A Good Start...

From a running perspective 2017 has started well for me, and despite not quite being a month into the year, I have achieved one of my running goals and also have a shiny new PB.

My goal was to finish as first female in a parkrun event. I achieved this feat on New Year’s Day on a venture to Clumber parkrun (more here). This was totally unexpected and was not particularly something I thought I would even achieve in 2017! Although parkrun is not a race and a first finish is just as admirable as every single other finisher, it is something I had set my sights on and am pleased to say I have completed.

My PB also came from parkrun, this time at my home event in Lincoln, with my 5k record now standing at 21:25. Typing these figures I can scarcely believe it is actually me who has run that time. Rewind to this time last year and I was running around the same course in roughly 24:30, dreaming simply of getting back to running a 22 minute time (more here). I never thought it possible to run 21 minutes and I have definitely reaped the rewards of being able to visit parkrun much more regularly during 2016, both physically and mentally.

Both these achievements have been unplanned, and the surprising nature of them probably made them more enjoyable. Looking ahead to the rest of 2017 it is no secret I am on the quest for a sub 4 hour marathon. I am hoping I can be 4th time lucky as I take on the London Marathon in April. Training has started well, but I know there is a long way to go.

​​This year I would also quite like to challenge my 10k PB. This is my longest standing record and was set in 2014. The photos from this event, the Lincoln 10k, make me laugh... I completed the race in gym shoes not running trainers, wearing cheap everyday black Primark socks, a normal non-sports bra and wearing a pair of football shorts I have owned since I was about 15…yet I ran my best time! I have never trained for a 10k specifically; the last few 10k events I have entered have either been whilst I was marathon training, or have fallen just after I have completed a marathon. Whilst I am not going to chase down a 10k PB specifically during 2017, and I only have one 10k entered at present, I would like to think that if I can maintain my recent 5k performances I have my best chance in a while.

Setting goals and targets is important, but I also believe that you should not become preoccupied by them - my real aim in 2017 is just to continue to enjoy running and everything that is brilliant about it!