This has felt like a transitional year – the first since I took my ultra running seriously where there hasn’t been a really big successful run. 2019 was the Dragon’s Back, even 2020 had my home made Peak 500m trigs (at 75 miles, the furthest I had run at the time). 2021 was the return to the Dragon, 2022 the Steve Parr and Lakeland 100, 2023 the UTS, Fleetwood Lakes 40 and the Solo Winter Bob Graham.

The UTS took away some of my enthusiasm for big races (and made me appreciate how well organised some events are). Most of my big personal objectives are now in Scotland, which needs weather and availability, both of which were in short supply. Quite a lot of time was set aside for support duties, coaching training, and the perennially aborted trip to Skye.

On the running front, while the headliners might have been absent, there were some great days out, such as:

• Exploring the Long Mynd, a public transport trip to thoroughly investigate the area.
• A circuit of the hills around Bassenthwaite Lake.
• Big Bob Graham support days – a double leg for Jayne, being solo leg 3 supporter in endless clag for Jenny, and three legs for Simon. Also a support for Ben’s Lakes Waters and Meres round.
• Leventons Line – longest run of the year.
• Harvey Howgill 400s – finishing off something I nearly completed in 2018.
• My failed attempt on the Rigby Round, but still 11 new munros.
• Fastest time on the Bullock Smithy.
• Started structured training for the Northern Traverse, included working around quite a bit of disruption at home. Noticeable progression over half marathon tempo runs and intervals.

Coaching has been the big development through the year. In December 2023, I was leading runs for Marple Runners, including setting up the “Introduction to Trail” series, and offering informal help to friends. I repeated this in spring/summer 2024, plus some technical skills sessions, and the night trail series for runners who want to get off road in company through the dark months. Over the course of 2024 I have branched out to independent coaching, put a lot more time into this website, and starting writing for Niamh’s Out and Back substack.

Finally, a shout out to the lovely people at Marple Runners, who funded the coaching training and gave me an award at the end of year social, for a mix of my running and supporting others, which was a very fitting end to 2024. Bring on 2025!