New Goals

Berlin Marathon was a month ago! Thats crazy!

It’s always a funny time post marathon. You've spent so long building up and training for this one day that afterwards you are a bit like, oh, what do I do now?? I love training for a marathon. I really enjoy the structure and routine of training and really enjoy getting those long runs in so when its all over I do feel a little lost. Berlin Marathon was a great event for me and to come out the other side not injured or ill was a an absolute win. It was a great confidence boost for Manchester Marathon in April 2025.

So what now??

Despite feeling great it’s important to have a break from marathon training. Even if your body feels good it has been through alot so it needs to be respected and have adequate recovery time to allow your body to heal and come back stronger ready for the next training block. Therefore between now and the new year I will be focussing on shorter distances.

In November I will be dusting off my spikes and taking part in some of the Cross-Country events with the ladies team from my running club. This means speed and hill work as some of those courses are brutal!! For me this type of training is much more challenging and will be taking me out of my comfort zone as I am not a 'fast' runner much rather a long slow plodder. Speed intervals, hill repeats and of course strength training is on the menu for the next couple of months. My hope is the gym work will help me power up those hills more efficiently when the wind and rain is lashing down as it always seems to be on race day!

January 2025 will then be the start of my Manchester Marathon training, which I'm already looking forward to. This gives me a nice amount of time to build up to the distance gradually without building up for too long and losing enthusiasm along the way. Within this block I plan to do a half marathon and a 20-mile race somewhere in preparation and to set myself mini goals along the way. The final event I've booked will be my first Ultra Marathon in July. The Thames Valley 50km (previously Race to the Stones) is the event I wanted to do last year however I decided to defer it as I didn’t feel my body was quite ready for it and with Berlin Marathon in the diary I took the decision to make it wait one more year, I’m so glad I did.

For me setting goals is important as I like having something to aim and train for. That being said however it is important not to be a slave to these commitments and always consider how the body feels through injury or illness. Longevity in running is always my top priority so if sometimes an event has to be deferred for a year, then so be it, I'll get there at some point!

My plan going forward;

November2024- February 2025 - Cross-Country team events

February 2025 - Warwick Half Marathon

March - 20 mile road race (TBC)

April - Manchester Marathon

July - Thames Valley 50km