Running Into the New Year, Faster and Farther

I will have to make adjustments to hit my goals, but this is about more than just running

These are my new running shoes. On January 1, I will put them on and hit the road. It will be a relief to leave 2020 behind. But more than that, I’m motivated by and optimistic about the year ahead.

My goal is to run faster and farther than I did in 2020. I’m a Boomer, so that’s easier said than done—my body wants to slow down. But I’m inspired by people 60+ who are not just active, but pushing it.

In fact, a few months ago, a 75-year-old man from Nebraska ran a mile in just under six minutes, an amazing achievement.

Runner’s World says runners in their 70s are rewriting the record books.

I’m not one of those serious, elite runners. I ran a marathon years ago and hated it. I much prefer 5Ks and 10Ks.

Going into 2021, if I can average 10 miles a week—500 miles for the year—I will consider it an accomplishment. And I will try to run a few of those miles at an 8-minute pace. Let’s see how it goes.

As a point of comparison, I ran under 400 miles in 2020, according to my Garmin GPS watch. The Covid pandemic, long work weeks, and a demanding new puppy held me back. Excuses, excuses.

So I’ve got to make adjustments to hit my goals. But that’s always the challenge, right?

It will be worth the effort because this isn’t just about running. I think of exercise (running, walking, biking, swimming, strength training, etc.) as being foundational for pretty much everything else I do—family time, writing, healthful living, and so on.

It’s also good for team building at work and friendships.

Like many of us, on this last day of 2020, I’m focused on the road ahead. Let’s get going.