Running with Jack

I closed off my Running Log for 2005 and started a new one for 2006 this afternoon. Here is a recap of my 2005 running activities:

2005 Recap:

Mileage: 2605 kilometers (1618 miles)
Highest Mileage Month: August - 301 kilometers (187 miles)
Average Month: 217 kilometers (135 miles)
Highest Mileage Week: 77 kilometers (48 miles)
Average Week: 50 kilometers (31 miles)
Races run: 16, 1-8.9Ks, 6-10Ks, 1-20K, 5-HM, 1-25K, 2-M
Race PRs set: 8.9K, 10K (twice), HM (twice), M

First run for 2006

After a couple hours at the computer today catching up on some bookkeeping and other end-of-the-year activities I was pretty stiff so I decided to go out for a short run. It was a pleasant 7C/45F, a light rain was falling and the wind was still. Most of the snow was gone due to the rain we had yesterday, but the trails were thick with mud and mush, particularily in the forest where there was still some snow on the trails. I decided to run around the fields, about 7K (4.3M). My legs were really sore and stiff from my race yesterday. How stiff? With my first few steps down the street I almost fell on my face, my legs just wouldn’t do what my brain was telling them to. So I started out with a nice slow jog, gradually increasing it to about a 6:00/K (9:39/M) pace. By the time I returned home 43 minutes later I had worked the stiffness out of my legs and most of the soreness had disappeared as well. Tomorrow afternoon I want to go for a 14K/8.7M recovery run. Anyway a great start for the new year.

Goals for 2006

I have been trying to pinpoint specific fitness and training goals for 2006, but there are a lot of issues concerning my work and my wife’s schedule that need to be worked out first so I am going slow with the goals.

I do have a few goals that I want to accomplish over the next few months:

- Finally get my weight down to 68 kg/150 lbs. This morning’s weight 74 kg/163 lbs.
- Finish my marathon on March 12 in under 4 ½ hours.
- Complete a cross-country race (probably Jan. 29).
- Participate in the first annual Stutensee 10K Town Run on April 2nd (in the next village from where we live).

The rest of the year I have to leave open in the moment. But rest assured the year will be filled with at least several half-marathons and 10K races - a rolling stone gathers no dust!

So what are your goals for 2006?