2022 isn’t one of those years where I’m going to solve the ills of the world or for me attempting to be something I most certainly am not. Maybe someday in the future, but not now. 😎

My first photo of 2022 is fairly appropriate, foggy with a forecast of a storm coming in, but we are hopeful that it won’t be as bad as the prediction models indicate. 2022 seems to be starting out that way as well. The outlook for 2022 isn’t very clear and the Omicron variant of COVID-19 is looming ahead, but might not be as bleak as some believe. In either case, I believe that the weather will get better and that 2022 will be a better year for us all.

My New Year’s resolutions, alias my running goals for 2022 are rather conservative. They place more importance on being consistent and showing up every day.

• Start where I am, not where I want to be (see below)
• Run at least 300 days
• Run more than 1,200 miles (ca. 1,931 km)
• Run in at least 6 races
• Run more beautifully
• Purchase no more than 5 pairs of running shoes (gifts and freebies don’t count) 
• Harold being Harold will be my only personal blog all year. 
• Write a post for most of my runs, focusing on the story that each run has to tell, not just the stats
• Simplify my running wherever I can.

I keep talking about doing another marathon, but the truth is that my heart is not into doing one. So, until it is, I am going to take that idea/dream off the table for 2022. My focus will be more on shorter distances and enjoying my running without the idea of “having to do” a marathon hanging over my head.

My words for 2022 will be: 

• Choices
• Consistency

Based on how I ended 2021, this is where I am:

• Average Weekly Mileage: 23.4
• Average pace per mile: 9:31
• Average cadence: 167
• Average stride length: 1.00 m
• End of the year weight: 160
• Current Injuries: None, but injury-prone
• Current Niggles: Left Achilles tendon, both hamstrings, right foot, left bicep, right shoulder, seasonal allergies
• Demons: Showing-up, Self-confidence, Butterfly focus, Running shoes
• Elephants in the room: I will turn 65 in August 2022, COVID-19 pandemic, Winter weather — no treadmill (it is for me)
• Running Form: I don’t run beautifully. Too much of the old guy shuffle, stiff-legged heel-striker supreme, right foot splays out and right arm crosses over, both hips drop and I slouch too much. Other than that, I have perfect form.

I am a recreational runner who doesn’t have to run; but chooses to run. 

Life is about the choices we make. How we use the time we have, all those choices that we make throughout our days are what makes us who we are. 

Therefore, I am consciously choosing to make my running one of the things that I will focus on most days. I believe that my running helps me stay fit, more grounded, and a better person (which my wife will attest to). So, I will keep doing running until I can’t.

Even so, there is life beyond running, and I have goals and dreams for those parts of my life as well. It doesn’t mean that I haven’t made them, it just means that I don’t plan to share them here. 

It is time to get back to the basics in life and running — at least the basics from my perspective.

 

For those who are interested below is a mind map that I used to put this post together. A bit of a convoluted mess, but that is how my brain works most of the time.