starting over

I'm starting to plan my next training cycle after taking some time off from running.  Of course I try to apply some lessons learned at the start of each new cycle, but there is something to be said for just doing what you do as long as it works.  I hope that doesn't sound defeatist.  I understand the relationship between intensity and duration of work and the resulting training benefit, but doing too much - or doing something poorly - and getting injured is a bad thing.  It may be better to leave some potential performance gains on the table than to push too hard and miss out more running adventures.

So let me tell you about a workout I've added to my routine.  CrossFit.  I've joined a local 'box' and committed myself for a couple of months.  I'm just two weeks into it, and it has been 'interesting'.  There are a bunch of new skills to learn.  I've considered myself pretty athletic - I'm ok at softball, golf, and tennis, and I swim.  But it's been years since I did a chin-up, and I've never done any weight training.  And despite being comfortable with running, I lack a lot of flexibility/mobility that CrossFit demands.  So I'm trying to ease into it, hoping that working at things that I'm not good at will wind up benefiting me in life (and running).

I've actually been impressed with my CrossFit coaches' emphasis on form and that they share my interest in not getting injured.  I hope this turns out to be a good addition to my routine.  Articles like this one do scare me though ...

looking both ways

2012 was a good running year for me.  Looking back at my log, I ran a little over 900 miles in the first half of the year leading up to the Comrades run in South Africa in June.  I'm actually surprised to see that I ran another 1,000 miles in the second half of the year because I haven't been running very often since the JFK 50 miler in November.  It seems I've been taking December off from running (along with the first couple weeks in January) in recent years.  I think that's been a good thing, allowing me to rest up and start dreaming big again.

Looking forward, I've started thinking about doing a 24 hour run.  I paced a runner for a couple of loops last year at the 24 Hour Adventure Trail Run at Prince William Forest Park down near Quantico, VA. It's a nice place to run, and the race management and support seemed fantastic (the race's web-site is here). I haven't signed up yet, but now I better do it ...

Run strong in the new year.  Keep your feet under you!