In 2021, I was on pace to run 2000 miles. I needed to run 141 more miles than in 2020. By the Fourth of July, I was 82 miles ahead of last year’s pace.
My one injury struck on July 5, a strained groin muscle. I spent the remainder of July walking and stretching with a bit of light jogging. Still, I was able to get in 126 miles in July.
I finished the year with 1900 miles compared to 1859 from 2020. This year was the first time I was over 1900 miles since 2012. Since that year, I’ve been in the 1700 to 1870 mile range—those years of over 2000 miles ended in 2010.
My racing went well, finishing 21 in-person and three virtual races. I ran the virtual races to continue my finish streaks with my 14th Marine Corps Historic Half Marathon and current Coldwell Banker Elite Grand Prix races, now at 22.
The 21 in-person races are my most since 2004 and included a 50 mile, a 50km, three marathons, two half-marathons, two 10km, a 7km, seven 5km, and ten, five, three, and one mile races. The seven 5km were the most since 1997.
Since the 7km was the first time I raced that distance, I set a PR. I did set current PRs at 5 miles and 50km.
I’m not getting older as fast as those around me. The number of runners in my age group has thinned, and I was able to age group podium in five races; in the 60 and over age group a second and two thirds, in the 65 to 69 age group a second and in the 65 and over age group a third.
The Coldwell Banker Elite Grand Prix is in its 29th year. The series awards use a five-year age group structure with age on August 1, 2021, and I turned 65 in July. Series organizers pulled one runner in my age group into a Grand Master cash award group. So, I finished with an age group first place.
I did have an advantage turning 65 this summer. Next year, there will be some others aging up on me.
We had some enjoyable weather throughout the entire year. Wind impacted only one race, and rain affected another. There was heavy rain at the 50km in August that kept the temperatures in the sixties all day.
The Fourth of July weekend had dew points in the mid-50s, which was great for two races.
My two May marathons in New England had a temperature at the start in the high 40s rising to the low 80s. Since I was there to finish and not a race, I survived the conditions without issue.
On to 2022, my goals are completing all 12 Coldwell Banker Elite Grand Prix races, finishing my 27th JFK and 15th Historic Half. I’ll run a spring marathon to raise my consecutive year finish streak to 30. I’ll skip a fall marathon to focus on JFK training. Goals are best when written down and published. On On!.