Running Year In Review – Surpassing 1600 Running Miles

Being a numbers geek, I probably should have gone in to accounting or something else along those lines…instead I became a runner which allows me to track all kinds of things and mull over numbers while running {yup it’s how I pass the miles sometimes!}

I don’t look at totals much during the year to ensure I’m not chasing a number as opposed to a feeling. That being said of course part of me wonders what more I can do in 2014!!

Since I wasn’t as diligent about putting in my miles when I started using the system in 2007 and 2008, I wonder if I may have run more those years…and I really wonder about 2005 when I did my first marathon as I was averaging 70 miles a week for quite sometime. Alas, those calendars with numbers are gone…which means for now 2013 is my highest recorded mileage.
PAST PERFORMANCE (miles)
2008: 1423.3
2009: 1277.7
2010: 1600.3
2011: 1600.3
2012: 1458.5
2013: 1618.3 {before 31st run}
— Highest month: Sept 196.8 miles
— Lowest month:  May 76.7 miles

Unfortunately I know the only number that is 100% accurate this year is my running. I just didn’t log everything else because I got tired of doing it. I do know that I walked far less since moving to Orlando and overall it was probably a step back in activity this year…but I felt good, so who cares!

2013 RECAP
States Run in: 10 (CA, MO, IA, FL, CO, HI, NY, UT, SC + Puerto Rico)
Longest Run: 21 miles in Sept {right after hitting marathon training low!}
Fastest Run: Ehh no idea, I spent most of the year doing Low Heart Rate training
Most interesting run: Having run in so many places it’s really hard to pick…but the whole experience surrounding being in Hawaii to cover the Ironman Championship probably made that 20 miler extra special.Most exciting #runnerd moment: Watching the Ironman Kona finish in person, interviewing Bart Yasso again…oh and seeing David at the finish line of Puerto Rico knowing he had just finished his first half was pretty awesome!

How did this year compare?: After a couple years of health issues, this year I wanted to run without injury and without bringing any of those issues back…I feel like I did it!! Not only was I able to enjoy my running, but start to see improvements again. I mean I ran 20 miles, 3 weekends in a row!! That never would have happened the previous two years because I just couldn’t recover that quickly.

Best race: I hardly did any races this year, whoops! But I think the ING Miami half marathon where I PR’ed in January set the tone for how I wanted the year to go.

Goal for next year? In the near term, I am focused on more half marathon PR’s…in the long term tackling some new race distances. I am going to put more races on the calendar this year to also help me get over race day nerves.

WORKOUTS
Dec 23
AM: 12 Days of Christmas Workout + Upper Body
PM: 40 min walk
Dec 24
AM: 8 miles with 20 x 1 min, 30 sec recovery. Increasing speed .1 each time + 30 min walk
PM: Stretch

Dec 25
AM: Upper Body +  30 min walk
PM: 50 min bike trainer + 3 miles easy + 10 min walk
Continuing to practice 90RPM on trainer

Dec 26
AM: 35 min bike trainer + 20 min walk
PM: 5 mile run + 30 min walk
Really thought I’d have a longer run in me, but this cough is probably what is keeping my energy down a bit.

Dec 27
AM: Jackie Warner Treadmill Workout+ 20 min walk + Hip Hop Abs
PM:  30 min yoga
Dec 28
AM: 12.5 miles at LHR {avg 9:33} + 20 min walk

Dec 29
AM: 70 min bike trainer + 30 min walk
PM: 40 min yoga + core

Don’t forget the FITNESS GIVEAWAY! Win a Timex GPS watch, Vega sport and more!
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Gratitude Journal
Dec 30
I am grateful for this cough which has reminded me to slow down, to spend time relaxing before bed and making good healthy choices to boost my immune system.