2021 Targets

Didn't reach the 2000 miles which I had hoped to, but I still managed to complete 67 marathon distances after I finished an 8K run this morning. Must admit to being really tired for the last few weeks, so a short break in the new year before I start into a training plan for Cork in June. Entering the lottery for Dublin, so fingers crossed I get in.

Didn't suffer any running related injuries, took one week off in March to rest and then pulled a rib muscle which meant another week off late on in the year. Hoping to take advantage of the increase in mileage I did this year, by looking at following Pfitz's 18/55 marathon plan from the end of Jan.

Not sure if i posted a target for 2021, if i did it was to be still alive and still running, so all good

Second half of the year not as productive as the first half. Missed one of the bigger ones (the mile) but only had one proper attempt at it in an indoor race.

[Copy and paste] - In order of priority -

1. Get an actual plan (for 800 m) starting from January 1st and stick to it. Okay, I didn't start until the 18th of January. But I did it and so completed my first structured training plan.
2. 800 m - Sub 2:10 (current best 2:12(13 or 14)ish). Ran 2:08 at the end of the training plan in April.
3. Mile - Sub 4:50 (current best 4:57). One effort in an indoor race where I was in the slowest of 3 heats which probably scuppered my ambitions. Serious lack of race experience meant I went out too fast (800m pace for 1st lap) and led from the gun dying horribly in the second half but still holding on to win it in 5:01. A miss.
4. 3 K - Sub 10:00 (current best 10:02). Managed 9:46 last weekend.
5. 5 K - Sub 17:00 (current best 17:17). A controversial 16:59 in a TT 😀
6. 10 K - 36:30 (current best 36:45). A surprising 35:58 on a windy May day.
7. 10 mile - Sub 60 (current best 60:59). Tried a smash and grab on this on Dec 23rd as the year was drawing to a close. Hadn't been feeling it but had a go to see how it went. On target through 6 miles but the 6th really killed me on an a long uphill and that was it. Abandoned during the 7th mile.
8. Join a club. Joined the local club last September. Hoping to actually do a club race in the Masters CC next weekend.
9. Avoid the GAA junior D draft. A couple of calls to drop into the squad but I declined. They won their respective championship. (Second year in a row the squad I turned down did that). Surprisingly, I had no regret on either occasion. Thinking on it, I guess having played Senior in Cavan for many years and with it not being my original home club I was simply just delighted for all the lads that did win.

I know there were some novelty targets there but 7/9 for 2021. The mile has left me with some unfinished business.