Wheeee! A blank sheet and the start of a new year! 2022 is gone forever and we have a new year ahead of us, full of hopes and dreams and fresh aspirations.
Even if, like me, you don’t go for NY resolutions as such it’s still a good time to look at how last year went and consider what tweaks or changes we can make to see some of those dreams come true or at least get closer.
So, what are your running plans and dreams for 2023? Any size will do. Big dreams or small ones, it’s a start and we all know any journey begins with a single tiny step.
I had a bit of a rubbish running year in 2022 so I’m looking for an improvement this year. But I know a lot of that is up to me so I’m going public with my goals so I can pop back in six months time to see how I got on! Perhaps you want to do the same? So, here are mine:
1. Firstly, I want to put my injuries behind me and have an injury-free running year. That’s really the most important one and I need to be mindful of that as I start the running and gardening year! As it was gardening that caused my back injury last time I need to be particularly careful out there and limit my time bending over in the garden, warm up before, stretch afterwards and keep doing my exercises.
2. Then, I want to get back to some strength training again. My back issues stopped most of that in 2022 but I’m seeing a great osteopath and I’m hopeful that, with her help, I’ll get back to where I was or even better.
3. Easing back to HM distance is next. I haven’t run that distance since September 2021 but I have a 10 mile race in March I have an eye on so if that goes ahead alright then I’ll be in good shape for a HM afterwards.
4. And lastly, if that all works out then I’d like to do more races. I did only one last year and I have bling withdrawal symptoms ☹️ Hopefully the March race will kickstart the recovery 🤞
Well, those are my running/running related goals. What are yours? We’d love to read all about them.
But, whatever you have planned for 2023 we hope it is a healthy, injury-free and happy year for every single one of you with lots of joyful runs.
Let’s bring ON 2023!!!!
With love from the Marathon Team xxx
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🥳 If you have an event in January and haven’t told us yet and would like a pompom cheer, or if you’re just curious what your VRBs are up to then go here:
🏅If you’ve run a milestone run: 10 miles/Half Marathon/Metric Marathon (26.2K)/Marathon/Ultra (50K and beyond) and want a shiny new badge, then head here:
I don’t do New Year Resolutions either, but I have a rough plan.
My last HM run was on 14 September 2021. I don’t know whether I can, should or even want to run that distance again, but I downloaded NRC HM plan at the weekend. I think that the structure and variety will do me good, even if I bale out at 10 miles.
Santa left some weights for me, so that will add a bit to non run day efforts.
At the weekend I did a slightly less slow 5k, which gave me a glimpse of the injury free me. I want to keep the injuries at bay, but it would be just plain boring to run every run with the handbrake on.
So, increase distances (I am back to easy 10ks now), build up strength with weights and my swimming and finally add a touch of sensible pace is the plan. I need to be strong for our summer journeys…..Mrs BC likes to sneak in hard backed books to our cases🙄! Reading virtual books just isn’t the same apparently 😂.
I was up early because I was taking mum back home BC. Normally I don’t see that time of day 😴
Once I get into a decent routine again I’m going to check out the NRC plans as they seem very popular here. I was just going to do my own thing getting to 10 miles again but maybe I should follow a proper plan…. 🤔
Good luck with your goals 🍀
I’ve just bought my husband a kindle for Christmas as previously he was a hard cover book reader. The jury is still out…..
I got OH a kindle to replace the original one which is fine but is no longer supported ☹️
The new one is tiny! 😳. I expected it would be at least the same size 😤
We were trying to get kindle onto his iPad but that is too old as well so we’re stumped . I sent the new one back for a refund. Next thing is to try to get the kindle app onto a Samsung tablet. What a palaver
I’m sitting in bed with the lurgy (not Covid though). Payback for pushing things maybe too much in December, but hey ho, no regrets, it’s not an injury, just a cold. I had a humongous 2022 (I think we were polar opposites IP!). Don’t think it’s worth trying to beat it, so I’m going to do things just outside my comfort zone:
- joining a virtual running club and get EA affiliation. After 5 years of running it’s probably about time
- like RunWillie I’m going for 2023 km
- another marathon, abroad to make it special enough, just got to pluck up the courage to register for it!
- lastly, I’ve got a half booked in April and I’m going to try and get a PB - my halves have been getting slower and slower since marathon training
There we go. Nothing too onerous. Apart from the half and the remaining Winter Series I have nothing else booked…yet!
Have a wonderful 2023 all, especially you IP as I think you really deserve a break! 🥳
Aargh…. You have my sympathies TC as I spent a couple of days in bed last week with a cold. It’s difficult to escape at the minute.
You had a stupendous year in 2022!!! But those are great 2023 goals right there. Doing things outside your comfort zone is brave and will be even more special when you achieve them.
Have you got an eye on a particular overseas Marathon? There is so much choice….
Thanks for your wishes for a better year and I hope your lurgy disappears quickly. You have runs to do….. 🏃♀️
I don’t know many who haven’t been poorly over Christmas. I was very unlikely to get away with it - I get everything youngest kitten has!
We’re thinking of Amsterdam. It’s a very long time since I’ve been anywhere off this big island, so it can be a gentle introduction to races elsewhere. As you say, there’s so much choice and it would addle my head too much to think of anywhere else - it’s flat, so hopefully I can get round before the 6 hour cut off!
Actually, you’ve reminded me, I forgot another goal! It’s not a race, just a bucket list run - Central Park, NY. Another thing that needs to be booked. That before the marathon, before we have an empty nest!
All of these things are just a little out of reach but just far enough if I can just stretch enough! I have just ticked the first one off, so that’s a good start (although it’s the easiest and didn’t need any stretching!).
Now to get better, as you say, I have runs to do! 😅
Sorry you had such a rough year IP, hope this one is better - sounds like you are making the right moves to enable that!
In 2022 I increased my running cadence 10%, from around 155 to around 170. Sounds such a little thing but it has made a huge difference.
I ran HM distance for the first time in July, from September I was running 200 km a month quite comfortably, and in December I passed 1000 miles for the year.
I was also congratulating myself on my first year without a stress injury, but am currently resting (and doing exercises and working on posture), with the aim of eliminating what I think is a persistent DOMS which I've gradually become aware of in my lower back. The first time in my (lucky) life that I've experienced back pain. After three days rest it is a lot better. Going to give it up to 2 weeks to go away.
As for 2023 I'd like to hit 1000 miles again.
I'd be happy just with that, but bonuses would include losing weight, as being heavy distorts all of my running stats. To that end I'm joining the ZOE personalised nutrition programme which for some people has enabled weight loss without counting calories.
I'd like to run HM distance again in 2023, but I'd really like to be comfortable running 300 km a month before trying it, because at that volume I'd be confident of running an HM on impulse, which is how I tend to do things.
I had Shalane Flanagan cookbook for Christmas. Lovely, healthy meals for runners. No need for calorie counting.
I lost nearly 5 stone with WW. I’ve never calorie counted. Runners need healthy grub. Just cutting out the nutritionally poor stuff is a good starting point
Well done on increasing your cadence. You’ve obviously done it gradually and you’re seeing the benefits. Good for you!
Congratulations also on hitting 1000 miles for the year 👍 but boo to the back pain. Hopefully the rest will do the trick but keep an eye on it as it might be a structural issue that needs addressed ( I only say this based on my own back issues in the past) But it sounds hopeful that after three days rest you are noticing a difference.
Thank you - and yes you're spot on - I need to be careful with this back issue. I didn't want to catastrophise it, but any doubts after 2 weeks and sports physio for sure. 🤞
Mornin all. I’m laid up ! It was fast intervals wot dun it! Same as last January 😏 I’ve tweaked my back. Packing away Christmas and clearing up now my guests have gone is going to be a challenge. My dishwasher packing up on Christmas Eve hasn’t helped my mood.
I can’t sit comfortably so I’ve been in bed. I got up yesterday tea time as we had guests. They had to make the tea and lay out the snacks ☺️
I hope everyone else is firing on all cylinders and looking forward to the new running year Here’s to you 🥂
Thanks misswobble!! I have to do the first intervals and fartleks I have done in years starting this week; note to self …very slow followed by not quite so very slow!!
Thanks misswobble. My problem with speeding up is that my stride lengthens if I am not careful…that leads to heel strike…..pressure on knees etc etc….so I need to think increased cadence.
you could choose a hill to run your intervals up which would prevent you lengthening your stride 🙂
mind you, don’t take my advice 😁. I can barely walk at the minute. Tomorrow will be interesting when I attempt to walk the neighbour’s dog. He’s fairly doddery these days so we’ll have a slow plod about the place.
You’ll just have to forget about the decorations, they can wait. In fact everything can wait but just rest and take care of that back. It’s the only one you have 🏃♀️
It’s been pouring it down all day so nothing doing. I feel I’ve not missed much 🙂
My festive Epsom salts have been a boon .I had another soak today. The decs are still up. It’s not 12th night til Thursday so they can stay put. OH is back at work so won’t be coming volunteering to pack Christmas away
I had a really disturbed night. Gawd it’s like rotten toothache int it 😖
I’m here to share the back pain misswobble! I tweaked mine taking the lights down from the front of my house a couple of days ago! 😩 Here’s hoping we are both healed and back out there soon!🤞🏃♀️🙂
Aw ... sorry to read that you are laid up Miss W. I am convinced intervals at about effort about 7/10 or higher are off limits for me. Boo! I do hope that you are well soon.
Hello Irishprincess , thanks for hosting, and Bonne Année to you and all my VRBs!
Fall-related injuries, months of heatwave, and my first lurgy in several years meant that 2022 was a running year to forget. My only achievement was not giving up completely.
As I find goals, especially publicly-declared ones, oppressive rather than motivational I won't be setting any for 2023. Yes, there's stuff I'd like to do, but if it doesn't happen it doesn't happen, and if it does it does.
I'd just like to have fun running, and I wish you all the same!
Your injury woes were bad last year. 🥺 I can imagine the disappointment. ☹️ But you seem to know how to manage your body now, so hopefully 2023 will be a much better year for you. 🤞 HM? Yes you can!
I had a pants running year last year too. It started off ok, but that heatwave affected me hugely, then I picked up the (not) covid bug in September that lasted literally for weeks and sapped me of all energy. But me being me I went ahead and ran my 4 races (3 x 10k and 1 x 10 miles) all not feeling 100%. I did them all, probably very foolishly, but you know what I think about bling! 😍 Anyway, they didn’t help my recovery, I picked up a couple more colds and I’m only just returning to some semblance of normality now, believe it or not.
So my goals for 2023 are to get back to HM distance, reclaim the lost fitness minutes, and enter some fun races. Oh, and PR meet-ups whenever possible. ❤️
The bling is so tempting Munks and I totally understand how you probably shouldn’t have but you did! I’m having serious withdrawal symptoms atm but it’s a fine balance between using common sense or just going for it!
Let’s hope for many of us 2023 will be the year when injuries will be things of the past and bling chasers like us will be able to satisfy our cravings 🏃♀️🏅
Good luck with your 2023 goals 🍀 and I really hope we manage to meet up somewhere this year 😍
I like your goals IP: hopefully they will happen for you and you'll be injury free.
2022 was good for me in terms of coping well with an injury (thanks to my physio) and doing my first two HMs plus various other things.
I'm a bit chary about setting myself too many things to do... whilst it's useful to have a target I am able to get over-excited and want to do everything ... all at once ! ... now ! ... or sooner! So for 2023 the theme will be consolidation: keep the 10k's and 10 milers going, possibly do another HM but also work towards a triathlon.
So, to reduce that to one target: get back to swimming again - find a place where I like to swim and incorporate it into my weekly schedule. If that works then start to think about other things.
Happy running everyone and hope 2023 is a good one 🤞🤞
Hi everyone, Happy New Year! 😊 Sounds like some good plans there IP ,I've every confidence that 2023 will be a better year for you 😊
My 2022 running was not great, too much stress in life in general , especially with my doggo, took up much of my spare time and energy. And although he's not better he's stable and I'm trying to be positive and have a better attitude and hopefully manage things as they come.
So, no runs yet this year but I did do a 5 mile cycle today and conquered the big hill at thr end (with a 2 sec PB according to strava!🥰)had to stop for a little break at the top though! I've been cycling back and forth to work these past few months, only a 10min ride but its getting easier!
Hoping to do club nights more regularly this year, some of the cross county series which starts end of Jan(love the mud!) I've entered Salisbury 10 mile which is springtime, and Needles HM which is June. Contemplating the Ryde 10 which is early Feb if I get my A** in gear!
Worry is a big energy sapper so fingers crossed your little doggie will have a good year 😍
Reading your posts I get the impression that you run all the time Ali! See, you’ve already entered some races. You must have a race room never mind hangers 🏅🏅🏅
Thanks IP 😊He's not going to get better sadly, 😪 but he's mostly happy and eating well so each week is a bonus. I did brave the weather tonight to go to club, and again tomorrow, and trying to eat a bit healthier as am feeling podgy!
I do have a nice stash of bling to remind me of past achievements which is a boost. Considering the Ryde 10 miler in early Feb but they haven't posted a piccy of the medal yet,last year's one was the main motivation to get round! 🤣🤣xxx
Hi IP and a happy new year to and all other VRBs 🥳 🥂✨
Bad backs are a real pain the @ss! I hope you continue to strengthen yours over the year. Your goal of getting back to strength training will certainly help with that and preventing further injury. I have no doubt that it has helped my back, especially the core work I have been doing. I wish you well with it. I know for a fact that I couldn’t have cleared the masses of ivy, paint and put up fence panels in my mum’s garden, with relative ease and no pain, if it hadn’t been for my strength training. It’s one of my personal discoveries last year and one that I thoroughly intend to build on. I even shelled out on a series of personal trainer sessions so that I could get the best out of the gym and use the machines properly.
Looking ahead my plans are to continue with my current training plan. My goals are to attend the UK indoor and outdoor masters champs in Feb and Jun/Jul and ultimately to take part in the European masters champs in Sep. A bit pie in the sky at the moment but that is what goals and dreaming are for.
More importantly I share your goal of staying injury free. That’s a real challenge as I’m my own worst enemy when it comes to shrugging minor niggles off instead of dealing with them.
Not sure if my last goal is realistic, but I really, really, really hope I don’t catch covid. More luck than will sadly.
I’ve started this year off with trying to shift some lingering and useless belly fat that is hanging on no matter what I do. It even had the cheek of getting bigger over Xmas 😂. I have started with intermittent fasting. So far I’m sticking with it. 🤞
Happy New Year Brian. You’ve had a pretty amazing 2022 with your hard work coming to fruition and so many exciting events! Roll on 2023 with more of the same.
Championships in February sound fairly close! I guess you have to keep to the training pretty much the whole year around.
I’m wearing my mask again on planes and in crowded areas because I simply don’t want to take any more time out if I get COVID again. I do see an increase in mask wearing so it’s sensible I think at this time of year especially.
Keeping everything crossed that we can keep the injuries at bay and that our backs can cope with the gardening yet to come 🤞 🌻🌹
Happy New Year IP and all you lovely Health Unlocked runners!🙂 Here’s to an injury free one and the best of luck with your goals.👍
I am looking forward to a year of more consistent running too, although I am currently sat here with a sore back, having tweaked it whilst taking down the lights from the front of the house a couple of days ago!😩
I would very much like to build my distance up again too but before that my goal is to work on my core strength which I feel is very neglected at present, especially after all the Christmas indulgence!
Like you, I think I have only one piece of bling to show for last year and we both know that “the bling is the thing!”😍🏅I’m hoping to start my 2023 collection with the London Winter run next month (assuming this niggly back settles quickly)🤞
Something has just dawned on me! I must be in a post materialist phase. Despite the many miles I have run over the last 4.5 years, I only have two medals to show for it. When I did the GSR in October, I was surprised when I put my hand into the goody bag and pulled out a rather nice weighty gong; I decided to hang it up amongst the Christmas decorations so that someone might accidentally see it! My only thought whilst running was that I had come a long way (more about the VRB meet up than the race) so I really needed to finish.
I clearly do not run for the bling. There must be something wrong with me 😂
We should do a poll to see how many of us are motivated by the bling. It would be interesting…
I’ve read that some runners put their medal in the nearest bin as soon as they receive it 😱 but I have never seen anyone do this at races and only see proud runners with medals around their necks showing off and getting photos taken.
I read about a race recently that sounded quite good but then I noticed they weren’t giving out bling so I didn’t enter 🤔
Whilst the medal played no part in my decision to run, I definitely won’t throw it away; it was a surprise post race gift.
I don’t have any races in mind for 2023, but I have started a 14 week HM plan just as a means of improving fitness and setting myself targets. So if something interesting pops up, I will be ready.👍
I am ashamed to say, I have been put off races by the lack of medal! It doesn’t even have to be big and shiny - a small wooden token of my achievement is fine! I don’t feel the same about race T-shirt s however and would happily give them a miss!
I rarely wear a race T Shirt. I like my own stuff! The Great Run long sleeved shirt (which I bought) is an exception; it is a good intermediate between winter gear and hot weather attire.
I'm the opposite Sandraj39 ! My Trail de St Jacques finisher t-shirt makes me feel good every time I wear it. It's a comfortable piece of kit that also reminds me of a wonderful day and what I can achieve when I put my mind to it. A medal would've been shoved away with all the other junk that I never get round to sorting out!
Nothing wrong with you in my opinion, I'm not interested in bling either. We are all different. 😊 Just one medal in my nearly 5 years of running(less really due to ic times)! I would quite like a t-shirt that says that I have completed a Half Marathon. Preferably a t-shirt that I really like, a HM with beautiful scenery and not too many people either. Rather up to my various, not fully right areas of injury, whether this will happen.
I would quite like a Hardmoors shirt; but I fear that I am 20 years too late for any of their races. The clue is in the name! I have nothing against medals….I think that all I am saying is that meeting up with people is a much stronger driver for me.
A VRB meet up is well over due for me. I score zero on that count. One day I hope and , oh yes, a meet up would be much more of an incentive than a medal. 😊
We’re very very glad you joined our happy gang in October BC, and I hope people got a chance to admire your well deserved bling at Christmas. Might you be adding to your collection this year? 😀 Maybe you’ll need to invest in a bling display hanger. Mine is almost to capacity! 😅
For 2023, I have only got as far as staring at brochures for Alaska in the summer cheeky; vast doesn’t really cover it! Until I sort that out, which involves our two sons and OHs too, I don’t know how any tourist running might fit in. Scilly is booked of course. Need to get on with it 🙂
I'm with you Beachcomber66 , I most definitely do not run for the bling. My entire collection, from one virtual and two real events, consists of one pair of bright yellow bunny ears on a headband, a fairly hefty bunny-shaped medal, a small jar of powered cep mushrooms, a pair of running socks and a finisher t-shirt. The latter two are good quality technical items. Personally I prefer stuff I can use over a medal any day.
That’s an exciting goal! I look forward to reading all about it in the coming weeks.
This particular cold strain seems to linger. My husband, who never suffers from a cold, is still coughing and spluttering weeks on from his first symptoms.
Hi IP and everyone. I do wish you luck staying injury free, it makes such a difference!
I am deliberately not really setting goals this year. I am so grateful that 2022 was a great running year for me with virtually no injuries, my highest annual mileage and my fastest times across all distances. I enjoyed the running, I got around and I met lots of people. Win, win, win, win win!!!
So I feel that setting time/distance/bling goals this year might prove counter productive. Instead I will focus on trying to stay injury free, having a great time and continuing to visit new places and new/old friends in the process! Of course I say that, but realistically I will develop time expectations, I just know it 🙈
Whatever they are, may all our running dreams come true 😊
You have had a great running year Linda. Even I feel the need for speed occasionally….but keeping injury free remains my target….I hate limping around watching others run! Have a wonderful 2023.
I remember once waiting in a hospital room for a minor operation and when I looked out the window I saw a runner going past. I knew I wasn't going to be able to run for a few months so that was painful ☹️ I remember saying out loud to an empty room, “how could they?” 😂
Win x 5 sounds wonderful! How lovely! Fastest times across all distances wow and more wows! And a plan to stay injury free, have a great time and continue to visit new places and new/old friends sounds a sounds just right too. Here's to another great year! 😊
Hello Irishprincess and Happy New Year to you! Thank you for hosting and here's to your running dreams becoming reality. Thinking about a 10 mile race in March sounds like you must be feeling good. A lovely way to start the year.
I continue to know that my knee is not right and so I am unsure what it will let me do. Although my physio was happy for me to aim for the HM distance my knee seems to have its own agenda. At the moment it doesn't feel right. My physio thinks my arthritis is the problem. I need to read up about it and re-start the physio exercises. Having said that, I have kept up 3 runs a week except when visitors prevented that sort of play, reached 10km and yesterday Mr Garmin kindly gave me my highest VO2 max for ages. Also managed to encourage my sister to run, she had a running watch for Christmas. So quite a few positives.😊
I will still hoping that one day I shall have a t-shirt that says that I have completed a Half Marathon. Preferably a t-shirt that I really like, a HM with beautiful scenery and not too many people either. I'm beaming thinking about it, but we'll see. (I haven't even discovered such a race) Clearly no pace effort allowed above 7 out of 10 which is disappointing, but you never know perhaps if things in my knee will change for the better. I hope so.
Has your physio suggested a hot water bottle placed on your knee cap for 15 minutes pre run followed by gentle massage of the knee cap itself? It made a big difference to me when I had bad runner’s knee in 2020. I still do it. It is supposed to stimulate the production of synovial fluid. Worth asking maybe?
Thank you Beachcomber, I confess this is the second time that you have mentioned this and I haven't done anything about it yet. Wondering if it is relevant for arthritis.
No Idea, but worth asking the question. I had a combination of runner's knee and a very painful plica. I thought that it was the end of my running, the knee was so sore. A combination of exercises and, for 15 minutes before running, application of my trusty hot water bottle did the trick. Might just be worth mentioning to your physio. If surfaces are rubbing against each other, additional lubrication might help. I have just come back from a steady 10k and I never gave a thought to my knee; that seemed impossible when I started my rehab.
Thank you must be worth a try, I often have no pain or discomfort while running, but the next day is when I am aware that something isn't right. Mr Google is in favour of heat too I see.
Happy new year to you and happy injury free running as well 😊🏃🏻♂️
That sounds all so positive! It’s great that you're still running three times a week. You’re doing far better than me at the minute as I haven't run for two weeks now after a cold and various other reasons.
You know your body best so if you feel your knee is not right then it’s clearly not. But we have a whole year ahead of us so there’s plenty of time to work on our goals and dreams. And it sounds as if you have a good physio who can support you.
Good luck 🍀 and I really hope 2023 will be the year you have your HM dream x
My physio has signed me off, saying if the pain level or swelling become seriously worse then make another appointment. The arthritis was identified by the x-ray I had in August 2020 at the time of my gardening fall. It really is time I researched arthritis. I suppose as the discomfort isn't too bad I have just got on with things and ignored it. I wonder Beachcomber66 whether the hot water bottle idea is relevant to arthritis, as I said I know I need to do some research.
Bit late to the chat sorry but good luck IP with your goals and 2023 being a better year. I was happy that last year I proved to myself I could recover quickly after a half marathon if I stuck to my strength training and that I could enjoy running one (Cardiff) if I changed my mindset about tackling it with energy! (instead of feeling doubtful I could do it)
This year has not started well! I love January as I usually take part in the farming community #run1000 BUT started out with a horrible virus that has left me with a nasty cough and an eye infection. So #run1000 and Red January have had to start with very gentle walks and yoga with Adriene! I'm really missing running (though I must admit not in this current weather!) and hope to be back soon. The only race I have booked is Cardiff Half again in October.
So my goals this year are 1) do more yoga as part of strength training. 2) stick to doing activities (walk/ run / strength) even when work gets crazy and even if I only manage 5 mins! 3) Be brave and try trail running on my own (maybe keep the farm dog clean so he can come?)
Good luck to all of you for your run goals in 2023
Sorry to read that you’re unwell. There’s so much going around atm. My husband, who is never ill, has had two bouts in the last month and almost everyone we know has/ had something!
The weather is foul and our little roads here are flooded but at least it’s not freezing. The ice and snow held me back so I have a lot to catch up on 🙂
You have great goals. I wish you luck with them and I hope your cough and eye 👁️ infection disappear soon 🤞🍀
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