I fear I have gone a little overboard with entering races. I now have the next 12 months pretty much mapped out. I have a double booking on the weekend of the HARP 24 race and so that will have to be pushed back until 2027. Here is the current plan for the remainder of 2025 and through to autumn 2026.
Chase the Moon Olympic Park Halloween 10k - 29th October 2025
My next race is a midweek 10k at the Olympic Park, it is a course I did in the summer of 2017. Then I did it in the daylight, this time the four laps will be done in the dark which should be an interesting challenge. I'm a little unsure on targets for this one, I did 56:29 on an undulating course in Newmarket in June and I should comfortably beat that time. Last week's 22:25 5k is predicting 46:30 which is far too ambitious. I think I'll aim for sub 50 and just look to empty the tank in the second half if I have more to give.
Southend Rudolph Run - 14th December 2025
I have only run the 5 mile distance once in a race at this event in 2016. Then I ran it in 35:08. Even with the most optimistic of eyes I can't see me getting close to that. Quicker than 40 minutes, maybe 38 minutes?
Post Christmas parkrun - 27th December 2025
We are heading up north for some of the holidays and I'd like to sneak in a parkrun on the Saturday after the big day. Either at Albert Park or I may check out Stewart parkrun. I'd like to go sub 22 minutes to round off my racing year.
BurjtoBurj - 8th February 2026
A half marathon in the Dubai sun with my friend Amy to start my 2026 racing year, yes please. It will be great to run with her and see the fruits of our Runna plan. There was talk of a sub 2 hour target, but we can finesse that closer to the time.
Middlesbrough Half Marathon - 1st March 2026
From Dubai to Middlesbrough, that is a gear change. I will be looking to give it everything here. What does that look like? I'm dreaming of 1:35 but we have four months of hard graft from now until then. Plenty can go right, or wrong in that time.
Essex 20 - 15th March 2026
I have done the Essex 20 on four occasions but only once on the current course. A grinding effort of over 4 hours in 2023. My PB of 2:36:24 was set in March 2017, the last PB I ran before seven years of rust and neglect. I'm not sure that will be under threat.
London Marathon - 26th April 2026
With that ballot place secured I will finally make it to the start line of the London Marathon after 16 years of running, injuries permitting. I can try and downplay it, but I want a block of marathon training like none I've ever done and to set a new PB, 3:34:28 from Chester in 2011 is the target.
Those seven races are all booked and paid for and are in all the relevant diaries. If I have got a PB or two in the process that will set me up beautifully for the second half of 2026, which is a little more fluid currently.
Southend Half Marathon - 14th June 2026
This is the first race that isn't booked, entries are yet to open. I have finished this event eight times and it has been a hot one on each occasion. It is super flat if a little boring, but it's local and I will hope to enjoy the benefits of the six months of base that I have built.
Basildon Half Marathon - 13th September 2026
I so enjoyed the 2025 Basildon half marathon that I promptly signed up for the 2026 edition. I ran 1:57 this year and will hope to take a big chunk off of that in 2026.
Berlin Marathon - 27th September 2026
Have entered the ballot for this one, so no guarantee that I get in. 205 Euros entry is obscene. I was looking for an autumn marathon in case London didn't go quite to plan. If I get in, excellent, a family trip to Berlin in the autumn, if not I can find other races to test myself at.
Great South Run - 18th October 2026
I ran this in 2010, my first 10 mile race and the one where I nearly met Ben Fogle if only I had been braver. If you were wondering I ran 1:12:05 to Ben Fogle's 1:13:22. I enjoyed the race and it might tie in nicely with a visit to Bournemouth for my nephew's birthday. I entered this the day after the 2025 edition, so keen was I to enter.
By my count that is 10 races, plus a parkrun over the next 12 months. Only the Southend HM and the Berlin Marathon aren't paid for and booked in. I am currently race free in November, January, May, July and August but I am sure I can find a parkrun or two for a tune up in those fallow periods.
My body is currently starting to creak so I don't want to overdo it, but I also want to ride this wave of improved fitness and heightened motivation to push myself on. I'm trying to reverse the ageing process and get my times back to those of a decade plus ago. It is a challenge, but it's one I am fully invested in.
