H&F 2021 Year in Review

[minzy]

What did your amazing body do for you this year? Highlights? Mileage? Goals for 2022?

[sadlebred]

Bicycling (all forms: Trainer, gravel, mtb, road, everything): 5400+ miles

Everything else: I track but am too lazy to look in my training journal count yoga sessions, walks, horseback riding lessons, etc. General activeness.

Sadly, my body is giving me problems.  Most here know about my open heart surgery and the very rare complication I'm dealing with now. I don't focus on weight but being up nearly 18 pounds because of retaining fluid is demoralizing. I have to be honest with myself. I *know* why, but it's not weight that can just be lost. Not until the complication clears, which could be months and months, or I have another heart surgery. I have an appointment with my doctor in mid-Jan. to discuss changing meds to hopefully help with some of the fluid. Until everything clears or the next surgery most of my life is in limbo. I can't set any athletic/race goals since I'm under severe restrictions. So, 2022 is a huge unknown for me. The next few months are status quo-ride within the restrictions, continue to ride horses in a lesson once/week, and try to get in some yoga and walking.

The highlights for 2021 were some gravel races in the spring and summer that I won or got second in the women's ebike category. I had so much fun!

[minzy]

I’m grateful I’m moving. When I think of my mother at this same age, we are worlds apart, and that keeps me motivated. 2021 was definitely the “year of the swim” for me, I’ve been able to pick it right back up, and I swam more this year than I have (maybe combined) since my junior year of high school. Also, I’m grateful for being able to do a variety of things with my family, running with my daughters, husband, and cousins; biking to school; kayaking and horseback riding through National Parks; playing a surprisingly competitive game of badminton with my neighbor, etc. Thank you, dear body, for getting me through!

I ran 514.22 mi, biked 369.21 mi, swam 5,146 laps (71.47 mi), walked/hiked/plogged 112.5 mi, did yoga 57x, wts - 138 x2, kayaked 12 mi. I also did random one offs like a rock climbing wall, ropes course, badminton, basketball, SUPing, horseback riding, dance party. I did “something” 289/365 days.

I had some knee pain for awhile this summer, which resolved, one kind of butt-kicking non-Covid cold, I got flu and Covid vaccines, I had a flexible sigmoidoscopy to confirm everything was ok (it was), and I gave blood 3 times. I did not lose the five pounds I thought I should but instead picked up 4.5 more, but I’m still within a range that’s okay for me, and I’m going to try a little harder on that front, so I feel even better. I am working again, so that’s been an adjustment, but I know I need to guard the time to work out, eat right, and sleep, so am trying hard.

In 2022, I want to work out more days than not. More of everything, but especially lifting and yoga. Try my hardest to stay healthy (eating, exercise, preventative care). Give blood at least three times again. Maybe do another half marathon or something else fun if conditions permit.

Happy 2022 everybody!

[melmel48]

2021 sucked for me! I was injured three times and out for 7 weeks with the first, 6 weeks with the second... and I am on the third right now. 6 weeks so far; I don't know how much longer. I can take walks at least.

So 2021 saw 277.47 miles for me. I am bummed; but I did the best I could!

Happy New Year!

[breezy8407]

I started tracking both running and cycling mileage last year, but kind of fell off tracking each month. The only metric I have is 14k minutes on Peloton, but that doesn't include outdoor bike rides or some running I did outside the platform.

The biggest change for me in 2021 was realizing working out at home wasn't temporary anymore. After having a DIY bike setup using the Peloton app, I bought the real deal in October and am still very happy with the purchase.

[lilypad1126]

Run: 1004.7 miles.
Strength: average 2x per month
Bike: 643.5
Walk: 720 miles (wow, that feels like a lot! but I do walk a lot each day, so I guess it's right)

Highlights - My new 10k run PR. So, so happy with it!

2022 goals - more running, less walking. Which should come naturally as I'm going to run the Chicago marathon in October, so I'll have to up my run game. Also, I want to stay healthy and injury free. Fingers crossed for a good running year!

[wawa]

I had fun at all of my races.
I KILLED my goal at my first 70.3.
I made new running friends who I adore and make me smile daily.

I'm not pulling mileage because I know it won't feel high "enough" to me, so I'm just not looking at it.
I had an awesome H&F year.

[Susie]

I had an annual physical on 7/28, and found out I was pre-diabetic.  I attribute it to extreme stress and insomnia related to parenting little kids in a pandemic plus buying a house/selling a house/moving, and some singular work-related stresses, all happening at the same time through spring and summer.  

Looking at my Garmin account, I went from May 25 to July 30 without a single actual workout.  There a couple entries on the calendar, but they're things like mowing the lawn/yard work.

I knew my lifestyle was miserable and sucked and I was unhappy, but I didn't realize what a quantifiable problem it was for my health.  So I took action.  Work/life balance is still not good, but I have made it from July 31 to today without letting a single week go by without at least one workout in it.  That's it.  That's my biggest accomplishment!  Some weeks were 1, 2, 3, or 4 workouts, but always at least one.  

I ran a 7 mile race in September while on vacation, just for funsies.  I've been having some back/hip issues with running so I'm not really consistent, but I'm trying to show up.  In November I was retested and had dropped my A1C back into the normal range.

I'm turning 40 in 2022 (actually in like 2 weeks), and my goals are really limited.  I want to make it the entire year, keeping up my streak of never having a blank week on Garmin Connect.  

I'd love to run a few more races, because I love it and miss it.  But I need to be gentle with myself and need to keep this no-pressure.