Week 52 - Another Year Completed

Running:  Year to Date

Distance:  3,955.85 kms in 52 weeks at ave  76.1 kms ( up from 75.8 kms in week 51)

Last week:  88.25 kms

Altitude:  135,248 metres ( record) in 52 weeks at ave 2,601 metres ( up from 2,573 metres in week 51)

Last week:  4,015 metres

Long term average ( past 19 years) for distance is 3,880 kms per year, so this year is slightly above average.
Vertical metres have only been measured for 3 years with the availability of reasonably accurate GPS devises. Still plenty of debate as to which figures should be used as I have found big variances recently between Strava, Garmin Connect & Relive my Run.
This year, by a big margin, most vertical metres going up from 76,400 to 102,900 to this years over 135,000 metres.
The bigger mountain behind my current home in Hobart, Tasmania compared to the hills and mountain ranges in Canberra has meant a reduction in distance & increase in up hill. Even the flatter trails are undulating. Unless you stick to the edge of the river & suburban streets, then there is no choice but to do hills.
Biggest month for both distance ( 368 kms) & vertical ( 16,050 metres) was November settling back into a home routine after being away on a 2 month holiday. September was the lowest for both distance & vertical.
I won't run on the last day of the year, may be a short walk, but that's all.
Overall, a good year finding some spectacular scenery from plenty of mountain tops. Hopefully these old legs will be still Ok for another year before it's time to cut back & do all this just for fun.

Week 51 - A Good One

Running:  Year to Date

Distance:  3,867.6 kms in 51 weeks at ave  75.8 kms ( up from 75.2 kms in week 50 )

Last week:  107.15 kms

Altitude:  131,233 metres in 51 weeks at ave  2,573 metres ( up from 2,511 metres in week 50)

Last week:  5,682 metres

Four good days, a walk day, a walk/jog day & an easy jog day made up a solid week of both distance & vertical.
Didn't seem too hard to get those figures, but starting with a solid Sunday certainly helps.
The weather has been kind, just mild temps & no rain.
This last full week won't be much with a walk day on Sunday. Christmas Day will be a complete rest day, then Boxing Day will return to the hills to get to average weekly totals.
This year on completion will be just average for the long term ( 20 years) distance. It's only recently I have started to record vertical metres ( GPS's lacked the facility) but it will be far & away the highest.
It's been a good year really of running. Next year will may be my final "focused" year. After that, it's carry the camera, take it easy & enjoy the journey.

Week 50 - Under Control

Running:  Year to Date

Distance: 3,760.45 kms in 50 weeks at ave  75.2 kms ( up from 74.9 kms at week 49)

Last week:  91.15 kms

Altitude:  125,551 metres in 50 weeks at ave  2,511 metres ( up from 2,481 metres at week 49)

Last week:  3,972 metres

The year is nearing it's end and it's been a while since I actually competed in a race.
In fact, last race was on 25th June when I ran the Endorfun event at Freycinet Peninsular. Only 29 kms going over Mt Graham and along Wineglass Bay. Spectacular scenery, took the camera, took too many photos. So hardly competing hard when it takes 4 hrs 22 mins to do 29 kms with less than 1000 metres of vertical.
Since then, with a 2 month holiday in Sept & Oct, running has been just for fun. Really good fun it has been, especially in the snow during winter.
Mainly setting up the base as I intend to run the Gone Nuts 101 km in early March next year.
This week has been a mix of big and small. Two afternoon walks of 5 kms as recovery/rest days with a jog day of 7 kms plus hitting the cold water.
The other 3 days were definitely hilly, making up the bulk of those kms & vertical metres.
No need to do too much now to get to 130,000 metres for the year, just average 300 metres per day.
Gone Nuts will take around 15 hours I hope. The main part now will be to up the distances, maintain the vertical and get more time on feet. Start that in January, not going to hurry.

Week 49 - Big Ones Saved the Day

Running:  Year to Date

Distance: 3,669.3 kms in 49 weeks at ave  74.9 kms ( same as week 48)

Last week:  75.8 kms

Altitude:  121,579 metres in 49 weeks at ave  2,481 metres ( up from 2,475 metres in week 48)

Last week:  2,788 metres

Somehow I managed to finish the week at yearly average. A completely disrupted week starting last weekend with almost 100 mils of rain over 3 days. That's massive for us this year accounting for near 25% of our rainfall so far in 2017. Consequently, no running last Sunday, just too much rain.
But a few big days helped. Monday easy on wet ground.
Tuesday & Wednesday both over my local hill making up 40 kms & 2000 metres of the weekly total.
Thursday, an afternoon walk, just 3 kms. Friday, wife needs a new phone & do some shopping= nothing.
Today, it's blowing an gale, very strong winds at 60-80 kms per hour up high so change of plan. Not much vert but over 20 kms in distance. Happy with the run, and glad there were no trees crashing down on my head by staying out of the bush.
With just 3 weeks to go, not sure I can make 4000 kms for the year but 130k vert is reachable.

Week 48 - One Missed Day

Running:  Year to Date

Distance:  3,593.5 kms in 48 weeks at ave  74.9 km ( down from 75.1 km at week 47)

Last week:  62.6 kms

Altitude:  118,791 metres in 48 weeks at ave  2,475 metres ( down from 2,482 metres at week 47)

Last week:  2,140 metres

Two days of rain, one a no activity day at all & today just a 5 km walk, resulted in a below average training week.
Longest distance in a day only 15 kms, highest vert only 603 metres. That won't increase the averages.
Sometime it's good to have an easy week, freshen up a bit.