I’m attempting to run 2026 miles in 2026. I’ve never managed to run the year in miles before. The closest I came was in 2022, when I ran just over 1,800 miles — that was also the year I ran my sub-3 marathon at Boston. That was a good year, but I’ve never actually broken 2,000 miles across a calendar year and would like to give it a proper go in 2026.
The reason for the challenge is simple. Increased consistent mileage around 40 miles per week has always felt good to me and helped my endurance performance. I’d like to have another go at a sub-3 marathon when I turn 60, at London in April 2027. To do that, I need a Good For Age (GFA) at London 2026, which will be a sub 3:10 for me, and I need a boringly consistent year where 40+ miles per week is the norm.
So this year I am designating as my easy year, where mileage accumulation is king rather than intensity. Less speed work, fewer races, and a lot more easy running. My aim is to build durability, not chase dopamine highs from racing.
Settings a goal always feels straightforward at the start of the year. Beginnings are easy! It’s 2 February as I write this, and motivation is rarely my problem at the start of a year. Where I’ve struggled in the past is summer. I don’t particularly enjoy running in the heat, and I often have other things competing for time — cycling, walking, gardening, being outside in different ways. Historically, that’s also been the point where I’ve picked up injuries, usually after doing too much intensity when I should have been backing off.
So the focus for 2026 for me has to be:
- reduce intensity
- increase volume
- stay healthy
This blog will be a weekly record of how that’s going. It’s definitely not training advice, nor is it a performance diary. It’s a place to log progress, note what’s working (and what isn’t), and reflect on longevity, balance, and living an active, healthy life over the long term.
