As we close the chapter on another year, I thought it would be a good opportunity to reflect on some of the things I have achieved over the year. This year has been a great one, for reasons more than just my running achievements. It's the year my fiancee and I finally booked our wedding for the third and hopefully final time (the first time my daughter came along unexpectedly and the second time COVID came along and locked us all in our homes).
This year I have somehow managed to rediscover the joy of running, and I owe this mainly to my local Park Run and my daughter's enthusiasm to try her first Park Run which inspired me to overcome my fear of running outdoors. I have completed 16 Park Runs this year, and have set myself the goal of completing 40 in total in 2024.
My daughter completed her 21st junior Park Run this morning which equates to a full marathon, and she has set some goals herself, one of which is to finish a sub-15 Junior Park Run.
Looking back, it's hard to imagine that overweight dad of two who was trapped on the treadmill could have finally found the courage to overcome the anxieties holding him back and finally start on the track to a stronger, healthier, and better version of myself. Running has taught me a lot about myself, mainly that I am much more resilient than my brain tells me I am. I have recently been telling myself that if I can wake up at 5:15 four times a week and run 3 miles plus in the dark and rain, then surely I am capable of doing anything.
I have found this to be a great mantra to carry around in all areas of my life, not just running. it's something I repeat to myself regularly during my working day if and when I start to question my abilities. Running has also helped me with stress management, providing a healthy release to channel stress as I find peace with the flow of my movement and retreat into the inner workings of my mind.
So much of running is how you sell it to yourself, and it can become a mental battle to get out of the door each time and run. It's all about how you frame it, and if you can beat the negative thoughts and push them back with some positive affirmations, I really believe we can all achieve greatness.
And with that, I am going to finish this post with one of my favorite running quotes that I have come across this year followed by my running stats of 2023.
"Sometimes crossing the starting line is harder than crossing the finish line" - Coach Bennet
Total Mileage: 515.8 Miles
Total Time on the Trail: 107hrs 48mins
Total Number of Runs: 147
Longest Run: 8 Miles
Fastest 5K: 28:45
Fastest 10k: 1:05:21
Fastest Mile: 8:49
All that's left to say is to everyone who has helped me this year by engaging with my posts, cheering me on through those finish lines, and believing in me when I didn't believe in myself; thank you! I wish you all the very best for 2024; let's make this one the best one yet!
Mixing it up a little - everyday running
Fed up with football run 😂
Gave up on run today 
