Some people like to make New Year resolutions. I like to set a mantra at the start of the new year to set the tone of my intentions, orient my goals, and keep myself accountable. 2022 is the year of Healing. Healing from trauma, anger, emotional injury, and literal physical injuries. Now writing this in February, we're not off to a good start 2022...get it together man!
But first let's recap the end of 2021 to better understand how we got here.
First there was the NYC Marathon weekend in early November. While we couldn't stay for the marathon this year, I completed volunteer service at the Javits Center to help runners pick up their bibs, answer questions, and figure out other logistics. I was also tasked with greeting runners from different states and countries, welcoming them to NYC. Sadly, no one spoke Italian with me!
Before we had to split, the festivities concluded with Rob and I running the Abbott Dash 5K (along with cousins and a friend). For both of us, it was our best Abbott yet - with my new time being 00:28:37 for this particular race and course (vs. 2019 - 00:30:38 and 2018 - 00:29:37). 2020 was cancelled because of the pandemic.
In December, I turned my sights to a more challenging race and a first for me - the Ted Corbitt 15K, which would be my last marathon qualifier of 2021. I ran roughly 9.3 miles through Central Park with a finish time of 01:35:40. It was frigid out! But I was super happy with my pace - exactly on the 10:00 I was striving for. And consistent. I had some pain between mile 8-9 with my left leg locking up. Apparently because it wasn't hot out, I forgot to drink water (rookie mistake). Nor do I replenish with gummies or anything because I didn't want to peel layers off from being cold (also rookie mistake).
2021 concluded with logging my final run towards my year long NY One Challenge. Since January 1, 2021, I had been logging my miles through their app, competing with others nationally. I was supposed to run 1,010 miles, but unfortunately I didn't met my original goal. I closed out the challenge on December 31, 2021 with 775 solid miles run. No walking. During the year long challenge, my average distance per run was 4 miles, my longest run was 13 miles, and my average pace was about 10:00, and my fastest was 8:04. Most of these miles were outside enjoying the places I love. While I'm disappointed that I didn't complete the challenge, it's the most miles I have ever run in year. That's a huge win.
While I was wrapping up that challenge, unfortunately my little family got sick with Covid over the holidays. It was awful and ruined our plans. Of the four of us, I had the worst symptoms - flu like. Luckily it passed fairly quickly over the course of 10 days. But more concerning, now in February, I still feel it in my lungs. I haven't felt the same running since.
If you follow me on Strava, you know that I've been treadmill bound for most of January and February. This is a big pivot for me. I hate the treadmill. But with the cold air, my asthma, and the lingering effects of the virus, outside was making me feel sick. We've also had an unusual amount of snow and ice on Long Island making the running conditions outside less than ideal for safety (and with cars). I've setup a little home gym area (finally!) to get me through feeling homebound for now.
These days, it has been extremely difficult to make the class times at CrossFit. I'm just at a period of my life between new jobs, new schedules, the weather, frequent sickness...and the kids being at an age spread where they really need me during any spare time I have. I miss the community. I miss the tools. I miss the expertise. It's super important to have that in your mix - solo workouts are not enough or sustaining. With my home gym setup, I've been lifting lighter weights at home to maintain for now.
As I set my eyes on what's next. Healing, progress, and hopefully warm weather - I jump started these good intentions with a warm weather run in Manhattan Beach (LA) on a recent trip. I miss travel, but even more, I miss "travel running". We found a coffee shop 4 miles from our hotel and that was our target. Such a great way to explore a new place.
I'm both anxious and excited thinking about all the running that's about to enter my life. I'm planning to do 3 New York Road Runner races this year (NYRR). The first is a repeat race coming up in March - Washington Heights Salsa, Blues, and Shamrocks 5K. I really enjoyed the course and neighborhoods in 2020 (before the world shut down) and want to give it another go with new legs, new eyes, and new purpose. I'm also signed up for the Brooklyn Half in May which I also did last year, but this time will be in person. I haven't figured out what my third race will be yet, but likely something in the summer months.
Because...
I need to start training for the NYC Marathon in July. It's a 16 week program. Gulp.
