My regular training week has consisted of Track Reps on Tuesday at club, Tempo or Threshold running on Thursdays at club, parkrun or racing on Sundays.  The rest of the runs tend to be at an easy pace (7:30 minute miles or slower).  I run most days and try to get 40 miles in or more a week (the reality is I tend to do just over 30 miles a week).  I don’t do gym, cycling, swimming or any other form of exercise unless I am injured, I don’t have time and running gives me everything I need.

The psychology of running is just as important as training (but perhaps not recognised as such), I am able to use my state of mind well in races, I know what motivates me to succeed and it costs me nothing.  A big part of this involves a 10 year old white, blue and green vest.

My biggest training aid is my garmin, I enjoy using it and like the data it gives me.

I became a V40 this year which has been good and I have had a few age group prizes.

Progress as measured on Power of 10 (ranked overall (so I assume all age groups and men and women) on Power of 10):

Having “fun” at the Thunder Run 2016. 33 DAC are going next year so pure chaos is expected x

I think my most impressive runs for 2016 were the London Marathon (My 5th consecutive marathon PB) and the Barnsley 10k.  I have run an average of 31.7 miles a week, I am determined to get closer to 40 a week in 2017!  I was hoping to break 2:50:00 at London but 2:51:24 was still a massive PB.  I did not know if I could run a 10k race faster than my 2015 PB time of 35:56.  So to run 35:26 was amazing, and then only a week later I ran 35:36 on a hilly trail 10k.

My average pace for the year is 7:45 minute miles across all training and racing, but I was able to run London Marathon at 6:32 minute miles and the Barnsley 10k at 5:42 minute miles.  I think that by keeping my pace slow on most training runs I have more energy all around and I pick up less injuries.  I typically have 1 or 2 physio / massage visits a year.  When I use to train at a faster pace regularly I was spending several hundred pounds a year on treatment (and I am racing faster now which is the result I am looking for).  This is what works for me, we are all different so if you are hitting your targets using a totally different method carry on as you are, but don’t be afraid to change if you are not getting what you want.

In to my 13th year of running, I ran PB’s in 10k, Half Marathon, 30k and Marathon.  I ran Parkrun PB’s.  I did not run a road 5km race but I unofficially broke my 5km time twice in 10km races hitting about 17:20.  I enjoy my running and racing, I ran some quite disappointing times in 10k races this year but its not a problem, just enter another and have another go, racing most weekends means its only a week until I can try to hit another PB and this takes the pressure off.

The best training squad in town – Proud to wear the vest! These people know how to improve and work hard to do so

Races not included in the below list are the Lady Bower 50 (miles), Thunder Run, Harewood House (short) trail Half Marathon and the Grindleford Gallop (22 miles).  So I have done about 48 races in 2016 (+ a few time trials).

The toughest race in 2016 was the Lady Bower 50, I was running 17 minute miles at one point!  So I have entered it again for 2017 lol.

I pulled out of the Ward Green 6 mile race on Boxing day as I was full of cold (I took my camera instead).

I have done about 40 volunteer parkrun roles in 2016, I have taken photographs at about 44 running events in 2016 and I have been part of an amazing group of Run Leaders helping about 150 new people start running with Doncaster AC.

As a family we had some amazing holidays, all of them basically turned in to training camps with Rose James, Janet Kerry and Carl Ryde.  Good times and sensible training advice.

Targets for 2017

• Sub 17 at a 5k / parkrun
• Sub 35 for a 10k
• Sub 60 for 10 miles
• Sub 80 for Half Marathon
• Sub 2:50:00 for Marathon
• To complete a 200 mile ultra