WEEKLY CHAT 30 DECEMBER 2024 - 5TH JANUARY 2025 HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!!🥳⭐️🎈🥂

[Irishprincess]

As one year comes to an end and a new one starts, it seems a good time to reflect on the last twelve months and how our running lives have been, but also to consider what exciting plans we have for 2025.

Have you achieved what you set out to do in 2024? Did injury and/or illness scupper your plans? What are your best memories of the year? What plans do you have for the coming year? Pull up a comfy chair, grab a drink and join the chat 😊

I began and ended the year injury-free so that’s a big success in my books 👍I was able to return to my races after a gap of over two years and of course the bling was a huge motivator for me, so I got back to my happy place again 🤗

Another big win was that I finally got to the start line and crossed the finish line of the Bath Half after years of trying and I got a PB at the Antrim Coast HM, an event I had wanted to do for a few years.

It wasn’t all happy days though as I had a few injuries and got Covid twice so that scuppered the running for a wee while. But those days are forgotten and I now just think of the good times 😊

One of my year’s highlights was meeting my fellow admin,    linda9389 and her dad. We didn’t run but met in a cosy country pub where we chatted, drank and ate while we got to know each other better in real life! Linda is as lovely in person as she comes across here and I was sorry to say goodbye at the end. I’m hoping we’ll be able to meet up again some time soon and maybe 2025 will be the year when we can arrange an admin meet-up for all three of us! What fun that would be!

Moving on to 2025, I have a few races booked and my first ever night run in February to look forward to. A VRB meet-up is likely for the London Winter Run, also in February, and I’m already very excited about this one 🤗

What about you? Any races booked? Any big challenges? We’d love to read all about them.

However your year went, whether you had good running adventures or maybe spent more time on the sickness/injury bench than you would have liked, we hope that each and every one of you has a peaceful, happy new year and that 2025 will be healthy, joyous and injury-free.

A BIG HAPPY NEW YEAR to all of you ⭐️⭐️⭐️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️🤗🤗🥳🥳

With love from your admin team,    linda9389 ,    Beachcomber66 and me xxx

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For January races go here: healthunlocked.com/marathon...

[RunWillie Marathon]

Hi Irishprincess & other VRB's,

Happy New Year everyone!

2024 will always be the year that I ran a marathon. I didn't make my annual goal of 1500 miles but came close & should finish on 1450 miles if I run 2 miles tomorrow.

2025 goals

2500km annual goal

25km × 5

2 strength & 5 runs per week

Looking forward to cheering everyone on whatever the year brings. ❤️

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to RunWillie]

It was a great year for you RW! Here’s to another one in 2025 🍀

Happy New Year to you and the family x

[RiceAndPeas Marathon in reply to RunWillie]

Well done RunWillie, 2024 will forever be the year I ran a marathon too. Best of luck with your goals for 2025, will there be more marathons?

[RunWillie Marathon in reply to RiceAndPeas]

That's awesome RiceAndPeas I would like to run more marathons, but no race plans for 2025. Happy New Year 🤩

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon]

Hi IP, you have had a really good year; getting to Bath was a highlight I think.

Extraordinary thing to say at my age, but I am sure that this was my best year of running! I knocked 13 minutes and 24 seconds off my HM PB and 3 minutes and 46 seconds off my 10 mile PB, as well as managing 1k and 1 mile pbs. I think becoming an admin, suitably encouraged/ advised/ prodded (gently) by fellow admins and running buddies, has made me a tiny bit more responsible 😂, but the main difference to my running is the influence of CB with the HM and Marathon plans which has changed the way I run. Add to that the linked training plan which I started at the end of July. Since then I have done 206 work outs (2492 minutes) as against the occasional stretches and squats which preceded it.

Mrs BC being diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes, and me being flagged as “pre diabetic” led to a massive change in diet, so there is only 10 stones 4lbs of me now versus 11.5 stones plus a bit of last Christmas! All a bit painful, but it is good to have some wins to look back on. Next year? Still thinking 🙂

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to Beachcomber66]

You’ve had a great year BC and some notable achievements. You have everything down to a tee now and, no doubt, you will have another great year in 2025.

Happy New Year to you and yours x

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to Irishprincess]

🙂 Thanks IP; maybe my Google sheets performance should be my target this year 🤔

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to Beachcomber66]

🥰🥰

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Beachcomber66]

😂😂😂

[RiceAndPeas Marathon in reply to Beachcomber66]

Wow, now that's a great year. A very inspiring great year! PBs at 4 different distances!I was diagnosed as prediabetic last year which was what started me on C25k. Hopefully the big dietary changes you made have helped Mrs BC too.

Best wishes for an equally great 2025.

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to RiceAndPeas]

Thanks RAP. Mrs BC is similarly diminished in terms of weight, not that she needed to lose anything either. We did it all together. Sorted out our acceptable menus, ate the same stuff, with me as head chef (I do most of the cooking) and Mrs BC as a very rebellious sous chef( she chops the veg, supervises to make sure I don’t make mistakes and provides advice and “constructive feedback”/ commentary as we go 🙂).Gordon Ramsay would have fired her 😂..or maybe she would have fired him first…..(the latter more likely!). Mrs BC doesn’t run, but we get out for our daily Molly walks etc. Mrs BC’s last blood sugar test result was down to 45 from 56, so in the right direction, albeit metformin assisted. I will be tested as part of my over 70’s annual MOT in February no doubt; I was only 1 point above the 41 point threshold anyway.

Been a tough year for lots of reasons.🤞 for 2025. Running helps 👍

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to Beachcomber66]

Your fitness is surely a great benefit at times like this BC.

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon in reply to Irishprincess]

Definitely IP; exercise, fresh air and a release of endorphins …..just what is needed. The odd PB is a welcome bonus 🙂

[AlMorr Half Marathon]

A big happy New Year to you Irishprincess ,I hope you have many happy runs in 2025 ✅🏃and never on the ICI've had a very good running year, 37 parkruns, the same as 2023, 13/10K'S, a few more than 2023, among those 13/10K'S a PB and a first time I ran with thousands of others at The Great Scottish Run in October, I am already booked for the 2025 GSR and am considering to run a race 10K in May as well which will take place near to where the GSR takes place.

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to AlMorr]

You are a parkrun hero Al and I am sure your great success will continue for the coming year. It’s always good to try something new so a 10K race in May will keep things fresh. nd, no doubt, there will be nice bling too 🤩

Happy New Year to you and yours x

[AlMorr Half Marathon in reply to Irishprincess]

I got a email from parkrun headquarters thanking me for volunteering 24 times at parkrun and inviting me to buy a 25 volunteer T shirt after #25,

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to AlMorr]

That’s fab Al!

[RiceAndPeas Marathon in reply to AlMorr]

That sounds like a highly productive and rewarding running year with another planned for 2025. Hope the new year brings you more PBs but more importantly just as much fun and reward. Happy New Year!

[AlMorr Half Marathon in reply to RiceAndPeas]

✅🏃 Thanks RiceAndPeas✅

[Sandraj39 Half Marathon]

I think my main hope at the beginning of the year was to just keep running🤣…but also with the hope of maybe running another HM.

I will whisper it very quietly 🤫 - but I have managed to stay injury free this year!😲 Perhaps the strength and conditioning has paid off, perhaps I was just lucky! Of course life got in the way of running at times…but here I am at the years end, feeling grateful and looking forward to what next year may bring.

Catching Covid in September scuppered my training plans for the Cardiff Half but I carried on and completed the distance on my local roads and got myself a virtual medal instead, a little later than planned but goal number 2✔️😊

I hope to build up to another HM distance over the next few weeks but have yet to enter a spring HM - maybe worried that I will jinx it in some way😬…maybe just happy to run solo at the moment. 🏃‍♀️😊 Come February however, I will be joining the masses again in the London Winter run 10k - which I am really looking forward to.

Thanks as ever, to all the lovely admin on these wonderful forums and best wishes for the New Year to everyone!🙂

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to Sandraj39]

Staying injury-free for the whole year is a fantastic achievement Sandra! Well done 👏 The HM was a great win too.

If you don’t fancy a HM race in spring then keep an eye out for our own HUHM which might be happening again!

Hopefully we can meet up at the London Winter Run (it’s not far away is it?) but in the meantime, Happy New Year to you and yours x

[Sandraj39 Half Marathon in reply to Irishprincess]

Have you seen the medal?!!😍🏅❄️🤣

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to Sandraj39]

That’s why I entered! cheekychipmunks is to blame as she posted a photo of it!

[RiceAndPeas Marathon in reply to Sandraj39]

Injury free for a year, now that's a massive win straight away. Sounds like you have exciting races planned already, very best of luck with those and Happy New Year!

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

Nawhh, kind words IP. I too loved our meeting, and really, really hope the three of us can get together in 2025.

My year was one of mixed fortunes! My leg misbehaved, to varying degrees, from the end of Jan right through to the end of the year. My fitness and pace are well below what they have been. I hardly got out on my bike and I am no better at strength or physio work! I'd say there's room for improvement in 2025.

That said, I've run most of the year. I've run half marathons and 10ks, I've stuck to training plans, I've met up with several lovely VRBs and I've discovered a new taste for parkrun tourism. More than anything though, despite the challenges, what stands out clearly is that I still love running; it gives me structure and purpose and does wonders for my mental wellbeing. I am grateful for every step I have run in 2024 and for all the lovely connections here on this forum too.

I look forward to more of the same next year; any improvements will just be icing on top of the cake 🥰

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Your running was definitely snakes and ladders this year Linda! But you did achieve a lot.

Still loving running is what it’s all about though and we are so lucky that we are still there 🥰

Happy New Year to you and yours x

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to Irishprincess]

And a very Happy New Year to you too 🥰

[aliboo70 Half Marathon]

Hi Irishprincess and all VRBs! Ummm , well I can't say it's been the best year for our family ,both younger members and now the older ones having significant health issues . So a lot of stress and worry and not so many runs . I guess I did get 2 x 10mile races in, my annual Needles HM, few other shorter ones, would have to check back. So not totally lost it but also feeling a bit unfit and tubby! My Dad's home today from hospital but still with some issues so needs supervising hence my late night note! Needing to do checks every few hrs to check all is as it should be! Going to be another tiring week💤💤💤

Possibly onwards and upwards in 2025 but not counting my chickens!

Happy new year in advance to you all xxx 😘

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to aliboo70]

You’ve had such a tough year Ali but here’s wishing for a much more settled year ahead with less stress for you all.

I’m glad to hear that your dad is out of hospital but that must still be a worry for you.

Sending you a big hug and a peaceful new year xxx

[aliboo70 Half Marathon in reply to Irishprincess]

Thankyou 😘xxx

[RiceAndPeas Marathon]

A very Happy New Year to everybody, I wish you all the very best of health and happiness in 2025.

2024 was my first full year of running. Lacing up and hitting the roads has kept me sane in a challenging year and I will be forever grateful.

I was plagued with kidney stones and unable to run at all in May, June and again in August. More through stubbornness than physical conditioning I managed to drag myself round the Malaga Marathon on Dec 15th and haven't stopped smiling since. 😀

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to RiceAndPeas]

I’m not surprised you’re still smiling after Malaga! You’ll probably still be smiling this time next year 😊

What are you planning for 2025? Any more marathons?

Wishing you a very Happy New Year x

[RiceAndPeas Marathon in reply to Irishprincess]

Thanks IP, well I've already registered for next year's Malaga 26.2 and booked the hotel! I've never raced a 10k or half marathon so perhaps I should put that right this year.

[Week7 Half Marathon in reply to RiceAndPeas]

Marathon in first year of running ! - or any other year come to that..... Congratulations . I am not surprised that you are still smiling- I would be wearing the medal every day too!! Happy 2025 !

[Week7 Half Marathon]

Happy New Year to you too. I hope you have another good running year.2024 was not the best year for me but I truly believe that running was a massive help to me throughout. No PBs, no races but my first (and only) Parkrun a lovely solo HM, and RED January 2024.

Moving on to 2025. I am going to kick it off by attempting RED January again. Hopefully race each at10k and HM and a few Parkruns in between.

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to Week7]

That sounds like a great plan and start to the year. Enjoy RED and good luck.

Happy New Year to you too 🥳

[Dexy5 10 Miles]

Hello everyone, according to Mr Garmin, I ran 570 kms last year. Not as much as previous years but something I still find pretty amazing having started running at 60.

My races didn’t go entirely to plan, with getting Covid just before the Netley 10k, twisting my ankle while on the Exbury Gardens 10k, torrential rain before the New Forest 10k and cancellation of the GSR. But I continued, and picked up bling and T-shirts along the way, and enjoyed some great buddy meet ups.

parkrun continues to play a major part in my and UTS's lives and we loved visiting 15 new events this year, some of which involved meet ups. We will be moving our home run again soon so that will add further challenges on our time.

Annoying health niggles related to rotator cuff injury, piriformis and other minor issues were helped by visits to the physio and regular exercises.

So I’m hoping for an injury free 2025, and many more meet ups with my HU running buddies. Races entered so far: Monsal trail 10k, Exbury 10k, New Forest 10k and GSR but I’m sure we will add something new to that.

Happy New Year everyone.

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to Dexy5]

You and UTS are so adventurous with your parkruns, so here’s wishing you both many more in the year ahead.

As you say, despite your various niggles and obstacles, you still managed to run and achieve so much 👍 great stuff!

I’ll second your wish for an injury free year ahead for all of us. Surely we’re due a whole twelve months with no drama!

[misswobble Marathon]

Been AWOL but glad to be back 🙂

Your night race sounds fab 🤗🤗🤗🏃‍♀️ Good luck with the training.

I’ve not entered a race but I think my husband has committed me to one via Facebook; which I don’t use, so missed the convo. He gets texts and passes them onto me 😵‍💫🙄😁

He’s not clarified the fixtures however but I fancy doing it 🤔

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to misswobble]

Hope you had a good Christmas missw and happy new year to you 🤗

My husband does that too, comes home and tells me about races he’s heard of or sees a sign for. We’re very lucky 🥰

[misswobble Marathon in reply to Irishprincess]

Thanks IP 😘. I did but it was very busy as we had family staying over.

OH quite likes a weekend away in a nice hotel where he can relax while I’m out of the way 🏃‍♀️😀