While running today to ring in the new year I reflected on my running of 2011 and my goals for 2012 and thought I would do some analysis. By the numbers, in the last 365 days, I covered 1145.11 miles in 207 runs in just over 176 hours with an overall average pace of 9:14 per mile and 5.53 miles each run. The most miles I ran in a week (Sunday-Saturday) was 49.41 miles. 840.76 miles were run barefoot with the other 304.35 shared with Merrell Trail Gloves, Vibram KSO's, and ZEM 360′s. I only ran 6 races with 4 of them being marathons. In December I became Marathon Maniac #4750 after completing 3 races in a 90 day time frame AND 2 of them in 16 days.
I made some goals and missed some goals I set last year, but I feel pretty good about these numbers based on the beginning of my longer distance commitment in the summer of 2009. I feel like I have progressed and learned but still have a long way to go yet I am hungry for more.
In 2011 my goal was to run 1000 miles barefoot, but that began to fade early on when I realized that the winter temps were just too cold and I had to spend a lot of time in VFF's. This led to a new goal of more miles and also led to my ITB issues coming back in early February. I figured out over time that even in VFF's I was letting my form slip and causing my old chronic ITB problem to return.
By the time I began resting, rehabilitating and rebuilding millage, I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to run the Charlottesville Marathon I had scheduled for April 9th. The cold days were still there and it was a challenge to get mileage in with the few BF opportunities and the delay from injury. 6 days before the race I ran 16 miles with minimal problems and just decided to do the full 26.2 miles that weekend. Everything went well and I learned a valuable lesson about minimal shoes, form, and my toleration for cold in BF.
From April through July I ran more casually and didn't pass the 13 mile mark again till late August when my training plan called for it. During the summer I deferred my Baltimore Marathon entry to 2012, switched training plan strategies, started running at night sometimes and decided this was going to be they year I ran a few marathons closer together. I had read a post from someone about running 10-12 marathons a year and always being “trained” so they wouldn't have to start from scratch every year. I've had the itch to run more races and the post along with the possibility of becoming a Marathon Maniac spurred me on to cram 2 more marathons in after the Marine Corps Marathon that I have been running every year.
Another hurdle was to find a better minimal shoe to run in since one of the marathons I had signed up for was a trail race. I knew I needed something for these runs, and for the upcoming winter. VFF's had already tricked me and the Merrell's I bought were still a little to “shoey” for me. Thankfully ZEM released the 360 running shoe in the summer and I began taking them for test runs in October. I found that the thin booties let me keep my form while adding a small bit of protection. I am still able to feel almost everything on the ground with them, but they rule on trails and so far are doing ok with the colder weather.
As the end of the year approached, I was hoping I could still cover 1000 miles BF and a good 250 in footwear but I just didn't get enough miles in during the summer to meet that goal. Even with an injury in the early winter and a light millage summer my 2011 was super successful and I plan on doing some crazy things this year.
My goals for 2012 are as follows:
1500 miles total for the year, at least 1000 Barefoot12 Marathons (will get me Level 3/Gold Level Maniac status)50K race (hopefully June 2nd North Face Challenge)5 other smaller races to work on my speed250 days of runningAdd at least 4 more states to my Marathon StatesMarathon PR under 3:45:00Lower my average pace to 9:05 or lowerRaise my average mile per run to 5.8 or higherLongest Running week 55 miles
Some of these goals look tougher than others. The average pace, mile per run, and PR are really up to me pushing my pace and switching up my running training. I already have an idea of 8 marathons through June and I'm at least registered for Baltimore and the NCR trail in the fall. There will hopefully be plenty of opportunities for other marathons in Sept, Oct, Nov time frame.
Other than that, I am going to continue to explore on runs in the DC area and places I travel to. I am hooked on this thing called running and hope to make it a life long hobby. I'll check back next year to see how I did on these goals. Happy Running.
I made some goals and missed some goals I set last year, but I feel pretty good about these numbers based on the beginning of my longer distance commitment in the summer of 2009. I feel like I have progressed and learned but still have a long way to go yet I am hungry for more.
In 2011 my goal was to run 1000 miles barefoot, but that began to fade early on when I realized that the winter temps were just too cold and I had to spend a lot of time in VFF's. This led to a new goal of more miles and also led to my ITB issues coming back in early February. I figured out over time that even in VFF's I was letting my form slip and causing my old chronic ITB problem to return.
By the time I began resting, rehabilitating and rebuilding millage, I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to run the Charlottesville Marathon I had scheduled for April 9th. The cold days were still there and it was a challenge to get mileage in with the few BF opportunities and the delay from injury. 6 days before the race I ran 16 miles with minimal problems and just decided to do the full 26.2 miles that weekend. Everything went well and I learned a valuable lesson about minimal shoes, form, and my toleration for cold in BF.
From April through July I ran more casually and didn't pass the 13 mile mark again till late August when my training plan called for it. During the summer I deferred my Baltimore Marathon entry to 2012, switched training plan strategies, started running at night sometimes and decided this was going to be they year I ran a few marathons closer together. I had read a post from someone about running 10-12 marathons a year and always being “trained” so they wouldn't have to start from scratch every year. I've had the itch to run more races and the post along with the possibility of becoming a Marathon Maniac spurred me on to cram 2 more marathons in after the Marine Corps Marathon that I have been running every year.
Another hurdle was to find a better minimal shoe to run in since one of the marathons I had signed up for was a trail race. I knew I needed something for these runs, and for the upcoming winter. VFF's had already tricked me and the Merrell's I bought were still a little to “shoey” for me. Thankfully ZEM released the 360 running shoe in the summer and I began taking them for test runs in October. I found that the thin booties let me keep my form while adding a small bit of protection. I am still able to feel almost everything on the ground with them, but they rule on trails and so far are doing ok with the colder weather.
As the end of the year approached, I was hoping I could still cover 1000 miles BF and a good 250 in footwear but I just didn't get enough miles in during the summer to meet that goal. Even with an injury in the early winter and a light millage summer my 2011 was super successful and I plan on doing some crazy things this year.
My goals for 2012 are as follows:
1500 miles total for the year, at least 1000 Barefoot12 Marathons (will get me Level 3/Gold Level Maniac status)50K race (hopefully June 2nd North Face Challenge)5 other smaller races to work on my speed250 days of runningAdd at least 4 more states to my Marathon StatesMarathon PR under 3:45:00Lower my average pace to 9:05 or lowerRaise my average mile per run to 5.8 or higherLongest Running week 55 miles
Some of these goals look tougher than others. The average pace, mile per run, and PR are really up to me pushing my pace and switching up my running training. I already have an idea of 8 marathons through June and I'm at least registered for Baltimore and the NCR trail in the fall. There will hopefully be plenty of opportunities for other marathons in Sept, Oct, Nov time frame.
Other than that, I am going to continue to explore on runs in the DC area and places I travel to. I am hooked on this thing called running and hope to make it a life long hobby. I'll check back next year to see how I did on these goals. Happy Running.
