With so much of the 2020 race plan cancelled or postponed, I am starting to look at my plans for 2021 as I do not see much chance of the postponed races going ahead in 2020. Where I have been given the option, I have deferred entries over to 2021 to give more time for things to a more normal.

My thinking is, I cannot see how mass gatherings can be allowed until a vaccine is found and rolled out to the general population, globablly. Let’s face it, that isn’t going to happen any time soon.

In April both the Manchester and Boston marathons were postponed to September and October. Given my views above and no option to defer to 2021 I have made the decision to withdrawl from both races and take a full refund.

Withdrawing from my first Boston Marathon was a massive decision. That would have been my 6th and final marathon major, earning me the Abbott World Marathon Major 6 Star Finisher medal but I will live to fight another day and aim to run in 2022.

In May I was due to race Ironman 70.3 Mallorca, but that has been put back to 31st October. I have decided to stick with that one for the time being, well truth be told, it was a case of take the new date or lose your money, so no choice on that one.

In June I was due to race Ironman 70.3 Staffordshire which has been cancelled and moved to June 2021. I was also due to race Ironman Ireland which has straight cancelled and all entries moved to the new August 2021 date, which sits well with me. Also I had the Tour of Tameside which has cancelled to June 2021 and now clashes with Ironman 70.3 Staffs with no other option for refund or transfer to other events so that is money lost.

July was Ironman UK but that has been cancelled to July 2021 as well.

As you can see, a big portion of the 2021 calendar is already taking shape here so little planning to do really. I am just going to factor in potential 2021 dates for Ironman 70.3 Staffordshire and those races I currently have on the plan for autumn 2020, which may not go ahead.

Back in March, I ran the NYRR Virtual NYC Half to gain a place in the NYC Half in March 2021, I am also working through the NYRR Virtual 6 Series which will get me a place into the Brooklyn Half in May 2021.

So, the current 2021 plan is looking roughly like this:

• Mar – NYC Half Marathon
• May – Brooklyn Half Marathon
• May – Possible reschedule of Ironman 70.3 Mallorca
• Jun – Ironman 70.3 Staffordshire
• Jul – Ironman UK (I may try to transfer this to a different race)
• Aug – Ironman Ireland
• Sept – Possible reschedule of Ironman Wales
• Oct – Possible reschedule of Chicago Marathon

A very rough plan for now, but I like to plan ahead and this gives me an idea of what dates to avoid next year.

Something that will make you laugh is in May 2019, I got injured in the Mallorca 70.3 (that’s not the funny bit). That injury resulted in me not racing between April – September and deferring the 2019 – Tour of Tameside, Ironamn 70.3 Staffordshire, Ironman UK and Ironman Wales. All besides Wales have now been cancelled to 2021 meaning I have the same summer race plan in 2019, 2020 and now 2021 without actually racing a single summer race since July 2018. It’s like Groundhog Dog!!

One plus point, missing 4 months of racing last year was good practice for doing it all over again this year.

Let’s hope I don’t do it all over again in 12 months time! twice is enough thank you.