Notes
I've been looking forward to this break for probably 3-4 months now, which I think says loads about running this year. What I've really wanted is just have a time to be lazy and reset. I think I've been driving myself pretty hard this whole pandemic to try to keep myself, my students, my athletes, and those around me on track. When I write that out, I recognize that is unhealthy to assume that I have that level of impact on those around me and should be focusing more on what is best for myself. I guess I feel like I needed that level of control to keep my ship righted and afloat.
I raced the least this year of any year in awhile. I had a track race that did not go according to plan and ultimately led to me shutting down my track season. I look back at that with a little bit of regret, but also acknowledge that I don't think I have motivation to do a track season anymore. That is not to say that I won't run a track 5K at some point, but I think the days of carving out armory time for a track workout in January are over (also the armory isn't even publicly open anymore...).
I am happy with what I managed to accomplish in non-race settings. A big PR in the half marathon, a solid showing in the 10K and a PR in the 5K for the first time in ten years. Those are a big deal and overshadow the 800 drop out.
I ran a ton of miles - 300 more than I ever have with enough time to take the last two weeks of the year off. Running really felt like part of the routine this year and in the summer I enjoyed it and over the last six weeks since XC ended, I have not enjoyed it as much. It led to me thinking that it was time to switch to more functional strength and less mileage. That plan is still in the books, but I don't think it is 2021. I think I need this marathon and know how to make it happen before I can hang up my intense training shoes.
For this coming year, I don't think I am going to set a mileage goal. I don't think I need that at this point to keep me on track since 50 mpw is just baseline routine. We realistically won't have real practice for track until March so I can use the second half of January and February to build back a nice base. Long runs will be a point of emphasis and maybe I even look into someone taking the reins and planning workouts for me. I am going to make a point to be more focused with road workouts after that and hopefully run the Illinois Marathon at the end of April. By that time, hopefully I will be vaccinated and be able to run in some type of spring race.