2024 – my year of racing

  • March 18, 2025
  • Running
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  • Christophe

My favourite thing about running was the racing. And my favourite thing about racing was the occasional race where you get to over the finish line having had a great run and knowing you’ve given it everything. I ended 2023 running really well. I was reasonably fit, and not injured, so I decided to make the most of it and race as much as I could in the coming year, aiming for at least 1 race per week. This post documents my year of racing.

Step 1 – proper planning. Racing isn’t often something you can always do last-minute, especially when you have a busy life and have to organise things like child-care. But the main problem is often just getting a ticket for the race you want. Some races are astonishingly popular and getting a ticket can be really difficult; for races such as the Grindleford Gallop or the Percy Pud, tickets often sell out within an hour. Therefore, the first priority was to plan properly – to get the races in the calendar as early as possible to give me the best chance of getting the tickets.

Step 2 – become as fit as possible. The winter Tuesday road runs are great for speed and fitness, especially when we have a fast group, and we certainly ended the year with a very fast group. Part 1 of the plan for the year was to get lots of races booked in meaning I’d always have something coming in the calendar to keep me motivated, and part 2 was to stay as fit as possible, which really just involves running regularly. As 2024 approached 2024, all seemed to be going to plan.

My year of racing:

Two Turtle Doves – Boxing Day 2023

I couldn’t start this year off without an honorary mention of the Two Turtle Doves fell race. Whilst not actually in 2024, still close enough for me to include. Considering it starts and finishes about a mile away from my front door I’m not sure how I managed to go this long having never done this race before. Oh yeah – it’s on Boxing Day! Anyway, happy with my first outing for this race and the finish time. 8.8km / 300m / 00:48:41 (Two Turtle Doves 26th December 2023 full results)

Race 1 – Round Sheffield Run (Winter Edition) – 7th January 2024

The Round Sheffield Run is a race I’ve run quite a few times. It’s a very well-known route in Sheffield, and this is a race I’ve almost always run with Liz as a mixed pair (except once I think?). This run has 11 timed stages (with a break in between them) over about 24km with around 600m ascent. This year marks the 10th year for the Summer version of the race. The Winter version was originally due to rescheduling the cancelled Summer run during Covid restrictions, but it seems to have become a regular annual event in its own right now too. It can often be a bit too warm for a run in the summer, but the winter weather so far has been much more suitable for this long route. Always a great atmosphere and a big regional favourite. Nothing notable from us in terms of our finish time, but loved it nevertheless and a great start to the racing year! 23.79km / 581m / 1:42:29 / 16th out of 147 all-age mixed pairs (Round Sheffield Run Winter Edition 7th January 2024 mixed-pair results)

Covid – a bump in the road

20th January we went skiing to Bulgaria. On the transfer between the airport and resort we spent about 3 hours directly in front of someone who was coughing, sneezing, and blowing their nose all the way. We came back to the UK on the 27th of January and the next day I started feeling a bit ‘wobbly’. Last time I had Covid, it’s effects lasted for months – symptoms like very high heart rate and trouble breathing – so was expecting the worst, just hoping my 3 jabs would help to mitigate the worst of the illness. I spent most of the following week in bed. First post-Covid jog was the 9th February – miraculous compared to my experience last time! Strangely, it was also from skiing two years before that I caught Covid (although indirectly – that was someone else bringing it back that time). It could certainly have been worse though – at least my tendons and bones were all intact. On the 18th February I ran the Hope Valley Round with some friends (31km / 1200m). Certainly not back to normal, but getting there!

Race 2 – Steel City 10 at Shirebrook (Club Champs race 1) – 25th February 2024

Steel City 10 is a series organised by the Striders and not one I’ve taken part in before. This was the first of the three races. Low-key and swamped with a sea of green vests. The weather was glorious for the time of year. Hilly and off-road, a fantastic race enjoyed by all. 9.49km / 171m / 00:49:25 (Steel City 10 – Shirebrook Valley – 25th February 2024 full results)

Race 3 – Millhouses Park Run (Totley Park Run Challenge race 1) – 9th March 2024

Standing on the start line I thought about how it’s taken my 11 years to get to this, my 93rd Park Run. That’s a pretty poor effort as I do enjoy it – sadly it’s just not easy to get motivated on a Saturday morning. The Totley Park Run Challenge is a great event in its second year, and a benefit of being involved this year would also mean I might also hit the mighty ‘100’ Park Runs. Not a bad finish time either – definitely heading in the right direction! A cold, rainy, miserable day. 5.06km / 26m / 22:05 / 51st of 450 (Millhouses Park Run 9th March 2024 results)

Race 4 – YVAA Cross Country – Penistone Showground – 24th March 2024

The last time I ran this muddy, hilly 10k course it was so horrible I swore to myself I’d never do it again. I thought about this as I stood on the start-line. A very tough race against other club runners. Nowhere to hide! Happy with the time though – 2-seconds-per-kilometre faster than two years ago. 9.91km / 218m / 00:48:49 (YVAA Cross Country – Penistone Showground – 24th March 2024 full results)

Race 5 – Sheffield Half Marathon (Club Champs race 2) – 7th April 2024

A half-marathon like no other. The first 8.5km are uphill – some of it very steep! The second bit, though, is almost all either downhill or flat, so at least you have something to look forward to as you’re huffing and puffing your way up Ringinglow Road. I ran this with my brother the year before. Normally racing rivals, we agreed instead to simply have a chatty jog around the course meaning no pressure. This year I really tried my best and only beat the previous year by less than 2 minutes. Not a great run when every step feels like walking through treacle. Sadly I just didn’t prepare properly – not enough sleep and terrible food prior to the race. The big problem, however, was being dehydrated – forgot my water and had had nothing but strong coffee before the race. Oh well! Mental note: Stop running like I’m in my 20s and start taking these things more seriously! 21.16km / 334m / 1:44:13 (Sheffield Half Marathon 2024 – Totley AC results)

Race 6 – Limb Valley 5k (5KTTT race 2) – 12th April 2024

The 5k Totley Time Trials (5KTTT) is an idea I’ve been thinking about for a few years – a series of 5, hilly out-and-back off-road races. This year I finalised the 5 routes in my head and decided this was the year to launch it. All 5 routes are hilly, and all but one start with 2.5km uphill. Sometimes in Sheffield you can’t avoid the hills, other times you actively seek them out. This is a bit of both. I ran on my own before the main event so I would be able to more easily grab the finish times. 4.97km / 137m / 25:22

Race 7 – Rother Valley Park Run (Totley Park Run Challenge race 2) – 20th April 2024

The second of the fantastic club Park Run Challenge and the first time I’ve done the Rother Valley Park Run. Weather was lovely for this fast 5k. Happy with the time too – starting to get closer to my PB! 5.03km / 14m / 21:10 (Rother Valley Park Run 20th April 2024 full results)

Race 8 – Cat Lane Canter – 21st April 2024

I knew virtually nothing about this race before turning up besides it was about 10k. I was told by a friend at registration that it was ‘undulating’ – this turned out to be a massive understatement! This race is within the woods below Newfield Secondary School in Sheffield. The weather on the day was lovely and sunny, if not a bit chilly in the wind. The course was very muddy and very hilly, including 2km uphill slog at the end of each of the two laps! Got round OK and was happy with the time – just under 50 mins for this 9.5km. 9.49km / 300m / 49:59 / 22nd of 102 (Cat Lane Canter 10k 2024 full results)

Race 9 – Dronfield 10k (Club Champs race 3) – 28th April 2024

A big local race, and this year, also one of the Totley Champs races. We woke to heavy rain and 5 degrees centigrade. Sometimes it would be really easy to simply crawl back under the covers – this was one of those days. The rain didn’t stop but the temperature at least got up to a balmy 8 degrees for the start (at least out of the wind, anyway). Around 850 runners took part in this road run around Dronfield-Woodhouse. Another ‘undulating’ race with about 140 metres of ascent overall. Happy with the time – getting close to my 10k PB! 10.01km / 137m / 00:44:11 (chip time) / 130th of 842 (Dronefield 10k 28th April 2024 Totley AC results)

Race 10 – Graves Park Run (Totley Park Run Challenge race 3) – 4th May 2024

Near-perfect weather for the third of the 2024 Totley Park Run Challenge races – overcast and not too warm. Another huge club turnout with 60 of the total 278 Park Runners from Totley AC. Graves Park Run is a hilly course course with about 114m of overall ascent. Not a PB for me on this this course this time, but close! 5.01km / 114m / 22:28 / 30th of 278 (Graves Park Run 4th May 2024 full results)

Race 11 – Rother Valley Relays – 14th May 2024

Race 11 - Rother Valley Relays - 14th May 2024

The annual Rother Valley Relays is a huge and much loved event for local running clubs, and this year was no exception. The teams taking part included North Derbyshire RC, Barnsley Harriers, Kingstone Runners, Rotherham Harriers, Danum Harriers, Worksop Harriers AC, Team Manvers Tri Club, and Clowne Road Runners, along with more local clubs such as Steel City Striders, Penistone Footpath Runners, Sheffield RC, Killamarsh Kestrels, Kimberworth Striders, Handsworth Roadhogs, and Rawmarsh Runners. Around 264 teams raced in total including 27 teams from Totley AC.

The circular course simply follows the main path around the Rother Valley Country Park lakes with a 100m out-and-back tagged on to a path near the end to make this a true 5k. The route is very flat, or at least feels very flat – according to my Strava there were 37 metres of overall ascent, but I’m pretty sure that’s a Garmin mistake and should have been more like 7m overall. Most of the course is on well-trodden and wide gravel paths, followed by about a km on tarmac path, then road to the finish line. The event organisation by Andy Davies and his team from Hillsborough & Rivelin Running Club was faultless, and the chip timing by Andy and AV Timing help the event run perfectly smoothly.

Heavy rain until early afternoon turned into sunny spells, and the temperature rose to around 15 degree with only a light breeze. As predicted, the Hallamshire Harriers team won the men’s event with their team of 4 in an astonishingly fast 1:02:30 (15:00, 15:46, 16:02, and 15:42) with Hallamshire Harriers also second, and Barnsley AC third. In the ladies race, the Hallamshire Harriers also won with their team of 3 in an incredible 00:50:41 (16:24, 17:44, and 16:33) with Barnsley AC second, and Hallamshire Harriers third. The mixed teams of 4 event was won by Steel City Striders in 1:13:42 (17:18, 20:56, 19:03, and 16:25) with Sheffield University second and North Derbyshire RC third.

The only slight ‘bump in the road’, was the mis-timing of the team photo, which meant I missed the start of the race – luckily not by that much. It wouldn’t be so bad but the photo didn’t even come out! 5.01km / 37m / 21:56 (Rother Valley Relays 2024 full results)

Race 12 – Totley Trig 5k (5KTTT race 2) – 15th May 2024

5KTTT - 5K Totley Time Trial May 2024 - Totley Moss Trig

Sometimes when you have something hanging over you, something you really don’t want to do, the best thing to do is simply bite the bullet and get it over and done with. The Totley Trig is by far the toughest of the 5 races in my 5k Totley Time Trials series. The first half of the run up to the trig has over 200m overall ascent, and the run back down is very steep in places. I was going to be away for the last week in May which left me with only 1 week left to do this race so I decided to just get it over with. As it turned out it wasn’t a bad time, even on tired legs from the previous night’s relays. The race itself took place on the 31st May. 5k / 205m / 26:44

Race 13 – Eyam Half Marathon – Sunday 19th May 2024

This local race seems to come up every year and every year I seem to miss it. It’s been on the bucket list for a long time and this was the year I finally got around to getting a ticket. Why was it on the bucket list? In hindsight I’m not entirely sure! I suppose it was just because it’s local and well established. It turns out I actually knew so little about this race I even had to check the Eyam Half Marathon website on the day if it was on or off-road! On-road it was. I’d also heard stories of it being hilly – not something that normally worries me – but when everyone you speak to about it does a kind of ‘are you bonkers’ look whilst they’re telling you about the hills, you’d be forgiven for becoming a bit nervous.

Anyway, I ended up stood on the start line with a handful of other Totlies and a couple of minutes to go. The weather was very warm and sunny so we’d spent a lot of the lead up to the race hiding in the shade. On a scorcher of a day, and with no PB to chase, I found myself with a great opportunity to just take it slow and enjoy the views.

The claxon sounded and we were off. The race starts with a small loop in the village before the first climb of about 140 metres in about 3km. The route then undulates past the Barrel Inn, along country roads, and past Great Hucklow Gliding Club providing stunning views. At about the 7km point you descend to Leadmill Bridge in Hathersage. This is where the ‘big’ hill begins. From just before the 15th km to the 19th km you ascend about 360 metres. Finally, the race ends with a couple of kilometres of downhill, finishing back in the village.

According to the stats, 452 runners signed up for the race and 377 runners ran on the day. It was won by a senior from Lincoln Wellington Athletic Club in a staggering 1:14:59 and Sian Evans for the Sheffield Striders was first lady back in a fantastic 1:28:24. For Totley, Priya Poppet finished in 1:40:03 (6th female and 39th overall) and Liz Parsons finished in 1:42:12 (9th female and 52nd overall), followed by yours truly. In the team results, Totley men came 9th, 16th, and 21st. Totley ladies teams came 4th, 10th and 13th. My cadence graph shows where I stopped at the drinks stations as I certainly needed the water due to the heat – a very hilly half on a very hot day. Would I do it again? Of course! 21.15km / 517m / 1:49:15 (chip time) 95th of 377 (Eyam Half Marathon Sunday 19th May 2024 results)

Race 14 – Monsal Trail Park Run (Totley Park Run Challenge race 4), 1st June

According to the Park Run website, this was only the second time I’ve run this Park Run (the other time in 2019). However, I’m almost certain I’ve done it at least a couple of times before that pushing a pram which must have been 2016 or 2017.

On the day it was perfect weather for a race – overcast and a little on the cool side. I knew I was almost certainly in for a PB on this course as my previous time was much slower than I’m currently running, but for the Totley Park Run Challenge, I’d be paired against someone I was unlikely to beat unless I had a truly cracking run. Suddenly, and metaphorically, the clouds broke. The running gods smiled on me, and my challenger very kindly pulled out of the race at the last minute which meant I’d get the full points regardless of how well I ran.

The Monsal Trail Park Run starts from what was once the Hassop train station which is about a mile outside of Bakewell. You run on an old cinder track, and as with most trails along old railway lines, it’s as close to flat as you’ll get. The terrain is well-trodden trail and thew route is an out-and-back towards Bakewell. The first half – the ‘out’ part – has a hardly noticeable decline – probably only a few metres in total. Not far after you pass the the old Bakewell train station, you turn at the cone, and follow the same route back. It’s a very well attended Park run which is surprising considering that, unlike a lot of big city Park Runs such as Endcliffe, almost everyone has to travel a fair distance to take part.

As the race was part of Chris Heggs’ excellent Totley Park run Challenge, of the 297 runners who turned up on the day to take part, it was no surprise that 52 of them were from Totley AC.

As it turned out, I did have a very good run on this very fast course for my 97th Park Run finishing in 29th place overall in 21:05. The fastest runner – Luke Beresford from Ripley RC – finished in 17:01. Emma Pick from Peel Road Runners was first lady back finishing in 19:16. 5.06km / 21m / 21:05 / 29th of 297 (Monsal Trail Park Run 1st June 2024 full results)

Race 15 – Loxley Lash (Club Champs race 4) – 5th Jun 2024

The Loxley Lash is another one of those races that I hear about every year but had never done before. In fact I knew virtually nothing about this one. I assumed it was similar to the Handsworth Hobble or Cat Lane Canter – muddy & hilly, off-road runs – but I was very wrong. The night before I had had it explained to me as simply ‘running around a ‘B’ shaped track’, which I have to say, didn’t make things a lot clearer. It turns out the race is on a 1km tarmac cycle track on the Forge Valley School playing field. The track I would say is more of a kind of long ‘C’ shape. It’s a very flat course with very little overall ascent.

The Loxley Lash 5k (as it’s titled on the Sheffield Running Club website) is a series of 3 races – all are 5km and each consists of 5 laps on the Forge Valley School 1km track. This was the second in the series. The race is split into 3 individual heats based on predicted 5k times – sub-17 minutes, sub-20 minutes, and everyone else. Our heat – the 20+ minute runners – started just before 8pm. In cross-country fashion, the organiser gave us a few instructions before calling us forward to the line, the starting pistol cracked and we were off.

As anyone who has ever been to a similar race around here could have predicted, the top places overall were taken by the Hallamshire Harriers – 15:42, 15:53, 16:00 and 16:02. Totley’s Jamie Rutherford was highest ranking for the club finishing in 16:24 (8th overall), followed by Angus Eady, Matt Burden, and Alex Carlow finishing respectively in 18:12 (39th), 18:17 (41st) and 18:18 (42nd). First Totley back in the 20+ minute heat was Paul Grayson in 20:13 (63rd) followed by Priya Popat in 20:23 (67th) and Mick Crookes 20:36 (70th)

Personally, I had a bit of a disappointing run, significantly slower than Monsal Trail Park Run 4 days earlier, but that also could have been easily predicted. 24 hours earlier I was up over Houndkirk and Burbage running to Oxstones with the fast group, but you have to take advantage of the summer evenings whilst you can! 78th overall. 5.1km / 21:50 / 78th of 106

Race 16 – 5k Totley Time Trials – Lady Cannings (race 3) – 7th June 2024

The third race in the first 5k Totley Time Trials (5KTTT) series, and the first one I’ve been able to run with the other competitors in the actual race. I ran the route from Lady Cannings to Burbage a few days before race day when I did the All-in-One and it was muddy. Very muddy! But then it nearly always is – this is why the stretch between Ox Stones and Burbage Edge is called the ‘Muddy Mile’.

The Sunday before it had been virtually impossible to avoid the mud so I’d already made the decision that on race day I would simply take the ‘Roman Route’ – a straight-on line along the route not even trying to avoid the bogs. However, very surprisingly, it wasn’t actually very muddy on the day. It always amazes me how quickly the moors can dry out with a few days of dry-ish weather, and after 5 days a a gentle wind and no rain, the peat had mostly dried.

We met in the car park at the bottom of Lady Cannings Plantation just before 6.30 for a quick re-cap of the course. The route starts from the gate in the Lady Cannings car park at the bottom of the main path through the plantation. You follow the path straight up to the top, go through the two gates then straight on to the moors. At the first two Ox Stones you bear right towards the third stone then simply follow the path in the direction of Stanage Edge and Higger tor for just under a mile. The the ‘T’ junction where the path meets the Burbage Edge top path you turn around and follow the same route back to the car park where the race ends.

The weather was perfect for a fell race – dry, slightly overcast, and not too warm. 16 runners including me set off. My watch recorded 5.4km with 97m of overall ascent. The race was won by Pete Harris in 23:33, followed by Andy Pearson in 23:45, then Paul Turner in 25:41. First lady back was Sarah Brooks in 30:43, then Liz Dally in 30:54, and Pat Goodall in 34:33. Great times from Liz Dally, Pat Goodall and Trevor Fearnley considering they all took a diversion to the Trig on the way back! 5.43km / 97m

Race 17 – Colin’s Handicap – 11th June 2024 (club event)

One of our much enjoyed Totley AC club events each year is Colin’s Handicap. Many years ago when I first competed in this race, the event was organised by Colin White, complete with his mysterious handicap system. He’s since taken a step back from the club and the event is now organised by Colin Osbourne and Colin Alexander, complete with a new, but equally mysterious handicap system.

This is how the event goes: You’re given an handicap based on either your Blacka Moor Chase time from within the past 2 years, or most recent 5k or 10k if you don’t have that. Handicaps are then calculated and applied to all runners. This year the handicaps were between 4 minutes for the slowest runner, and 28 minutes for the fastest – everyone else was somewhere in-between including me with a handicap of 21:15. On race day, Colin starts the timer and the runners set off when the timer reaches their handicap time, e.g. if your handicap is 4 minutes, you set off after the timer reaches 4 minutes, or if your handicap is 14 minutes, you set off when the timer reaches 14 minutes. The course is the same route as the Blacka Moor Chase – about 7km with about 275m of ascent – and the idea is that, if all the handicaps are accurate, everyone crosses the finish line at the same time.

Every entrant will be given a handicap based on their actual (or estimated) Blacka Moor Chase time from the last two years. Start times are based on your handicap, with the slowest runner off first. The fastest runner sets off last and tries to catch everyone else. The handicaps should ensure that everyone arrives around the same time, and the winner is the first runner to finish

Colin Osborne

On the evening, the weather was mild, overcast and very still. To say the midges were out in force might win the ‘understatement of the year’ award – clouds of them swarmed the club hut as the runners congregated, and word had really got around by the time the race ended. The race was won by Liz Dally & Trevor Fernely. As is tradition we all had fish & chips together after the race. I had a good run, beating the previous 4 times I’ve raced this route, finishing in 38:27

Race 18 – Calver Peak Fell Race – 12th June 2024

The only other time I’ve run the Calver Peak Fell Race was back in 2014. This was in the early days of my fell running career and I learned a lot about the sport – the fact I could still remember so much about this race bears testament to that!

The race starts on the road between the Derwentwater Arms and the village green in Calver and is just over 8km in distance with about 275m of overall ascent. You first follow the lane through the village as it begins to climb, before crossing the main road and onto a track where the first of two climbs really begin. Once at the top, the circular route firstly takes you in a westerly direction around the south side of Calver Peak. Sadly when you’re fell racing you’ll generally keep your eyes on the ground in front of you for the entirety of the race, however, anyone who was able to look up would have been able to see stunning views over towards places like Hassop, Pilsley and Bakewell.

At around 2.75km you then reach the second, but much smaller, of the two climbs which takes you north towards Bleaklow Quarry. Once at the top you turn easterly and start to descend, following the track for about 1.2km before turning left into the fields. The final descent takes you down a narrow, rocky track which comes out onto the main Calver to Bakewell road. The last stretch is up the road before crossing back onto the lane and through the village, finishing on the village green.

The Calver Peak Fell Race is a low-key, local event organised by volunteers and raising funds for the village. It brings club runners from all over the region such as Macclesfield, Glossop, Ripley, Matlock, Belper, Stockport, Goyt Valley, and of course Sheffield. With just a slight breeze, the weather was warm and sunny. The race won by Tommy Power from Hallamshire harriers in an astonishing 30:22 for the men, and Sian Evans in 39:07 for the ladies. First Totley back was Tom Hughes in 35:10 (12th overall), then Rob Owen in 40:34 (9th MV50), me in 42:25 (17th MV40), Ailsa Gray 48:55 (5th F40), Bob Haworth (7th M60), 50:58, Kylie McAteer 51:02 (1st FV60), and Pat Goodall 51:52 (2nd FV60).

When I did this race for the first time in 2014 as a senior under 40, I finished in 46:57 so I was very happy to knock over 4 minutes off and finish as an M40 in 42:25 (8km / 275m). Calver Peak Fell Race 2014 full results – Calver Peak Fell Race 2024 full results

Race 19 – Dan Flask Relays – 18th June 2024

When people talk about rain of ‘biblical proportions’, they’re normally exaggerating a bit, but when the heavens opened just before the start of the Dam Flask Relays, that’s exactly what we got. As we left the house that evening I could see it was probably going to rain. As we drove over the hill into the Loxley Valley, a few drops of rain turned into a colossal downpour. The type of hail and rain you can barely drive through. Where the road turns into a river. We made it to the top of Mill Lee Road, parked up, and waited. Next there was thunder and lighting. Sadly, with no mobile signal there was no chance of getting the message I was hoping for about the event being cancelled. Eventually the rain seemed to die down a bit so I bit the bullet and set off down the hill to registration.

By the Time I got to the Cricket Club the rain had died down to drizzle. I got my number and headed for the start line as the first runner in my team. There was a 10 minute delay at the start, which I heard was due flooding on the roads, the the gun eventually fired and we were off.

The Dam Flask Relays is another of the regular fixtures in the annual calendar, and another one I’ve somehow never done before. The race takes place on the road around Dam Flask, starting from near the cricket field in Low Bradfield and then following the road for 3.5 miles in an anti-clockwise direction around the dam. The course is reasonably flat until just before kilometre 4 where you begin a 1km climb. It’s then downhill to the finish. According to my Strava it’s a total of 76m overall ascent

As usual with a race of this type, the Hallamshire Harriers won both the men’s and women’s races. In the men’s race (teams of 4), first and second over the line were the Hallamshire Harriers seniors in 1:11:20 and 1:12:37. Third were HRRC in 1:15:29. In the women’s race (teams of 3), Hallamshire Harriers seniors also took first and second place in 1:00:12 and 1:02:02 followed by Steel City Striders in 1:04:22

MV60 was won by Steel City Striders in 1:09:51 followed by Barnsley AC in 1:13:27 then Doncaster AC in 1:219:07. Totley MV60 team arrived back in 5th place finishing in 1:21:04. No FV60 teams were fielded

For Totley, 13th place in the men’s race were Totley senior men finishing in 1:24:51, followed in 15th place by the Totley M40 team in 1:26:30, then in 38th place the Totley M50 team in 1:36:12. Women’s F35 team finished 8th in 1:09:52, the Totley F45 finished in 11th place coming over the line in 1:13:29, and the second Totley senior women’s team finished in 16th place in 1:17:012

Dam Flask Relays 2024 full results

Race 20 – Tideswell Fell Race – 21st June 2024

One of the benefits if the cold first half of the summer this year is that racing has been much easier in cool conditions, and weather for this race was no exception. It was overcast and had a slight chill in the air when we arrived at Millersdale Car Park for the 5th race in the club champs.

According to the Tideswell Running Club website, the race this year had a new route including new start & finish locations. The race starts on the Monsal Trail at the old Millersdale Train Station between the two platforms and heads west in the Buxton direction. Just after the bridge the route bears off to the right before starting the ‘big climb’ at about kilometre 1. The route then undulates for about the next 3 kilometres before descending back to the to the trail, and over the Cheedale Stepping Stones. You then follow the river for about 2.5km before re-joining the trail at about kilometre 6. Just when you think you’ve got a nice, easy jog to the finish down the Monsal Trail you again bear off the trail, and do a loop, over the river and back to the trail for the final run back to the finish at the station.

The race was very well attended by 51 Totlies of the 123 runners including Jamie Rutherford and his friends running in fancy dress for his stag do. First man back was Tommy Power for Hallamshire Harriers in 30:17 and first lady was Caroline Brock in 38:04 for the Striders. For the Totley men, Bart Shaw finished first in 33:02 (2nd overall and 1st M40), Jake Lane finished in 33:24 (3rd overall and 2nd Senior) and then Steve Franklin in 33:55 – all running in fancy dress. For the Totley ladies, Caz Kay finished in 43:23 (3rd F40), Liz Parsons finished in 43:54 (1st F500), and Amy Conlan finished in 45:10. I felt I had a great run finishing in 40:11 / 7.84km / 184m ascent

Tideswell Fell Race 2024 full results

Race 21 – the Matlock Skyline – 30th June 2024

After many years Liz and I had finally got around to setting a date to do the Welsh 3000s and we were planning our training. When we heard about the Matlock Skyline it seemed like the perfect training distance at the right time, so we got ourselves tickets. Its not a part of the world I know particularly well so it was also a great opportunity to explore some new paths & trails.

The Matlock Skyline is a brand-new event, organised by and raising money for the Derby Mountain Rescue team. It’s advertised as a challenge as opposed to a race. Walkers set off from 8am and runners from 9am. The 35km circular route with 1.1km of ascent boasts a stunning route through villages and hamlets such as Congreave, Bonsall, Winster, Tansley, Rowsley, Darley Dale, before finally past Riber Castle and descending back into Matlock.

I arrived in Matlock and parked up. Registration was near the bandstand in Lees Hall Park in the centre of Matlock. I pinned on my number and set off just after 9. The route starts with a 3km climb south-west out of Matlock towards Bonsall. Checkpoint 1 was busy. I showed my number and carried on. There were queues at the styles and gates, but I powered on past the runners and walkers until suddenly I didn’t see anyone in front of me. The marshals at checkpoint 2 were very happy to see me – I discovered I was the first one through! I didn’t stop and powered on. In Darley Dale my phone signal went which meant my Strava map stopped working. After a few wrong turns I found a phone signal again and found myself back on the right track ascending the hill. Finally, I reached Riber Castle and the final descent. With aching knees and painful feet, I took the steep final descent back to Lees Hall Park and to the end as first one back.

Getting to the end of any race after a good run is a wonderful experience, but it’s even more joyous when the marshals are as happy to see you as you are to finish. I had my photo taken and received my certificate just before the second and third runners arrived back. First runner back for the first Matlock Skyline is my highlight of the year. The year so far, at least! 34.35km / 1.1km / 3:34:23 (3:40:47 elapsed)

Race 22 – Castle Park Run – 6th July 2024 (Totley Park Run Challenge race 4)

Castle Park Run takes place in Manor Park, a lovely little oasis off City Road in Sheffield. It’s a well looked after green space full of wild flowers and insects. However, as with almost all the parks in Sheffield, it’s on a hill. The Castle Park Run course is three loops on good tarmac paths starting at the top of the hill and gently winding its way down to the bottom and finally back up the hill to complete the circuit.

Over 40 Totlies turned out on this chilly Saturday morning in July for the 5th race of Chris Heggs’ superb Totley Park Run Challenge. The rules are quite simple – for each race the participants are randomly paired up against each other. The aim of the game is to run the Park run and get a higher age grading than your opponent. If you turn up you get a point. If you get the highest age grading of your pair, you get another point.

Sadly, my hitherto unbroken age-grading winning streak was broken by my opponent, Priya. She’s a fantastic runner so it wasn’t actually a surprise. I knew the only way I’d have a chance against her was to run the race of my life, so I set off accordingly. I was still running very well by the top of the hill on the first circuit, but that’s where I ran out of steam. I pushed as hard as I could for the rest of the race but only lost a few places. Nevertheless, I still beat my best Sheffield Castle Park run time by over 30 seconds, and got my highest ever Park Run age grading. 4.9km / 20.58 / 109m

Dore Gala Fun Run (organiser) Saturday 6th July

I was asked by the Dore Gala to organise a fun run for them and I dutifully agreed. I was given a date and the rest was left to me. I was hoping to use the Dore Rec for the race as the inside perimeter is exactly 1km, but due to council licence problems, this wasn’t an option. Mercia Field between Furniss Avenue and Bushywood Road was my second choice but the owners, King Eckberg School, would only let us use it for a fee. Therefore we were left with one option – the bonfire field at the bottom of Parkers Lane.

I spent the week leading up to the day plotting and marking the course. A kilometre is a surprisingly long way when you’re trying to fit it into a small field, but with fencing pins and bunting, I got the majority of the course marked out, and finished it off with the kind help of Alex Wall, Mandy Moore and Liz Dally.

The race took place at midday on the Saturday and the few that turned up to run all seemed to enjoy it. Sophia and I spent the next hour taking down the course until we were rained off.

Race 23 – Hathersage Gala Fun Run – 8th July 2024

The weather so far this year hasn’t been great for those wishing to top up their sun tan, however, from a racing perspective it’s been damn near perfect. The weather for the Hathersage Gala Fell Race was no exception – about 17 degrees with a gentle breeze and slightly overcast. We turned up in good time for the start and registered.

One of my favourite things about the Totley AC Club Championship – otherwise known simply as ‘the Champs’ – is it gets you out to races you might ordinarily miss. And one of my favourite things about living where we do on the border of the Peak District is that we’re thoroughly spoilt for fell races to choose from, so even though this one comes up every year, it’s yet another one I’ve never done before. Quite often when preparing for a new race you’ll need to look at the route and elevation profile to get an idea of the course. But then there are the other times when you just know pretty much exactly what it’s got in store for you. I’ve raced from Hathersage before – it’s is a village at the bottom of a big hill – which combined with the words ‘fell race’ usually tell you everything you need to know without having to see the map.

Yet another huge turnout from Totley for this with us one accounting for 40 of the 233 total runners. The race starts on School Lane and almost immediately begins the climb, firstly up Sheffield Road and then bears left onto paths and up through the woods. Once you reach Millstone Edge you follow the gritstone path via Wynyards Nick over Higger Tor before a fast descent down to the Dale, through Sweetings Farm, and back down the hill to the school.

The race was won in an astonishly quick time of 30:42 by local senior Will Gratton (DPFR) with senior Eve Pannone (Ambleside AC) as first lady back in an incredible 32:08 and 5th overall. First Totley Men over the line were Tom Hughes (35:04), Joel Paisley (35:02), and Aiden Linskill (36:52). First Totley ladies back were Caz Kay (43:42), Liz Parsons (45:11), and Amy Conlan (47:17). Although my legs fell well and truly like jelly by the time I got to the top of Higger Tor, I still managed what I consider to be a very respectable time, finishing in 41:05 / 7.2km / 343m

Race 24 – 5k Totley Time Trial – Gillifield Wood (Race 4) – 12th July 2024

Friday the 12th July was the date if the the fourth of the 5 Totley Time Trials. We met on bridleway next to the Shepley Spitfire at 6.30. In the month leading up to the race, a lot had happened. Firstly, reports came in that the bridge halfway through the woods had become damaged leaving us wondering if the race was going to be able to go ahead. Next, we began to hear reports that a herd of menacing cows were roaming the paths around the woods, which unsettled us further. If things couldn’t get any worse, halfway through June, the BBC news reported that the Edale Mountain Rescue team had been called to rescue a person ‘trapped in quicksand’ in Gillifield Woods. Fortunately, firefighters managed to free them and they were ‘walked back to the road unharmed’. Then, on the 18th June, as if to add insult to injury, the bridge was completely destroyed by what was more than likely just a bit of recreational vandalism. However, as July approached, the running gods smiled upon us. No further reports of quicksand were relayed to us, the herd of menacing cows vanished as quickly as they’d appeared, and the Friends of Gillifield Woods did a truly amazing job of replacing the bridge meaning everything was suddenly back on track for the 4th race of the series.

Prior to race day, a few runners had already completed the course. Most notably, Ellie Smith ran the 5k route in a stunning 22:15 with Pat Goodall and Many Moore not too far behind. On the day, the weather was perfect – overcast and not too warm. David Frixon, running on home turf, pulled off an absolute corker of a run finishing in 20:32, followed by Pete Harris in 21:55. Liz Dally came in as first lady back in 26:05. Trevor Fernley was the only runner to apply a creative interpretation to the route. After he failed to appear at the finish line, we were just setting off to look for him when he burst out of the undergrowth and sprinted over the finish line. He’d taken a wrong turn after the scout hut and had to battle his way through the undergrowth to get back on track – fortunately no need for Edale Mountain Rescue again! 5k / 32m / 21:22

Race 25 – Millhouses Park Run – 13th July 2024

As part of my intention to race as much as possible in 2024 I was unsure whether to include normal Park Runs in the list as they’re described by the organisers as ‘a run not a race’. Even the old adage ‘anything can be race if you want it to be’ didn’t help me decide. So I considered what a race actually is and I think a Park Run probably does count. After all there is a result table published after the event which include finishing times, categories and age gradings.

I called this a ‘normal’ Park Run but it was actually also a bit of special occasion. Four club birthday celebrations meant a good contingency from Totley turned up. For me it was a last minute decision to run as the previous evening I had run the Gillifield Wood 5k, and the following day I had the Dronfield Relay so should have been resting. However, I told myself I would ‘take it easy’, so got ready and set off. Well, I did take it easy, at least on the first of the three laps. It’s really difficult not to race, so as usual, I finished gasping for air but got myself a perfectly respectable finish time for my 99th Park Run. Great to see the Totley runners turning out in big numbers again, and always a pleasure to enjoy Anne Hegarty’s delicious cake! 5k / 32m / 21:22

Race 26 – Dronfield Relay – 14th July 2024

One of the highlights for me each year is the Dronfield Relay. I was disappointed to miss this race last year after I tripped over a rock on a reccie the week before and nearly broke my big toe. As the day of the race approached I took particular care to try to not damage myself.

The nearly 15 mile course is split into three 5-mile legs and each leg is run as a pair meaning teams of 6. This year, Richard Watts and I were on the final leg. The question of how to coordinate getting to the start or back from the end of your leg is something you need to figure out with your partner beforehand. A few days before race day I’d had a bright idea: Instead of having to leave a car at the end and one at the start, we could simply leave both cars in Holmesfield and jog our leg 3 in reverse getting us to the start of the leg in Unstone. It’d be a good warm-up and the cars would both be waiting there for us after the race. I mentioned this on the WhatsApp and the two ladies teams decided to also join us.

I arrived in Holmesfield just as our leg 1 runners started the race. I met up with Richard and ladies teams and the six of us set off for a leisurely jog. Around four miles into the run we passed the first of the solo runners heading in the opposite direction. I suddenly had a wave of anxiety – had we actually got enough time to get to the start before our leg 2 runners finished their leg? It turns out we did… but only just! We speeded up and arrived at the start of our leg with literally seconds to spare. We grabbed our race number just as Kevin and Martin raced around the corner. We set off running with Richard still trying to pin the number to his vest in pursuit of the first place pair.

Leg three of the Dronfield Relay is the hilliest of them all. You lose a lot of elevation on leg 2 and you have to gain it all back on the final leg. We set off with the front runners less than a couple of minutes in front of us and the the third place runners less than a couple of minutes behind us. We had a great run but were unable to catch the front pair. Although our team finished the course in the fastest time overall, as this is a handicapped race, the first ones over the line were the winners with us in second place.

PosTeam nameTeam numberFinish timeStart timeOverall time
1UHTG 1712:45:5410:42:282:03:26 AM
2Totley Men 11112:47:5410:47:362:00:18 AM
3Run Lovin CIMMINals812:49:0910:43:562:05:13 AM
4SCS Team 3512:50:2910:41:442:08:45 AM
5Totley Men 2612:50:4510:42:282:08:17 AM
6DRC 11412:51:2810:49:482:01:40 AM
7Steel City Stragglers312:55:3810:39:322:16:06 AM
8The Running Jokes412:56:2810:40:162:16:12 AM
9UHTG 11312:56:4610:48:202:08:26 AM
10Totley Women 2112:57:2210:30:002:27:22 AM
11DRC 31212:59:0710:47:362:11:31 AM
12DRC 21013:01:5910:45:242:16:35 AM
13Totley Women 1213:10:0610:38:482:31:18 AM
14Relay Fancy A Pimms913:11:0310:43:562:27:07 AM

Race 27 – Blacka Moor Chase – 18th July 2024

Black Moor Chase 2024

The Blacka Moor Chase is a short, sharp and hilly race on the hills behind our club hut. Everything was going smoothly as I turned up early on the day to help set up. Paul Grayson was suffering with a badly-timed cold but was powering through with the help of a couple of paracetamols. As usual, the fantastic team of volunteers from the club had everything under control, and Andy Vickerman was in good spirits as he set up the timing pads and handed out the ankle chips.  

The race begins with a lap of the cricket field before beginning the first ascent up Strawberry Lea Lane. By the time you’ve completed the first climb and are through the gate onto the moors on Moss Road, the uphill has already started to feel a bit relentless. Next, the Cat Walk descent to Seven Sycamores gives you a short breather before another, but slightly more gentle, climb starts again up to the top of the Black Moor Plantation. Through the woods and then right at Piper House, there is a steep and very technical descent down to the stepping stones before another climb up to the benches and finally a long slow descent down Strawberry Lea Lane back to the cricket field.

A lovely summer evening, slightly on the chilly side, saw 133 runners complete the race which included 30 runners from Totley AC. First back for the men was Cynog Williams (Dark Peak), finishing in 28:34, followed by Thomas Harrison (Hallamshire Harriers) in 28:42 and Tom Saville (Dark Peak) in 29:08. First ladies back were Rachel Rutherford (Totley AC) in 36:34, Abbie Walker (ShUOC) in 36:59 and Jenny Cartmell (HRRC) in 37:09. First Totley man back was Jamie Rutherford in 31:01. A slower run on heavy legs for me, exactly 2 minutes slower than the last time I raced this route in June finishing in 39:45 / 263m / 60th of 133 runners

The only spanner in the works was the angry farmer who was upset about something I never got to the bottom of. After venting his annoyance at the marshals at the Hathersage Road Car Park, he decided it would be a good idea to drive fast down the single track bridleway towards Seven Sycamores ignoring all in his way. Luckily me and several other runners were able to dive out of the way in time meaning none of us were flattened.

Blacka Moor Chase 18th July 2024 full results

Black Moor Chase 2024
Black Moor Chase 2024

Race 28 – 5k Totley Time Trials, Burbage Green Lane (race 5) – 2nd August 2024

The final race in the innaugural 5k Totley Time Trials series. An overcast but still & warm evening for the run. This was the only one of the 5 races which starts with the downhill bit. And you’d be firgiven for thinking it would be easier than starting uphill – we all did! Turns out that’s not the case! This one was a really tough race. The combination of a second-half uphill and being able to see the finish in the distance seemed to make this one feel like it was going on forever. However, a good contingency of hardy runners turned up for race day. 5.5km / 84m / 25:23

Race 29 – Chip Chase – 4th August 2024

The Chip Chase is quite a new race, so I hear. Certainly not one I’ve done before, and not an area I’ve ever run before either having never been to Saddleworth. As you can imagine, it’s very hilly around here. My 3.1km warm-up included 220m of ascent! The weather was threatening rain when we set off for the long walk up the road to the start.

This was a race suggested by my brother. Always keen to explore a new part of the world I of course said ‘yes’, however, I didn’t actually know anything about the race or course when I arrived. It turned out to be a low-key, local race. Standing at the start line I looked around and saw mostly the wirey, hardcore fell runner types – the kind of race when you feel there’s a very real possibility of coming last. The race started uphill, and 2km later we’d just about reached the summit of the hill. A second, steeper climb at 7km takes you to a plateau, before starting a km long ascent at 9km.

The rain mostly held off besides a few light showers on the tops. We skipped the chip butties after the race and headed home to warm up.

BS Fell Race. 10 km / 6.2 miles, 400 m / 57:33 (20th of 88). Full Chip Chase 2024 results here

An even bigger bump in the road – 14th August 2024

Tuesday 13th August, the weather was perfect for a run on the hills, and this was going to be the last one I would lead for a few weeks due to my summer holiday. I therefore wanted it to be a good one. I took the group over Totley Moss, Fox House, Burbage Edge, Toad’s Mouth, Carl Wark, Wynyard’s Nick, Higger Tor, Oxstones, and Houndkirk Hill. I was flying! A pure joy to be out. The next Day I woke up with my foot in a lot of pain.

If you run a lot you expect aches and pains, especially after long or hard runs. You also get so used to them they just start feeling normal. Acknowledeging an injury means you probably have to rest it, which means not runinng for a while, so even when ‘not noticing’ stops working, ‘denial’ becomes the default. In hindsight, my foot was getting worse for quite a while. My Mud Claws are great on the hills, but they don’t provide a lot of support or cushioning. My heal problem started from accidentally stepping on pointy rocks, and the plantar faciaitius probably started from componsating for the heal pain.

Anyway, however it started, this was the point when I couldn’t ignore it any longer. I woke up on the 14th and could barely walk. Resting it on holiday for a couple of weeks didn’t help much, and a slow test-run on 3rd September showed me this wasn’t going to get better quickly… if at all!

Race 30 – Graves Park Run – 14th September 2024 (Park Run Challenge)

My 100th Park Run! (My first was Endcliffe Park Run on the 12th January 2013.) A beautiful sunny Saturday morning for the Park Run Challenge. Graves is one of my favourites of the 18 or so I’ve done over the years. It’s nice and hilly – no time to get bored. It’s traditional in the club to make a cake for your milestone Park Run, which I did. Although I’m not much of a baker, I nevertheless dutifully made a cake for the event – my favourite Lemon Drizzle cake. This particular day was also Liz’s birthday, Liz’s 50th Park run and Ian Bates’ 100th Park Run so there was a LOT of cake to go around! A great turn out from the club and a fantastic run.

My first race since the 4th August and my foot still in a lot of pain. I was happy with run nevertheless.

5km / 111m / 22:33

Race 31 – Monsal Park Run, Hassop – 26th October 2024 (Totley AC Champs & Park Run Challenge)

I cycled to the start of the Monsal Park Run for this Champs race. Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea given the weather as my feet and hands felt frozen when I arrived. After a blast under the hand-dryer and 10 minutes sat inside the cafe, I managed to warm up a bit.

There was another big turnout with 68 runners from the club for this Park Run Challenge which also happened to be a club Champs race. The route, for a reason unknown to me, went the other way up the Monsal Trail – the original route towards Buxton – which I think makes this Park Run much easier as it starts uphill.

I was carefulwith my foot, and had a good run under the circumstances. 5km / 29m / 22:15

Race 32 – Leg It ‘Round Lathkil – 10th November 2024 (Totley AC Champs)

A dry day and the air was still. Amazingly not too cold, just overcast – as close to perfect weather as you could hope for this time of year, certainly compared to 2023 when it was so wet the paths along the river were flooded. Quite a few Totleys turned up for this Champs race.

It’s at least the third time I’ve competed in this race so I knew what to expect. The course takes you firstly down a narrow windy, road to the river. You then follow the path up the river for 4km until you cross and start the ascent up the limestone steps. You then carry on with a more gentle ascent as you follow the paths through the fields fields for another couple of KMs. You then start the ascent, through a farmyard, and through the woods back down to the river. The path then takes you for a kilometre down the river before the final climb up through the fields back to the Lathkil Hotel.

I took it easy and was careful with my heel meaning I got ’round Lathkil in one piece. However, the extra strain on my calves left me in pain for the next few days. Mental note – must stretch out properly after a race!

11.52km / 260m / 1:07

A literal bump in the road – Friday 22nd November

We’d had plenty of snow in the previous weeks but the weather had warmed up and most of it had gone. The Thursday night it snowed but didn’t settle as the ground must’ve been warm, but the sun went down and the tempreture dropped. We woke up on Friday morning to black ice on the paths and roads and it didn’t go above freezing for the whole day. That Friday evening I was walking the dog around Totley. As I walked down a ginnel my feet suddenly went from under me and I hit the ground backwards, landing on my back and banging my head. I was instantly in a huge ammount of pain – luckily though seemed nothing too serious.

Over the next few days, as I struggled to walk, I decided that that there was no way I was going to be able to run the Percy Pud and had to sell my ticket. But the week went on, and with the help of Naproxin, I began to feel a little better each day. By Friday I realised I was going to be able to do it.

Race 33 – Percy Pud – 1st December 2024 (Totley AC Champs)

As a club Champs race, this one was always going to have a good turnout from Totley, but an incredible 92 club members turned up for this race out of a total 3125 runners. Everyone was keeping an eye on the weather leading up to this race as the year before had been cancelled. Firstly due to heavy snow, then the rescheduled race was cancelled when high winds damaged the marquees and the race route was effected by fallen trees, debris and flooding.

Fortunately, the race did go ahead this year. Tommy Power of HHAC was first man back finishing in a stunning 30.02. Fran Collett was first female back in 34.50. A very busy and crowded race, but lots of Christmas spirit and good fun had by all. Gradually recovering from injury I finished a bit slower than the last time I ran this race in 2018 when I got 43:06

10k / 85m / 48:30

Race 34 – Millhouses Park Run – 14th December 2024 (Park Run Challenge)

Another incredible turnout by Totley with 65 runners for this final Park Run of the Challenge. Besides that, nothing much to report. I hobbled round in a respectable time.

5k / 22:58 (official) or 22:47 according to my Garmin / 28m ascent

Race 35 – Dronfield Winter Relay – 28th December 2024

The Dronfield Winter Relay was a new event this year organised by Dronfield Running Club. The same overall route as the Striders event following the Dronfield 2000 Rotary Walk but in reverse and starting from Coal Aston. We managed to round up 3 teams for Totley – men’s, women’s and mixed – and organised our lift shares.

Each leg was surprisingly different – this is to say in winter this time and the opposite direction. All three legs were very muddy, following a lot of recent rain, but Leg 1 now also finished with a mile of up-hill to Holmesfield. Leg 2, now from Holmesfield to Half Acre Lane in Dronfield, suddenly went from the most difficult leg to a much gentler run with lots of down-hill. And leg 3 – Half Acre Lane to the finish in Coal Aston – went from a nice jog through the woods and fields to an horrendous slog with 220m of of muddy climb. I originally put myself on leg 2, but due to a few last-minute swaps, ended up on leg 3.

This is a handicapped race based on runners 5k or 10k times. Totley Ladies and Totley Mixed ended up with the most generous start times being given a 10:30 start. Totley Men were 7th to start with a 10:41 start time, and the team from Dronfield were the 9th and final team to set off.

We jogged the leg in reverse to the start and pinned our numbers on while we waited. After the first few solo runners had gone through, the first team to appear were Totley Ladies, followed quickly by Totley Mixed. Our leg 2 runners – the Totley Men – arrived just behind the DRC team and we set off. It became quickly apparent that were not going to be able to overtake the DRC team so we instead focussed on trying to not be overtaken by the Striders team who had appeared behind us. Sadly they weren’t behind us for long.

As we jogged over the brow of the hill at Coal Aston Airfield we saw the Striders ahead in the distance and DRC not far behind them. DRC veered off route seemed to curl back towards Coal Aston, getting back on track. 6 Geezers Running won in 2:10:32, Dronfield Dashers came in second in 2:12:02, and my team – the Totley Men – were third overall in 2:14:19. However, this race is more about the taking part. Drinks at the pub in Coal Aston at the end.

7.14km / 220m / 42:40

What I learned from a year of racing

Over 3 months into 2025 after my final race of 2024 I’m surprised to discover I seem to have lost a little bit of love for racing. A year of racing, or at least 8 months, was great to begin with, but I began to feel a bit like I was racing just to tick another one off. And that made me start to lose a bit if the love I’d had for racing. I suppose when you’re excited about a run and have been looking forward to it, it’s very different to simply racing for racing’s sake. I suppose if there is one thing that 2024 taught me about running it’s that when it comes to racing, it’s quality, not quantity that wins. My focus in 2025 will therefore be on races I really want to do, if I actually do any!

In hindsight, I should have also made my priority to stay injury-free. Planning races and aiming to be as ‘fit a possible’ is great in theory, but I was a very naïve to imagine that I could push myself so much and stay injury-free – certainly at my age. The thing is, when you’ve been running for a long time, and you run regularly, you begin to ignore those little niggles, aches and pains the next day. They become normal – and to an extent they are – but little niggles can quickly turn into big problems if they’re not addressed. In 2025 I will aim to be a bit more sensible and not try to carry on like I’m 20 years old

My highlight of the year

Far and away the highlight of the year for me was first finisher of the first Matlock Skyline. I was fit for it and I worked hard – it was one of those where everything came together on the day and I had a great run. I’ll never know if I was the fastest, as it wasn’t a race in the traditional sense, but I was first over the line which was a great feeling.

Christophe

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