Year In Running 2016

I had knee surgery in October of 2015.  It took awhile to recovery from that so I didn't start running outside again until May.  I did treadmill running, but that was just recovery from knee surgery and I don't have a good way to track it.  So, I'll do what I can.

I did 1 outdoor run in May in Austin and that was my last run in Austin.  When I moved to Denver, I ran a bit, but moving and traveling took up a lot of time.  Adjusting to the altitude wasn't that bad when doing long, slow distance, but doing anything with a higher heart rate definitely hurt.  I think I'm finally adjusted to the altitude now.  Well, I should be since I've been here for 7 months now.  I did some runs in the summer here in Denver.  They were great runs because the temperature wasn't too hot and it was nice and dry.  That's the reason why I moved here.  I did run at noon one day and got sunburned though.  Don't fuck with the sun up here.  I didn't have any real training plan though.  With the traveling and the great beer here, I ended up gaining some weight throughout the year.  I don't like that.  I got serious about getting back in shape the last few months and it is starting to pay off a bit.  My weight gain has stopped and I'm starting to feel better about myself.  I need to watch the diet closely though to make sure I start losing weight.  The goal for me, and always has been, 178.  I'll likely never reach it, but I gotta try.

In the end of 2016, I only ran 92 miles.  That's a bit disappointing, but knee surgery cramped that, but I'm glad I had the knee surgery.  It feels so much better now than prior to surgery.  I did run in some great places this year through while traveling:

* New York City
* Reykjavik
* Neskaupstadur, Iceland
* Belfast, Northern Ireland
* Galway, Ireland
* Killarney, Ireland
* Vancouver, Canada

Whenever I traveled, I tried to take my trail running shoes and do a short 3 mile run.  Although the quantity wasn't there this year, the scenery was.

For 2017, my immediate goal is to do cardio 6 days a week.  I need to get my cardio foundation, both endurance and speed, built up better.  This should also help with the weight loss as well.  In addition to the extreme cardio, I will be doing yoga and body weight exercises.  I'm backing off on strength exercises for awhile to focus on getting the weight down.  I also need to sign up for a race.  Once I'm employed again, I'll sign up for a 10K in the spring to give myself a goal.  I may also join a run group as well to help motivate me.

Here are my goals:
1) 10K in the spring
2) 178 pounds and maintain it
3) 11 pull ups
4) Handstand
5) 400 miles of running this year

2016 run mileage: 92 miles
Saucony mileage: 85 miles (all the non-home running was done in trail runners)