Running goals, motivation and chat 2025

[Jumbojem]

All welcome! A place to share or goals and achievements and to motivate each other along the way.
A virtual mumsnet run club perhaps?

I have been on a half mara chat group the last few years but currently not training for one. So, my 2025 goals are:
Now until spring - get fitter for a 15 mile hilly trail run event in April.
Summer - try for a 5k PB, try to get faster?
Autumn - maybe do a half mara? Cross Country again ( I am slow and old but love this).

Who else wants to join me?

I didn’t know Brooks allowed you to send them back if you didn’t like them, but will have a look, thanks!

I'd like to join you, I've been really unwell over Christmas and have not run since 18th December. I have a London marathon place which I am going to have to let go of, I was planning to begin the hard slog from half to full starting December but I am currently on enforced rest and realistically I will not get my training back up to the required level to run in April. I'm really gutted but I also know that I need to let it go. Who knows, maybe I will try again in 2026.

So for 2025 my running goals are to first get well, then a very slow restart. I really miss it so that's a good sign!

sorry you are not well (yet)
wishing you a speedy recovery

Sorry to hear you've been injured - miserable. Is it worth seeing if you can defer your marathon place to next year? It might help you get back into it when you've recovered?

@Bejinxed I'm not sure if I can defer at this stage? It was already a deferred ballot place and I think the option to defer is before the places are allocated for the next year. Once you're signed up I think that's it. Annoyingly I never even got as far as getting injured, I have had Bell's palsy so it really is a need to rest and no idea how long recovery will be. 😢

I run regularly and have set a January target of 20 runs, have not set a distance. I usually run about 5 miles twice a week. Have done my first run this morning.

I'd like to join, I'm currently in a training block for an ultra marathon in February, had a very low mileage last week but back on the long runs now. Also got another marathon and ultra planned for the summer (both trail ones as I much prefer trail runs) and a few half's dotted around. I'm a bit of a sucker for a medal!

I’m doing a 5km in April. I normally do a duathlon but they aren’t doing it this year. I need to improve/maintain my 5k speed as dd (11) is rapidly catching up with me. She is improving rapidly it’s not fair!

I need to look for something else to do, feeling a bit lost without the duathlon!

Count me in.

I am at the start of my 16 week marathon training and will be running Boston Marathon in April, so that's the big one.

Before then, I have a half marathon in two weeks time, which I haven't really followed a training plan for. For some reason, I am not feeling too pressured about a specific time goal.

There are a few more XC fixtures so I definitely want to do the last of the season and perhaps one more.

After the marathon, I think I will focus on getting faster with the 5K, so I will try to attend parkrun more.

That's such a shame. I hope your recovery is going well and you can get back to running when you're better.

Please could I join you? I had DC1 in November and am waiting for the all-clear to start running again after an ELCS - we have our 6-8 week check next week when I’m going to ask about returning to running. I’m hoping to restart at the end of January at the latest. Hoping to do a half marathon in the autumn and would love to have a go at a PB (under 1:53) if I can build back up to it over the next few months. My motivation is to show DS that mummies do cool stuff too (my husband is a runner, and I don’t want him to learn that daddies run and mummies stand on the side and clap!).

@UnaOfStormhold have you done Manchester before? I did it in 2023 and loved it. I did get overexcited in the first half because you do all the busy/noisy city bits first and then the quieter suburbs in the second half which was harder going. Just something to watch out for in case that’s helpful! Sorry if you know the course/area really well. I didn’t and it was a bit of a surprise 😄

@xsquared we’re off to Boston too! DH has a place (and he’s doing London the following weekend 😨), and it’ll be DS’ first trip abroad. Are you all set with accommodation etc? How are you feeling about Heartbreak Hill?

Really excited to join you all 😊🏃‍♀️

I think gait analysis is worth it. I over pronate and normal running shoes make my knees hurt. That said there's a method you can do at home with damp feet and a piece of brown paper

It was me that got the DCs into running

I started running when they were little to get fit. We started junior parkruns when they were 4 and they're now regulars at 5k. The only downside is that they totally trounce me now!

I'm in too please.

I have an HM at the end of March so about to train for that - managed 10 miles at the weekend so a hoping I could include some speedwork in the plan as I'd love to get it down to sub 2.15.

Longer term 'd like to complete the Thames Path this year - I intended to do it last year but was injured. I've run from the Darrent to Marlow so want to try and do Marlow to Oxford by say Easter - the longest stage is 14 miles so I can probably use some of my HM long runs to do bits of it.

Love this 😊 we have a junior parkrun near us too, so looking forward to that!

Junior parkrun is a wonderful thing. My two started when they were 7 after they watched me do a 5k. They soon switched to doing both 5k and junior and did their first half marathons last year. All much quicker than I'll ever manage! They've even been RD at our local parkrun.

That's a fantastic idea @Londonmummy66 on the Thames Path, that'll really keep interest going.

Hi there. HNY to you all.

I was just wondering if anyone is starting on their running journey or getting back into it from scratch. I have only managed a few 5K's early last year with slow times. I would need to get the trainers on to start it up again, improve, and increase to 10k in the next 5/6 months.

Reading here about everyone's goals is fantastic and hope one day I can attempt a marathon. Just once! 😁

This might be a helpful thread as there are people on it about to start their couch to 5k journey looking for buddies https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/exercise/5241360-running-tips?reply=141017446

I’ll join you after a tricky health period I’ve built back up to running 3-4x a week mostly 5ks but did a good 10k last week in 66mins which I was really pleased with as I’ve had to build up really slowly over the last year to avoid injuries I’m in my 50s. Much prefer trail or beach runs. Pre-covid I did a HM every year for 5yrs but after a tricky trail one I got injured and lost my mojo for a couple of years. I’m loving being able to run again but do need to stretch and warm up more now as my joints get very niggly.

Hello, happy new year everyone. I'd love to join.

I've just started training for a trail half marathon in Sussex in June. I'm going to do it with my husband, hopefully. I've got a 4 month old baby and a 3 year old, so my main constraint is time, but I'll be doing my best to get back in the groove of regular running. It makes me so happy. Had a nice and frosty, hilly 3 mile run today, we've been visiting family in Wales. So lovely.

I definitely feel out of shape and like a wreck after 2 babies but I was in great form before them and I believe I can do it again. Planning to also cross train at a women's fitness class that I can bring the baby to and also on a stationary bike using Zwift (if I can figure it out!l

I haven't actually done a race before and I'm excited to try. I'm more focused on consistency and distance than speed.

Thanks for this thread :)

Great to hear everyone's plans, best of luck!

@BunBabbitBun I haven't done Manchester before, but have heard good things about it. As I start proper preparation I am starting to telate to it as a goal and experience in itself, not just a way to try getting into London. I hadn't heard that about the course so thanks for the tip!

@Londonmummy66 Thank you for that. I will continue to follow this thread as encouragement for where I would like to be.

Hello runners! I am building back up after a month long chest infection in October which knocked me for six. My 2025 aims are a road marathon PB at Richmond in September- this is a big ask as my marathon PB was set 20 yrs ago but I feel like this could be my year. Also to do 100k at the Breakheart Backyard in June. Will do some other races here and there but mostly trail so not really for a time.

Posting mainly to follow

I'm going in to 2025 with an injured knee. However did 2x 5 km this week and definitely seems to be improving. I'd like to start running 90 mins once a week this year. And maybe a HM.

For now I'm focusing more on strength and spin

@LuckyMauveReader I'm definitely at the getting back into it from scratch place. My running really fell off over the last 18 months, I think due to BP issues, and I'm building back up. It's slow and I'm finding parkrun quite daunting at the moment, but I'm looking at 10k in a similar time frame to you.