December and the end of 2011 – The report

December

Races: 8 (there were wins including a marathon)
Rest days: None
Hours % Miles
Run 37:06:51 62.1% 279.62
Bike 12:01:41 20.1% 186.75
Cross 10:36:00 17.7%
Total 59:44

So this tells you I am streaking and that I did 60 hours of training so all is well in the House of Darkness. I also won a marathon and although the time was indifferent I had rather a lot of fun. The jog around Portsmouth on Knackered legs confirmed to me I had found the love. There you have it I finished the year a happy runner.

Year 2011
Races 72 – indeed more than one a week
Hours % Miles
Run 366:20:01 54% 2851.36
Swim 15:52:24 2.3% 25.49
Bike 226:00:35 33.3% 3999.45 (561 to work)(a number of bike TTs)
Cross 69:34:59 10.3%
Total 677:47

So what happened in 2011.

1. I quit triathlon so after AdH I didn’t swim a stroke, it feels right and I am happier.
2. I did Age Group again and won a medal at the Age Group Championships, travelled for the Europeans but not the Worlds as the cost for some fun is too much. Not saying I have given up duathlon but it is not a target in 2012.
3. Time trialling on the bike, did quite a few including the Brompton World Championships. I shall carry on doing these for fun but again not a big focus for 2012.
4. Running, ah running the love and bain of my life. The year started well and I was confident of some good times. Illness took me out at Barry and I wasn’t ready for the Celtic plate. By April I was marathon sick. Fortunately not running sick and some good summer work saw my only PB(2.12 for 800 metres). Come August I was thankful for a Snowdon entry only to do 4 weeks of training and collect another injury, this one didn’t stop me running but I just could do a month. That said Snowdon was a solid if unspectacular run but a false dawn as it convinced me to start in Nice. Crap run great holiday. The week in Nice was awesome my body and mind enjoyed the lack of running.
5. Pilates and body balance – I am committed to these all the way to next June. I don’t enjoy it but I have tried everything else to help my hamstrings.
6. The year ending streak has seen me find the love, run some races and set targets for 2012.

2012

The target is simple – SILVER at Comrades in June. To say nothing else running matters is an understatement and every race/session/massage/meal/drink is part of the journey.

After Comrades I shall cut back on the running and ride my bike through the summer picking out some races to have a go at my Time Trial PBs and also decide if a late season marathon is on the cards.

This blog has been hard to write because when I look back at 2011 I am largely disappointed but I know deep down there is good in what I achieved. The 800, the 10km races, the bike time trials, the duathlon medal these show the speed is there but what about the marathons. As a person who sees a distance runner it was a bit of a disaster.

Now it is 2012 between now and June the 3rd my future as a marathon runner will be decided based on the following.

Am I cramping?
Am I injured?
Am I still quick enough ?

Watch this space ………