Running 2021 by the Numbers

If I were a Nike-sponsored athlete I’d probably get a reduction in pay, but as an amateur age group runner it doesn’t matter much. So how’d it go for 2021?

Second half was better than the first. But before getting into that a bit, here are some numbers to check off. Total miles run: 2800 (if I get in 20 miles between now and Friday), and combined ski-run miles a little over 3000 (as long as I get in two ski outings this week). Something like 440 workouts total (including some easy cycling, which I don’t count on the running tally). I did more doubles this year than usual.

January through June

Last winter I kept the mileage in the moderate level (45-55 mpw), plus a ski outing or two each week. The early season was capped off with the “Virtual Birkie” 43.7K, which I did in 3:03 at 8700′. That build-up was fun, and makes me think about returning to ski loppets some day–maybe in a couple of years.

I spent the first half of the year working toward Grandma’s Marathon in Duluth, MN. It was one of the first major races to open up during the second year of the pandemic. I got up to 75 miles and had a good string of 65-70 mile weeks in April and May. Best race of the spring was a 1:25 half in Loveland, about an hour north of here. Following that I was a little disappointed with the track and road efforts, which I treated as tune-up efforts for the marathon.

Grandma’s was a great experience and I had a decent, but not great, race. I trained for a sub-3 and by all indicators that seemed attainable. However, I just didn’t have it on race day, and after 22 miles at 6:50 pace I couldn’t hold it and finished in 3:02, with a positive split of 2 minutes. The best consolation was to take first in my age group, so not a bad day.

Races for First Half of 2021

3/27 – Runnin’ O the Green 7K, Denver, 26.26 [socially distanced] (1^st)

4/18 – NOCO Half Marathon, Loveland, 1:25:17 (1^st)

4/24 – Spring Track Series 3000, Boulder, 11:09 (1st)

5/8 – Spring Track Series 5000, Boulder, 19:07 (2^nd)

5/29 – Boulder on the Run 10K, Firestone, 39:31 (2^nd) [socially distanced]

6/19 – Grandma’s Marathon, Duluth, MN, 3:02:08 (1^st)

July through December

After the obligatory few weeks of recovery I ramped up quickly for a summer and fall season. The plan was to peak for the USATF 12K masters road championships in New Jersey, first championship race in a year and a half, and hopefully a fall half marathon.

Training went as well as you could expect, as I typically ran between 55-65 miles through November, with a race every couple of weeks to keep things interesting. Did most of the training on my own, but hopefully 2022 will involve some more collaborative outings with teammates and friends. I pretty much go by feel, but regularly mixed in tempo/threshold runs or repeats (20 to 45 minutes of faster running), and repetition workouts of 15-25 minutes at CV to V02 max effort, often closing with a few fast reps of 20-60 seconds (i.e., 100s, 150s, 200s, 300s on the track or trail). Long run of 12-15 miles each week. The remaining days were either recovery (at least twice a week) of 45-60 minutes easy on trails, or endurance (65-80 minutes, often somewhat hilly and also on trails).

My training and racing may not impress a +/- 30 year old working to break 15 or 16 minutes for 5K (let alone 14!), but for me into my 60s (technically mid-60s this year) it worked. I stayed healthy and most races went well. I think the Mile High Mile in the end of July and Fortitude 10K in September were a little weak, but the others went about as well as could be expected (even though I always came out of those thinking I could have done a little better–we all do that, right!?).

The year’s highlights (in descending order) were: (1) Running on the winning team for the USATF Club Cross Country Championships in Tallahassee. That’s been a lifetime dream, to take the team title at a cross country championship (was on a couple winning teams on the roads a few years back). (2) The 1:23 half in October (apparently 2nd in the USA for my age group (?) according to Mastersrankings.com) in Fort Collins, what I consider my home town (lived there 22 years). That was probably my best effort of the year (and best age grade score at 88%, even though it was at altitude). (3) Two podium finishes at USATF championship races, holding out for silver (barely) at the 12K road race in New Jersey, and moving through the field with teammates to place 3rd at Club Cross Country this month.

Races for Second Half of 2021

7/24 – Colorado Springs Classic 10K, 38:46 (3^rd)

7/31 – Mile High Mile, Niwot, 5:37 (2^nd)

8/6 – Mile High Mile Series 3, Englewood, 5:33 (1^st)

8/14 – Arapahoe Warriors 5K, 18:48 (1^st)

9/7 – Fortitude 10K, Fort Collins, 38:47 (3^rd)

9/17 – USATF 12K road championship, Sandy Hook, NJ, 45:48 (2^nd)

10/13 – Boulder XC Series, Boulder, 20:09 (1^st)

10/21 – Colorado Half Marathon, Fort Collins, 1:23:08 (1^st)

11/9 – Colorado USATF 5K XC, Boulder, 20:17 (1^st)

11/23 – Colorado USATF 5K road, Denver, 18:45 (2^nd)

12/11 – USATF Masters 8K XC, Tallahassee, FL 30:48 (3^rd)