2023 went like the years before it. Run a lot of races, register for a lot more races. Over the passed two months I’ve been flashing the cash and signing up to events, booking flights and arranging accommodation. It’s felt like an ultra in itself! Over the previous 12 months I’ve said multiple times that I’ll ‘ease up’ a little. Do less, be more specific, avoid certain events and organisers. Talk is cheap though as I’ve not really stuck to those promises. So here I am, January 2024 and forward into the new year at another line up of events and adventures to fill me with joy and a little bit of fear…
Despite the ongoing niggles and concerns about how my body will hold up, I’ve still spent the last two months plotting away and spending money on securing my spots at many events. With the changing landscape of trail running, my own interests and desires are changing it does feel a small bit different to previous years. There is a mix in here of the same old familiar types of races (yep, those branded UTMB ones) but a few more of those that appeal more greatly now – those that are more off the beaten track and organised by lesser known organisations. I’m excited for the adventures, for the challenges and for the friends I’ll get to share these with…
- In February it’s a short trip to Holland to visit Matt and run the Drielandenpunt Trail Winter - a 50km muddy woodland route on the Dutch border with Germany and Belgium. Its about time I visit Matt as he’s always coming to the UK to join our plans!
- March will be a 100km in Slovakia at the Letecka 100 (‘Flight Hundred’). I actually know very little about this event as the website isn’t very well translated. Its a small organisation (although part of the wider Slovakia Trail Running community) and there is only the one distance and 200 participants. It looks like it is organised around an area with some military history and will see us running in some snowy and miserable weather on what will be the tenth edition of the event.
- For April I’ve signed back up to another 100 miler. After the disappointment of the Article Triple Last year, hopefully I’ll get my fifth 100 mile finish at the Istria 100 in Croatia for my 40th birthday! I’ve had my eye on Istria for a long time so am excited to experience the varying climates and terrain that the route offers.
- May will see me take on the 100km at the Salomon Ultra Trail Hungary. This looks like quite a fast paced 100km route without the extreme elevation of more mountainous regions. There’s a small group of us heading out for this event that is just outside of the beautiful Budapest city.
- June excites me the most with a trip to Bosnia for the Vucko Ultra Trail. This one looks beautiful and very challenging with some quite technical terrain and steep climbs. I went to Bosnia years ago and I can’t wait to go back and see more of the country.
- July I’m going back to Switzerland and the Eiger Trail. This time just for the 50km where I hope to add another chunk of the Eiger to my medal collection. We’ve opted for the 50km as a bonus race as the realy reason we are going is to have a mini-adventure and hope to do the Hardergrat ridge whilst there – a challenging 20mile trail just outside of Interlaken.
- September will see my finally visit Bulgaria where I was planning to race in 2020. This year a group of us will be taking on the Pirrin Ultra Trail (66km), a nice distance sandwiched between other races for us all.
- My final race is booked for October back up in the Lake District for the Lakes In A Day. Slowly over the passed few years I’ve been getting the opportunities to explore some of this beautful area and this will be the longest race I’ve done in the Lake District as we run from the North of the region to the South.
As always, I’m sure I’ll go astray along the way and sign up to some more events and have plenty of adventures with friends along the way. I’m also thankful that I was not drawn in the Western States Endurance Run Lottery for 2024 which would have caused logistic issues with this planning! All going well though I’ll get another ticket to the lottery from one of the above events. That will take my tally high enough that the reality of WSER starts to become feasible in the next few years!
Run With Dai 