It was ideal when you wanted to lose weight, stay in shape, weren't concerned with racing, and manage all that stress caused by the events of this summer/fall. I implore you to give thought to what this article suggests. If your goals are to get faster then that's the basics. Hot, cold, or those 2 weeks per year when the weather's perfect - don't matter. What specifically you do, I think that's variable. Depends on goals - short and long term. That's the structure though. For a vet anyway (yes, you're now a vet).
		
		
	 
Oh, I read the article and also agree with a lot of it.  I have a good understanding of what it suggests.  I rarely try to be a black/white guy when it comes to this stuff.  Lots of gray.  I like the idea behind MAF and I like the challenge of trying to follow it and see the results (even though I wasn't 100% strict with it).  But I also don't think that if you don't follow it that it doesn't work/have its benefits nor do I think it's the only way to accomplish aerobic training. 
The more I've done this stuff, the more I realize that there's so many ways to approach training and that it's such a long term process.  Similar to what you did this year with complete cycles having different focuses all with a goal of a race a year later.  That takes serious discipline. 
I'm learning, for myself, that my ability to train and my goals will constantly change due to life situations.  I've come to accept that and I like it.  Sometimes I feel I want to work on getting faster and to race, other times I want to just enjoy getting out there. 
Right now, my main goal over the next 2 months is to spend as much time out in the cold/ice/snow as possible and not let my mileage slip.  That will be a challenge for me but I'm ready for it for the first time.  I would have failed miserably with the same goal last year.  Initially the idea was to go about that with MAF but that's quickly been scrapped as to what i described above.  So, it'll just be getting out there.  I ordered those shoes yesterday to help me accomplish that goal and give me more of a reason to get out there.
My "longer" term goal (i.e. over few months) is to be able to complete this first marathon.  I'm not worried about speed or times except for how it relates to getting me to that finish line.  After that, I'll reassess and see where I am and what I want to/feel I need to work on next.  So far, there isn't a period I've looked back on and regretted what I did.  Every training period/cycle has taught me stuff about running and about myself and allowed me to take the next step even if it hasn't related in faster results just yet.  And it may never yield those results but that's cool.  Despite minimal difference in my running times, I definitely feel I'm a better/smarter runner than I was a year ago.  I hope I'm saying the same thing next year.
The one thing I've ignored to this point is strength training.  That's probably going to be on tap next year.