2015: the round-up

As I have decided against squeezing in another run this year I thought it was time to get the stats statted and a 2015 round-up posted for all to see.

2015 was a big year for me. It was the year of realizing that not only do I enjoy running but I quite like running for a long time (with a few walk breaks thrown in admittedly). It was also the year that I realized racing trumps “running” when the running is parkrun.  Having reached my 50 parkrun milestone on 1st January 2015, I only managed to fit in 29 parkruns and 10 volunteering sessions (4 were tail runner so count twice!).

I also succeeded in my goal to run more than the distance from Lands End to John O’Groats, in fact I managed to get part of the way home again.

I did however manage to fit in 24 races…..
It has to be said that things have escalated rather quickly. I first signed up to one of the SVN races at the end of 2014, the race wasn’t due to take place until September 2015 but the medal was cool and I had heard good things and so I wanted to get one in our calendar. Then another race was opened up and so we did our first race with them in February. At this point II was expecting this to be my first (and last) ultra. Just one to tick the box and say I had run a marathon and run an ultra-marathon. Everyone was so nice though, and more races, with cool medals, great goody bags and the promise of cake, were released, and so we signed up and did more marathons and a 2nd ultra.

All in all, of the 24 races, 2 were ultra-marathons and 12 were marathons! Taking into account last year’s single marathon that means I am now 15 marathons into my “quest for the vest”, or my aim to be part of the 100 Marathon Club.

I’ve battled my way through over 1000 miles in a year, I have run PBs all over the place (thanks TrainAsONE!) and I still want to run! I have come a long way from when I started Couch to 5km in April 2013.

2016 is going to be an interesting year, I have a couple of longish goal races and I am looking forward to seeing how I get on with them. I am also going to be focusing more on my general health, fitness & strength. I want to make sure I am in the best possible state to achieve everything that is on my to-do list and to do that I need to commit to the gym and yoga as well as keeping my running training on course.

Huge thanks go out to everyone who has supported me in person or virtually over the last year, I look forward to 2016 being even better for all of us!