2014 is looking to be a great year- it is the year I turn 30 and I already have a trip to New York planned for my birthday in April. I hope to spend my 30th birthday running in Central Park while my friends and family back home take on the London Marathon.
I’ve been thinking about what I would like to achieve this year in terms of fitness, and have set the following goals for myself this year:
– Run 12 races in 12 months
In 2013, I ran 4 races and in 2012 only 3. I’m planning to really get involved with more races this year, by aiming to run one race per month. So far I am signed up for:
- Les Witton Dartford 10 Mile in January
- Hampton Court Half Marathon in February
For March, I am considering either the Where’s Wally? Fun Run or the New Forest 10km.
-Try a Park Run
Can you believe I’ve never done Park Run? I hear so much about these Saturday morning events and know there is a run less than 10 minutes from home, but I’ve still not got round to registering. This is mainly because I usually do my long-run on Saturday mornings, so a 5km run doesn’t usually fit into my training plan, however in 2014 I want to switch things around a bit so I can fit in a Park Run.
-Get a new Personal Best
My current 10km PB is 57.25, so I would like to work towards 55 minutes, and my 5km PB is 27.01 so I’d love to get around 25 minutes. Of course, my half-marathon time will be a new PB as it will be my first race of this distance!
I’m going back to track-running next week, as I know this should help to improve my pace.
-Try different styles of yoga
I practice Bikram Yoga fairly regularly and have done several Vinyasa classes, however there are so many styles of yoga out there which I have not experienced. For 2014, I aim to try out Ashtanga, Iyengar, Jivamukti, and I definitely want to try Anti-Gravity yoga!
-Learn to dive
I’ve really progressed with my swimming lessons in 2013, but I’m still terrified of diving into the pool. I managed a seated dive just before Christmas, and now would like to progress to a standing dive. Lessons start up again mid-January, so this will be something to work on over the next few months.
-Get back in to weight-training
I started 2013 by regularly lifting weights in the gym and working with a Personal Trainer to improve my strength, however I’ve drifted away from weight-training after cancelling my gym membership in the summer. I’d like to get back into lifting as I know this will make me a stronger runner- there is a pay-as-you-go gym near to my office, so I plan to make use of the weight room there in 2014.
