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Writer's picturerickdmoore

Looking Back on '2022 (Or Can We Just Start Talking about 2023?)


My personal highlight for running in 2022 came on a sticky Saturday morning in early July. I was about halfway through an eight-mile run with the opening synthesizer flourishes of the Tears for Fears classic “Shout” seeping into my earbuds. On my left, a bold sunrise ignited the eastern horizon with splashes of orange as the few remaining stars in the wide Iowa sky dimmed to mere dots to my right. The sweat beading on my face foretold what would be another scorcher of a day. With a comfortable pace that would help the remaining miles flow quickly past, it seemed the epitome of why I enjoy running.


That day was about three weeks before the Bix 7 which served as the high-water mark for my racing this past year. Overall, running in 2022 is best be described as a series of peaks and valleys. With an emphasis on the latter. Putting it another way, 2022 was the most disappointing year I’ve had with running since I resumed competitive racing in 2017. A quick review of my Running Goals for 2022 tells the story.

  1. Improve Speed. Yes

  2. Improve endurance in heat and humidity. Yes

  3. Maintain a proper balance between running and everything else. Yes

  4. Be grateful for the opportunity to run. Yes

  5. Avoid Major Injuries. Not so much.

While I believe I achieved the first four goals, striking out on Number 5 pretty much negated everything else. A left hamstring injury in August wiped out four races, spanning from September to December.


What follows is a summary of my races this past year.


  • Red Flannel Run (1st in my Age Group & 9/190 Overall). I described this race as an abusive relationship in my first RWR post. Months later, I stand by that assessment as what I had thought would be a fun change of pace 5K turned into a miserable experience with wind chills at -20 that left my fingers and toes numb. The end result was my slowest 5-kilometer time in years - along with my best overall place in this race. Just to underscore the unhealthy nature of this relationship, I plan on running this again in 2023. (February 12)


  • Winter Warm Up (1st in my Age Group & 3rd Overall). After several days of unseasonably warm weather, winter roared back with a brutally cold wind off Grays Lake for this new race. Nonetheless, I had one of my best 10K times. Which would have meant more if there'd been at least 100 people in this race. Although I'm all for a 10K in early March for Des Moines, I don't think this one will be back. (March 6)


  • Drake Half Marathon (No Results). Ever go into a race with all the arrows pointing up? That was the case here. Several weeks of solid training carried me into a lovely morning with pleasant temps and minimal wind. First five miles went according to script as I hoped to have a PR for this race. And then a little before mile six, my left IT band started barking. Loud enough that for the first time ever, I ended up walking the remainder of a race (April 25)


  • Market to Market (1/67 Mixed Open Teams & 4/184 Teams Overall). Part of the reason for walking in the previous race was so that I wouldn’t have to miss this one. Good thing too as this was one of the highlights of '22. Teamed with talented runners who are all coached by Tim Ives (and including Tim), we persevered through temps in the high eighties to win the Mixed Open division and place fourth overall. Dripping with sweat rarely felt so good! (May 14)


  • Dam to Des Moines (1/48 in my Age Group & 48/2433 Overall.). Honestly, this race wasn’t bad. My IT band withstood a steep downhill early as a killer playlist of alternative music fueled the additional energy reserves needed for this half marathon. Actually, the only downer came at mile ten when my left calf wanted to cramp, causing me to slow up a bit. But that was a minor issue. (June 4)


  • Bix 7 (3/174 in my Age Group & 370/6993 Overall). One of my running goals for '22 was to have my best race ever at this uber-popular event in Davenport. That hard work paid off with my best time ever at Bix as well as placing third in my age group. This was also one of those races where I knew I was running hard, but did not feel it as much, even to the point of having a strong kick at the end that allowed me to pass several runners. (July 30)


Unfortunately, about three weeks after this one, my left hamstring let me know it was unhappy. Despite several weeks of attempting to work through it, what had been an annoyance became painful enough that I knew I had a problem. That translated into greatly reduced weekly mileage and no speedwork. Hopes for a quick recovery faded as the pain continued despite my best efforts. That meant scratching the Capital Pursuit in September. A slight uptick became a quick downturn, wiping out October’s IMT Des Moines Half Marathon. Although it started improving in late October, I knew better than tempting fate with the Hillbilly Hike 10K in early November. Lastly, while finally resuming my workout schedule, I had to accept that racing on the narrow, uneven trails of December’s Sycamore 8 would have to wait another year. That sets my focus on 2023.


What about you? What were your goals for this past year in running? Did you meet them? Let me know in the comments below or on Facebook.


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Now for something different...


Since this is an end of the year post, what kind of music geek would I be if I didn't list my Top 10 Running Albums for 2022. In no specific order, I offer the following:


1. Spoon - Lucifer on the Sofa. Totally engaging indie-rock for any run.



2. Hatchie - Giving the World Away. Fun mix of alternative and pop music.



3. Arcade Fire - WE. One of the ‘22’s finest. Meant to be heard in its entirety.



4. Bodega - Broken Equipment. Fun punk from NYC that's guaranteed to pick up your pace.


5. Foals - Life is Yours. Irish rockers change course to near dance music.



6. Hot Chip - Freakout/Release. Electro-band moves forward by reaching back for some 70's and 80's pop and soul.


7. Phoenix - Alpha Zulu. French indie-rockers provide high-octane energy for any morning run.


8. St. Lucia - Utopia. Think “Mike + The Mechanics” done right.



9. Alvvays - Blue Rev. Rougher edges + more intensity = their finest album.



10. Carly Rae Jepsen - The Loneliest Time. Tease me all you want - I still say thisusic to start any morning run!

What are your thoughts? Who did I leave out? Let me know your thoughts on my musical sections as well.



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2件のコメント


Stephen Peter Rowe
Stephen Peter Rowe
2022年12月28日

That's a nice mix of races you did this year. Too bad you were unable to complete the season, but like any good competitor, you're always looking ahead to next time. Have a great 2023!

いいね!
rickdmoore
rickdmoore
2022年12月28日
返信先

Thank you, Steve! Best wishes for '23!

いいね!
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