Originally Posted by
Travs
2018 then for me...
Highs: being generally injury-free, and rising to a number of top 10 finishes across all distances from AS to AL... ok none of them have been Lakeland Classics or English Champs races, but a number of fairly prominent races in there.... Brecon Beacons, Stretton Skyline, Weasdale Horseshoe, and a few others. First time it happened gave me the confidence to believe I could cut it a bit nearer to the front end. Perhaps the most satisfying was Brecon Beacons... hared up the first climb in 3rd and managed to just hold my position, 4th at half way and the leader still in sight... ok I did ultimately fade away and finish 8th, but to be "giving it some" near the front end, in what to me is a well reputed race, did wonders for my confidence.
Other highlights were completing the LDMT classic course with some degree of proficiency, in fairly challenging conditions, around about midway in the results. And building up my training to a regular 40 miles/10000ft weekly average, which has no doubt helped with the results above.
The single most satisfying moment of the year was seeing CP1 below me in the mist in the LDMT, after an hour spent completely alone in the cloud and rain...
Lows: the long distance exploits did not go anywhere near plans... 5 ultras... 2 dnf... 1 did not start... the other two shortened due to weather, and even one of those was blighted with injury. But I shall not be deterred!
Also slight disappointment at not seeing vast improvements in my road/club/xc running... ok I knocked 45secs off my 5km time and am undoubtedly stronger than a year ago, but times in the track etc have not improved much... I guess I do too much racing...
Hardest moment/race: Buttermere Horseshoe was as hard as ever. Ennerdale was not far behind, and doing the 2nd half of it with a shoe missing didn't help. Found a new respect for Peris after racing a little nearer to the front this year... the pain was real. Callow in the heat of summer was probably the single most painful hour of the year though...
Hopes for 2019: would like to continue to improve, possibly get in the top 5 or 6 of a race (a big ask), and get the long-distance exploits back on track. Racing the Tenerife Bluetrail in June, which will be a massive challenge. Also planning a may attempt at Leventon's Line, quite possibly unsupported. If that all goes well I'm planning something even tougher for mid-summer, but I won't shout the odds yet as 2018 has showed me that things don't always go to plan. Of course all the usual favourites are likely to be raced... Haworth Hobble, LM42, Welsh 1000, Peris, LDMT... But continuing to see progression would make 2019 another very satisfying year.
Hope everyone has enjoyed their 2018 and equally looking forward to next year...