Thursday, December 31, 2020

End of 2020 Musings

  • I’m still running. Every day. 
  • I did not run a sub-5 mile this year. I have a few excuses, but the main one is that I’m not fast enough. 
  • I’ve been struggling a bit with Achilles tendinopathy issues the last four months. I’m managing it fine, but it has flared up to the degree where it’s affected my training a few times.
  • Another matter complicating fast times on the track: the Salida track has often been closed this year. Every time they close the school for COVID, which they’ve done three times, they close the track. 
  • On the whole, I feel like I’m about 95% as fit as I was a year ago. Good enough in a year like this one.
  • Last fall I was running 55 miles a week, and now I’m doing 30 about miles a week. 
  • 1815 miles on the year. 
  • I do some intensity every week, although often it’s just a tempo or some light aerobic intervals.
  • Being a new dad certainly makes it more challenging to get as much running in as I might like. We’ll probably start putting the little man into childcare starting next year as he gets older and (hopefully) COVID becomes less of a factor. Maybe that’ll free up some time to run more in the coming years.
  • Running blogging (and blogging in general) has gotten the shaft this year. Not much to say other than it’s not a priority. 
  • I’m not sure I’ll ever get back to posting weekly training. To the extent that anyone cared, you can go back and get the gist of the type of training I do. 
  • Maybe I’ll post the occasional running-related diatribe in 2021 when I feel so inspired.
  • Baby is doing great. My dog with cancer is still alive and doing pretty well, all things considered. My business did fine this year. It’s been a weird year, for sure. But as a 98th percentile introvert, quarantine doesn’t bother me all that much. A traumatic year for the world to be sure, but on a personal level, I can’t complain.
  • What does 2021 have in store for me, running-wise? I think sub-5 is still the main goal. And I have still have a Pikes Ascent entry that was rolled over in 2019 for a broken leg and 2020 for COVID. Little did I know that when I signed up in January 2019 that I was making a 30-plus month training plan. I have a Bolder Boulder entry that’s rolled over twice, too, but I don’t think that one’s going to happen this year, either. 
  • I can see myself getting out for some small mountain races in the summer, too, if I’m feel fit and healthy. Creede and Crested Butte always appeal to me. 
  • 2021, eh? Man, if I stopped to think about it, that would make me feel really old. Which is why I reckon it’s best not to think about it too much.

Tata for now. Here’s hoping that 2021 goes a little smoother than 2020 did!