12/05: 3.17 mi; 27'15"; 8'35" avg. pace
12/07: 5.01 mi; 43'02"; 8'35" avg. pace
12/08: 3.50 mi; 30'07"; 8'35" avg. pace
12/12: 6.23 mi; 54'32"; 8'45" avg. pace
12/13: 5.10 mi; 44'38"; 8'44" avg. pace
12/28: 3.16 mi; 25'34"; 8'05" avg. pace
As the weather turned colder, I ran the most miles of any month in 2016. This was due in large part to a heavier load on the bike during the summer and fall this year. Also, I entered a Brooks' Running challenge on Strava that required participants to run six hours over a twelve day period. I failed to complete the challenge (the randomly chosen finishers got a pair of shoes), but I still got out and ran on days that I usually write-off as "too cold." My pace was considerably slower, as I had an incentive to spend more time running. My right knee was getting over some joint stiffness as well, which kept me about 30 seconds below my long-run-average per mile pace. I was particularly pleased with the 10k distance on 12/12, half of which occurred in the dark; it was like a running neighborhood Christmas lights tour through Kanawha City. The lights reflecting off the river kept me distracted from the intermittent knee and muscle pains.
I managed seven workouts on the indoor bike trainer in December, including my first few races on Zwift. The races are categorized by Watts per kilogram (W/kg), i.e. how much power you exert and given how much you weigh. I usually ride in the 2.7 - 3.4 W/kg range, which puts me in the C-grade on races. The categories go from 'A' being the fastest to 'D' being the slowest. My old trainer may be holding back my results, but I also could simply be weaker than a lot of the serious riders on Zwift. Shelling out $500-$600 on a new trainer is not exactly appealing right now.
It was satisfying to finish the year with a solid month of running. I have found that running is the best cardio exercise when it comes to controlling weight and full-body shape. A goal for 2017 will be to better balance cycling and running to optimize overall health. With the addition of a pull-up bar to my home gym in the basement, I should have some upper body strength soon to boot.
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