New Blogging Project

I am currently in the process of starting a new blogging project about my running journey.  I have been wanting to do this for a while and share my journey with readers leading up to my first half marathon in September, this will be a massive step for me. Follow @notafastrunner on twitter for updates once the blog is published.

1 Year back blogging

It has been just over a year since I restarted my blog from the beginning and it has been a good year in terms of views and reaching out on the world wide web especially with the weekly photo challenges becoming popular and despite a little hiatus midway through 2016, still had many comments.

Here I am picking 5 of my favourite blog posts from the last year or so.

https://robdphotographer.wordpress.com/2016/06/27/weekly-photo-challenge-partners/

https://robdphotographer.wordpress.com/2016/04/05/weekly-photo-challenge-landscape/

https://robdphotographer.wordpress.com/2016/04/04/the-worm-animation/

https://robdphotographer.wordpress.com/2016/02/06/5-european-cities-i-want-to-visit/

https://robdphotographer.wordpress.com/2016/07/13/up-in-the-clouds/

I have a few ideas regarding my website, complete new layout with prints to purchase etc.

Plan for 2017!!

As the year is drawing to a close with christmas and the new year ahead, I have been thinking about a plan for next year.

• Photography- I want to get back into my photography and really focus myself next year, I am hoping to get into some portrait photography and also visit some new places.

Temple Newsam House in the snow

• Portfolio- Completely rebuild my portfolio both Graphic Design wise and photography in order to update my website
• Website- my website needs a good update and a total rethink regarding layout etc and move onto marketing my site so i can make more sales. 
• Fitness- I would like to get much fitter and keep the motivation to keep going to the gym and when my work shifts allow, Parkrun. I will be running at Leeds 10k in july again and possibly still thinking of doing the Yorkshire 10 Mile. More so to focus on that Leeds 10k Personal Best each year.
• Driving- I really want to pass my driving test next year after failing 3 times already, I will have 6 months or so to pass before having to retake my theory and that is not a option. Failing the 3rd time really hit my confidence in myself to just go for it again, but when i see people passing tests or driving when they shouldnt it has given me extra incentive to prove myself.
• Travel- I would like to visit somewhere new in 2017, so many european cities I want to visit, I also think I will return to Prague to see my friend at some point in the year. Bruges is a place I wish to go and also possibly revisit Amsterdam or to Barcelona, I am thinking of going to New York for my 30th birthday next november.

Run Run Run

On Saturday morning I took part in my first ever parkrun event with my good friend and colleague Kris. Venue was Roundhay Park in Leeds.

As I am at the start of my training for both the Leeds and York 10k run events for British Lung Foundation & Macmillan it was the perfect start especially with some hills thrown in.

A good time of 36:35 in my eyes in terms of fitness, i spoke a while ago in a post about fitness goals especially being a asthma sufferer and at times it can be a struggle, as you can see the first 1km was my fastest, slowed down after the second hill, not my fastest 5k run but will keep at it.

I hope to give this route another go as there is only 8 and half weeks now until the first run.

Going by this time i would be on course to meet my target of beating my 10k PB of 1:15:58 by a few minutes, as the course is flat it is looking good.