2024 Running Review
Look at us…
Races ran, turkey demolished and on the home stretch of another year…
That can only mean its time for my favourite post of the year and I hope yours as well.
A moment to pause and ponder on what worked and what didn’t over the last 8,760 hours (which, side note, the average reader will have spent 2,920 of which sleeping… How’s that for scary.)
We’ve lots to talk about, so grab some of that shortbread and a cup of tea and let’s do some reflecting…
In fact, before I get on my way with this waffle… I’d like to invite you to consider the triumphs and challenges you yourself faced over the last year;
What worked?
What didn’t?
What does what worked and what didn’t mean for what’s coming?
Author Peter Drucker once said you should, “Follow effective action with quiet reflection…”
And if, like me, you feel you’ve adequately felt the effect of your actions over the past year, perhaps a moment of quiet introspection might better illuminate the road to come.
Posting said reflections on the Internet for any and everybody to read is, of course, entirely optional…
My Biggest Year Yet…
In every sense, this has been the best year of running of my life (so far…)
I ran further than ever: 2508Km
I ran higher than ever: 30,726m of elevation
An I spent more of the year running than ever: 220 / 365 days
If I’m being honest, I didn't actually know about the elevation or active days until I seen the Strava stats.
I think if I had to attribute the improvement of my metrics to a single factor, I’d say that reducing the intensity of my training has played a significant role. Simplifying and slowing things down made it much easier to stay consistent and get out more frequently.
I’ve become much more deliberate with my calendar planning this year, which was also crucial to my successes. In recent years, I felt compelled to have a race lined up for every month I could, at various distances over various terrains. These days, you’ll rarely see more than 3 key races on my schedule, with everything else dedicated to achieving whatever I determine is a strong performance on those days.
Jack of all trades, master of none and all that…
And while I’m not, by any stretch, claiming the rank of master… I definitely feel a lot stronger at the kind of races I want to do, because they’re the only kind of races I do.
It’s very difficult to be your best ultra runner and your best 5k runner at the same time. Well, it is for me, at least.
Speaking of ultras…
3 Ultramarathons in a Calendar Year
Consider my colours nailed to the ultramarathon mast for the foreseeable…
This year saw my return to the Belfast 24 Hour, where I did manage to stay awake and run for the full duration this time (I’ve never forgiven myself for that involuntary half hour nap I took in 2023.) Following that, I settled into my trail shoes for the second half of the year and tackled the Wicklow EcoTrail 80K and the 64Km Tollymore Trail Ultra.
I’ve come to feel a strong sense of belonging in the world of ultra running. And although some traces of imposter syndrome still linger in the back on my mind, I’m closer than ever to dispelling those doubts and being comfortable taking up a place in this space.
Running an ultramarathon distils you to your purest essence, it will reveal to you your rawest strength and the boundless potential you can realise when you give yourself the chance.
There may not always be a t shirt waiting for you at the finish line, nor even a medal to commemorate the journey. Yet what you’ll walk away (very gingerly) with is infinitely more valuable - undeniable evidence of your own strength, your capacity to endure and triumph over challenges that might otherwise have broken you.
And that in my humble opinion, is worth far more than another medal destined to gather dust on an already crowded bookshelf.
Run to Write to Run to Write
One of my greatest realisations this year has been just how integral this little corner of the internet has become to my running process…
For those perhaps visiting for the first time, this is where you’ll find a brief account of each of my races, usually about a week after they’ve taken place. I originally started this practice as a way to rekindle a love for writing I had cherished while at school. Along the way, I’d also hoped that by sharing my experiences, particularly my mistakes, I might help others avoid stumbling over the same challenges.
What I didn’t anticipate though, was how much I would come to rely on my writing.
In the aftermath of what have become almost exclusively ultramarathons, writing provides me a way to process the physical, mental and sometimes emotional trials one can endure during such demanding races.
Regardless of the outcome, it allows me to lay the race bare for what it truly was, extract the lessons it has to offer, and, with the press of a button, place it on a shelf alongside all my previous endeavours.
Once it’s there, its done, and I can turn my focus to the next challenge.
Even if it’s just a simple bullet-point list of highs and lows, I believe this practice is invaluable for any runner striving to improve in any way, and I would encourage all of you to take a moment in the wake of a race result to reflect on how it unfolded, considering both its triumphs and its trials.
General Reflections
I think I say this every year, but as time goes on, I find myself ending each year with fewer medals and more lessons to write about - and that’s a trade off I am more than happy to embrace.
Lesson Number One: Nobody does it all on their own…
Now, don’t get me wrong - I love a good solo run, the longer the better. It’s where I recharge my limited social batteries and replay all the things I should’ve said in arguments I had eight years ago. But even I have to admit that having a few people willing to run into the trenches with you is priceless.
You might be great on your own, but you’ll always be better among your people.
The advice and experiences I’ve shared with the folks in my running club have not only made me a stronger runner than I ever could have become on my own but, truthfully, a better person as well.
Lesson Number Two: Shake hands with yourself…
No not literally, you’d look insane.
The point here is to meet yourself where you at, and show yourself patience when life feels overwhelming. Over the past year, I’ve missed training runs because of late work nights, poor sleep and even a health condition that routinely sidelines me for a weekend and takes a fortnight to full recover from.
I’ve missed plenty of runs, and guess what?
Life goes one regardless…
Getting frustrated with yourself only adds unnecessary stress, and who needs that?
And if by chance you’re reading this having been out of action for an extended period, trust that the storm will pass. Focus on getting well; running well will come in its time.
Your body is one of your greatest assets - any you only get one.
Treat it with the care it deserves.
Lesson Number Three: Run for Yourself
The greatest joy you’ll find in running will be discovered when you do it for yourself and the reasons that resonate with you most. Over the past year, I’ve come to learn that I genuinely have no interest in how fast I am, what my personal bests are, or how I measure up against anybody else.
In truth, I couldn’t even tell you what any of my best times are / were anymore.
And I’ve never loved running more because of it.
For me, the essence of running lies not in the question, “How fast can you do it?” But rather, “Can you make it to the finish line?”
Once you uncover what it is about running that truly lights you up, you’ll access a source of inspiration and joy that will sustain you for a lifetime.
2025
Looking ahead to the next 12 months, the calendar is shaping up nicely.
First on the horizon is an 80K ultra in March through the vineyards of Tuscany, followed by a return to the 100Km distance in June. As for the autumn, I’m planning on another 100km, though the ideal race is yet to reveal itself…
2025’s races are the initial steps of a much grander journey that, all being well, will lead me to the start line of the UTMB, however many years that may take.
Beyond running, I’ve recognised that there are two critical areas of my game that necessitate attention - my lack of strength training and the tendency for my diet and nutrition to unravel when life becomes chaotic. Building stronger habits in these areas will be essential for the countless miles awaiting in the year ahead.
But these are all challenges for next year’s Mark.
For now, I wish you all health, endless possibilities and an abundance of positive energy.
Until next year - take care and keep moving forward.
