Running Review 2022

It is that time of year again where I look back and see how the year went.  If you read my blog from last year’s review you know I set some pretty big goals for this year.  I see time and time again, “plans are what you make and then God laughs.”  I am not sure who originally coined this saying but it is very true in my life.  January 2022 started out with me still in a hold pattern, the injury that occurred in November still had me sidelined.  As February began I was given the approval to start running again.  A mile or two at a time at a slow pace.  Surprisingly my slow pace was faster than I expected, I credit that to the running group.  I was feeling good and happy to be running again.  I was carefully increasing my mileage so I would not overdo it and reinjure myself.  I signed up for the Great Cape May Footrace (GCMFR) for the 10K distance some time ago and I was starting to worry if I would be ready.  A 5K race at the Cape May County Zoo was coming up in April and I thought that would be a good start.  That race went well and I completed the distance, only walking where required past certain predator cages in the zoo. A week later was the GCMFR. The weather was terrible, wind and rain but I completed the distance, walking when needed.  I kept training, June was my next upcoming race.  I was worried but a 6 mile training run two weeks before the race helped boost my confidence.  The Cape May Point race is two races, a 2 mile run and then a 5 mile run, I had signed up for both.   You can read the recap but the short story is I stress fractured my heel. After resting a week I knew I needed medical help and back to the doctor and PT I went.  No running in July and minimum miles in August.  I was allowed to run intervals at a slower pace.  I previously signed up for 5 races and they were all coming up.  10K, 5K, 10 miler, half marathon, and marathon.  My training was inconsistent but I was still able to get the distance done via intervals.  After the 10 mile race I toyed with the idea of still completing the marathon.  I know I could have completed the distance, I would have been miserable but I could have done it.  I decided to drop the distance down to the half marathon.  It was at this point I realized my 50K would not occur this year.  I had still been experiencing pain while running and knew that I needed to give my body time to rest and heal.  Total mileage for the year was 144.5 miles, a far cry from my 720 mile goal I set for myself.  Yes, I am disappointed but I am learning from what went wrong and I am planning my next comeback.  I have already started new exercise routines to help increase my strength. I have only signed up for one race in 2023, the Tri the Wildwoods triathlon.  It is difficult to refrain myself from signing up for more races when I see my friends posting the race they register for.  I am trying to set realistic goals and hope to be race ready in March.  This year’s goal is to get healthy, any mileage will be a good thing, let’s see how far I will go!  How many miles do you think I will complete in 2023?  Post your predictions in the comments!