Looking at my training plan for the coming year, I noticed that I’ve only got one event listed, namely A Coventry Way in April.
So, I had a bit of a think about challenges that I’d done in the past.
One that I’ve done in the last two years is the Birmingham Black Country Half Marathon (LINK) along the canals from Wolverhampton and Birmingham. A tad expensive at £39 but quite enjoyable. There’s still plenty of time (it takes place on 6th June) to make up my mind and enter.
One that I’ve done in the past, but not recently, is the Dovedale Dipper (LINK). Twenty six(ish) miles up and down the Dove and Manifold Valleys. I pencilled this in and then noticed that the Long Distance Walkers Association’s (LDWA) Birmingham Canal Canter (LINK) takes place on the following weekend.
How to chose between these two ?
Well Birmingham is a lot closer and cheaper – £20 versus £32. I’ve signed up and paid for the Canter.
Another ‘classic’ takes place in October around the town of Rotherham – literally around Rotherham.
The Rowbotham’s Round Rotherham 50 (LINK) is, as it says on the tin, a fifty miler along trails, roads and towpaths with around a thousand metres of ascent (or vert as the cool kids say).
Again, there’s no mad rush to sign up, in fact the website states as much.
So that’s a few events pencilled in with a few decisions to be made later in the year. Then I just need to tailor the training around those dates.
A lot sooner is this coming Saturday. The Plan calls for around ten miles so, at the moment, I’m planning on driving up to Sutton Park; walking a lap of the park (around eight miles) before walking around the parkrun (LINK) at nine o’clock.