TITLE: 2006 Running in Review, A Little Tardy
AUTHOR: Eugene Wallingford
DATE: February 04, 2007 10:54 PM
DESC:
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BODY:
February 2007 is already here, and I still haven't written
up my "running year in review" post, as I did for both
2005
and
2004.
This lack or urgency derives in part from a lack of excitement
about what I accomplished in 2006, but mostly reflects busyness
at work and a persistent low-grade illness of some sort that
has kept me off the road for most of 2007 thus far and so has
me thinking less about running than I might otherwise.
After a couple of years of big increases, last year I saw a
decrease in mileage for the year, though not that much of a
decline:
- 2006: 1932.9 miles
- 2005: 2137.7 miles
- 2004: 1907.0 miles
- 2003: 1281.8 miles
Even though I had my second biggest year ever in terms of miles
on the road, in most other ways it was a less satisfying year
than in the past. I started the year well enough but then hit
a tough stretch in March and April when my hamstrings and feet
caused me grief. I had never dealt with running injuries, whether
momentary or chronic, before. This pain was chronic, and only
rest can do much for them.
This is almost my first year ever when I never PRed a single
distance -- not 5K, half marathon, or marathon. I didn't race
a single 5K this year, which is a shame, because my summer speed
training probably had me in the right shape to do well. My
spring of soreness affected my training for the
Sturgis Falls half marathon
in June. While I missed a PR by a good 4 minutes, I still
managed to run my second best time ever at that distance. I
felt pretty good going into my marathon training plan, and it
went well. But there is no need to recount my
experience at the Twin Cities Marathon,
which resulted in my worst time ever. I was lucky, perhaps
foolhardy, to have finished the race at all.
The year ended in a bit of a down note, as I never quite seemed
to recover from the marathon, as much mentally as physically.
My post-marathon mileage was okay, though -- just no "zip".
As I mentioned earlier, 2007 has started slowly. I've been
under the weather since January 5(!), and the last two weeks
have been the worst of all. The silver lining in not running
much these last many weeks may well be that my body and mind
have had a chance to rest that I never would have given them
otherwise. I think I'll take this opportunity to
start again from scratch.
Maybe I'll get my "zip" back, both in speed and mindset.
(Another silver lining may be the natural excuse it gives me
for not running during our recent cold snap. Last night, we
reached -15 degrees F., and tonight we'll get down to -17.
The highs aren't making it to 0 degrees, either. Truth be
told, though, I like being able to say that I've run in such
conditions!)
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