Happy New Year! Events for 2021

As we roll into 2021 (hi, from Tier 4) there's not a lot of in-person running going on, so along with the rest of the world I've adopted the "virtual event" lifestyle. "Health in mind and body" is my theme for 2021, which means aiming for consistency.

I found a virtual Lands End to John O'Groats challenge last year, from End to End events. I signed up for a bit of motivation, there's a year to complete it which for me is 27th September 2021 - I'm currently about 200 miles into the 874 mile distance. There are several events running concurrently, so if you fancy joining the challenge you can still sign up to start on January 1st.

I went back to the site looking for something interesting for 2021. I found the End to End virtual Everest challenge, complete enough ascent to have made your way from base camp to the summit - a total of 19,696 feet, or 6,003m. The challenge started in October but I only came across it late December so I'll have a go at completing it during January (final date to complete is February 25th). Only two days in so far (and 658m out of 6,003m completed) so a bit early to have an opinion on achievability.

Next is a distance challenge. I just about cleared 1,000km last year (after injuring my calf mid-year and needing to start from literally zero again with C25k!) so that seems a good place to start for 2021.

At the start of 2020 I entered the Virtual Runner 1,000km challenge to show solidarity with some workmates; that seemed like a good baseline for 2021 so I've entered that again. I need a bit more of a challenge for this year, so entered the 1,000 mile version too. I'm holding a place in my mind for a 2,021km stretch objective - but I'm keeping that on the back burner for now.

Who knows what 2021 will bring - I'm staying optimistic for some in-person races in the last third of the year, so Mrs and I signed up this morning for the Bedford Running Festival - I wrote about that in 2019. We're going for the 5k and Twilight 10k on Saturday, and then the half marathon on Sunday. I'm cautious about entering anything earlier int he year, we'll just have to see what happens.

I'm looking forward to a year of running, and, yes, even doing a bit more writing about it.

Race report: Bedford Twilight 10k

Time for another 10k, and this one is the Bedford Twilight 10k which is paired up with the Bedford Half Marathon - enter both to run the 10k on Saturday evening and then the half marathon the next morning (assuming you're not so much in need of a lie in that you misread the clock and sleep through the start - not that anyone would be that careless).

Taking in the two flat laps of Great Denham parkrun in the morning (resplendent in the sunshine), we headed up to Bedford. We stayed at the Barns Hotel conveniently just the other side of the River Great Ouse from the race HQ in Priory Country Park - yet somehow still a 25 minute walk away to find a bridge.

Great Denham run briefing in action

The run route was quite narrow at the start - runners were asked to self-seed into 5 pens based on predicted time, but as usual some people didn't listen (or care) so even the front wave had some walkers in it. I've nothing against walking if it's permitted, but please start at the back!

Priory park was pretty gorgeous at sunset

I set off with Mrs in wave 2, predicted time 55-59 minutes. The route was flat and led around the park, up into the edge of the town area along a river, and then back into the park. It was a fairly average run, and it was nice to be running out in the early evening rather than the searing heat of the last few months here and on holiday.

Post-race glow, with surprisingly heavy medal

I came in at 55:42 and picked up a weighty piece of bling and my free t-shirt. We got back to the hotel for a disappointing dinner and went to bed, all tucked up and ready to sleep through tomorrow's race.