2021 Year in Review

 Guess it is time to put together some sort of year in review just for my record to look back on in the years to come.  So here we go.

Hate to say this due to it seems to be some sort of mantra for everyone since Covid came around in 2020 but FUCK 2021...  Okay I said it.... the first half of the year was a super challenging mental struggle for me in which I have become a better person and the second half had a bunch of family scares.  Growth is hard and challenging I guess.  As I have said before in past post I am not going to rehash my personal mistakes on here out of respect for other people but I am always open to talking about them honestly and openly in person if you ask me.  I have nothing to hide and I am an open book on my mistakes.  It is the only way to learn from them and move on in life.  As far as the second half of the year that had family scares I am also not putting that up on the blog either.  If  you want to know ask me in person.  Anyways on to the normal blog stuff.....

Training: Solid year training wise.  There will be much more skiing and biking in 2022 with being signed up for the Grand Traverse Triple Crown which sucked in 2021.  Super excited for my adventures in 2022.    Here is how 2021 breaks down.

How does that compare to the past years?  Well this is an interesting view of the last 14 years.  Increase from last year and up there as far as one of my bigger years time wise across all sports.  Being a single guy again with nothing better to do, I see the trend continuing for 2022. 

Races:
A somewhat more normal year for me as far as races are concerned.  Not quite the normal 20-30 events that I normally partake in but much higher than the 5 or so that I did last year.  Did really struggle in the spring with my mental outlook on my life (aka depression) and did not start a bunch of races along with not signing up for others that I wanted too but that is how life goes.

2021 Races/Events

• Highlands Ranch 10K 2/28 (35:39 1st)
• Salida Half 3/13 (Postponed to 3/20 due to snow- DNS)
• Crossfit Games 3/11 (Fun times with gym buddies!)
• Rattler 25K 4/11 (2:18 5th Overall, 1st Master)
• Quadrock 25 5/8 (DNS)
• Quest for the Crest 10K 5/16 (1:23 7th Overall, 2nd Master)
• Dirty 30 50K 6/12 (DNS)
• Pace Bighorn 100 6/18 (Good Times!)
• San Juan Solstice 50 6/26 (DNS)
• Sliverton 60K 8/6 (9:59 21st overall)
• Pikes Peak Marathon 8/22 (5:15: 27  5th Master)
• Staunton Marathon 8/28 (5:24:20)
• Koda Iron Games 9/11 (Good Times!)
• Run Rabbit Run 100 9/17 (26:13:02  11th Overall)
• Rinse&Shine Skimo #1 11/9/21 (3 laps-  Great time!)
• JFK50 11/20 (8:55:45 - ran with Rebecca, Great time!)
• Rinse&Shine Skimo #2 11/23/21 (4.7miles, 2300ft gain.  So fun!)

Books:  
Got in a solid 40 books this year, way over my goal of 30 books.  Guess this is what happens when you get divorced and are not dating most of the year.  All over the place on my books with no real theme which is normal for me. I just read whatever catches my eye. Once again I will set the bar high for 2021 at a goal of 30 books again.

2021 Books Read 

1.  Tribe*

2. Think Like a Monk*

3. Left of Boom*

4. Win at All Cost*

5.  Sam Briggs: Start Your Engines

6.  10% Happier*

7.  Discipline Equals Freedom Field Manual MK1-MOD1*

8. Warrior's Creed*

9.  Arisen: Raiders Volume 1*

10. Can't Hurt Me* - Reread

11. Arisen: Raiders Volume 2*

12. Black Squadron*

13. Fight Club* - Reread

14. The Way of the Runner*

15. Savage Son*

16. Bolder Dreams*

17. The Longest Race*

18. Running With The Kenyans*

19. Out and Back*

20. The White Darkness*

21. The Dharma Bums

22. The Rise of the Ultra Runners*

23. A Runner's High*

24. Ashley's War*

25. The Devil's Hand*

26. Killing England*

27. Chasing the Thrill*

28. Bridging Worlds

29. Fury*

30. Freedom

31. The Third Pole*

32. Unbreakable Runner* -Reread

33. Out of Thin Air*

34. Sniper Elite: One Way Trip

35. The Ranch- Book 1*

36. Final Spin*

37. Let My People Go Surfing

38. Honed

39. The Ranch- Book 2*

40. The Ranch- Book 3*

Review of Goals for 2020:  

Another hit or miss year on my loose top 10 goals that I laid out last year....  Got number 1 done which was more important to me than all the others.

1. Re- Qualify for the Hardrock lottery- Complete and IN!!!- Run Rabbit Run 100 done
   
2. Average a Peak a week in 2021- Threw in the towel on this idea-- got 29 out of 52, weak
   
3. Travel somewhere new for a race- Complete- Trip to NC and Maryland
4. Run Coaching Certification- 55% done
5. Read at least 30 books-  Completed-40 books
6. Sky Dive-Not going to happen, getting to cold... waiting on you Avery
   
7. Leave the lower 48- Is it possible due to Covid?-Not going to happen
8. Travel somewhere I have never been if I don't leave the lower 48 Complete- Trip to NC and Maryland
   
9. Keep the blog more updated- Complete
10. Backpacking on the Colorado Trail for 3-7 days -Not going to happen, winter kicked in

Goals for 2021: 

Of course there is a lot of rollover from last year, almost all of them are, sad I guess.  This of course does not include any work, family, or relationship goals... this is just strictly goals as they relate to this blog.

1. Give Hardrock hell and have a blast doing it.
   
2. Average a Peak a week in 2022
3. Travel somewhere new for a race
4. Run Coaching Certification- 55% done- get back to finishing it
   
5. Read at least 30 books
6. Sky Dive- waiting on you Avery, need to finish this.  Tired of seeing it every year.  LOL
   
7. Leave the lower 48- Is it possible due to Covid?
8. Travel somewhere I have never been if I don't leave the lower 48
9. Keep the blog more updated
10. Backpacking on the Colorado Trail for 3-7 days

2021 in Pictures  (Chose 1 photo per month which was super challenging! Did include 3 for Sept though.  You can go through the monthy post to see a lot of photos from the year)

Have a Happy and Safe 2022!!!!!

December Check-In

 

Quotes or Themes of the month:

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” - Aristotle

A lot of truth in this statement, basically it comes back to discipline and habits which I am trying to get back to this month but seems to be a struggle but with some good news on Dec 4th finally getting into Hardrock after trying for 9 years, it should come easier than most years in the past.

Anyways, been a good month overall getting back into it along with a trip MT to see Dad and Sherryl along with trying to get back into the swing of things which I really don't see happening until next month due to the time off work for the holidays ect...  Like I said last month I seem to always struggle through the holidays with a depression period which was much better this year than in years past which is a win. 

After a better than normal December month for me of course it all comes to a sobering halt with the fires that hit Superior and Louisville on Dec 30th.... Of course the whole country has read and see the images about this fire over the news the past week but it hit hard to everyone here.  1000s of homes are now gone.  This is the community that is somewhat home for me even though I don't live in the city limits.  I work there, do most of my running there, my gym is there, and it is where I choose spend most of my free time away from the house.  If you have the resources there are a lot of non profits out there helping people who have lost everything get back on their feet that could use your help.  Feel free to reach out to me if you need me to point you to any of them.  There are some photos at the end of this post but in all honestly they don't do the damage any justice.  It so bad...

Training Update

Volume is was down this month but whatever, December is always a shit month for me as stated above. With getting into Hardrock this year and also signing up for the Grand Traverse Triple Crown (Ski, Run, Bike) I have some goals that should get me back on track.  Did spend a lot of time on the Skierg this month so there is that.

Caught up with Rebecca, Paula, Debra, Donnie, Dan, Neerji, GZ, Dad, Sherryl, and 3 Runners Roost Wed Run group runs this month.  Got out and about a little bit more this month than last month.

Here are the total hours broken down by activity for the month.

 

Goals Check In

1. Re- Qualify for the Hardrock lottery- Complete and IN!!!- Run Rabbit Run 100 done
   
2. Average a Peak a week in 2021- Threw in the towel on this idea-- got 29 out of 52, weak
   
3. Travel somewhere new for a race- Complete- Trip to NC and Maryland
4. Run Coaching Certification- 55% done
5. Read at least 30 books-  Completed-40 books
6. Sky Dive-Not going to happen, getting to cold... waiting on you Avery
   
7. Leave the lower 48- Is it possible due to Covid?-Not going to happen
8. Travel somewhere I have never been if I don't leave the lower 48 Complete- Trip to NC and Maryland
   
9. Keep the blog more updated- Complete
10. Backpacking on the Colorado Trail for 3-7 days -Not going to happen, winter kicked in
    

Pictures in Dec (not in any order due to coming from a number of people's cameras)

Purple Dot is my house