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2021 Running Review

I am quite happy with how my running went in 2021 . As a quick background, I took up running as a pandemic hobby in 2020, albeit from a somewhat athletic starting point. I ran my first marathon (first running race longer than a 5K) in 3:32. I ran over 1,300 mi in total in 2020.

2021: My overall running was down a bit to 960 miles, due to two great life events. First, Kelly & I bought a house which meant a lot of my free time went to projects around the house & yard. Second, Kelly gave birth to our daughter Riley!

Despite this, I still completed my first half marathon race, crushing my goal time with a finish of 1:32:06. I was able to sneak this race in less than a week before Riley was born. Along the way I also PR’d the 10K in my first ever race win.

Overall, I’m most proud of continuing to get back on track to train & race through the two big events that came my way this year. I feel like this was not a quick fad for me and something I will keep up for many years to come. I’m actually starting to enjoy running more and more, whereas in the beginning it was just something I did to stay healthy during the pandemic.

2022: I plan to run 2 marathons and hope to break 3:10 so I can qualify for the 2023 Chicago marathon on time (I hope to break 3 hours in Chicago…). My second marathon of the year will be the Richmond marathon. I am currently targeting the Coastal Delaware Running Festival marathon for the spring but there is still time for my plans to change. I also hope to bump my annual mileage up over 1,500 miles. For my first marathon I will follow the same training plan I did for the 2020 Richmond marathon but for my second I want to follow a longer training plan.

I wanted to break 20 minutes in the 5K, which I did in the RRRC First Day 5K race finishing in 19:55 (previous PR was 20:50), so I am off to a great start!

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My Lockdown Experience So Far

Kelly and I have been working from home for over nine weeks now. The IHS office has been closed for eight, which is roughly how long most statewide shelter-in-place / stay-at-home orders have been in effect.

Here’s what a typical day looks like for me:

  • Wake up and spend time with Henry
  • Drop Henry off at daycare
  • Go for a run
  • Work
  • Do yoga & eat lunch or eat lunch & read
  • Work
  • Pick up Henry
  • Spend time with Henry
  • Henry’s bed time
  • Dinner and a TV show with Kelly
  • Read / play a videogame / write some code
  • Bed

In the beginning I was largely goofing off. There was a lot more videogaming and a lot less reading or running. After about two weeks I tried to mentally shift from a short-term vacation from reality to a longer-term attempt at normality.

For me, this is more or less working fine. I don’t mean to brag. Kelly & I are lucky to not only be gainfully employed but have a childcare provider still able to operate. I understand there are people whose lives are being absolutely destroyed under lockdown. I want us to return to normal as soon as possible. But given the situation we are in, I’m glad to have built a routine that works for me.

Even if Virginia lifted all restrictions tomorrow, I anticipate following this schedule for months voluntarily. I would not be surprised if I’m not in the IHS office again until 2021.

I’ve been meaning to write more during this period, both to document what it’s like for posterity and because I (in theory) have the time. I plan to write about:

  • My thoughts on the lockdown policies
  • Running
  • What I’ve been reading
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Getting Fit Again: Three Months In

At the start of 2016, I set a few New Year’s Resolutions. I have never really taken New Year’s Resolutions seriously or followed through with them before. I haven’t kept up with all my resolutions this year, but I have kept up with my health and fitness resolutions. After three months, I am very proud to have hit my initial goals: to lose 25 pounds and run a 5k in 25 minutes.

To accomplish this, I was conscious of my diet and exercise (weightlifting and running) three times a week. For my diet, I aimed to eat at least 500 calories less than my total daily energy expenditure (calories out) with an emphasis on eating a lot of protein. For my workouts, I followed the Stronglifts 5×5 program while following the Couch to 5k program for running.

I have lost 30 pounds, ran a 5k in 24:37, and have surpassed novice strength benchmarks. I have enjoyed this process much more than I expected and plan to keep going. My new set of goals are to lose another 10 pounds, hit intermediate strength benchmarks, and I have considered aiming for a 10k.

While I allowed myself to fall into poor health and fitness habits a few years ago, my work over the past few months has me back in shape. It is a very powerful feeling to be in control of my body and change it to my goals. I hope to further solidify my new healthy habits for years to come.