As 2022 has almost come to an end, I’ve decided to review my running highlights, low points, and the lessons I learned throughout the year. As like the previous two years I spent most of 2022 injured and unable to run, I decided to share some of my non-running highlights and low points. If you don’t enjoy reading lengthy annual review posts – I’m nosey, so I find them quite interesting, but I know from previous feedback that not everyone does – I’d recommend that you navigate away from this page and continue with your day.

Here are the links to my previous annual review posts, there’s most definitely a theme 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021

January

History repeated itself, and I started 2022 with a knee injury which meant running was still very much something other people did. Despite this, I could still walk, so on New Year’s Day I volunteered as a tail walker at Sutton Park parkrun.

The hour spent walking around the Sutton Park parkrun course was the perfect way to start 2022 as was the social event immediately after parkrun. The low point was injuring my knee on my exercise bike, my cycling session on New Year’s Day would be the only time I rode a bike in 2022.

I felt reasonably confident I’d be able to call myself a runner again, so I shared my running, walking and parkrun goals for the year ahead.

I read a lot in January and published a Books I’ve read recently post. I volunteered as a tail walker at Sutton Park parkrun five times, and got to experience some stunning but chilly January mornings in Sutton Park.

As I was still working from home and not getting anywhere near my old target of 10,000 steps a day, I entered Runuary and set myself a target of walking 100 miles in January. Although I didn’t manage to meet my distance target – this would be a common occurrence in 2022 – my evening walks around Four Oaks were one of the highlights of the month.

Another not quite as healthy January highlight was the reintroduction of regular Saturday lunchtime visits to the Bistrot Pierre restaurant in Mere Green.

Spending a few hours every Saturday out of the house (except when Wolves were playing at home) made the temporary weight gain worthwhile. At the end of the month I met up with a running buddy for a walk in Sutton Park and was introduced to the delights of the kiosk at The Bracebridge. I can’t wait to return.

February

Looking back, February was not the most positive of months and I struggled a lot with my mental health. I entered the Miles for Mind February virtual event and set myself a target of walking 100 miles. A loss of motivation meant that I even failed to achieve my reduced target of walking 75 miles in February. I was unfortunately on the receiving end of a rather snarky comment at my local parkrun.

I was accused of hogging the tail walker role and of not letting other people have a go at tail walking. And I thought volunteering was a case of first come, first served. I know I shouldn’t have allowed one comment to upset me as much as it did, but when my mental health is suspect, I have a habit of over-thinking. In a rather childish attempt to make myself feel better, I wrote and published what would be my last blog for a couple of months; a Rants and raves post and switched to volunteering as a marshal rather than a tail walker.

March

At the start of March I celebrated(?) two years of working from home. Although I’ve enjoyed not having to spend three hours a day commuting on unreliable and overcrowded trains, I was feeling increasingly isolated from my colleagues. Although working in a small area-based team means that the days I literally don’t speak to anyone are rare, they do still happen. I can’t wait to finally meet my not so new team in the New Year, I just need the trains on the West Coast Mainline to run.

In 2021, parkrun was still a distant memory, happily for this parkrun addict parkruns were able to continue throughout 2022. I’m not sure why I was posing on my own with the International Women’s Day parkrun selfie frame, but I’ve included this photo as I think I look relatively normal.

That’s more than can be said for how I looked in the photo taken of me testing out my knees with a sneaky jog during Sutton Park parkrun a fortnight later.

This photo actually made me cry, pathetic I know. Although I was smiling and clearly enjoying myself, I hated how I looked and was left asking myself what on earth had happened. Sometimes a reality check is a good thing. Whereas I would have usually ordered myself something unhealthy with a side portion of chips, when I was treated to lunch at the Dog Inn in Nether Whitacre, I opted for the duck salad.

 I’m pretty sure I ordered exactly the same flowers for Mother’s Day last year. A slight fail on the daughter front.

The lighter evenings meant that I spent more time outside and I did my best to head out for a walk every afternoon after I’d finished work. While I didn’t manage to meet my original target of walking 100 miles in March, the March Spring in Your Step virtual event motivated me to walk more than 75 miles.

April

I suspect that in years to come I’ll look back at what happened during April 2022 and will laugh. The month didn’t get off to the best of starts when I was struck down with a mystery illness that resulted in me missing five days of work. Spending a lot of time in bed had one positive; I managed to reach the bottom of my ‘books to read’ pile.

I’ve realised like last year; I’ve barely mentioned running and this is meant to be a running blog. After three cancellations, I had an initial ‘phone consultation with a first contact practitioner. While it felt good to feel like I was finally in the ‘system’, I spent the consultation feeling like I was being fobbed off and not listened to. I was given the phone number of physio services and warned there might be a bit of a wait. I must have sounded disappointed as the first contact practitioner agreed to see me and my knees the following week.

I’m not sure what possessed me to travel up to Beacon Park in Lichfield, but the second Saturday in April I managed to jog around most of the Beacon parkrun course.

Four days after parkrun, I had a face-to-face appointment with the first contact practitioner. I don’t know what I was expecting, but I found the appointment somewhat underwhelming. The first contact practitioner only looked at my right knee and somehow concluded I probably have a small tear in the cartilage of my knee. I was told to contact the Orthopaedic Triage Service as I needed physio, which I did when I got home.

After what felt like hours listening to this hold music on repeat I got to talk to someone. I found out that I’d got to wait to receive a letter through the post before I could get my name on the waiting list for a physio appointment. I stupidly attempted to punish my knees.

On the penultimate Friday of April I answered the kind of ‘phone call no one ever wants to answer. A close friend called to say they’d had an accident and were waiting in A&E. A gardening injury and a dislocated knee were mentioned. It later transpired that in the process of dislocating their knee my friend had torn a tendon and would require urgent surgery.

I spent the final week of April trying and quite possibly failing to look after my friend, we both found out that it’s a good job I’m a hydrologist as I’m not a very good nurse. My friend needed a lot of assistance and was understandably feeling incredibly frustrated and grumpy. It was almost a relief when he was given a time and date for his operation for the end of April. The last parkrun in April helped me temporarily forget about my friend’s operation.

May

At the start of May, I celebrated my 43^rd birthday. After my lockdown birthdays of 2020 and 2021 I’d hoped my 43^rd birthday would resemble my birthdays before Covid. That was before my friend had an operation to repair the tendon in their knee 24 hours before my birthday. I spent a large proportion of my birthday waiting for my friend to be discharged from Heartlands Hospital. I guess there’s always next year.

I spent the rest of the month trying to balance supporting my friend while working a fulltime job that was becoming increasingly pressurised due to the dry weather. The experience was a huge reality check for me, a reminder of what a lot of people have to deal with on a daily basis. I got to spend a lot of time in hospital waiting areas, some of the injuries I witnessed made me realise how insignificant my knee issues are.

In an attempt to escape from the real world, I read a lot and published another Books I’ve read recently post. I unfortunately missed every parkrun in May as I didn’t want to leave my friend alone for too long. When I did get out of the house for some fresh air, I made sure I didn’t walk too far from my friend’s house.

At the end of May I headed to Bistrot Pierre in Mere Green for my belated birthday meal. Although I haven’t included an all too predictable photos of a burger and chips, I thought I’d share the selfie I captured in the restaurant. I still need to sort out my eyebrows.

I’m going to sound incredibly selfish, but I hope I never experience another month like May. With the exception of quick trips to the local Co-op, I hardly ever left the house. I struggled with my mental health, distanced myself from most of my friends and family, and spent far too much time on social media comparing my life with those of people with far more interesting lives. Comparison really was the thief of joy.

June

June started with the Platinum Jubilee bank holiday weekend; the Queen made a completely unexpected but very welcome appearance at Sutton Park parkrun. I clearly missed the fancy dress memo and came dressed as a parkrunner.

After parkrun, I headed to Bistrot Pierre in Mere Green to meet a friend for lunch. This would turn out to be our last visit to Bistrot Pierre. I could cope with waiting 45 minutes for a couple of starters to make an appearance in an empty restaurant. I could cope with lukewarm mains. I struggled to cope with being charged multiple times for lunch. I felt slightly better after ranting about Bistrot Pierre in a Rants and raves post.

The first Tuesday in June saw me step out of my huge comfort zone when I headed to the Massage Company in Sutton Coldfield for a complementary sports massage. I’d never had a sports massage, so I looked forward with some trepidation to reviewing the Massage Company.

I thought I had quite a high pain threshold, the sports massage demonstrated that I’m a wimp, especially when it comes to having my legs and lower back massaged. I’m not sure if I’ll return for a second massage. The Saturday after the massage I enjoyed a relaxed stroll around the Sutton Park parkrun course.

After the Bistrot Pierre payment saga, I figured it was time for a change, so I booked a table in the Giggling Squid the Thai restaurant next door to Bistrot Pierre. The food tasted amazing and was only slightly more expensive than Bistrot Pierre. I was also only charged once.

With all these food photos, this annual review post is in danger of turning into a food blog. Sorry! While I was still unable to run, I was able to eat, and walk. My relaxed Saturday morning walks through Sutton Park were the best way to start the weekend.

By supplementing my Saturday morning walks with some longer Sunday morning walks, I finally achieved my target of walking 100 miles in a month and was able to thoroughly review some Fizzy Foot Foam. On reflection, although my mental health struggles never completely went away, June was probably one of the better months of the year.

July

July was probably the most positive month of 2022. At the start of the month I published what turned out to be one of my most popular posts of 2022 – 10 reasons to volunteer at parkrun – the following morning, after swapping volunteer roles a few times, I volunteered as the funnel manager. Sometimes I forget how tall I am.

The following Tuesday, I treated a friend to dinner at my local pub, the Quill and Taper. I was clearly not what I call in blogger mode as I forgot to take any photos of my food. I was able to make up for this failure a couple of weeks later.

The second parkrun of the month was very chilled out, just what I needed to temporarily forget about the dry weather and work. I walked and talked my way around the Sutton Park parkrun course with Gary and Helene.

The following Saturday we got to celebrate Robs 100^th volunteering stint at Sutton Park parkrun. The Communitea Café was sadly closed, so we headed to The Bishop Vesey Wetherspoons opposite and spent a couple of hours soaking up the July sunshine. I’ve no idea who took this photo, but I love the way I was taking my role as cake supervisor so seriously.

Almost four months after my ‘phone call with the first contact practitioner, I found myself walking across Sutton Park so that I could attend my initial appointment with an NHS physio. I’ve no idea why I was looking so worried, perhaps I thought I was about to be told my running days were over.

The physio I saw was lovely and instantly made me feel positive about my long term running prospects. We talked through my medical history, and I did my best to explain what triggers my knee pain and what I think caused it. We worked through some tests; these indicated that structurally my knee is sound, and my tendons are fine. My right kneecap is slightly misaligned, hence the pain. I have weak glutes and quads, tight hamstrings, and poor flexibility.

I was tasked with completing a series of exercises and stretches. The exercises were described as easy exercises and included glute walks and quadriceps stretches. I left the initial appointment with a follow-up appointment for three weeks later.

A few days later I returned to the Quill and Taper pub with a friend, and I actually remember to take a photo of my main course. I decided not to share a photo of the huge chocolate ice cream that left me feeling slightly nauseous.

The end of July marked the first anniversary of parkrun restarting. I’m not sure why – perhaps seeing all the Commonwealth Games themed signs in Sutton Park inspired me – but I decided to see how quickly I could walk around the Sutton Park parkrun course.

I managed to walk the course in 41:15, inadvertently upset some runners in the process, ended up doing a great impression of a lobster, and found getting out of bed the following morning difficult. At least my knees didn’t react to my stupidity.

So, if I ignore my power walking exploits and failure to walk 100 miles, July was a positive month. I had an encouraging first appointment with an NHS physio, I received a local recognition award at work and was nominated for a second award. I got to eat out several times during the month, something I never take for granted, and I volunteered most weekends at parkrun and got to celebrate some parkrun milestones with some amazing people.

August

If I ignore work, which was incredibly stressful, August was another positive month. The first Saturday in August I volunteered as a marshal at Sutton Park parkrun. I remember walking the parkrun course up to Position 10 where I’d been asked to marshal, and then starting to feel quite cold waiting for all of the runners and walkers to come past me.

The following Wednesday, I headed back to the Cottage Hospital in Sutton Coldfield where the physio gave me some additional, slightly more challenging exercises, emailed me some Pilates videos, and gave me permission to start running again. Yes, I could run again! The physio said she was happy to discharge me from the physio service there and then, however, I felt this was slightly premature, so I asked if I could have another appointment. I wanted to see how my knees felt after completing the first few weeks of the Couch to 5k. I left the Cottage Hospital with a time and date for a third appointment in September.

I was aware that as I’d not been able to run consistently for well over a year, I needed to be sensible and to build up my running slowly. I decided to restart the Couch to 5k the following Monday. On what would turn out to be the hottest Sutton Park parkrun on record, I volunteered as a marshal at the turn around point. Although I’d completed the Sutton Park parkrun course dozens of times, I was still paranoid I’d place the cones in the wrong place.

The following Tuesday I started following the Couch to 5k. I set my alarm for 5am, this meant I was able to complete the first interval session before it got too warm.

I posted regular updates on Instagram and shared more detailed progress reports in my Couch to 5k Week 1 and Week 2  posts. When I was writing this review post, I loved being able to look back at my training updates and hope that other runners found these updates informative.

The Couch to 5k didn’t mean the end of parkrun. I decided that walking the Sutton Park parkrun course would complement my Saturday cross training sessions. After finding walking in the August heatwave difficult, I vowed to continue with my early morning interval sessions.

The following weekend I volunteered as a number checker at parkrun on the Saturday and headed across to Wolverhampton to watch Wolves on the Sunday.

By the time August came to an end, I was midway through the third week of the Couch to 5k. My temperamental knees seemed to be behaving themselves and I was looking forward to September and completing more of the Couch to 5k.

September

September was another positive month. The first week of September saw me continuing  with the Couch to 5k and despite some slight failures on the pacing front, I managed to successfully complete Week 3. The first Saturday in September I volunteered as a marshal and did an epic impression of a bag lady.

It took until Week 4 of the Couch 5k for me to start to feel like my fitness levels were starting to return. Although I was still finding pacing myself sensibly quite difficult, I started to find the interval runs a little easier. I was enjoying my early morning interval sessions, my knees seemed to be coping with the increased running, and I started to believe I would actually complete the Couch to 5k.

Looking back, I suspect I also enjoyed a few too many trips to The Quill and Taper pub. I like to think that I opted for the healthier options on the menu, the reality was my diet still left a lot to be desired. One of my personal goals for 2023 is to improve my diet.

The run at the end of Week 5 of the Couch to 5k left me with a slight dilemma. I didn’t feel overly confident I’d be able to run for 20 minutes if I stuck to the rather hilly route route I’d been using for my interval runs. I thought about running for 20 minutes at Sutton Park parkrun but ruled this out. I then came up with what I thought was a very cunning plan. I’d head to Beacon parkrun in Lichfield, complete the 20 minute run as part of parkrun and then walk the rest.

The 20 minute run turned into a sensibly paced 5km jog around Beacon Park. I’d somehow managed to run every step of Beacon parkrun and completed the 5k in a not too shabby 31:23.

Completing Beacon parkrun left me feeling more determined to continue with the Couch to 5k. When I shared my Week 5 Couch to 5k update, I stated that the fact I’d managed to run all of Beacon parkrun course didn’t mean the end of the Couch to 5k. As I didn’t want to attempt to do too much too soon, I decided to continue with the Couch to 5k and was looking forward to Week 6.

I decided to delay attempting Week 6 of the Couch to 5k by a week as my knees felt slightly strange after Beacon parkrun. Not niggly but just a little strange. It’s hard to explain, but my knees felt like they were just waiting to implode. I had my third and final physio appointment; the appointment went well, and I was discharged from the Cottage Hospital. It’s just a shame what was originally meant to be a week off from running turned into several months of no running and a decline in my mental health.

October

At the start of October I volunteered in the new to parkrun parkwalker role. I’ve no idea how, but in typical clumsy Emma style I managed to twist my left knee walking up the ‘Hill of Doom’. This was a little frustrating as I’d been about to restart the Couch to 5k.

A couple of days later I saw that applications to join the Brooks Run Happy Team for 2023 were open.

Application to join the Run Happy Team 2023 are open! 🎉 Do you #RunHappy and love to share your passion and positive energy with your followers? Then we'd love to hear from you!  

➡️ Check out the link in our bio to find out how you can apply! https://t.co/4Z6bYxi1LD pic.twitter.com/x4WDZYGIn3

— Brooks Running UK&IE (@Brooksrunninguk) October 3, 2022

I decided that after three years of failing to hear back from Brooks after applying, it wasn’t worth me applying to join the Brooks Run Happy Team and feeling rubbish about myself again. I’d rather pay for my running gear and trainers.

The penultimate Saturday in October, I got to witness the most stunning sunrise during my walk through Sutton Park. Sadly, while the camera on my phone managed to capture the gloomy conditions, it failed to capture the sunrise.

Looking back, October was a positive month. I read a lot and published another Books I’ve read recently post. Perhaps I should focus on book reviews in 2023.

I entered the Miles for Mind October virtual event and set myself a target of walking 100 miles. Thanks to regular lunchtime walks, longer weekend walks, and the new parkwalker role, I was able to achieve this target. By the end of October my knee was feeling so much better, I was quietly confident I’d be able to restart the Couch to 5k

November

I started the month by writing and publishing what felt like a slightly overdue Rants and raves post. I’ve got everything crossed I don’t need to rant about exceptionally warm and dry weather in 2023.

I can’t remember why, I have a feeling it was raining, I missed first parkrun of the month. The following Saturday I walked and talked my way around the Sutton Park parkrun course and completed my 39^th parkrun of 2022. Seven days later marked the final time it was light enough for me to feel safe walking through Sutton Park.

I volunteered as a parkwalker and by completing my fortieth parkrun of 2022, finally achieved my Silver Obsessive badge.

I shared The True Cost of Running: the 2022 edition and not for the first time, seriously thought about the future of this blog. I may still give up blogging in 2023, I’m not sure yet but it does feel like blogging has had its day.

I ended November the same way I started November, I took one look at the rubbish weather and gloomy conditions and decided not to ask my friend for a lift to parkrun. I can’t wait for the lighter mornings.

December

December was a month of highs, lows, parkruns, and a lot of annual leave. The month didn’t get off to the most positive start when train strikes meant I wasn’t able to attend the Christmas meal organised by a member of my team. I’ve no idea why but working from home while the rest the team were tucking into three course Christmas meals made me feel incredibly isolated. I finished work at 3pm and headed out for what turned out to be the longest walk I completed in December. Thanks to a complete loss of motivation, I ended up recording my lowest monthly mileage in December. I failed to get anywhere near my target of walking 100 km in December.

In December it was a case of can’t be bothered to walk, can be bothered to read books, and write blogs. I read several of the books that had been sat gathering dust since the summer, published What I spend in a week…the 2022 edition, and wrote and scheduled a couple of blog posts. I can’t wait to share my running, walking and parkrun goals for 2023 with you.

After missing the first parkrun of the month due to a severe case of couldn’t be bothered to get out of bed, the following weekend I volunteered as a barcode scanner at what turned out to be the coldest Sutton Park parkrun on record and also wrote the Run Report.

The ongoing cold weather and icy conditions meant that Sutton Park parkrun was cancelled the following weekend. I’m not going to lie, I wasn’t too disappointed when I received the cancellation email on Friday evening, it meant I could have a couple more beers. I volunteered as a not very festive barcode scanner on Christmas Eve and walked and jogged my way around the Sutton Park parkrun course on Christmas Day.

I ended 2022 with an enjoyable walk around the Sutton Park parkrun course and will be back barcode scanning tomorrow morning.

And what about Christmas? I can’t really review December without talking about the Christmas period. Whereas in previous years I’d help mum decorate two Christmas trees, this year I wasn’t asked. I didn’t bother decorating my house this year as I live alone and don’t see the point. The nearest I got to Christmas decorations was my Lego Home Alone house.

Christmas Day was unusual. Once I got back from Sutton Park parkrun, I had a quick shower, got dressed, and then as I wasn’t feeling very well, headed to bed in an attempt to catch up on some much-needed sleep. I managed to shut myself off from everyone and slept through most of Christmas Day. Although both of my parents had invited me around for Christmas dinner, the truth is I didn’t feel capable of spending Christmas Day pretending to be happy, I just wanted to be on my own. I knew I didn’t want to ruin Christmas for everyone else, so I spent Christmas Day and Boxing Day on my own.

Last year, I said I hoped Christmas 2022 could resemble some sort of normality, in the end I managed to make myself feel more isolated than ever before. I hope my family can forgive me.

I always like to approach the end of each year feeling positive about the next 12 months, so I’ve set myself some running, walking, and parkrun goals for 2023. I’ve also set myself some life goals, and although I’m not planning on sharing these goals on this blog, one of my main goals is to get my foot on the bottom rung of the property ladder.

Looking back, 2022 was a difficult year for me, the final six months of the year were particularly challenging to the extent that I spent a lot of time feeling completely alone and overwhelmed. At times I didn’t think I’d make it through the next day let alone the rest of the year. Although I shared some of the not so positive moments on this blog and on social, when my life got really tough, I shut myself away and distanced myself from my friends and family. This is something I need to rectify in 2023.

There have been a few too many tears (fortunately, not in front of my line manager this year) and I’ve spent most of the final six months of the year feeling isolated from my friends and family. My knee injury made an unwelcome reappearance after I managed to run 5k at Beacon parkrun, and although it recovered quite quickly, my running mojo completely disappeared, and I stopped running. My monthly running (purple), cycling (green), and walking (red) bars illustrate how the focus of my training varied throughout 2022. I think it’s safe to say that the last couple of months of 2022 have turned out to be somewhat underwhelming.

Although my training was even more inconsistent than it was last year – I’d describe myself as consistently inconsistent – I ran when I could, only cycled once, and walked when I was unable to run. I was sensible and stopped cycling and running when I needed to.

I’m going to conclude my review of 2022 more or less the same way I concluded my 2020 and 2021 reviews. I may sound selfish, but I hope that I have a less injury-filled 2023.

What was the running highlight of 2022 for you?

What are your running and fitness goals for 2023?

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