2023 was a year unlike any other for my running. Not only did I conquer all 14 races in the Sportlink Grand Prix, but I smashed personal records at every single distance, from 5k to 20 miles. To top it off, I received an award for competing in all the races and emerged as the fastest in my age category!
But how did a somewhat average runner like me achieve such extraordinary results? I’m probably biased, but I put it down to my secret weapon: TrainAsONE.
The Challenge
Prior to 2023, I was competing in about 3 or 4 races each year. And whilst I did train for them, it was a little halfhearted. Consequently, despite my wish to re-obtain the performances of my youth, my times were steadily slowing.
2023 was the year I decided to reverse the trend and begin to make my comeback. This would be the year to get faster. I was not expecting to set personal records, but at least make a foundation to do so in the future.
This was all spurred on by the availability of TrainAsONE’s brand new AI training algorithm, Artemis. And with the full 14 Sportlink Grand Prix 2023 series of races looming, this would surely be an opportune moment to put ‘her’, and me, to the test.
So at the beginning of January 2023 I started signing up to all the Sportlink races, entered them into TrainAsONE, and my training plan was built – challenge accepted. Additionally, a couple of other races were thrown in for good measure.
All I had to do now was follow my plan – and race.
The Races
#1 Reedham 10 Mile – 69:54 🔗
TrainAsONE gave me a sub 71 prediction. I was unsure that I was capable of this, but was adamant to give it a go. And I did! Managing to come in 1% quicker than predicted. This was around 3 minutes quicker than my faster recent 10 mile race time – a fantastic start to the year.
#2 Valentine 10k – 42:15 🔗
Opting to pace myself against the fastest race prediction time (as per Riegel), I had a tough middle section to this this race. I did not manage the Riegel predicted time, but still managed to beat TrainAsONE’s prediction by 15 seconds (a mere 0.6%). A good few minutes faster than any recent 10k – very pleased.
#3 Mike Groves 10k – 41:15 (PR) 🔗
We were only at the 3rd race of the season and TrainAsONE was predicting a personal record for me. It was hard, and I was running through treacle for the final 500 metres, but I managed to beat my prediction by 20 seconds. My personal record, that had stood for 20 years was now broken!
#4 Blickling Spring Half Marathon – 1:45:01 🔗
Not a Sportlink race, and ran as a casual training run in preparation for my upcoming 20 miler. Paced to complete in 1:45. 1 second slow – must do better… 😉
#5 Wymondham 20 Mile – 2:27:53 (PR as 1st ever 20 mile race) 🔗
Probably my worst race of the season, put down to misplacing my gels and slowing down massively from 90 minutes.
#6 Trowse 10k – 40:20 (PR) 🔗
Unbelievably managed to take more time off my personal record. This was the race with the big hill you had to run up and down twice. Seemed to suit me as whilst slow up, I was very fast (3:20 min/km) down.
#7 Aylsham 10k – 40:28 🔗
My first ever attempt at going under 40 minutes. Was on target until the 7th k, but could not quite sustain the pace from there. Was still on for a PR until the final uphill run to the finish… 🙁
#8 Dereham 10 Mile – 66:33 (PR) 🔗
I was chasing a massive (nearly 3 minute) PR at 67 minutes. I had ran this race a number of times before and so it was a very strategically ran race. I was 1 second ahead at the half-way mark and had so much confidence to keep going for the run home. 6 minutes faster than the previous year. What a race!
#9 Lotus Test Track 10k – 41:04 🔗
Saying that this was a hot race would be an understatement… Despite this, I still went and tried to get a sub 40 minute PR. Expectedly it was not to be. It was still my 3rd fastest 10 k ever, so no complaints from me.
#10 Humpty Dumpty 10k – 40:23 🔗
My 3rd attempt to go sub-40. Once again the hot conditions were against me. Despite the heat, I was only 3 seconds off equalling my PR. This was a good indicator that the 40 minutes is doable, but alas the last of the 10 k of the Sportlink series. Next (now this) year..
#11 Wroxham 5k – 19:24 (PR) 🔗
My first of two 5k races for the year. I had been wishing to run under 20 minutes (including Parkruns) for more years than I cared to remember. Despite tired legs, I was quietly confident. It was an evening race, and the heat of the day was just abating as the race began. The last two kilometres were very hard, but I hung on. 36 seconds quicker than I wanted and 6 seconds better than TrainAsONE’s prediction. I was very happy.
#12 Worstead 5 Mile – 32:29 (PR as 1st ever 5 mile race) 🔗
My first ever 5 mile race, and another extremely hot and humid one! I was pacing myself to a 32:15 time, and it took everything I had to come only 14 seconds off it. 30 minutes in heart rate zone 5, and emptied my Garmin stamina with 6.5 kms to go… (work that one out).
#13 Great Yarmouth Half Marathon – 91:27 (PR) 🔗
The one and only half marathon of the Grand Prix series. My recent attempts at this distance had always hovered around 100 minutes, but on this occasion I was aiming to eclipse these and beat my all-time record of 94:20 – set 14 years ago. I did, 91:27. An enjoyable run, that left me with a thirst for sub-90… Next time?
#14 Dereham 5k – 19:09 (PR) 🔗
A manic race around the streets of Dereham. I was pacing myself for a 19:10 time, to give me a new PR (which was set only 6 weeks before a Wroxham). More often than not, I have a good sprint finish, but not on this occasion. 1 second ahead of planned and another PR for the year. Beating 19 minutes must be next on the bucket list…
#15 Bure Valley 10 Mile – 67:28 🔗
The final Sportlink race of the season. Could I end it on a high with another PR? No…. I think a mixture of heat, hills, and (lack of) belief let me down.
#16 Marriott’s Way 10k – 42:18 (1st in category)
Persuaded by a friend to run this point-to-point trail race from Aylsham to Reepham in Norfolk. It’s a quietly undulating route over soft ground, but I’m still not quite sure why I found it as tough as I did. So my slow (in relation to road race) time was a disappointed on finishing, but turned to elation on discovering I was 1st in my category.
#17 Snowdonia Marathon Eryi – 4:05:04
For good measure, a friend (different to that of the Marriott’s way – surprisingly I have more than 1 friend) had asked me to run the Marathon Eryi and I reluctantly agreed. I was hoping to go under 4 hours, but the final (big) hill starting at 22 miles (around 250 metres of climb) put pay to that.
The True Reward
What a year. Having not starting out to set personal records, I managed 8!
And while breaking my records and winning awards were exhilarating, the most rewarding aspect of the year was the act of self-improvement and reversing the previous declines in performance. I owe this to both TrainAsONE and my change of mindset (which itself was in part prompted by TrainAsONE).
So what does 2024 have in store for me? Nothing massive, but I’ll let you know in another article very soon.
Unleash Your Inner Runner
TrainAsONE is more than just an app – it’s a powerful tool that empowers runners of all levels to unlock their full potential. And if you are looking to smash your goals, break your limits, and discover the incredible runner within you, I urge you to consider TrainAsONE. Remember, the only limit is the one you set for yourself. Start your journey today and see where your feet can take you!
