New year, new goals

So it's 2013. It's not got the same ring to it as 2012, and there's no Olympics to look forward to, but it's a new year nonetheless.

I'm not a great one for resolutions but I find it a lot easier to keep them if I attach them to running. I suppose it's cheating, linking your resolutions to one of your main 'leisure' activities but there are so many days and weeks in a year where that running thing is such a chore, that they can still count as resolutions.

I set myself some challenges for 2012, my 40th year. I did ok as well, setting some significant PBs for myself, in 3 weekends in September. At last I can say I've done a sub 55 10k and, finally, after 6 years of trying I managed a sub 2h half marathon in the Great North Run. In fact, I managed it twice in a fortnight, shaving a few seconds off my time in Ealing two weeks later! So 2012 was definitely my year for half marathons!

For marathons, it wasn't so positive. London was a painful experience for me, with my ITB flaring up just before halfway, and I finished 7 minutes off my PB in 4h 26mins. My attempt to run two marathons in a year was thwarted by Hurricane Sandy, and I had to make do with just a holiday in New York instead of another marathon attempt.

Maybe I'm not meant to do two marathons a year. In which case, I'm going to concentrate fully on London this year. I was lucky enough to win a place this year, and I am going to try and beat my time from last year (and aim to stay fit so that I run 26.2 without the constant nag of a grump ITB). I really want to get as close to 4h 15min as possible, or at least beat my Berlin PB of 4h 19.  My main race tactics are a) avoid getting stuck behind a hula hooper, b) not to run on the right side of the road all the way round, aggravating a weak glute and c) not go off too fast...rookie error!

Whatever I do this year, I want to get faster - which is where my New Year resolution comes in. My resolution is to go to intervals training with the Ealing Eagles every Thursday. Or as many weeks as possible. I'm convinced that a short burst of regular attendance last summer led to my 3 PBs in September, so I'm going to test that theory out by going to intervals sessions as often as possible (sometimes I have to work on an evening) in the run up to London marathon and see if it translates to a faster time.

I'm also going to see if I can hit 1h 55m in a half marathon - my favourite distance. I'm not really going to set any 10 mile or 10k goals this year, other than to try and run more races at those distances.

Finally, my last running challenge/resolution is to try a Parkrun. In the 6 years I've been running, I've never made it to a Parkrun. Hopefully 2013 will be the year I make it to start line.