Another year with not much blogging action (same story as 2022), but here’s a quick summary of what I got up to this year.
2023 Races
Resolution 5K – 18:55 – 2nd Master. Always a fun event, this Tidewater Striders event took place at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront and was a perfect way to kick off the New Year.
Sandy Bottom 8-Hour – 53.75 miles – 1st overall. First time running this event. Ended up with 13 x 3.75 mile loops and 5 x 1 mile out and backs for a new course record.
Distance Series 15 Miler – 1:42:23 – 1st Master. Fun event at Fort Monroe, Hampton. Started off fairly conservatively, but ended up running the last @ just under 6:40/mile.
Rocky Raccoon 100 – 17:19:55 – 1st Master. Despite walk/running most of the last 20 mile loop, managed to finish under 18 hours for the first time in a 100 miler since 2018.
Distance Series 20 Miler – 2:13:51 – 2nd Master.
One City Marathon – 2:56:08 – 2nd Master. Stoked to keep the sub-3:00 marathon streak alive. 19 consecutive years and counting!
Shamrock Marathon – 2:56:49 – 2nd place 55-59. On pace for faster than the One City Marathon, but a wicked headwind in the closing miles literally stopped me in my tracks.
Virginia 24-Hour Run/Walk for Cancer – 75 miles. Miserable conditions once again at Sandy Bottom Nature Park. One of these days I’ll run another decent 24 hour race.
South Downs Way 100 – 21:45:18 – 3rd place 50-59. Tough conditions made for a long, long day on the trails. Despite the “slow” finish, really pleased that I stuck at it and dug deep to get to the finish line.
ERR 10K – 37:22 – 1st 55-59. Surprised myself with a pretty consistent pace for the 6.2 point-to-point miles. Good test for the Saucony Endorphin Elite too.
Chas Foundation 5K – 18:28. 1st 50-59. Hoped to be a bit quicker at this race and fell short of my pre-race goal of breaking 18 minutes. Course felt a bit long, but my pace dropped off in the last kilometer anyway.
Neptune Festival 8K – 30:24 – 1st 50-59. A slow first kilometer [3:54] ruined any chance of breaking 30 minutes, but still happy with a solid solo effort at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront.
Chester Marathon – 2:51:10. Race highlight of the year for sure, representing Wales for the 1st time ever and running my best ever age-graded marathon and fastest for many years. After returning from the South Downs Way 100 in June, I devoted almost 4 months preparing for the Chester Marathon, finishing 5th in the overall M55 and 2nd in the Welsh Championships M55 age category. Couldn’t be happier!
Wicked 10K – 38:41 – 1st 55-59. Good fun, and surprisingly speedy, in the Batman costume!
Striders XC Classic – 19:13 – 1st 55-59. Can’t beat a bit of XC action at Bells Mill Park. Legs (and shoes) felt heavy, but a pretty decent showing all the same.
Turkey Trot 10K – 36:44 – 1st 55-59. Lost concentration in the early miles and somehow managed to miss about 3 tenths of mile by following the runners ahead. Really strong race though, and the legs felt great throughout.
Seashore Nature Trail 50K – 4:42:48 – 3rd Master. Not the race I hoped for, but thankful to finish my 15th consecutive Seashore 50K. Unfortunately picked up a stomach bug several days before the race, and was touch and go to even make the start line. Managed to run the first 20 miles fairly strongly, but had nothing left in the tank for the final 11.
Stats
- Running: 2553 miles
- Walking: 203 miles
- Cycling (Peloton): 226 miles
Favorite Running Shoes
Injuries/niggles
Aside from a couple of minor hamstring niggles at various points of the year, not much to mention really.
Ambassador Programs
Tailwind Nutrition – selected to represent the Tailwind Core Team for 2023.
Injinji – unfortunately, due to a revamped Ambassador program, my 9 year association with Team Injinji ended April 2023.
Summary
All in all a satisfying year, and already looking forward to new adventures and challenges in 2024.