Overall training and progress (or regression) for the year
- 4,078km/2,534mi distance (+600km from 2019)
- 62,457m/204,511ft elevation gain (+1,300m from 2019)
- 444h7m time (+47h from 2019)
Given the lack of racing, especially at longer distances, I never really got to see if my "year of volume" paid off. I only had two opportunities to really measure my fitness this year (the FBG race series), but not really at my goal distances. Did unofficially PR my 5K and 10K, though. Ran them both much faster than I expected to.
Hitting my 4,024km/2,500mi goal was both awesome and problematic. Awesome in that I never thought I could run that kind of volume in a year, especially with a ~month lost to injury. Problematic in the sense that it was all-consuming. I ran a lot of junk miles just for the sake of volume, and only very infrequently did I have the energy/motivation/legs to run any paces of consequence.
As with prior years, I set five goals. I won't rehash them here entirely, but some were lost to COVID, others I ignored/sacrificed for my mileage goal. Still can't do a pushup (although I haven't tried in a few weeks, due in part to fear of continued failure). Of these goals, I'm rolling at least three of them to 2021.
Race activity (if any)
I was signed up for the Houston marathon in January, but blew it off. Not knowing it was really my last opportunity to race for the year. All of the other races I signed up for or targeted were canceled.
Memories from the spring FBG BMF Race Series and other 10K Thread moments
I was very unenthusiastic about the race series at first, but when the first 5K results started to come in, I got really pumped for it. Same for the 10K. Just like this thread -- the enthusiasm for the races and running in general here is contagious.
So many other things going on in 2020, also in this thread. Too many to list. Babies! Big life stuff. Running-wise it was great to see
@gianmarco run his first marathon, and have great training/races along the way with
@gruecd. I think it was a 15K that Grue really pushed Gian, and that was awesome. Gian had to chase so many races and shift training so many times. Most (like me) would have just written-off 2020 racing and moved-on. But not Gian. Loved that dedication. Same for the Mrs (who isn't on Strava but seems to be Gian+ in terms of training and dedication!).
@MAC_32 getting hit by a car and still hitting 2,000mi (just today!) is incredible.
So many other things I'm not going to note here -- the whole year just seems like a blur.
Last thing I wanted to note is how much I miss two of our 10Kers kicking ### here. First is the obvious one:
@SFBayDuck. He's my virtual-mentor and I know he's 10x more bummed about his injury than I am. Reading his race reports would continually recharge my motivational batteries. Duck, I hope you can get this injury thing figured-out, and turn all those walking hours back to the trails (kudos for still getting out there for hours and hours every week!). Just today I was thinking about how cool it will be to finally get you up north here so I can show you some of the local runs. Even at a hiking pace. Hopefully in 2021, and if not, definitely 2022.
Second is
@The Iguana. Him rocking a sub-99 minute HM last year was fantastic. I loved chasing him (and failing). Hoping he gets his recent running to continue so I can chase him once more.
2021 goals, if any (with Covid still lingering)
- Do a freaking pushup, and how ever many continuous pushups make sense for me -- rolled from 2020
- Finish a 100km race (preferably Miwok in May) -- rolled from 2020
- Complete a Prairie Mountain ascent in 41:59 or less -- rolled from 2020
- Reclaim the CR on the Mount Burke ascent (or beat 1:01:09 if CR gets reset before I get to it)
- Run a <100 minute HM (preferably Vegas R&R in Nov)
- (Bonus) run a IRL race with at least one FBG 10K #BMFer
I know
@Joe Bryant often laments the lack of respectful discourse sometimes seen in these forums, but I wish he was a runner and could experience how supportive and life-changing this thread is. After 47 years on this earth, I have never been healthier than I am now, and that's due substantially to the support, advice, and encouragement of this 10K thread.
Thank you, to all of you, for that.