Time for reflection
7:41pm, 29th Dec 2023 | 15 Comments
Blog by Ness
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I've had to take a bit of time off running with my dodgy calf again. It's much better now but the downtime has given me time to reflect. I've been very happy with the running I've been able to achieve in the last 4 years. I've run 1,500 or more miles each year, so I know I can do it. This week, I've been asking myself... Just because I can do it, does it mean that I should? I've pushed the boundaries but picked up injuries and niggles along the way.
I had it in the back of my mind to run another marathon in the autumn. Mr Ness would happily support this. He drives me all over the country to get to and from races. Recently, I'd even pondered an overseas race, mainly because a relative visiting from overseas had mentioned a marathon near to them and offered me a place to stay to complete it. As tempting as this is I've realised that would require an awful lot of money and a big time commitment that just wouldn't be fair to Mr Ness.
Instead, I am going to change my focus for 2024. This will mainly be a reduction in my monthly mileage so that is closer to around about 100 a month. A target of 1,200 miles for the year. Races will still happen but nothing over half marathon distance. I'm also looking at including one or two 10k races. There are some good local ones that are well worth revisiting.
So the 2024 targets I set myself a couple of weeks ago, prior to my calf strain, need slight revision to.....
Distance targets
1) Run 1,200 miles in 2024.
2) Walk 750 miles in 2024 (have managed 560 miles of walking this year so want to push the total up a bit).
Weight training targets
3) Deadlifts, increase weight to 60kgs for reps in my weekly session, i.e. the equivalent of my body weight, (I'm currently lifting 57kgs for 3 sets of 8 reps so not a massive increase).
4) Bench press, increase weight to 35kgs for reps in my weekly session, (I'm currently lifting 29kgs for 3 sets of 15 reps so that will be a bit more of a step up).
Race targets
5) To achieve a 60% WAVA score in at least 2 of my first 4 races of 2024 (doable, I think).
6 To run two Fetch Virtual Mile races while on my Gran Canaria holiday (also doable).
In other news, I managed a pain free run this morning but I'm still going to go carefully until I'm sure that my calf is 100% recovered.
I had it in the back of my mind to run another marathon in the autumn. Mr Ness would happily support this. He drives me all over the country to get to and from races. Recently, I'd even pondered an overseas race, mainly because a relative visiting from overseas had mentioned a marathon near to them and offered me a place to stay to complete it. As tempting as this is I've realised that would require an awful lot of money and a big time commitment that just wouldn't be fair to Mr Ness.
Instead, I am going to change my focus for 2024. This will mainly be a reduction in my monthly mileage so that is closer to around about 100 a month. A target of 1,200 miles for the year. Races will still happen but nothing over half marathon distance. I'm also looking at including one or two 10k races. There are some good local ones that are well worth revisiting.
So the 2024 targets I set myself a couple of weeks ago, prior to my calf strain, need slight revision to.....
Distance targets
1) Run 1,200 miles in 2024.
2) Walk 750 miles in 2024 (have managed 560 miles of walking this year so want to push the total up a bit).
Weight training targets
3) Deadlifts, increase weight to 60kgs for reps in my weekly session, i.e. the equivalent of my body weight, (I'm currently lifting 57kgs for 3 sets of 8 reps so not a massive increase).
4) Bench press, increase weight to 35kgs for reps in my weekly session, (I'm currently lifting 29kgs for 3 sets of 15 reps so that will be a bit more of a step up).
Race targets
5) To achieve a 60% WAVA score in at least 2 of my first 4 races of 2024 (doable, I think).
6 To run two Fetch Virtual Mile races while on my Gran Canaria holiday (also doable).
In other news, I managed a pain free run this morning but I'm still going to go carefully until I'm sure that my calf is 100% recovered.
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Ness
A fifty-something retired teacher who took up running to improve the muscle tone in her legs after a hip resurfacing op in 2003. It all started with a 'Race for Life' 5k, that I took part in to raise money in memory of my Dad.In 2005 I discovered the Fetcheveryone site, and thanks to the help and support of Fetchies, my running has moved on a bit since then.
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