It’s a new year, and although we’re already in February, it’s time to outline my running goals for the year.
My two main races for the year are the Rotterdam Marathon in April and the Berlin Marathon in September. I’ve entered a number of other races throughout the year but these are mainly for training and enjoyment.
As much as I would like to race everything, training for and running marathons is taxing on both the body and mind. I need to be selective in the races I chose to peak at and that’s why I’ve gone with the two city marathons above.
Both are fast, flat and potential PB courses so I’ll be aiming to give my absolute best on the day.
I also enjoy trail running and aim to run one ultra trail race a year. The mountains in Europe are spectacular and these races are a good excuse to visit a new town and take part in an event.
This year I’ve chosen a 78km trail run in Salzburg, which is part of the Mozart 100 running festival. This race is for the joy of running and doing something out of my comfort zone. I have no expectations in terms of results.
In addition to the races below, I’d also like to set a 5km PB. That currently stands at 16:45, so I’ll be pleased with anything close to 16:20.
Race Summary
Below is a summary of the races I’ll be taking part in. I’ll revisit this throughout the year and update you with the actual race performance.
| Race / Distance | Type | Goal Time |
|---|---|---|
| Den Haag Half-Marathon | Training | 1:16 (PB) |
| Rotterdam Marathon | Goal Race | 2:39 (PB) |
| Leiden Marathon | Training | N/a |
| Mozart 78km Trail | Training / Fun | No expectations |
| Berlin Marathon | Goal Race | TBD |
| Amsterdam Marathon | Training / Fun | Sub 3:00 |
Looking forward to a good, injury-free year of running.