2025 A year in review

 Well I'm kind of glad that I did a half year review this year as it has been a year of two halves. The first half, while not record breaking, saw improvements in my fitness and times.  The second half I totally lost that momentum and have really gone back to where I started from at the beginning of the year.  The positive though is that I have still kept the parkruns going so still have something to talk about lol.

Average time at parkruns for the year compared to other years

2017 - 31.04 (35 runs)

2018 - 31.52 (46 runs)

2019 - 30.33 (44 runs)

2020 - 31.40 (64 runs) - (8 actual parkruns, a lot of not parkruns)

2021 - 30.59 (16 runs) - (only included actual parkruns which started up half way through the year due to covid)

2022 - 33.21 (35 runs) - 2 tailwalks not included

2023 - 34:48 (36 runs) - 1 tailwalk and 1 park walk not included

2024 - 36.24 (41 runs) 1 tailwalk not included - Also Pollok Christmas day parkrun time adjusted as finished in 36.03 but parkrun time was 39 minutes as due to 900+ people running, it took 3 minutes to cross the line.

2025 - 34.38 (42 runs)

So faster than last year, and just faster than 2023. Still have a bit to go before getting down to years before that.

Distribution of parkruns attended

14 - Pollok

7 - Cunnigar Loop

7 - Queen's

2 - Drumchapel

2 - Elder

2 - Ruchill

1 - Castle Woods

1 - Drumpellier

1 - Tollcross

1 - Crinan Canal

1 - Largs Prom

1 - Bo'ness Foreshore

1 - Levengrove

1 - Linwood

So after doing an article earlier in the year wondering where my home run is now it appears stats don't lie and I have shifted towards Pollok, particurlarly towards the end of the year finishing with 5 runs and 2 volunteer stints there in a row.  

Albateer

In terms of getting round all the Scottish parkruns I have visited 4 new to me Scottish parkruns this year being Crinan Canal, Bo'ness Foreshore, Castle Woods and Cuningar Loop.  I have a bit of work to do to regain albateer as I have Anagach woods, Glenrothes, Aberfeldy, Nairn and Beecraigs to do. and probably more starting up soon.

Challenges

This year I completed a few challenges. Stayin Alive challenge which is three parkruns beginning with B and 3 parkruns beginning with G.  Then theres Pirates challenge - 7 parkruns beginning with C and 1 with an R.  Then theres stopwatch bingo - finishing a parkrun ending each second of a minute. Eg 31.01, 32.02, 36.03 etc. Then theres position bingo, finishing positions ending 01 up to 100.  01 can be 101. I didnt actually finish first lol.

Then theres p index which I increased to 9.  Which is attending x parkruns x number of times so 9 different parkruns 9 times each.

Milestones

This year I reached 400 parkruns and 400 volunteer credits at parkrun. Completing 42 runs this year and getting 54 volunteer credits. Finishing on 404 runs for the year and 405 volunteer credits.

Elsewhere.

In the first half of the year I did a lot of walking, during the week I would average about 20 miles walking during the week which is really the main reason I got a bit fitter.  That fell a way in the second half of the year, not completetley but I was probably averaging half that.  Basically cutting walks short.  This is something I ll be looking at next year as I look to take in some lessons and where I can improve.

I will do a post over the next few days detailing plans for next year.