Happy New Year!

Time to review 2015!

As we head into the final days of the year, it’s  time  to look back on the previous 12 months and assess how much progress I did or didn’t make. It’s also time to look ahead and set some goals for next year.

Personally, I love having a running goal to work towards. Goals are what motivate us, give us something to strive for and empower us to maintain a positive outlook. For me, this means having a training programme all mapped out with a goal race at the end to give each run or workout a purpose. 

So ...

How did I get on in 2015?  

2015 has not been a good year for me fitness wise so I haven't achieved all the goals I set. 


The year started off well and then slowly went downhill from July onwards before crashing completely in December! So this equates to all the goals I set out to do at the beginning of the year were achieved and then I wasn't quite so successful!

I sustained a calf injury in July which put me out of action for a couple of months and then in November I got a severe chest infection which rendered me useless for 6 weeks.

2015 Highs:
• Completing my first Open Water Triathlon.
• Surviving Born Survivor!

• Completing my first Trail Half Marathon!

• Setting up my own running group in Kendal called Women on the Run.

• Getting a PB at the Great North Swim.
• Swimming twice weekly in Windermere, and doing a cross lake swim.
  

2015 Lows: 
• Not being able to run or cycle for 8 weeks due to calf injury.

• Not being able to do Windermere Triathlon due to calf injury!
• Not being able to exercise throughout December and missing out on the Christmas swim.
• Not getting in on the Ballot for the London Marathon 2016 (again).

These were my goals for 2015, and the outcome of my efforts!

•  Do an Open Water Triathlon - I completed my first Open Water Sprint Triathlon at The Keswick Mountain Festival in May.
• Do an Olympic Distance Triathlon - unfortunately I had to defer from The Windermere Olympic Triathlon the week before due to injuring my calf!  This was particularly upsetting as I had done all the necessary training!
• Do OW swimming events and swim in different lakes - This year I only managed to compete in one swim event which was the Great North Swim but I did swim in 3 different Open Water Locations - Capernwray, Windermere and Derwentwater. I swam consistently in Open Water from May through until the end of November. I only stopped due to illness wiping me out!
• Do a Trail Half Marathon - I completed Grizedale Half Marathon in February which was actually 14.5 miles! The route had to be altered due to the icy conditions!
• Do Cycle Sportives - I only managed to compete in one cycle Sportive which was the exceptionally hilly 60 mile Eden Valley Epic Cycle! However, during 2015 I have competed in 14 different events in total!
• Survive Born Survivor - I survived (only just) and can honestly say I have never been as frightened in my entire life! I ended up cold, wet and emotional!
• Accumulate 2015 miles - walking, running, cycling, swimming. Unfortunately I didn't manage this! I only managed 1685.10 miles in total which included: 

Walking = 291.90 miles

Running = 598.60 miles (of which 167.68 miles was trail running)

Cycling = 716.31 miles

Swimming = 73.38 miles (of which 31.73 miles was in Open Water)

Which means I was a massive 329.90 miles short of my target!

Goals for 2016

• Finish Windermere Olympic Triathlon.
• Get a Half Marathon PB (sub 1:48:52)
• Get a 10K PB (sub 49:36)
• Get a PB at The Great North Swim (sub 37:31)
• Get a PB at Kendal Sprint Triathlon (sub 1:28:03)
• Accumulate 2016 miles whilst walking, running, cycling, swimming. 
• Janathon 2016 - Run or do some form of exercise every day during January.
• Swim in some different Open Water Locations.
• Continue to encourage others to run through my running club and increase club members from 18.

Requirements (aims) to successfully accomplish goals for 2016: 

•Cycle avg speed of 15+ MPH.

•8.20 minute mile pace for Half Marathon

•8.13 minute mile pace for 5K runnng off the bike.

•8.00 minute pile pace for 10K.

•Swim 400m in sub 8 mins.
•Do additional beginners courses to encourage new members throughout the year.