Wow, what an adventure this past year has been!
While it both started and ended on very sour notes, overall I’d say it was an incredible year. I missed the first race I had planned to run (an early January 10K) due to ridiculous circumstances. Worse yet, that left me with a shoulder injury that slowed me down for the rest of the year (and still isn’t 100%)
Just when I was starting to think about finally working on upper body strength again… boom. Mini Cooper. Yes, that’s right a Mini Cooper. One that was flying down the road and rammed me from behind, then just kept going. Depending on your definition (I’m taking the glass half full approach here), I’m OK: I’m alive (statistically speaking I don’t think I should be). I can still run. I did unfortunately suffer some pretty significant financial losses and injuries (two weeks later and the headaches still won’t go away, among other things). It messed up my holiday travel plans and nixed my last two races of the year: a one mile open water swim and a 5K. And I’m not even sure if I’ll be able to do my next race in 10 days. But I digress. I can still run
As I said previously, this was a good year. Life is what you make it; what you dwell on. I chose to have a good year, and so despite several curve balls, it was exactly that. I ran, I was (and remain) extremely happy. This past year I focused on being happy, on enjoying myself every step of the way, being on top of the mental game. It’s amazing just how much the physical aspect falls in line after that, and so there were lot’s of fitness milestones this year:
• For the first time ever, I ran over 2500 miles for the year (2634 to be exact, which is just enough distance to cover Miami to the west coast). I also easily covered 1,000,000 meters during the summer. That’s the first time I did that since high school. Hey Now PREP! I think its safe to say I have my base back
• Of that mileage over 500 of it was barefoot on the beach. As far as I’m concerned barefoot beach running is the meaning of life. There will be a lot more of that in the upcoming years for sure
• I completed over a hundred runs with the legendary Raven this year (and 50 swims too). This was enough to earn me his “Swimmer of the Year” award
• Despite my continuing shoulder issues, I took to the water as well this summer. I did the ‘Bandit Kick’ for 20 miles since then. Yes, the Bandit Kick… I lay on my back and just keep kicking until I get where I want to go. Slow, but consistent progress. I wasn’t going to let some stupid injury get in the way of my goals
• I completed my first triathlon. Three actually, all about olympic distance. The first was actually an XTERRA off-road triathlon, and thus my first time (ever) mountain biking as well. I’m the last one out of the water, but, hey, I finish. That’s what counts
• Speaking of races, I completed my first (five actually) international races. January in Bermuda (1 mile, 10K and half marathon), and then in August half marathons in Latvia and Estonia. Overall, my running this year covered 11 states (racing in 10) and 13 different countries
• I’ve run in quite a few races this year, often placing in my age group and occasionally overall. I earned my first 5K, 10K and half marathon wins* and set PRs in every distance I raced (I still need a 5 miler and I know that if I actually raced a marathon I could blow away my first ever (and PR) of 3:23:32 from back in 2000). Notably, I finally beat that half marathon PR I set in the summer of ’98 – In Tartu, Estonia two days after my 35th birthday
• Most importantly, I had fun! 16 months ago I rediscovered the joy of running as I explored Romania, and for that reason alone this has been a good year. My heart, mind and soul lead the way on this journey and my body has learned to love going along for the ride. I am, and always will be, a runner
2016, I’m ready