We’re writing our 2024 year-end post from the comfortable position of taking a little bit of a break. Both of us took on run streaks up to Christmas and arrived there feeling flat-out knackered, so a good rest was definitely overdue. It’s been nice to put our feet up for a few days and just relax, ready to hit the ground running again (literally) in January.
It’s been a busy year for both of us, but as always it’s been great to catch up with our “running family” at various events around the country, and I’m sure that will continue in 2025! However this year has gone for you, we hope you’re enjoying Christmas time, and have a fantastic New Year when it comes. For now, let’s look back what we got up to in 2024 🤔
Iain
2024 started out great for me, feeling strong, getting stuck into a good training block and improving my time at three early-season hill races – I was pretty much in the best shape I’ve ever been in. Unfortunately disaster struck in March and I sustained a hip injury which meant I lost almost 3 months of running, and had to miss out on two of my big races for the year. The Cow Shed Backyard Ultra (April) was postponed due to the weather… luckily for me, otherwise I probably would have made the bad decision to try to run anyway. I made the hard decision to defer my entry to the Cape Wrath Ultra to 2025, but at least had the silver lining of bagging a last-minute space on the event team so got to hang out with a great bunch of volunteers, runners, and Ourea Events staff. I’m very much looking forward to finally making it to the start line this coming year 🤞
By early June I was making a decent recovery and I managed to string together several weeks of training and regain some fitness, just in time for Pig on the Hill Backyard Ultra, which was my last chance to qualify for the UK Backyard Ultra team. Although I hadn’t run more than 15 miles since February, everything went to plan and I managed to grab the win (and Silver Ticket) to secure my place! This proved to be the high point of the year, results-wise, but it was also just a great feeling to be back racing again, not to mention it’s an absolutely spectacular location 🤩 Three weeks later I completed the Run The Borders 100k race around the Borders Abbey way. Definitely not fully fit / recovered, but nice to tick that route off my bucket list.
The final big race of the year was the Backyard Ultra World Team Championships – looking back it was absolutely a highlight of the year to represent the UK alongside Julie (and 13 other worthy team members), but from a performance point-of-view I completely screwed it up and barely matched my PB from 2022. Chalk that one up to experience and hopefully I’ll be able to earn a chance to try again in two years’ time.
Although I ended up running the fewest races I have ever done in a year (barring COVID), having the last few months “free” I’ve been able to get stuck in to my winter training block “early” and am already finding my way back towards (I hope) my best. Julie and I have both been enjoying going to parkrun now that family commitments allow us more Saturday morning freedom, and I have managed to improve my 5k PB down to 18:45 – not too shabby for an old bearded guy 💥 In the end, not the year I had planned or expected, but plenty to feel positive about.
2025 I have some big races planned:
- Rasselbock Backyard Ultra – aiming to give Julie a run for her money. We’ll see how that goes, since her PB is 11 yards further than mine 😱
- Cape Wrath Ultra – this year is going to be the year. More than just a race, this is going to be an epic adventure.
- Race Across Scotland – inspired by watching Julie smash this one in 2024, I’ll be toeing the starting line. Having never run 200+ miles before I’m going to do it twice next year 😁
- God’s Own Backyard Ultra – had major FOMO this year, so going to put that right and aim to finish off 2025 on a high… with a little added motivation to have a crack at reclaiming my course record!
I’m sure a few more things will sneak their way on to the list, we’ll see! It’s going to be a busy year, that’s for sure… and that’s just my half of the race calendar 🙈
Julie
2023 was a hard year to follow and 2024 has proved to be a year of learning with mixed results. I started the year with high expectations of Rasselbock Backyard Ultra hoping for the win and a silver ticket place on the UK team for the World Team Champs. I had to go on a solo expedition as Iain needed to work and look after the kids, and this definitely made it harder. I had knee pain from early on and with Cowshed Backyard Ultra and a place on Team Scotland planned in April I called it a day before I should have at 38 yards. It was an absolutely fantastic event, Eric and Jonathon put on a brilliant race with a great atmosphere and it was a lot of fun running with friends old and new. Unfortunately I walked away feeling disappointed with my result, especially when Cowshed was postponed because of the weather. 38 yards left me with a nervous wait to see if I made the UK Team for Oct.
Withe Cowshed cancelled I booked a last minute place at Mapledurham Backyard Ultra to see if I could improve on my backyard ranking and make my place on the UK Team more secure. It was another great event, with some strong runners, a great atmosphere and really fun race. I took the win with 31 yards but was disappointed not to be able to improve my ranking… in fact I dropped into the reserve placings after a strong race at Portland pig that saw Andy Imms and Luke Carter both improving their backyard results. The summer was going to be a long wait to see if I made the team.
In June I ran The Whopper looped event put on by Greener Miles. It was a lovely course in Whinlatter forest and was meant as a training race before Race Across Scotland to get some elevation in my legs (something I am not great at in training). Unfortunately I had a nasty virus just beforehand and was well below par. I called it a day after 6 hours feeling I had got all the benefit I would from the race and to continue for another 6 hours would be miserable with no real benefit. It wasn’t the race I had hoped for but was the right decision to make.
July was a really bad training month still recovering from illness, with summer holidays to factor in and a nasty fall on the West Highland Way during a training run. I went into Race Across Scotland feeling very under prepared and nervous in case I fell again. However it is the most stunning race and I am so glad I took part – the organisation is fantastic, runners and volunteers lovely and the scenery breathtaking. I managed to finish first female despite the poor training but the last day did not go to plan with serious sleep deprivation kicking in and my period unexpectedly starting – without Iain’s crew support I am not sure what would have happened. I was pleased with the results but disappointed with how I raced the last day – another learning opportunity.
In September I was diagnosed with Ménière’s Disease – an inner ear condition that causes vertigo and balance problems. Luckily I do seem to get plenty of warning before attacks with a blocked ear and tinnitus but it is still a challenge I am learning to live with. I am very much hoping it stays relatively mild.
At the end of August I was relieved to find I had made the UK BYU team as the second reserve and would get to run at the Backyard World Team Championships. It was the highlight of the year and an amazing opportunity to run with such fantastic athletes. I managed to improve my backyard record to 48 yards which I am really proud of but still feel I have more to give. I was again plagued with knee pain which was disappointing and something I am looking to address over the winter – I am having to accept that the perimenopause is causing challenges with joint pain (among other things!)
So overall, some good results and great races with lovely people and lots to learn and take away for 2025.
Next year looks to be a busy year starting in March with a return to Rasselbock Backyard Ultra to see if I can improve on last years result (and keep going until I time out). I also have a place booked at Cockbain Events Cardiff to London race in May – I am really looking forward to this one and as it starts where Lon Las Cymru finished, making a great link-up of the two routes. I will also be returning to Thetford in June for the Suffolk Backyard Ultra to see how far I can go – it will be interesting to run at such a large Backyard event.
That’s all I have booked at the moment but hopefully we’ll both get a chance to run for Team Scotland at the Highlander BYU in July. I am also considering the Ochil 100 in September and there are a few other races I have my eye on – watch this space!