Good Start to 2011

Compared to the past couple of years, 2011 has started off pretty well in running terms, and since the New Year, I've raced every week. Most of these races have been at cross country, strange really considering that mud, hills and off road are not a normal part of my vocabulary.

Thankfully the road running season has now started, and I'm back to what I feel most comfortable with. At the end of January, I did the Gloucester 50km race and I'm pleased to say that I won it in a time quicker than I did for the distance last year - 3.37.10 - nowhere near a PB, but considering I was only just getting back properly from injury, I'm really pleased with how the race went. The race also served as the England Team selection race for the Anglo Celtic Plate 100km at the end of March so now want to have a stab at that to see how I do.

I then raced a little closer to home - the Alsager 5 at the beginning of February. 5 miles is way too short for me, but it's always good to have a bit of a blast and blow off those cobwebs. Not a bad run considering, and finished in 31.58. It was actually quite nice to run alongside some familiar faces from the local clubs, and it was great to see so many of them having a great race and getting their own PB's.

Since then, training has been going ok. We did have a new puppy about 3 weeks ago - young Wilson, a collie x whippet - so he's been keeping us busy and taking up a lot of our time, but we wouldn't swap it for the world. He's now started to settle down a bit, which means I'm now starting to get some proper sleep and can focus on my running again and my next big race on Sunday - the Barry 40 mile Track in South Wales.

Comments

Bar-Ka-Koo Ultra

Shortly after the Backyard Ultra, a friend posted a link to a trail race that would be taking place at Chickakoo Lake Recreation Area, with the option of competing in the solo 55km race or as a member of a relay team. Unlike all other running events this year, this would be an in-person race capped at 100 runners, and it would strictly follow Covid protocols and local public health guidelines, to ensure the event could still go ahead safely. I desperately wanted to do the race but I wasn't sure whether I would be fully recovered from the BYU to be running a tough and hilly 55k trail race. It would also be taking place towards the end of November which increased the liklihood of freezing temperatures and deep snow which was sure to make things even more challenging. Not one to shy away from a challenge, I found myself signing up and started to look forward to the Bar-Ka-Koo Ultra and Relay :) In the days leading up to the race, we had a fair old dump of snow, and most of my run...

Javelina Jangover 50km Night Race

One of the things I love about running is hearing about the success of my many running friends, whether it be over 800m on the track or 100 miles on the trail. It always makes me realise that no matter your ability, no matter how big or small your goals, as runners we all push ourselves in an effort to do our very best. Last weekend my social media feed was alight with endless stories of running success - podium finishes in the Sky Race Series, 100 mile champions, 100km champions, folks running 200 miles, others competing in marathons and half marathons, some people running further or faster than they have before, on road and trail, track and country. It really was amazing to see so many positive and happy stories, and I felt so happy and proud of each and every one that came through that I spent most of the day just smiling. For me, my weekend racing meant staying close to home this time, as I opted to race the Javelina Jangover 50km race which took place at the McDowell Mount...

A trip to Europe - 24-hour World Championships 2025

It's been several weeks now since I competed in the 24-hour World Championships, and looking back, it still feels a little surreal that I was there on the world stage, representing Canada along with some other amazing athletes. The whole experience was incredible, from our arrival in France where we got chatting to athletes from other countries whilst waiting to clear immigration, to the flag parade and opening ceremony, the mealtimes at the pavillion, the Team Canada meetings, wandering around Albi and the French saying how much they loved Canada, to the actual race itself, where world and national records were broken, PRs set, and a whole range of emotions surfaced, not just for myself but for many others that were out on the course too. Whilst the memories are still there, some of the detail has already faded with the passing of time over the past few weeks, but I still wanted to capture things as best I could in this post so that when I read it again in years to come, I can rel...

Tales of Trails, Mountains and Rocky Roads

Search This Blog