Three Calendar Years

Today closes out three calendar years of running. It's day 1207 overall, and almost 3.5 years in total.

In 2011, I wanted to average 2.0mi/day and I did that, getting to the 730 mark earlier this year. Around September I realized I might get there and wondered if I'd get to 750. Some injuries in Oct/Nov slowed me, but I had a hard push in Dec to finish the year with 754 miles in total, which is the most I've every run. I had friends that ran half marathons with training all year that didn't get there. Pretty amazing for me.

That also brings the streak total to 2135 miles in total. Quite an amazing run. I'll keep going for now, but we'll see what happens in life. It's been a great run along the way and if it ends tomorrow, that's OK with me.

Day 1208

Closing out calendar year 3 with 3 miles. A great run.

28:00
3.0mi

http://www.mapmyrun.com/workout/84035006

Day 1207

Great run while the puppy slept. Cruised along and cut it a little short to finish the year tomorrow with a long one.

22:00
2.34mi

http://www.mapmyrun.com/workout/83866782

Day 1206

A hard one tonight. Short, slow, but struggling after working outside all day.

16:00
1.59mi

http://www.mapmyrun.com/workout/83769100

Day 1205

Shorter run after working all day around the ranch.

18:00
1.8mi

http://www.mapmyrun.com/workout/83602788

Day 1204

Easy run tonight. Held back with a lack of sleep
20:00
2.04mi
http://www.mapmyrun.com/workout/83455380

Day 1203

Shorter run after snowboarding all day.
14:00
1.47mi
http://www.mapmyrun.com/workout/83448828

Day 1202

Christmas day run, nice and easy.

22:00
2.26mi
www.mapmyrun.com/workout/83448938

Day 1201

I was hoping to run outside, but there still is lots of snow. Even though the weather is warm, I worry about footing. I could go to town, but my daughter wants me to pull her on the sled, so I went longer than she wanted on the treadmill, but shorter that I did.
A great run, cruising along easily.
24:00
2.54
http://www.mapmyrun.com/workout/83051090

Day 1200

A nice steady run after a short lifting session. Felt great.

22:00
2.27mi

http://www.mapmyrun.com/workout/82885318

Day 1199

Late run today, a little frazzled, and a little full, but I managed to cruise through it.

22:00
2.23mi

http://www.mapmyrun.com/workout/82798134

Day 1198

A nice, steady run today after a good sleep in.

24:00
2.47mi

http://www.mapmyrun.com/workout/82645892

Day 1197

Tired, sore body. Karate, running, and working on chores have me sore. A massage this afternoon, and I took it steady, a little slower than I have been running.

22:00
2.25mi

http://www.mapmyrun.com/workout/82520984

A beautiful day

That was what it looked like when I started my run on Sunday. This is what I looked like when I finished.

On Dec 18!!! I love Colorado.

Day 1196

Cold outside, snow coming in, so a treadmill run.

22:00
2.27mi

http://www.mapmyrun.com/workout/82407332

Day 1195

A beautiful, 60F day in CO. I headed to town, taking running shoes to cruise outside on the Cherry Creek trail. I was hoping there wasn't much snow and there wasn't.

A good run. I didn't really feel up to pushing, but it was such a nice day that I had to push along and enjoy it. Pushed harder than I wanted to, but I had chores and was trying to get things done.

30:00
3.01

http://www.mapmyrun.com/workout/82407912

Day 1194

A nice run, after chores all day and a tired body. Took it a little easy, even though I felt like going faster. It was a struggle the first 10 minutes.

22:00
2.27mi

http://www.mapmyrun.com/workout/82178820

Day 1193

Felt good today, and pushed on a strong, quick run. Got hungry near the end and stopped a few minutes earlier than I was going to, but waited too long to eat.

26:00
2.77mi

http://www.mapmyrun.com/workout/82048640

Day 1192

A nice run today, felt great. Only 3-4 intervals, but a good run for me. Lots of Icy Hot on the calf before I started since it was tight today.

24:00
2.52mi

http://www.mapmyrun.com/workout/81918492

Day 1191

Jammed up for time, in a hurry, which turned out to be for nothing, but I cut the run short. A quick one, however, that felt great.

16:00
1.66mi

http://www.mapmyrun.com/workout/81829338

Day 1190

A nice long run today, cruising on the treadmill. Did the intervals again, 6.4mph and 6.8mph, and not completely consistent, but enough to work a bit. Too much ice/snow still on the ground to run outside.

26:00
2.72mi
http://www.mapmyrun.com/workout/81667784

Day 1189

A nice run today, trying some intervals at 7mph inter-spaced with 6.4mph jogs. Felt good to cruise along.

24:00
2.54mi

http://www.mapmyrun.com/workout/81529336

Day 1188

Late run today, shorter than I expected, but longer than I wanted. Cooking dinner after chores, tired, looking at blackberries and sour mix thinking that I'd really like a margarita. Pounded out a quick one.

16:00
1.65mi

http://www.mapmyrun.com/workout/81492070

Day 1187

After a half day of skiing, a quick run. Tired, but felt good.

20:00
2.05mi

http://www.mapmyrun.com/workout/81304806

Day 1186

Ending the week with a great run. For once the calf didn't hurt, and I feel better. almost over the cold, and felt like pushing a bit today.

24:00
2.51mi

http://www.mapmyrun.com/workout/81171232

Day 1185

Feeling better after more sleep and a massage. Still a sore calf, still sick, but better. A normal run for me.

22:00
2.26mi

http://www.mapmyrun.com/workout/81060848

Day 1184

Pulled a calf muscle last night at karate. A slower, and painful, run today.

16:00
1.55mi

http://www.mapmyrun.com/workout/80901100

The One True Way

I saw a TED Talk from Chris McDougall last year and found it very interesting. I've included it at the bottom of this post. Recently Chris wrote a piece in the New York Times about the "one true way" to run, without injury, for the long term. It's an interesting read, and I tried to modify my stride a bit and it definitely seemed to cut down on my impact on the treadmill. Hard to tell on the gravel outside.

When looking for the article later, I ran across a few more posts. Here's one good one that talks about Chris' piece and how there might not be as much science, or even truth about it as the NYT piece seems to indicate.

There's also a response on running form that seems to match up more with what I think.There isn't one way for everyone, nor one shoe for everyone. I tend to run upright, with a shorter stride that I've built over my streak that seems to work well for me, without a lot of pounding. I considered changing to more barefoot shoes, and I might try it at some point, but for now I like my shoes, my stride, and feel good.

Day 1183

Struggling today.  I feel better overall, but at the same time a little worn out. Knocked off a little early as I was running out of energy.

20:00
2.05mi

http://www.mapmyrun.com/workout/80783474

Day 1182

Hard day. Sick, tired, chilly, started run in the basement with a sweatshirt. Took it off, but kept a T on the whole time.  Felt a little better after the run, but still sick and tired. Hard to concentrate, and struggle to keep going.

18:00
1.83mi

http://www.mapmyrun.com/workout/80688120

Day 1181

Nice, steady run on the treadmill since it's 20F and snowy outside.

24:00
2.49mi

http://www.mapmyrun.com/workout/80514460

Day 1180

Quick one, late, after freezing outside.

18:00
1.85mi

http://www.mapmyrun.com/workout/80411812

Day 1179

Nice strong run today, felt great while cruising along.

26:00
2.75mi

http://www.mapmyrun.com/workout/80233896

Day 1178

Felt great, starting out Dec on a good note.

24:00
2.48mi

http://www.mapmyrun.com/workout/80109132