Awesome year

Olympic Torch Relay Crystal Palace Running to the Park, a photo by ultraBobban on Flickr.

This time last year I was returning to Mersea Island for Xmas with the folks and a run round the Island.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24bWizFLzfk

Looking back sat in our lovely cottage in south London and awaiting both families to arrive for an amazing Xmas I can reflect on an awesome year. Not only did I get married to Mrs UB, which was the most amazing day ever, we had the perfect honeymoon in Sri Lanka.

On a running front, it was all about one event......my first 100, the SDW100. Firstly, I wanted to finish (readers will remember that 2 years ago, a leading consultant at King's said I would never run a marathon again after breaking my leg in 3 places...."maybe some light jogging Sir") a 100 miler and catch up with great buddies David Immune, Jezza and George. Not only did I want to do that but I wanted to prove that I could do it. I then set a goal of finishing in under 24hours. I did this too! Add in another 11 marathons and ultras and 2028 miles (3264km) so farand I've had an awesome year......not the quickest, but the furthest.

Here are some stats:

SDW100 - 23hrs 30 mins

12 marathons and Ultras

18 races in total.

Fastest marathon 3.43 (slow by my standards.......I did want to go sub 3.15 this year and never got near to even my PB)

Highest placing: 9th Bewl Water marathon (I won't count the 1st place lost on the last 1.5 miles of the Founders Marathon!)

5 x marathon/ultra top 20 placings

Slowest marathon - Gatliff 50km (actually 58km of mud bath and flood) 8.03 in appalling conditions and still came in 17th!

Fastest race: Stage 11 of Green Belt Relay 7.6 miles in 51 minutes, 6.35s on a cross country course through fields and a highest GBR placing for me of 7th.

Favourite race of the year: SDW100

Total miles so far 2028 miles (3264km) with a week to go.

So, to targets for 2013..............

SDW100 where I will aim for a sub 22 hour 100.

Another 100 to be decided.....

Winter Tanners 30 in a couple of weeks, followed by St Peter's Way 45 mile in Feb. No doubt the Stinger, Bewl and 3FM will feature as they are favourite events. I think that 2300 miles is not unachievable and I would still like to think that I can go a bit quicker........

.....finally a word about Mrs UB. She is in for London Marathon 2013, which will be her 3rd Mara. Support and training provided by Mr UB of course.

Happy Xmas and happy running to everyone!

Catching up with the year behind.......looking ahead 

I purchased some new trail shoes........my second pair of Saucony Peregines gave up the ghost after 2 ultras. Jon Broxap himself had sent me the second pair but with only about 120km in them, they fell apart. So, a switch to a pair of Inov8 Roclite 255 trail shoes. Light, nice wide toe box and near to zero drop.  They feel much more robust, without shirking on protection.

I'm looking back over the last year in the next few days. Looking back at the achievements of the year. At the same time I am going to be looking forward to an even bigger and better year for 2013. I've got 2 firm plans for big runs.....but more of that later.

I've not downloaded my Garmin to the PC for a month or so but my weekly mileage has ensured that I topped 2000 miles for the year a little while ago. That said, the last 5 months has been far less so the first half of the year I was topping 60 miles a week. All said, 12 marathons and ultras including the SDW100, my longest event yet, I am pretty happy with the way the year has panned out. I always feel like I could have done more, trained harder, run faster, thought more. However, 2 years ago I was sat here blogging having been told I would never run a marathon again.....so fair play.

I've just started training again after a few weeks of light running. The Tanners 30 is in 3 weeks. St Peters Way 45 is a few weeks afterwards. Mrs UB will be training for the marathon so we will be training together. I have had an amazing 2012. Can't wait for 2013

Entry to Winter Tanners confirmed

keria in the snow, a photo by ultraBobban on Flickr.

One of the highlights of the year. The LDWA Winter Tanners. £4 entry to the 30 mile event and what an event it is. There is a stellar line up with friends and fantastic ultra runners taking part. Last year was very cold at the start....-3 and the year before it was snow. What will be the conditions for this most excellent round?

The route is different each year but takes in the same landmarks.....Tanners Hatch, some bench for an LDWA founder and Blatchford Down.

What you have to do is follow the instructions as it is very easy to go......"it's this way......" when we've done countless marathons and ultras on the same ground and getting lost is NOT an option!

Confirming my entry to St Peter's Way Ultra

looking landward from Mersea Hard, a photo by ultraBobban on Flickr.

Thankfully Jezza's blog reminded me of the St Peter's Way 45 miler in February and that he is sweeping the event.

I've put my entry in. Now St peter's is the church at the end of the flat coastline of mid-Essex, not too far as the crow flies from my own St Peter.....or my Dad to be precise.....who will be 70, just 4 days after this event.

I think a bottle of St Peter's ale at the end of this event with St Peter himself! My dad loves an ale.....and I'll duly carry one 45 miles to the finish. Shaken, not stirred!