LauRunning

 I ran the Edinburgh Half Marathon for the second time and got my third-best time. The jumping American returns. Why Edinburgh Half Marathon I wanted to run a big half marathon race, but I didn't feel up to traveling. So I signed up to my local half, where I got a PB last year. Edinburgh Half Marathon 2022 recap The journey Last year, the race started near the Commonwealth Pool, which was an easy enough walk to get to. This year, it started at the University of Edinburgh central campus, which is a bit farther for me, so I opted for the bus.  There were already a few people in running gear when I got on the bus, so the convergence of the runners started quite early on in my journey to the start area.  Special toilet access Last year, I was still in the toilet queue when the race started. This year, I took advantage of the University being the starting point for the race and brought my staff card with me, so I could use the Main Library toilets. Turns out, I wasn't the only...

My 2nd race of 2023 was a beautiful 16k taking in the sights of the John Muir Way and Belhaven Bay. No medal for a finishing photo. Why Fox Trail 16k at Foxlake I haven't been feeling very motivated to sign up to races this year. Especially after my regretful 5k race in January, I don't want to run a race unless I deem it worthy of my time and money. My recap of my January 5k race To be honest, I wasn't sure this Fox Trail race met the criteria. At £26, it seemed expensive for the size of event and the fact that you didn't get any sort of bling or goody bag when you finish. Plus, I had to wake up at 5:30am to do it. But the woodland and beach scenery just outside Dunbar seemed like a good enough reason to check it out.  It was on a Saturday, too, which meant there were early enough public transit times that could get me there for a 9am start.  The journey I went to the race by bus. There was a bus stop right outside Foxlake, so taking the bus made more sense than the tr...

Edinburgh Winter Run becomes my first repeat race and the race I regret signing up to the most. Uninspiring race, but better t-shirt this time. Why Edinburgh Winter Run I did the Edinburgh Winter Run in 2020 with a bunch of colleagues and had a wonderful time, despite the poor organization of the race. Edinburgh Winter Run 2020 recap With the University subsidizing places again (though I had to pay £12 instead of £6.50 like last time), I signed up immediately, thinking other colleagues might, too. But no.  It was just me going solo to pay to run a 5k route that is now a parkrun route, so somewhere I can do a timed run for free any other weekend. I felt silly for signing up and was not looking forward to this race. An empty race The 2020 Winter Run featured long queues to drop off bags and at the finish. The 2023 run was practically empty. I'm not sure if it was because they did staggered start times this year, but even so, I have never seen a race of this scale so empty. I know it ...

2022 saw me run my fastest half marathon and marathon, but I struggled with a lack of running goals toward the end of the year. Me running in 2022. A year of no goals In my 2021 running recap post, I said goal setting was going to take a pause in 2022.  My 2021 running recap post I strategically set my previous running goals to get through difficult times, so I wanted to just enjoy getting through 2022 with no set goals. Here's how that went. A year of PBs I didn't set goals, but I ended up getting new personal best times for both the half marathon and marathon distance. I was quite shocked at my half marathon PB. I hadn't done any special training or prep for it. I ran a 10 mile race the month before, but other than that, I hadn't run more than about 10k in my regular schedule. An unexpected half marathon PB in Edinburgh. But as I said in my recap, personal circumstances contributed to me feeling light on my feet. Edinburgh Half Marathon recap A little more than a mont...

 I ran my 2nd marathon in York and was thrilled to come away with a new personal best time of 4:44:47. Happy with my marathon PB. Why Yorkshire Marathon After running my first marathon in Manchester last year, I wanted to challenge myself again to run another. I entered the London Marathon ballot, didn't get in, so had to find another marathon that checked all the boxes.  I wanted something relatively flat, easy to get to, and in the autumn. Yorkshire Marathon met all the criteria. Training with John It would feel weird to recap a marathon without having written anything about the training previously, so here's a summary of training since July.  This year I trained with my boyfriend, John, who ran the marathon with me. I was originally hesitant of running another marathon this year because this was going to be our first full summer together since we started dating, and training for a marathon limits your free time.  When I told this to John, he secretly entered the L...