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Running Thread 2026

Looks like D.A isn't in the mood at the moment so I'll deputise.

What's everyone's goals for this year?

For me it's to get back to being able to train consistently again & get through a full marathon block without missing more than 10% of the miles & to get my age grade % back up to a decent level for races & parkruns.
 

Big year for me last year, would like to achieve at least some of the following in 2026

50k+ Ultra
A 100km week
2000km for the year (1658km in 2025)
The Goggins 4x4x48 challenge

Currently booked up for the Windermere Marathon in June, waiting to hear if I get a spot for Valencia Marathon in December.....if not I'll try Athens Marathon in November when the entries open. As always I will be doing the Sunderland 10k and might enter the Middlesbrough half too.

All the best for 2026 RTG Runners
 
2025 was a right off for me as had patellar tendonitis and bursitis in both knees caused by lack of core work and just running. At one point I couldn't even bend down never mind run.

Thankfully, I was able to utilise my works health insurance and with professional guidance from a physio I feel I am over it - albeit almost 9 months since diagnosis.

Aim for 2026 is to just get back to speed - not quite my pb but sub 45 10k by end of year and continue with gym rehab and core strengthening.
 
Aims for 2026, posting for accountability:

Sub 19min 5k (19:18 in 2025)
Sub 39min 10k (39:42 in 2025)
Sub 90min HM (1:32:06 in 2025)
Run an organised marathon (race)
Partake in XC races with Houghton (never done this)

Signed up for Elche HM in March 22nd - attempting to stay off the drink until then, which ties in nicely with the mags game and my 40th birthday.

Best of luck to everybody in 2026. Heres to many pb’s and very few injuries!
 
Looking to pick up running this year as part of a general reset.

Is it vital I pick up a watch?
Absolutely not. Depends what you want in all honesty, if you’re not arsed about recording your runs/times/distances then it’s as straightforward as just putting one foot in front of the other.

Or if you’re a fkin stat nerd and have an addictive personality then you’ll spend thousands and thousands of pounds on all sorts of stuff in the hope of shaving 1 second off a pb (like me).
 
Absolutely not. Depends what you want in all honesty, if you’re not arsed about recording your runs/times/distances then it’s as straightforward as just putting one foot in front of the other.

Or if you’re a fkin stat nerd and have an addictive personality then you’ll spend thousands and thousands of pounds on all sorts of stuff in the hope of shaving 1 second off a pb (like me).
That’ll be me then.

I’m focusing on stuff more that gets me out (football and running). I’m 37 so not a great age to start :lol:
 
That’ll be me then.

I’m focusing on stuff more that gets me out (football and running). I’m 37 so not a great age to start :lol:
Perfect age to start. I started when I was 34, then stopped for a year or so at 36 then got right into it from about 37 onwards.

I’d recommend a watch fwiw mind, just easier than carrying your phone on runs. There are some great deals to be had at the likes of start fitness for a garmin or coros
 
760 odd miles ran in 2023
102 miles ran in 2024 all in pain
0 miles ran in 2025

Finally had surgery in August to repair a hip labral tear that occurred back in November 2023. Removed some loose tissue and shaved some of the bone whilst they were there that had caused an impingement that's given me a load of regular small issues around my hip, groin, knee and IT band all on the same side since Covid. This morning was my first run outdoors since 11th September 2024, not sure I've ever felt relief quite like it. I've got some small permanent scarring on my lungs from pneumonia when I was at uni in 2014 that makes my lungs absolutely scream at me when I start building up, currently sounded like Wheezy in Toy Story 2 for the last couple of hours :lol:

Here's to a fully functioning hip (hopefully) and trying to stay healthy in 2026.
 
Looks like D.A isn't in the mood at the moment so I'll deputise.

What's everyone's goals for this year?

For me it's to get back to being able to train consistently again & get through a full marathon block without missing more than 10% of the miles & to get my age grade % back up to a decent level for races & parkruns.
I came to start it!

Managed blyth park run without stopping.
Looking to pick up running this year as part of a general reset.

Is it vital I pick up a watch?

50 quid
 
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Fell of a cliff last year - worked my bollocks off to get me to my first marathon, loved it, then just kind of stopped doing owt. Intermittent running but lost my way and ended up barely doing owt in last quarter. So running goals are about getting back into it and aiming to beat some very long standing PBs

Will be hard but really wanna get back at it. Feel so much better and so annoyed with myself for letting myself drop back half of last year.
 
Been injured for over 8 weeks it seems so my goal is to try and get back to where I was in October

Tried a 5k the other day and it still hurt which scares me how backwards in going

Have a few runs planned , but will just see how it goes
 
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Few half marathons planned.
Kielder marathon end of October booked in(my first marathon).

Gonna try and get in 500km between now and the end of March. Then start marathon prep.

Good luck for the year everyone.
Get yersel along to the strollers
Had a rubbish November and December due to the lurgy.
Plan is to run further than last year, try and get closer to 1000 miles.

Beat my PB's across 5k, 10k and HM.

And actually get out and so some long runs at least once a fortnight
 
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A little bit frustrated with how ‘25 ended for me and I’m not sure why because, on reflection, it was a hugely successful year running-wise. I’ve only really been taking this ‘seriously’ as such for circa 2.5 years and (last) year managed nearly 200 miles more than I did in ‘24, broke a 10k and half marathon PB, ran the bloody New York half marathon and just generally managed to get out quite consistently and engaged with a few people with the club, which I don’t always do. Hit a bit of a lull after the GNR having worked hard towards that and getting the sub-two hour I’d wanted since starting out. Picked up the back end of October and into November but not sure whether I just hit a bit of a burnout wall, as it was quite the jump in miles from the previous year. That coupled with a bit of a niggly thigh injury which is still concerning me a little bit, life and a bit man-flu led to me basically having December off (last run was December 7).

Going to see about blowing the cobwebs off with a loosener at Parkrun in the morning all being well before starting back up proper from Monday. Goals for the year would be for further consistency in going out and maybe being a bit stricter with sessions outside of a Wednesday with the club where I maybe incorporate more tempo elements into my individual/longer runs. Would love to break that 10k PB again and get sub-50. Have less than a minute to find to do it. Got the London landmark half in April and doing the Sunderland half in May so training starts back up, like I say, from Monday. Will enter the GNR ballot but going to go for Kielder half either way in October after missing it the other year.

Hoping I can get the spark back swiftly after the break. Think it was right for me to have a stop with it all the way I was feeling mentally and physically, though. Might have a look for some new wheels in the sales for that added incentive to get back out.
 
A little bit frustrated with how ‘25 ended for me and I’m not sure why because, on reflection, it was a hugely successful year running-wise. I’ve only really been taking this ‘seriously’ as such for circa 2.5 years and (last) year managed nearly 200 miles more than I did in ‘24, broke a 10k and half marathon PB, ran the bloody New York half marathon and just generally managed to get out quite consistently and engaged with a few people with the club, which I don’t always do. Hit a bit of a lull after the GNR having worked hard towards that and getting the sub-two hour I’d wanted since starting out. Picked up the back end of October and into November but not sure whether I just hit a bit of a burnout wall, as it was quite the jump in miles from the previous year. That coupled with a bit of a niggly thigh injury which is still concerning me a little bit, life and a bit man-flu led to me basically having December off (last run was December 7).

Going to see about blowing the cobwebs off with a loosener at Parkrun in the morning all being well before starting back up proper from Monday. Goals for the year would be for further consistency in going out and maybe being a bit stricter with sessions outside of a Wednesday with the club where I maybe incorporate more tempo elements into my individual/longer runs. Would love to break that 10k PB again and get sub-50. Have less than a minute to find to do it. Got the London landmark half in April and doing the Sunderland half in May so training starts back up, like I say, from Monday. Will enter the GNR ballot but going to go for Kielder half either way in October after missing it the other year.

Hoping I can get the spark back swiftly after the break. Think it was right for me to have a stop with it all the way I was feeling mentally and physically, though. Might have a look for some new wheels in the sales for that added incentive to get back out.
Sounds like a class year. Should be proud. Always tough after a big event to pick yourself back up, I find. No wonder you lost a bit of interest in the final month of the year.

You won’t have lost much in that time, so enjoy parkrun tomorrow but it’s going to be fkin Baltic so just enjoy it rather than look for a great time - you’ll possibly miss that time and end up hating it again which is counterproductive (obviously).
 
Well this weather's morning stopped me going out , I'm clumsy at the best of times and snow and ice doesn't seem a good idea 😁
 
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