Geek in the Hills 2024: A Year in Review
As 2025 kicks off, I thought I’d take a moment to look back at the highs and lows of 2024. It’s been a year of running, learning, and dreaming big. Here’s how it all played out:
The Lowlights
- Brighton Marathon Misstep: My spring marathon started off with all the wrong energy – literally. I’d been training almost exclusively on a treadmill (my second child was just three months old, so staying close to home was key). Unfortunately, my treadmill miles didn’t translate well to the road, and by mile 17, my legs just gave up. The last stretch was painful, and I paid for it with soreness that lingered for a week.
- Ljubljana Marathon Crash: A beautiful city, an unfortunate race. I’d been battling a cold leading up to it, and instead of pacing smartly, I thought, “Sod it, let’s just go hard.” Déjà vu struck around mile 17, when my legs failed me again. To add insult to injury, Google Maps proudly recorded it as my “most walked day” of the month. Ouch.
The Highlights
- London Marathon Success: London, you always deliver. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve run this marathon (five officially, I think?), but this year’s race was a strong one – particularly two weeks after the rough Brighton experience. I didn’t quite hit my personal best, but finishing on a high note felt incredible.
- The Accidental Treadmill PB: It’s not every day you set a 5k personal best wearing swimming trunks. Let’s just say I had packed the wrong shorts, and there was a mix-up between mph and km/h once I’d started running. A bizarre, hilarious win!
- Comrades Marathon Triumph: Oh, Comrades, the race I’ll never get over. My second time running this iconic ultra (the first was eight years ago on a Down Run), this was my first Up Run – and I nailed it. I trained on the right terrain, tapered perfectly, and my Garmin couldn’t believe how low my heart rate stayed. I finished strong, shaving an hour off my previous time. I missed the sub-10-hour mark by just a few minutes, so there’s still room to push!
- London to Brighton Adventure: Determined to end the year on a high, I dreamt up a bold plan: run from central London to Brighton Pier. Two weeks later, with a good friend by my side, we set off on a frigid autumn morning. Armed with minimal planning and no external support, we arrived at our Brighton hotel just over 12 hours later. A true runner’s adventure!
Looking Ahead to 2025
With 2024 wrapped up, it’s time to set my sights on new challenges. Here’s what I’m aiming for this year:
- Treadmill PB, but on the road: The accidental swimming-trunks record needs a proper sequel. I want to match or beat that treadmill 5k time in an actual race.
- Cracking the Marathon PB: Knocking 10 minutes off my marathon personal best is the big goal for the year. Ambitious, but worth chasing.
- More Ultra Adventures: Inspired by my London to Brighton run, I’ve already started planning a new challenge: Brighton to Newhaven, then ferry to Dieppe, and a two-day run to Paris. The logistics will be tricky – think international bag postage or running with a kit – but the idea of finishing at the Eiffel Tower? Irresistible.
Here’s to another year of running, dreaming, and geeking out in the hills. Bring it on, 2025!
Keep dreaming big,
GeekintheHills
Geek in the Hills 