2025 - My First Full Year of Running
I set a goal for 2025 to run 1,000 km which pivoted into a target of 100km+ per month & completing one half marathon distance per month at a minimum. The purpose of this was accountability and to see where I could take my running with consistency of training over a 12 month period.
As of today, I have run 1,268km this year, which includes 4 competitive races:
March - Wilmslow Half Marathon - 1:35:08
May - Mull of Kintyre Half Marathon - 1:33:45 (PB)
September - Tallinn Marathon - 3:18:30 (PB)
November - Conwy Half Marathon 1:39:10
I have four key takeaways from the year.
There is no skill involved in running. What you put in is what you get out of it. Training consistently, increasing volume, and doing a variety of different sessions leads to noticeable improvement. I only truly followed and stuck to a programme for the marathon & I was able to complete it at my target pace.
You lose your fitness pretty bloody quickly once you stop training. I had an 8 week calf injury between the marathon in September and the Conwy half in November. 4kg heavier, and only 20ish KM in the legs, I hit the wall at km 15 & was unable to keep to my target splits.
Running kills gains. It is a myth that hybrid training is the catalyst for a muscular, lean physique. I found it very tricky to gain any strength or size in the gym when I was running. My CNS was completely shocked the entire time, and my fuel stores were being used up on runs, leaving not much left for my big lifts.
Running events make for great holidays. Running this year has taken me to Tallinn in Estonia, and the Mull of Kintyre, In Scotland, two amazing places I would not have visited if it wasn’t for running. If anyone is keen to visit somewhere ‘rogue’ in 2026, pair it up with a running event. Most cities in Europe will host an event each year, and the city/town will be buzzing for the entire weekend. There’s nothing like the ‘game day feeling’ when you arrive at the start line on the morning of the race.
PC