Tough Start to the Year

I ended 2024 with plantar fasciitis (PF). It knocked me out for most of November and December. As I was just starting to get back to regular running, I caught COVID in early January! That stopped me for another 2-3 weeks. Then another gradual return to running...until mid-March and I had a nasty cold that led to bronchitis! Out for another 2 weeks. It has been a tough start to the new year! And a poor end to last year. If nothing else, it has taught me to be patient and appreciate my health. Be grateful for your health and ability to run. It's not guaranteed. I am more humble now. Not running, or running with a cough, tends to make you more grounded. Reality sucks, but it's real.

I missed the annual Riddle Run 28-miler in January and a virtual Pi Run in March. Now I have a trail half-marathon in 3 weeks. My longest run this year has been less than 5 miles! Today I barely finished 3 miles with a hacking cough. Can I run 13.1 miles in 3 weeks? Not run, certainly not race, but I might be able to pull off a run/walk strategy and simply finish the event. Participation instead of competition. That would be a change. I'll see how my recovery goes. For now, it's all about regular easy run/walk sessions and keeping my heart rate below 140. Basically Zones 1-2. Slow and steady wins the race...and keeps me healthy. 

I sure hope the first 3 months of this year are not a bellwether for all of 2025. I am confident my running will improve and I'll be racing 5Ks to ultramarathons soon! Maybe not soon, but within a few months. No more colds, no more flu, no more Covid, no more PF. Just health and happiness! My plan is to keep low heart rate training as the primary focus of my training, supplemented with regular cross training and strength work. The gym will be my friend. I need to remember to stay grounded, not get too cocky, and build my fitness one brick at a time. 

Running Goals for 2025

Last year was not my best year of running. My running stats for 2024 are highlighted here and my five goals for last year are discussed here. Again, 2024 was not great. That's OK, a new year brings new opportunities! So, what are my running goals for 2025? 

1. Qualify for 2026 Boston Marathon (BQ). Next year I'll be 60 years old when Boston comes around so I need a 3:50 marathon to BQ. To be safe, running 3:45 will likely get me into the race. First goal is to BQ with a 3:50 time, bonus for 3:45 or better. Don't think I'll be ready for a spring marathon. Maybe summer or fall. June-Sept there are downhill trail marathons around Seattle area. In Sept there is the Last Chance to BQ2 marathon in Chicago suburbs. 

2. Run a 1:45:55 half-marathon. According to McMillan running calculator, a 3:45 marathon is equivalent to a 1:45 HM. Seems like a good spring goal to give confidence for a latter full marathon. Bonus if I can run a 6:39 mile, 23:05 5k, or 47:57 10k (time trial or race). Those times are all based on McMillan calculator equivalent to 3:45 full marathon. 

3. Run across Grand Canyon (Rim-to-Rim). Bonus if I can turn around and run back (RTRTR). Best time of year is April-May or Sept-Oct. I'm not ready for a spring attempt. Can I do it this fall? If I can find 1-2 friends to join me, it's a go! 

4. Finish one ultramarathon. Bonus for 2 or more. I used to run several ultras every year. Last year my longest run was just over 20 miles. Sad. Time to take it up a notch! We have the local Free Ultra Quadfecta, so no excuses. I'll miss the Riddle Run in January, but that still leaves Backyard Ultra in July, Allerton Trail Ultra in October, and Winter Solstice Ultra in December. 

5. Run at least 1,200 miles for the year. Bonus for 1,243 miles (2,000 km). I can average 100 miles/month, right? I didn't in 2024. Seems like a good process goal. If I am training for a BQ, an ultra, and a Grand Canyon run, I better be running consistently and knocking off long runs. Minimum of 1200 miles. Minimum.

Did I Achieve My 2024 Running Goals?

Time to look back on 2024 and see how my running went. Already did the basic statistics and compared those to 2023. It wasn't pretty. I expect my goals were not achieved either. Let's take a look at them:

1. Finish top 10 in the Mahomet 5K road race. Fail. I did run the race and finished in 12th place overall (1st in age group). Not bad! But not top 10. Am I disappointed? Not really. This is a solid performance for a 58 year old! 

2. Run a 6:21 mile. Success! Didn't try many times, but I did run a 6:15 mile on the roads. Should have tried hard on the track to beat that time. Still, a good effort. Happy.

3. Run 1:42:10 in the half-marathon on the KRT. Fail. Never really tried to run fast on the KRT or anywhere else. My best half-marathon effort was 1:50. I am sad that I did not run faster than 1:50, but 1:42 is pretty fast. Think I would have been happy with 1:45. 

4. Run 22:04 in a 5K or 45:50 in 10K. Fail. My fastest 5k was 22:16. Pretty close!  And I'm happy with that finish time. Never ran a 10k race or time trial. Need to try more 5k and 10k time trials at the KRT (flat packed dirt). 

5. Run 40:00 on the 5-mile Lake of the Woods trail course. Fail. Never tried to run the full 5-mile loop fast. Maybe I was afraid of how slow it would be, but it just didn't happen. 40 minutes is pretty darn fast on that trail. Especially for an old ultrarunner! 

I was successful in 1/5 goals. Not very good. Oh well. I was pretty close to achieving two of those goals (#1 and #4) so I almost made 3/5 goals. That would have been a good year. Maybe 2025 will be better. I'll set those goals soon.