I started 2014 wondering if I was finished as a runner having done something that felt like I had damaged my stomach in November 2013.  I had another thing to focus my mind on and that was Doncaster Athletic Club’s new initiative, the beginners group, the Doncaster Pacers which myself, my wife Rose and running friend Janet Kerry were taking the lead on.  I was also very happy to be involved with volunteering at the Doncaster parkrun on Saturday mornings.

I actually raced in the Yorkshire Cross Country Championships on 4 January with no training and it was a terrible race for me.

We did the beginners course, this suited me as it was my way back to running and towards the end of February I was running 50 minute 10k in training.  By then end of March I was up to 44 minute 10k in training.  I decided to get race fit at this point as I wanted to do the South Yorkshire Road League so did some parkruns and never looked back.

My yearly mileage has been its lowest since 2008 and the variety of runs and pace in training has never been more varied or enjoyable, for example yesterday I ran twice (for the first time this year), the first run was to risk assess the route the beginners were using later in the day, I ran 10k @ 6:56 pace with 50% on ice.  The second run was with the back runners of the beginners where I ran 5 miles @ 12:21 pace (and very proud of them I was too).  1291 miles for the year and that included a marathon and associated training with a 4 minute PB on a tough course.

I have never done more races in a year, despite doing only 1 race in the first 2 and a half months.  I did 40 races in 2014, the previous number being about 23.  A lot of the races were parkruns, but I usually push hard unless I am pacing someone and what better way to get race fit?  The Doncaster parkrun is like a cross country course in the winter, it is tough.  All the other races were raced hard.   As my recovery runs have been far steadier than previously (9 to 13 minute mile running with beginners) and overall my training mileage is well down I seam to have got away with remaining injury free after March.

We did a total of 3 beginners runners courses in 2014 (approx 120 people took part) and the team built up to include 11 run leaders, coach Paul Brown (who was really instrumental) and other volunteers who helped us out.

Our next beginners course is on 27 January with an induction on the 22 January.

Looking forward to doing even more in 2015 fingers crossed (including more fell racing) and hoping to get some more PB’s!.