2017 was probably the year I stopped feeling odd when calling myself a runner. I achieved a bunch of new things in running, including my first 50k, and managed to do just over 1000 miles for the year.
Start running now
If you are thinking of taking up running in the new year, go for it. No excuses. Forget about “I’ll wait until I’ve lost some weight” or “when the weather improves” or “my knee is a bit twingey”. Go to a running shop now, buy a pair of runners in the new year sales along with a running top, running shorts and socks and you’re ready (or just wear some sweatpants and a t-shirt). If money is tight, check out all of the cheap own-brand Kalenji gear on Decathlon or sales on Wiggle/SportsShoes/SportsPursuit.
Then start running.
If running alone bothers you, find a local parkRun and get out every Saturday morning. Or see if there is a Fit4life club in your area.
Hopefully my 2017 stats will give you some encouragement. Well maybe not the speed aspect :-) Everything below was done whilst weighing north of 220lbs, 5ft 10ish and aged 48/49. So not Eliud Kipchoge or Kilian Jornet.
How I ran
- Treadmill 314.13 KM / 195.19 Miles
- Road 841.273 KM / 522.74 Miles
- Off-Road 454.42 KM / 282.36 Miles
Total: 1609.82 KM / 1000.29 Miles
What I completed
- Ultras: 1 => The Chiltern Challenge 50k
- Marathons: 5 => MCI Ballina/Beleek, Brighton, Cork City, East Cork, New York City
- Half Marathons: 4 => Ballyheigue Half on the Head, Surf Turf and Tar, Railway Run 25K, Clonakilty
- Others: 5 => Kilmacsimon 10K, Clonakilty 10 Miler, Red Hat 5K Fun Run, Courtmacsherry/Timoleague 10k, IMRA/MMRA Castlefreke
What I failed to complete
- DNFs: 1 => Glen of Aherlow Ultra. Finished the Half Marathon single loop and DQed due to slow pace.
New PRs/PBs (Personal Records / Personal Bests)
- 5K => Red Hat Fun Run Boston, 00:27:49
- 10K => Courtmacsherry, 00:59:54
- Half Marathon => Great Railway Run, 02:18:17
- Marathon => Brighton, 05:18:13
- 50K => Chiltern Challenge, 07:53:43
What I ran in
- Skechers GoRun 5 - Love these. Very fast. But feet/toes suffer at marathon distances if you are slow/heavy
- Hoka One One Clifton - Love these. Fabulous cushion. A bit heavy. Narrow but ok. Great for very long distances.
- Inov-8 X-CLAW 275 - Love these. Perfect for boggy muddy Irish off-road running.
- Altra Paradigm 1.5 - Like these. Old. Treadmill only. Great cushion. Terrible heel cup.
- Altra Lone Peak 3.0 - Like these. Medium cushion. Good for forest paths and some road. Useless in full-on Irish mud.
Weight Loss
7 lbs :-(
Aims for 2018
I have a few things I want to achieve in 2018
- Run almost every day
- Run a lot more off-road
- Get good at running up and down mountains/hills
- Lose an enormous amount of weight
- Complete my first 50 mile Ultra
- Do the Chicago Marathon
How to approach 2018
A final word to Brendan Leonard: MAKE 2018 THE YEAR OF MAXIMUM ENTHUSIASM
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