Strava Year In Sport

That makes it two years of this reduced running effort, but I have maintained a great streak, doing 75 mins of fast (for me) running (keeping it under an average of 5 mins/km) and then 75 mins of strength (split as 45 mins of actual strength exercises and 30 mins of yoga*). I’ve had maybe one week each year when I didn’t keep the streak owing to being on holiday, etc, but even then alternative exercise has taken over (like the two slower trail runs in Cassis this year).

I still do miss my long runs and I still think it’s a shame I’ve had to let that go since it took years to build up to doing those distances, but what I have now is a good compromise.

And this year I have managed:

  • Two Brimmond Hill runs (I used to think nothing of this distance, but it’s rare to get the opportunity now. Brimmond Hill is a great thing to run up)
  • Two “mini three peak” challenges (again making the most of what’s on my doorstep - I don’t get the point in not running up a hill if it’s there)
  • Two runs of the Calanques trail in Cassis (the best trail I’ve ever run)
  • Finally getting to run up Bennachie
  • And managed my fastest 5k. So close to getting sub-20 (20:15), which isn’t bad for my age.

Strength wise, I really don’t know if anyone else would notice (I am still a bit of a weedy stick), but I can see the difference. I guess if I really wanted to “bulk up” I’d have to do more than two strength workouts a week and do the whole protein thing and I can’t be arsed with that. I just wanted to do something. Could do with upping the weights though since I don’t have the time to up the reps.

Yoga wise. Oof, I’m just glad I can do it. I’m no where near as supple as the Nike instructors, but again, I think for my age I’m pretty good. Managed to get into the wheel on repeated occasions. That’ll do for me.

In general, I am fully aware I’m coasting, but I don’t mind. As I see it I’m in a holding pattern in case life changes again in the future and, if so, I can use this as a base to build up from. And if nothing changes then I’m still making the most of the time I have.

* - I do keep thinking about splitting the strength into equal 25 minute chunks and I might try this next year.