A Year of Running: 2023

At the start of 2023, I did not expect the effect running would have on me. I mean I knew it would be positive, but little did I know I was going to become obsessed!!

Admittedly, I dabbled in running in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic, racking up 160 km as my annual distance which I thought was a lot! It was certainly something to be proud of, but as I finish off 2023, my biggest year of running – with 753 km of running, and 7752 m of elevation I feel immensely proud. I completed 134 runs, three races (all 10 km distance) and one half marathon run.

I am not surprised that monthly elevation almost synchronously follows monthly distance as throughout the year my confidence was increasing with my mileage and elevation.     

Figure: Monthly running distance (orange line) and monthly elevation (blue bars)

In January, we started running by going to Bath Skyline Park run (more info here). Park run gives you a friendly, healthy and welcoming start to the weekend on top of giving you a sense of personal achievement. It is a free 5k walk or run, every Saturday at 9am, open to everyone. I was also going on short 2-3 km runs, teaching my legs how to run, focusing on my breathing and trying not to get a stitch. It really shocks me now how I can run for 3 hours and not get a stitch at the start or worry about needing to take my inhaler.

At the beginning of March I hurt my hip flexor, so I really cut back on runs - topping 23 km which is about the same amount as January. I was really worried at the time that this was going to set me back, but I see now how taking the time off allowed my leg to recover. I jumped rather sporadically and unknowingly from 30 minute 5 km runs to a 28 minute run in March which felt euphoric, especially considering I had been out of action with my leg for a few weeks.

Over the course of April to June my monthly distance increased with June topping 75 km. I ran my first 10 km in May with Aleasha and in July I had my first 10 km race in the Chiltern Hills with Maverick. I enjoyed this race so much as it helped me see how social and welcoming the running community is, being out on the trails and having random conversations with people you know or pass by in a race.

In September a new parkrun entered the scene near to Bath, a flat and quick course so myself and friends who are all keen runners headed over there to try it out. It was quick, I managed to get a PB of 25:24 which I remember feeling shocked about as I had set off way too quickly and slowly died through the run.

Looking back at the running I was doing, I’m so surprised that my running did not dip more in September – November as I was in the deep PhD thesis writing stage. I found running to be a release, giving my brain a well needed break from writing and thinking. In December, I topped 100 km (yay) and completed my first half marathon with Kieran and Nea, running from Bradford on Avon to Bath.

This year has also been a learning process for running with Pippa, my Jack Russell Terrier. I am so proud of her and how far she has come with running with me, she absolutely loves it and is really grasping the commands I throw her way! We have all the canicross gear and are looking forward to competing as a team next year.

I’m so happy with how my year has gone running-wise, especially considering I finished up my laboratory work, completed a placement with the Welsh Government and submitted my PhD thesis (all 65,000 words). I have learnt so much about why I enjoy running, how I find being outside inspiring and almost restorative. Looking into 2024, I am beginning to delve into the world of fuelling on longer runs and deciding on my running and life goals for this year. I know some exciting plans are coming and I look forward to continuing to share this as I progress.