2017 Running Review

The 2017 running review – and what a year it’s been. I was going to do a ‘best of…’ and then realised it was impossible – too many moments, meetings, and races, to choose from – each unique and memorable in their own way.

So here are some of the highlights…

 

Panic training

Those moments. You know those moments where you realise what you’ve signed up for?

The first – When I realised I had the London Marathon to train for. It wasn’t that I didn’t have a plan. It was the fact that life had gotten in the way, and Parkrun on New Year’s Day felt like such a long way. Who knew?

And the second – Now this came post-London marathon after having a week or so of rest. I’d signed up to the Chiltern Challenge, a 50k, being held in July. I looked up training plans. Let’s just say there was a moment or two of meltdown. Then I got my shit together and started doing the miles, though through most of this process I did feel very much like this –

 

 

Maybe it’s something about races.

This year I made myself do lots of races. Prior to this year I was always a quivering wreck before them. But now, while there can still be some nerves, they have settled down and I learned to trust in the training.

And there have been plenty of races –

• Trick or Treat Run
• The Cabbage Patch 10
• Ealing Half
• Eridge Park 10
• Thames River Relay
• RunThrough at Hyde Park
• Chiltern Challenge (50k)
• Women Can Marathon (Relay)
• London Marathon Review
• Grand Union Canal Half
• Lidl Kingston Breakfast Run
• The Original Hampton Court Half
• RunThrough at Battersea Park

 

The highs and lows

Running mirrors life. There are highs and lows, and it can shift in just a few steps.  This was certainly my experience at the Chiltern Challenge. Yep, nothing like a race where you end up in a sling!

 

 

 

But with it came that moment, that weird emotion called ‘pride’ came popping up from nowhere. Look at this photo – I am in frigging agony but I had done it. Soon after this was taken, I was in the shower, sobbing again. Oh, the pain. I can laugh about it now!

 

Meeting fabulous new people

I’ve not long joined the realms of Twitter and Instagram. To be honest, I almost gave if the flick on about day two when I had to block someone. But I didn’t. While it seems for some, social media is a way to have a connection without having a connection (i.e. younger folk spending less time with friends etc), for me it’s very much been the opposite.

There’s something fab about meeting up with folks – so here’s to new friends! And this year I’ve had the excitement of being a Race Ambassador for Women’s Running UK, and a very happy member of the Racecheck crew #teamblack

 

And hanging out with dear friends

There’s no way I would have managed to keep running without my cub. It’s the social get togethers, it’s the races we do together, it’s the laughs we have.

 

 

Cake

Need I say more…

 

And finally, the bling!

Now I do a fair amount of smaller races or races organised by clubs where there is no bling, there are no goody bags. I’m happy with this. But there is something also rather lovely about a bit of bling! Here are some of my favourites –

 

 

So here’s to a great 2017.

I’m already getting excited about 2018.

 

How has your year of running been?