So, straight up, I haven't been racing much! I have been running but fell and trail racing has sort of settled for the year. In the end, despite missing a few races I really wanted to do, I managed to come first lady in the club champs, mostly due to other people not really having time. The December cross country match got cancelled due to problems with the park. I missed Lathkil as I had the dog that day. And it feels like it has rained solidly forever. However, I did do a half marathon at Tatton Park on the road, organised the club Christmas do (Lyme Park 10k challenge with mince pies after), and volunteered at the Moors the Merrier race. The latter was a good option; I had given away my running place as I had other things to train for (see below) and instead stood at the door of the Hebden Bridge Golf Club, wrapped in every layer I could find, welcoming in some of the wettest, most wind swept runners I have seen. Its an amazing course I keep meaning to go back and run.....but maybe in summer. One sufferfest on the route is enough.
Instead I have been training for a road marathon. I know, what on earth am I doing? But I just have to scratch that itch and get a decent time in a marahton. I have changed up my training plan, and am doing quite a bit more mileage with more structure. It also involves doing more parkruns which is nice (some more than others). Building up some base fitness won't be a bad thing, and I can still slot in the odd hilly run to keep it interesting. Mind you, with all the mud and flooding it doesn't feel I am missing too much. As I write, there are flood warnings along the Mersey, and my local woodlands is a mixture of flood and deep mud.
I have had a couple of fun outings though. We have carried on Blacksheep headtorch runs which have been a welcome relief. We even got the odd little weather window for some of them, including an amazing clear and starry night up at Wildbank.
Our Christmas trip to the Lakes was marred by storms but my partner and I still managed Keswick parkrun and a hike up Dale Head. I started 2024 back at Lyme Park for parkrun and some dog jog miles. In between I also managed a Spunch Orienteering event over at Dunham, using my previous experience to try and pick a moderately less muddy route than the farm fields I had done before. Some of the route is completely under water today, which is crazy, but it was a great run out in that Betwixtmas period.
So what does the year have in store? The Blacksheep have put Lyme parkrun (very much more trail than your average parkrun) as the champs so hopefully I will get down there an put in a decent sub 30 minute time having jogged round on New Year's Day. This Saturday, all being well, I am racing a canicross race for the first time up at Whinlatter forest. I am quite nervous and hoping the dog stays fit. It doesn't matter if we come last.... but I would rather not. This race means I missing another Blacksheep champs race over at Hit the Trail but I have wanted to do the canicross a whle and the season will be over before I know it. Then February is already looking busy before we even factor in there will need to be long runs for marathon training.
I have every intention of getting back to the hills, with two Lakeland ultras booked in and aspirations to run another Lakeland fell race this year, and maybe even the Tea Round, but lets not get ahead of ourselves. In the mean time, I am waiting for the the weather to improve and trying to keep my fitness up.
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