Very average at best for me, wasn’t expecting much though coming into the year with the hamstring\back problem. Been getting some consistent running in for a few months now though so a bit better, still nervous about intervals and occasionally it reminds me it’s still there like tonight. I suspect just tightness from the weekend.
Managed a few half’s throughout the season and although they were nothing to shout about they were better than I expected and the later one was on a pretty rough day. The one in Malta was nice enough but not a quick course, or accurate.
Just got back under 20 minutes for 5K before my leg twinged again.
Still disappointed with the 70.3 in Holland, bike was ok but the run was poor due to the heat and lack of training, and the swim was a disaster.
Then the 4-5 week period where I had the eye infection, throat infection with antibiotics and finally S&D from swimming in the river. That really set things back.
The race in Athens was pleasing though on a very windy day.
And a couple of decent trail runs through the season.
Hopefully starting from a better position in 2025.
Kicked off with a DNF at Arc100 in Jan
Big Mud 42km went ok in Feb but was an hour slower than I planned.
DNF at a 50km in late June
DNF Serpent Trail 100k
Injury meant pulling out of the Half Oner, SDW100 and New Forest 30km.
Big Way Round 50km in May went ok
Salisbury Plain 50 miler was probably the highlight.
Middling result at Dartmoor in a Day 50km.
Finishing the Big Night Out 12 mins quicker than last year was nice.
Biggest disappointment was a DNF at NC110,again!
Swim and bike yearly totals are less than one months average of 2022 or 2023. Run total of 380km is 2 months worth. Possibly the least fit I’ve been since primary school.
Pretty close to just accepting it, but then sometimes I’m finding myself just about starting to dream of being fit again.
2024 …!
Not unhappy ( not happy either to be honest )
No injuries that really affected training / racing
All the time in the world ( possibly too much )
Target 1
Sub 1:20 hyrox
Get near the podium 55-60
FAIL!
1:21 and 1:20 close but no cigar
7 th and 10 th in age group ( 200+ 55-60 year olds in my last race so still top 5% I guess)
1:18 just! was third in Manchester but I was too I’ll to compete … oh well.
Target 2
Sub 1:10 sprint tri
FAIL
1:13
A 12 min 500m swim … WTF, I’m slow but that’s just silly, wrecked that idea
Bike and run are fast enough to go 70 mins maybe a touch faster
We go again next year.
Target 3
Faster at Oulton rowathon
PASS
A big improvement ( 7 mins, mostly run)
Target 4
20 min 5 k ( even treadmill)
FAIL
A Muddy 20:18 parkrun was my best effort
Crappy course avoided by the alpha fly brigade so maybe there’s hope for this one next year, t mill would do but I’d prefer a real run.
Target 5
Enjoy myself
HUGE PASS.
I’m enjoying training / racing more than ever, I just need to do it more next year.
Love to get into 70.3 shape but that’s for another thread
Stick at it !
Odd year for me. Felt I never really got going, but on reflection not sure what else I hoping to do.
Not helped by targeting a sub-3 marathon in March, which was a big focus and took a lot of energy. Intended to focus on shorter stuff for the rest of the year, but never really committed to any of it to the same degree. Combination of niggly illness, niggly injuries and some bigger interventions (broken wrist playing football, painful hamstring trying to run fast, knackered shoulder falling off bike).
But I did 2 triathlons, 2 more than I thought I might do at one point. And I got old man silverware in both.
Just think maybe I was hoping for a bit more from some standalone running and TT events, but pace and power seemed to be lacking.
Currently trying to properly rehab my hamstring and shoulder. Running is short and slow but I’ve entered a 10K in March. Swimming has also knocked back, but experience tells me a bit of consistency will get me back to my plateau soon enough. So maybe I’ll be in a position to target some shorter events this summer and get back on track.
I’m waiting at station 4, ready for leg 5 of Qatar East to West relay. My leg is about 15km , pretty featureless desert but mostly on a small road rather than sand. It’s surprisingly warm today and the sun feels strong. Will be my longest run since probably February . Been nice knowing you.
Took us 7h 35m . No idea how people do that sort of thing solo. We managed to come home ahead of the first solo woman ultra runner, but a whole hour behind the solo men’s race winner.
Good day out even if not the most scenic
Sadly I had no GPS so there’s no Strava, but the stopwatch says 64 minutes which I can’t grumble about. Hip feels reasonable, might do a bit of stretching. Or I might just have a nap, more realistically.
. Been nice knowing you.
