What's the biggest challenge that awaits you?
I am currently training for the West Highland Way Race in June 2024. I walked the route in September 2020 over 6 days while staying in B&Bs and hotels. It was one of the hardest things I had ever done and would not have believed I'd be running it!
12th Mar 2024
Getting round any decent distance in the fells without crippling leg cramps (led to two DNFs last year).
14th Feb 2024
The mental challenge that is going out for a long run. Although I've done it before, at the moment it's just too big a thing to achieve.
12th Feb 2024
The Manchester Marathon and then maybe the Goring Gap 50km.
Now, after a 50k and 63k, going for a 50 miler in May.
12th Feb 2024
I've run 2000 km in each of the last two years and I want to keep it up for another 18 years... then at the age of 78 I ran around the whole world once :)
20th Jan 2024
Weight loss to help with my arthritic knee, the goal is sub 18 by June and staying there
11th Jan 2024
I would like to run three half-marathons this year (2024) and a few other shorter races. I ran 3 marathons in my life, learned that it was not my ideal distance, and I am not aiming to run another any time soon again.
3rd Jan 2024
Running sub 2hr 30 for marathon as a 50 year old ….
(2 hrs 31 mins 17s already . . . It could be possible)
2nd Jan 2024
The Yorkshire Marathon this year.
I'm not aiming for a specific time though - this one's just for fun (!). And probably my last marathon (until it isn't, obviously ;) )
Longer term - keeping my speed/pace up as my age increases!
18th Sep 2023
Keeping fit enough to keep going - achilles being the main risk. Investigated surgery some years back, but was advised it was only 60-70% chance of a fix, and 3-4 months in a fixed boot. Managing it with less speed and more distance.
17th Sep 2023
Finishing 100 events. I have become unfit since the operation in 2022 and sustaining injury after injury
4th Sep 2023
Transitioning to ultra running my biggest challenge has to be working out how to fuel for long distances. I am now looking to bigger challenges - quite fancying multi day events - next up Ultra Challenge Jordan in 2024.
30th May 2023
Not a new challenge, but balancing doing enough to see continued improvement and avoiding injury by doing too much. I'm grateful that at 50+ I can still push for PBs, but aware that if I get an injury it takes me longer to recover.
10th May 2023
I've been running for 15 years, so I've done the main challenges that I had: sub 3 marathon; West Highland Way, which is the premier ultra up here in Scotland. I'm hoping to keep running until I'm 100. The challenge is avoiding injury, innit?! :-)
3rd Apr 2023
To get to 300 marathons (eventually). Getting to 100 was easy, but life is busier nowadays, and 300 still seems a very very long way away.
24th Mar 2023
Learning to paddle board... and my 1st multi discipline event 2.5k run /12k bicycle / 2.5k run on 19th March
14th Mar 2023
The Norn Iron 100 miler, with rocky coastlines and dark forests it's an incredible event
5th Mar 2023
At the moment, that's getting through marathon training in one piece and finishing my degree at the same time.
24th Feb 2023
Tough Mudder 24/6/23
Selling our house and buying a new one in a place we like.
18th Feb 2023
Keeping mentally & physically strong through my 70s & beyond ... Walking / cycling trails, nothing planned yet ... eg. Coast to Coast, St Bees on Cumbria coast to Robin Hoods Bay
16th Feb 2023
To do new year's day parkrun next year. It will mean I can physically still run and I haven't lost my desire for running
3rd Jan 2023
I'm trying to finish a part-time PhD, so my Viva will be a pretty big challenge.
20th Nov 2022
2023! Let’s be ‘aving you. See 2021 and 2020 for previous “benchmarks” 🤣
3rd Nov 2022
Running wise; managing my patella tendinitis. Life wise; staying positive about the future.
6th Sep 2022
To loss some weight and to get back my fittest level back up to pre marathon training
24th Aug 2022
AT the moment, a 5k swim, but I think some long distance bikepacking will be on the cards for next year
21st Aug 2022
My husband passed away in May 2022 at only 56 years of age. Those who have lost their spouse will know exactly what I mean.
13th Jul 2022
Updated challenge to be to try and achieve England Masters qualifying times
12th Jul 2022
With the age of 68 (thats still many years away) I want to ride once again the Styrkeproven in Norway, a 540km cycling event going from Trondheim to Oslo in one stage.
8th Jun 2022
Said I’d do the Rob Burrow in Leeds next year. Apparently the course is very hilly 😮
24th May 2022
Trying to keep fit, healthy so that you can cover plenty of training miles towards the annual Dick Turpin 6 hour challenge in the autumn.
17th May 2022
Getting a Boston Qualifying time in the marathon. Feel like I learn something with every race and am slowly getting there. Aim is to break 3:10 as a V40 - so 4 minutes to shave off in 18 months!
2nd May 2022
After completing then 100 marathons, which was a challenge in terms of logistics as well as the physical aspect, I want to get back to PB shape. Let’s see what Autumn 2022 holds in that regard.
2nd May 2022
Figuring out what to do next! Race to the Castle 2024 maybe? Getting back to my parkrun PB for now.
19th Apr 2022
The Hebden Hobble, which is 51.5km of off-road hills. The scenery will be gorgeous, but this distance is such a large personal best for me that it'd be a massive mountain to climb if it was flat, nevermind the 1400m of near-mountain to actually climb
4th Feb 2022
I'm currently doing a running streak. It would be incredible to get to my comma day - but that is almost a year away at this stage!
14th Jan 2022
Marathon. I would like to be close to the 3 hr mark but I know that's going to be a push.
7th Jan 2022
Life is invariably fatal. Apparently no-one ever survives it. What to do about the inevitable post mortem run event refunds? Challenging.
6th Jan 2022
Overcoming injuries and to come to terms with the fact I am no longer able to run 100 miles a week.
5th Jan 2022
Getting fit again and coming to terms with not being able to do as much as i used to. From now on it will little and often
3rd Dec 2021
70km Platinum Jubilee in Portsmouth in June 2022 with Stevce. The things he gets me into....
24th Nov 2021
Maintaining my improved form and keeping my 10ks 45 and below. Get my half marathon times back down to 140ish
2nd Nov 2021
Keeping fit and well despite having been diagnosed with Parkinson's in April 2019. It's the not knowing what's down the road that's hard, but I'm trying to fend it off as best I can, and exercise is helping me keep my fitness (and sanity!).
22nd Sep 2021
Having been diagnosed with prostate cancer, recovering from the prostatectomy and to hopefully be given the all clear.
2nd Sep 2021
Doing another marathon, it’s been 10 years since I last did a full marathon, completed 3 full marathons London Edinburgh and Inverness plus every other race distance from 100 metres
4th Aug 2021
I want to improve my health condition because I am a big-time smoker. Now, I am trying to quit my bad habit and trying to improve my health condition also I like marathons iron man those kinds of events. I might participate in these events.
2nd Jul 2021
Finishing another SLMM mountain marathon or regular road marathon; or finishing my book (it's on East Asian history so don't get too excited about wanting to read it)
30th Jun 2021
Trying to get back up to an 80% wava score. Not sure if I can get there again, but I would love too.
7th Jun 2021
Overcoming my inner saboteur to get to a place where I'm running regularly and consistently again.
6th Jun 2021
I don't know. I don't have a crystal ball. But whatever it is, it better be prepared to have its ass kicked!
28th May 2021
To carry on running slowly and not to train to hard and have to stop due to injury
12th May 2021
starting to run again after total knee replacment, triple heart bypass and internal defibulator fitted.Have managed 100mtrs aiming this year to do 5k
21st Apr 2021
Still waiting to do my first 100-mile run. Covid has stalled my plans somewhat, but I guess that is not something to complain about really.
5th Apr 2021
I turn 60 this year.....I am sure I am like everyone else and still feel no different from my twenty's, thinking about what my life will be like retirement on the horizon, more time to run and coach I would love to get to 70 plus WAVA score
27th Mar 2021
Currently? Shifting the extra lockdown timber. Future? Marathon under 5 hours.
22nd Mar 2021
Keeping going but not getting too obsessed. Commitment without losing all sense of proportion, that’s the perfect balance.
20th Mar 2021
I have to run a Marathon. Done numerous half’s but after each one, I say never again.
13th Mar 2021
Getting running again - it's been a while. I need to get those leggings on and get out there.
12th Mar 2021
An Ultra. My only official DNF was a trail Ultra - we had to bale on mile 12 when my girlfriend sprained her ankle and I had to help her down off the mountain. We’re determined to go back and try it again once Covid is over.
10th Mar 2021
Running wise - Around the Rock - 48 miles in August
Life wise - making the most of every day
9th Mar 2021
Balancing training and race efforts to keep myself fit and competitive but not to aggravate my knee injury (cartilage tear).
7th Mar 2021
Running through peri-menopause and the associated weight gain, lack of sleep and hormonal problems. It’s the pits. I’m just trying to keep going.
7th Mar 2021
2020 - Shifting some timber, getting back in the horse and running again.
2021 - See 2020...
17th Feb 2021
No real challenges ahead. Main one is just to look after my family of Itchies,
5th Feb 2021
Staying physically fit now that I cannot run due to Primary Progressive MS, I use the exercise bike and walking with poles when I can..... trying to stay on my feet and upright.....
10th Jan 2021
Keeping motivated to run every day at the moment when it's cold dark and wet. Want to run 1500 miles this year and still almost on target to do it. Missing racing during lockdown.
7th Nov 2020
Growing old disgracefully. Keeping active and mobile and not injured while I do it.
10th Aug 2020
Getting my parkrun 50 shirt, every time I get a little sequence going something derails it. Normally me!!
3rd Jul 2020
The world of Ultra’s. Should have been this year 2020 it may still be if not it will definitely be 2021
26th Jun 2020
Learning to swim without swallowing half of the pool and being comfortable in the water. I started taking lessons just before the pandemic and was making progress but sadly I feel I might be back at square one when we're allowed back in the pool
10th Jun 2020
Don't have anything in mind honestly... just interested in trying to be a good version of myself :)
4th Jun 2020
To stay consistent with my running to find out how much I can really improve
21st May 2020
Returning to fitness and improving general health. 2019 began on a high that continued to late September, but its been a bit **** since then. Feeling more motivated now to get healthy and enjoying my running again.
17th May 2020
Short term, keeping motivated and relatively fit while unable to leave the house and garden area.
5th May 2020
Not getting ill with mental illness and being in some sort of control. Not having a flare up of gout and keeping out of the way of negativity and stupidity.
24th Feb 2020
Making sure I am still running when I push towards 80! I thought 70 was going to be a challenge but that turned out quite easy!
24th Jan 2020
Who knows, I have completed many events up to Double ironman distance and I am always looking forward to the next challenge. I would love to qualify for Team GB as an age group triathlete and one day doing a deca-ironman and would love to do Arch2Arc
8th Jan 2020
Getting speed back into my old legs. Or maybe PBS are a thing of that past?
22nd Dec 2019
If I ever manage to get fit enough again, then there's a 30 mile ultra in Sherwood Forest to be done again!
1st Dec 2019
Getting back up to Ultra distance. I don't think I'll ever do more than 50, because I think it might have broken me a bit.
6th Nov 2019
Now I’ve run my target race and completed a marathon I just aim to keeping running!
12th Oct 2019
Getting long run distances back up to 10+ miles after an operation in 2016 (and another in 2018)
20th Sep 2019
Keep on improving to the best of my ability with time available to train.
My first challenge was a sub 4 marathon, after my first marathon the VMLM in 4.07 I had 2 'false starts' and then I managed a sub 3.30 in my second marathon.
16th Sep 2019
Life. But- whatever the challenges that pop up, they are only manageable because I run. That head clearing space, sense of mental well being that my runs give me means I can face whatever comes along.
I terms of running- can I get close to PBs at 48
8th Aug 2019
As always, I think it's ensuring the continued success and survival of the site. But I've no reason to think that won't happen.
21st May 2019
continuing to avoid injury while striking a balance between doing my best and not pushing too hard
30th Apr 2019
2:45 for a marathon, at least in the running world. Might run out of time now I'm 50.
26th Feb 2019
Getting back to fitness and the glory days of 2014/15 when I was running well.
10th Jan 2019
Trying to get back to fitness by being patient and training sensibly, anyone who knows me knows that I'm not patient or sensible so it's going to be a bit of a challenge.
1st Jan 2019
Keeping my fitness level the same (or improving it) as I gradually get older (I mean physically of course - in my mind I'm still nowhere near middle-age)
6th Aug 2018
After a lot of running last year I need to figure out what my goals are. Not sure I am up for the 80+ mile weeks. One side says go for 2:36 marathon (5:59 per mile) but other side says just enjoy it. Might give the 95 mile WHW race a bash next year.
4th Jul 2018
Work is my biggest challenge at the moment. It's all-consuming, and stressful. Running-wise I need to work on my speed and lose some weight. But will I?
27th Jun 2018
Doing an IronMan. Gotta be done sometime, once I've learned to swim properly & persuaded OH it is a good idea (which will be never)
18th Jun 2018
Right now, it's the thought of cycling the South Downs Way on July 14th - 100 miles offroad with 4000m of ascent. It will be my biggest day ever in the saddle, if I can do it...
17th Jun 2018
Keeping up the mileage and fitting runs in due to family commitments and health issues.
15th Jun 2018
Everyday is a challenge, a big one but it only serves to show me how strong I have become.
15th Jun 2018
Several years of injury have made long runs more historical romance than factual. Now trying to slowly get back into regular running, steadily picking up mileage, so that a 10k or even HM becomes a possibility...
14th Jun 2018