Happy New Year! Here's to the (Running) Challenges Ahead!

[TailChaser]

Well...it was an interesting year. This time last year I'd just done the New Years Day parkrun double and thinking what a brilliant way to start the year, it all looks so promising... Like many of us, I only got another 8 parkruns in after that. The cancelling of our local parkrun due to flooding on Saturday 29th February set the tone for the year. Still, there will be another in 2048 🤣. At least I'm not stuck on some dreadful landmark number like 49 or 99, but at 73 the black top of 100 was in touching distance. If parkrun starts again before high summer, it is still possible this year 🤞🤞🤞

The year wasn't all bad, I got a decent haul of medals and with my lovely VRBs I still managed a sub 60 minute for the Vitality 10k. Bloody mindedness got my first (and second) HMs but my heart really wasn't in it for the England v Wales medal - it just felt like another 10k. The Jingle Bell jog was great fun with Shake-and-run , Katnap and friend. And Strava tells me that I beat my 2019 mileage by about 180 miles so I'm pretty chuffed with that. So this is what I'm thinking for 2021:

- Set 1000 miles as my goal for the year

- Finish LEJOG6 by early May at the latest. I'm currently near Preston with just under 500 miles to go. And of course I'm onto a challenge now as I need to keep ahead of Katnap who has just started LEJOG9 and he does double my monthly mileage usually😁

- Complete RED January. I tried it in May but my body wasn't having it. I need to treat it more kindly this month. I should easily get the exercise in between Adriene and Joe Wicks (whilst the gym is shut (again)) but I would love to run it all

- The very slim possibility of a London Marathon place might need to be trained for (I don't want to commit to a charity place as a complete novice) which would be amazing and incredibly exciting but I'm being realistic that it'll be another winter top in the post next week instead of a number.

- A bigger possibility of the Vitality 10k actually being in London at the end of May 🤞🤞🤞

- Keep doing the yoga, keep both Achilles intact and keep in touch with you lot on here (which I've found annoyingly tricky in 2020 but I must try harder)!

Not the biggest list of hopes and dreams but I'm keeping it real for 2021! Anything else will be a wonderful bonus (including that black parkrun top...pretty please?!).

Happy running everybody: stay safe and stay healthy 😍

[RunaroundSue]

Our walk took us to the Marple parkrun this morning. Unsurprisingly it was muddy, so we missed out the worst bits

[TailChaser Marathon in reply to RunaroundSue]

Oh wow Sue, I loved that parkrun. It had to be the muddiest we have encountered so far but the best coffee shop of the lot to make up for it!

[RunaroundSue in reply to TailChaser]

Choice of 2 coffee shops and the pub now, which is good as there is a lot more space inside and outside the pub

[TailChaser Marathon in reply to RunaroundSue]

So looking forward to seeing the inside of a coffee shop and/or pub again.

[RunaroundSue in reply to TailChaser]

Yes, we were discussing that on our little local parkrun group yesterday. We are all missing each other. Apart from the Half Marathon relay team to support Pianism in August (and fish & chips lunch) we are only meeting on WhatsApp.

[RunaroundSue]

Enough to keep you busy there I think !

[TailChaser Marathon in reply to RunaroundSue]

For a while... 😊

[RunaroundSue in reply to TailChaser]

👍

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

Great goals TC. Happy running and all 😊

[TailChaser Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Thanks Linda, you too 👍

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon]

That’s a fantastic game plan TC and you did amazingly well in 2020. 🥰💥🏃‍♀️

I’m putting it out there. See you in London for the Vitality. 🤞👊😀

[TailChaser Marathon in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Thank you 😍 So looking forward to that cheeky. I should restrain myself but I can’t help it!!!

[cheekychipmunks Half Marathon in reply to TailChaser]

Me neither. The excitement will ramp up as the weeks go on. 🤞👏🏅🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️🤞

[TailChaser Marathon in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Oh yes!!! 🙌

[Katnap Marathon]

The miles go up quickly when you do RED and I'm sure you'll do it this time around 👍😁👍

[TailChaser Marathon in reply to Katnap]

🤞🤞🤞

[Dexy5 10 Miles]

I am sure you will complete everything you set out to do TailChaser.

Parkrun had decided that the double wouldn’t happen this year due to the pressure on the later run, but it didn’t stop a few (not) parkrunners doing 2 runs along the prom this morning.

Happy new year to you and Kat family 🥳

[TailChaser Marathon in reply to Dexy5]

Happy new year to you and UTS too Dexy.

Yes, I remember them saying that and I wasn’t surprised. The Leam parkrun was particularly busy last year as people just abandoned their cars blocking emergency access. 🙄

[Sandie1961 Half Marathon]

Seems like a pretty packed list of goals, but I have no doubt you will achieve them all. My biggest wish is for a big parkrun meet up sometime during 2021. I don’t care where!

[TailChaser Marathon in reply to Sandie1961]

Oh wouldn’t that be wonderful Sandie! We’ll see you there! 👍

[Sandie1961 Half Marathon in reply to TailChaser]

Defo 😃😃😃

[Irish-John Marathon]

Staying strong there TC 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻 Best wishes for 2021

[TailChaser Marathon in reply to Irish-John]

Thanks John, you too 😍

[Oldgirlruns 10 Miles]

Sounds like you have a busy year of challenges coming up TC! Enjoy making them all come true and HNY to you and the family!

[TailChaser Marathon in reply to Oldgirlruns]

Thank you OG, happy new year to you and hopefully we’ll meet up again this year 🤞🤞🤞

[SmilingTortoise1 Half Marathon]

These sound like a great set of running challenges for this year TailChaser 👍Looking at your achievements from 2020, I have no doubt you will be able to successfully rise to these challenges💪😀

[TailChaser Marathon in reply to SmilingTortoise1]

Thanks ST, I’ll do my best 👍😊