services (for sending newsletters)
  • Spam detection tools (e.g. Akismet or WPForms spam protection)
  • Hosting provider (standard server logs)

We never sell or share your data for advertising.

5. How Long We Keep Your Data

  • Contact form messages: up to 12 months, unless needed longer for admin reasons
  • Newsletter subscribers: until you unsubscribe
  • Blog comments: indefinitely (unless you request deletion)
  • Analytics data: varies by tool (usually 26–38 months)

You can request deletion at any time.

6. Your Rights Under UK GDPR

You have the right to:

  • Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you
  • Ask us to correct inaccurate information
  • Ask us to delete your data (“right to be forgotten”)
  • Withdraw newsletter consent at any time
  • Object to processing
  • Lodge a complaint with the ICO (UK information regulator)

To exercise these rights, contact us at:
historicalrunner@gmail.com

7. Where Your Data Is Stored

Data may be stored:

  • On our secure UK/EU-based hosting server
  • Within our email service provider (for newsletters)
  • Within our contact form system

Some services may store data outside the UK/EU.
Where they do, they comply with UK GDPR and use legal safeguards such as Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs).

8. How We Protect Your Data

We take data security seriously and use measures such as:

  • SSL/HTTPS encryption
  • Secure hosting environment
  • Spam protection tools
  • Access control for admin accounts

Only necessary personnel (usually just the site owner) have access to user data.

9. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this policy from time to time.
Any major changes will be posted on this page with a new “Last Updated” date.