Running On Empty

Do I really need a 2025 retrospective? I barely did any running. 90% of what I did was parkrun and here's the truth of how often I attended that, from the 5K app: Blue squares are attended parkruns. Apols to those with colour-blindness. So, I guess the main headline or achievement for 2025 was that I did anything at all. Especially considering I called it all quits in October 2024. I almost got into the habit of attending parkrun regularly, even if I'd not been doing any midweek training runs, but then that died off in November (albeit not entirely by choice). February 2025, probably the last time I wore that top.  😢 Positively, I've had very little grief from my knees and hips since restarting. That may be helped by the significant amount of rest between runs. But what can I look forward to in 2026? What can and should I aim for? Well, the sidebar on this blog has the following unmet goals for 2025 and 2026: Starting training again (regularly) Get under 27 minutes at ...

Welcome to 2026! And good riddance to 2025! (I have my reasons.) Last post here was mid-November, so what have I been doing running-wise since then? Missing lots of parkruns, for various reasons: visiting in-laws, ill health, work stuff, and ferrying Daughter the First to her volunteering sessions at a local stable Managing to get out for a single 4K run (big whoop) Adding about 3 kilos in weight over Christmas and New Year Trying to attend a parkrun today, only to be scuppered by last-minute snow Needless to say, I'm not feeling the fittest I ever have done and I suspect I'm back to square one with my parkrun fitness revival. Hey ho. 🤷‍♂️ Sunrise at Blyth Links parkrun this morning, just after we'd been told it was cancelled I'd hoped to at least get 2026 off to a good start by doing both the New Year's Day run (at Newbiggin) and the regular Saturday run a couple of days thereafter. A banging headache and accompanying lack of sleep did for the fi...