Now I’ve got my first year of running done and somehow managed to get hooked on the sport enough to run over 1,000 miles over the course of the year, there’s a lot I want to revisit now I’ve got a bit more experience and my fitness is a bit better than the same time last year and there’s a lot I want to do this year that’s new.
Major events confirmed
- Manchester Marathon (April)
- Adidas 24 hour Thunder Run (July)
- Hardmoors 60 mile ultra (September)
Secondary races I’d like to run
- Dusk ’til Dawn 50 mile ultra (May clash with Thruscross though)
- Marsden to Edale 20 mile trigger race
Races I’d like to revisit
- Thruscross 5 hour endurance race – Aim: Better prep and in-race nutrition strategy (and to run 5 laps).
- Marsden 10 miler Aim: Run sub 1:20 and/or top 25 (ran 1:28:29 / 42nd place)
- Manchester Marathon Aim: Run sub 3:30
So far I’ve got three major runs planned which have a few months between so offer a good opportunity to taper and jump straight back into training and then I’m planning on running a lot of local events particularly focusing my efforts on fell and trail running along with improving my non existent navigation skills as there’s so much incredible terrain around here it feels I’m often missing out on getting truly offroad because in the interests of safety I don’t stray where I can’t navigate.
Along with these races, I’m intending on working on improving general speed with more hill and Fartlek work with the long term aim of having a crack at a 2014 good for age time (3:10 mararthon) to get into London Marathon 2014 although the more I run trails, the less road appeals but I’m keen to work on shorter distances and bring my 5k down to sub 18 and 10k to 38 or 39 minutes if I can.
In addition to that, I want to keep supporting the awesome Parkrun which has got me here and where my wife and I have met so many great new friends.