Balance, Cont'd

To follow up on yesterday's tease, Balance is the word I'm focusing on in 2011. I'm not a big resolution guy, but I always set goals for myself.

After putting all my eggs in the ‘running basket’ last year (until my injury, anyway), this year will be a transition year for me. I'll be focusing my athletic efforts over a wider spectrum. Basically, I'll be training more for general fitness and less as a hard-core runner. Cross-training will be de rigueur (aren't I fancy?) this year. I've been hitting the strength training pretty hard the last few months. Depending on whether I'll go under the knife for my heel or not, I'll continue with that (on a reduced level), along with more cycling, walking, hiking and swimming (maybe).

It's probably obvious why I'm going this route in 2011. I will always identify myself as a runner before any other athletic designation. I plan on being a runner the rest of my life, so being patient is more important than if I were training for one major event, then retiring. That said, I'm focusing my efforts this year on getting into, and staying in, good physical condition until I can transition back into being the runner I'd like to be.

When I started running again in 2009, I did a good deal of cycling that year (mostly because I was training for the bike leg of a triathlon). I didn't run a ton of miles, but I was injury free the entire year. When I'm cleared to do so, that will be my mindset this year. Loosely, my plan will be 2-3 days per week of cycling, 2-3 days per week of running, 2 days per week of strength training (not incl. daily bodyweight exercises), with any of these being substituted with hiking, swimming or other outdoor pursuits. Staying with a consistent routine will be the key.

If I end up having surgery, I'll just do what I can until my rehab is complete. I still plan on running some races this year. If and when I train for them, I'll probably base my training plan on the Furman First program, and continue to cross-train. No, I won't be a great runner this year, but I'm looking toward future years, after my body is healed and ready.

I'm also instituting the Balance philosophy in my personal life (less TV, more books, less computer, more family time, less processed sugar, more fruit & veggies, less politics, more drawing & painting, less stress, more music...you know, the standard stuff).

I'm excited to see what I can accomplish physically in 2011, even with limited running. Maybe 2012 will be a more running-centric year. We'll see.