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The Good Old Days
Now that I’ve gotten everyone’s attention with my catchy title, of course I’m a runner. I’m just a runner who has cut back drastically on my mileage as I carefully straddle running enough to keep me happy and not so much that I’ll get injured.
In the good old days, I ran 1,800 to 2,000 miles while training for up to four marathons a year, but this year I didn’t even make it to 300 miles. Thanks to reoccurring spinal issues where bulging discs pressed against unsuspecting nerves, I finally got smart and cut back my running mileage drastically. Today, I can run pain-free as long as I keep my mileage low. My new routine of cross training on my bike gives me the best of both worlds, running enough to make my heart happy while getting my cardio fix riding my bike.
Strava 2021 Totals
When Strava revealed this year’s infographic, I got curious and decided to checkout my numbers for the year. I only record cardio workouts to Strava and as a result, my days active show as much less than in reality. For example, most Fridays I lift for at least an hour and teach a 45-minute balance and stretching class, but since those are not loaded to Strava, it registers as an inactive day.
With strength training sessions, stretching, and foam rolling not logged on Strava, I had to gather those workouts the old fashioned way, pulling the information from my log book (affiliate link) and adding up the numbers.
2021 Stats Broken Down
- Running:
- • Miles – 294.7
- • Total Runs – 91
- • Total Time – 45 hours 59 minutes
- • Average Distance per Week – 7.0 miles
- • Average Number per Week – 2
- • Average Time per Week – 1 hour 4 minutes
- • Elevation Gain – 9,160 feet
- Cycling:
- • Miles – 4,089.2
- • Total Rides – 130
- • Total Time – 286 hours 58 minutes
- • Average Distance per Week – 86 miles
- • Average Number per Week – 3
- • Average Time per Week – 5 hours 48 minutes
- • Elevation Gain – 145,102 feet
- Strength Training:
- • Number of Sessions – 141
- • Total Time – 141 hours
- • Average Number per Week – 2.7
- • Average Time per Week – 3 hours
- Stretching:
- • Number of Sessions – 130
- • Total Time – 25 hours 27 minutes
- • Average session length – 11 minutes 45 seconds
- • Average number per week – 2.5
- • Average time per week – 29 minutes 22 seconds
- Foam Rolling:
- • Number of Sessions – 74
- • Total Time – 12 hours 15 minutes
- • Average Session Length – 10 minutes
- • Average Number per Week – 1.4
- • Average Time per Week – 14 minutes 8 minutes
Questions:
- • Do you enjoy reviewing your end of year stats?
- • Are you on Strava?
- • What fitness related activity are you most looking forward to in 2022?
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My stats are the exact opposite of yours, Debbie! Thousands of kilometres of running, but only 475k on the bike.
This is something I would like to change for next year. I need to spend more time on the bike – especially the mountain bike – because I think it’s a great way to increase cardio fitness without putting too much strain on the body.
I don’t track my strength training, stretching or foam rolling, but I like the idea!
Catrina recently posted…My Six Favourites of 2021
My stats would have been similar to yours just a few years ago when I could “run all the miles.” You’re smart to already be thinking about cross training on your bike. I waited until I didn’t have a choice if I wanted to continue to push myself with some sort of strenuous cardio workout.
I use a training log to jot down my workouts so I can keep track of them for my Weekly RunDown. It was pretty easy to flip back through it to count my other types of workouts.
I am on Strava but I only wear a watch for races. That being said, I only care about my pace for races. Otherwise, it’s just for fun and exercise. Too stressful to worry about how slow I’m getting lol
But my mileage is pretty steady in recent years at 1000 miles. To me that means that I am healthy and get my short runs done weekdays and a long run on the weekend. It will be less when I stop training for all those half marathons. With an 8-4 job and family/friends, more than 3 miles never fits.
I would love for my gym to open. It’s close and I enjoy the machines,
Maybe re-join Peleton but I have no mojo to workout at home… if I am free, there’s laundry, cleaning, cooking…
Anyway, I’m happy to follow your stats and congrats on a productive year with many successes.
Hope more of the same in 2022.
I’m so impressed that you routinely run 1,000 miles a year.
What a bummer that your gym is still closed. Any indication on when they might reopen?
Here’s to a healthy, fit, and injury-free 2022 for us both!
I feel you! Not because of injury, just because of the other stuff going on in my life.
Strava sends me stuff & I mostly ignore it. You got me curious, but apparently the stats are only on the app which I don’t have & don’t really want.
So I hopped onto Garmin Connect instead, LOL! Roughly 1000 miles for the year, evenly split between running & walking. Far less than years past for me, too, but the numbers game has rarely interested me. I guess I’m lucky that way!
You keep plenty busy & fit, Debbie, and being injury free is ALWAYS a goal. Being injured is not fun. I’m glad that you found your sweet spot this year, but I’m sure it hasn’t been easy.
You know, Strava didn’t spit out my walking miles. I need to get on Garmin Connect and check those out, too, because I walked quite a bit in the early part of the year during a brief time my SI joint was acting up. Thanks for the reminder!
Those miles are still miles and they definitely count! I am impressed with the rest of your stats. Great job! I am not on Strava since I already have Garmin Connect. Very similar and I honestly don’t want the additional data. I do want to use my Peloton bike more next year so hopefully I can make that happen.
Zenaida Arroyo recently posted…Tuesday Topics: My goals for 2022
Absolutely spin miles count and I didn’t mean to imply that they didn’t. I just prefer riding outside and it would have been more fun to cross 4,000 on either my road or gravel bike.
You made a lot of different activities, cross training is very important to stay fit and prevent injures.
I don’t have Starava but I log all my running activities. This was not a good year for many reasons and I have only run 930 miles. After the injures no more gym and no more swimming. I also stopped my rides because too dangerous in this place and I am not able to use the clips.
I enjoy reviewing my stats since 1985 and to watch the photos: a different era with outfits in cotton, races in the middle of the traffic and few participants.
That said my plan for 2022 is: running every other day, a session of stretching when I don’t run and one monthly race.
You have a great plan set in place for 2022. Cheers to a successful year!
I haven’t checked my year end stats for running yet, but I know that my yearly mileage has drastically changed over the past two years. I’m actually okay with that as it allowed me more time to really get into indoor cycling and strength training – two things that I love!
There’s nothing wrong with cutting back on something you love when you replace it with TWO things you love. 🙂
I have to chuckle at this, and nod my head in agreement. My stats would be similar to yours (well, much less cycling, LOL) in that a lot of my activity (usually on the daily) would not be documented. I have a Strava account, but have never uploaded any of my “stats” to it. And I call myself an athlete, LOL. I keep track the “old-school way” as well 😉
I have both of my Garmins set to automatically upload my workout to Strava. Only when I ride on my spin bike do I have to manually upload it. Old school is good, I like looking through my log book at my stats, too.