2023 was a banner year for my running. Trophies gleam, medals clink, and PBs flash in my memory (you can revisit the glory in my review article). But for a runner, reminiscing is just the warm-up. We set our sights on uncharted terrains, and for me, 2024 is about scaling even greater heights with TrainAsONE as my sherpa.
Grand Prix Detour: Strategic Summits, Not Every Peak.
The Sportlink Grand Prix beckons again, and while the competitive spirit beats within, I recognize the need for focus. Chasing every race is sorely tempting, but this year I think that strategic planning is key. So, I’ll be incorporating some (but certainly not all!) Grand Prix races while venturing beyond for specific challenges.
In fact the first 2 races of the Sportlink calendar have already been and gone. At the start of the year, I was aiming to run one of them, but life threw me a curve-ball. Between family and work commitments, fitting in training proved much tougher than anticipated. And if that wasn’t enough, a bout of illness has knocked my running and fitness down several notches. Only today am I starting to feel more normal.
So what are my running plans for 2024?
Primary Peaks
#1. Sub-3:45 at Snowdonia Marathon Eryi.
In October 2023 I ran the Snowdonia Marathon Eryi. My goal was 4 hours, but I missed out on this by just under 5 minutes. 5 minutes is not a too significant amount over the course of a (hilly) marathon, but far enough to leave unfinished business out on the track.
I have been fortunate enough to obtain a place again for this this year’s race. So I’ll be back there in October, hungrier than ever to crush the 4-hour barrier. In fact I’m thinking I should aim even higher. My initial thought was 3:50, but being a sucker for a challenge I’ve set my sights on 3:40 – a mountain of a goal! There’s no denying that there is work to be done to make this level of improvement (25 minutes faster than last year), but with dedication and TrainAsONE’s personal and targeted planning, I’m confident I can come at least close.
#2. A sub-40 10k.
Last year’s leap in performance over 10k was a game-changer. This has fueled my fire, and now I am excited to set my sights on breaching the 40-minute wall. While the Trowse 10k in March (which is only 6 weeks away) is almost certainly too soon, later races like Aylsham or Holt (in May) or the Humpty Dumpty (in July) will be my time to hunt this prize down.
Secondary Summits
Why stop at two peaks? Let’s conquer some smaller ones too!
Given that I’m serious at both the marathon and 10k distance it seems remiss not to throw in a 5k and half-marathon PB attempt too at some point. For 5k I’ll be aiming for sub-19 minutes. And for the half, going quicker than last year’s 91:27 (obviously the symbolic 90 minutes beckons, but I’ll be happy with anything closer to 91 minutes for this year).
For the 5k distance, I am on the waiting list for the Wroxham 5k in July and I’ll enter the Dereham 5k, held in August, when entries open as my backup option.
I’ll limit my half marathon attempt to 1 race. For this there is the Great Yarmouth Half (part of Sportlink), but it is held during the first half of August, and so given my marathon training, probably a little earlier than ideal. Consequently, I think the Wissey Half Marathon in September will be my battleground for a new half marathon best. This race is often a scorcher, but that is out of my control.
From Base Camp to Peak Performance
Let’s be real, 2024’s start wasn’t ideal. Family, work, and even the flu has derailed my training. Compared to this time last year, I don’t quite feel in such good shape. My training volume is significantly down and my Fit Scores are lower. My Speed Score is almost on a par with last year, but my Endurance Score is much much lower. However, there lies the beauty of TrainAsONE: it adapts to your current reality. It builds a plan to fit your current fitness level and goal(s) – not some idealised version. It’s plans are highly efficient and highly effective. So, even with lower scores today, I trust the AI coach to guide me to race-day glory.
This year is about strategic planning, unwavering focus, and the unbiased and objective support from TrainAsONE. It will be about pushing past comfort zones, conquering metaphorical mountains, and achieving goals that might seem out of reach today. So, lace up your shoes, set your sights high, and let’s crush 2024 together! Remember, the journey is just as important as the destination, and with TrainAsONE as my guide, every step is taking me closer to my running Everest.
