2021 – The Year of Monotony

“Phil: When Chekhov saw the long winter, he saw a winter bleak and dark and bereft of hope. Yet we know that winter is just another step in the cycle of life. But standing here among the people of Punxsutawney and basking in the warmth of their hearths and hearts, I couldn’t imagine a better fate than a long and lustrous winter. From Punxsutawney, it’s Phil Connors. So long.”

-from the movie “Groundhog Day”

I had high hopes for 2021- pandemic would be long gone, I would be traveling from one race to another . No such thing happened ;-( 2021 turned out to be The Year of Monotony, utterly monotonous and repetitive.

Still, I should be complaining. I had no injuries and that absolutely means something. Additionally, I had all the time in the world. Yet, this taught me what training monotony means. Let the record show that in the year of 2021, I was running literally in circles, for 215 hours, completing 2120 km’s, or 663 laps in Urdaneta Village. Excluding walking laps, which would push this sum beyond 1000 laps.

Yet, there was some comfort in repetition. No goals, no rush. Just repeating the same loop without end. The only highlight of the year was Uludag Ultra UPAT66 which was the only available race in July 2021 . Other than that, pretty much nothing from a running perspective. Just an endless loop and good weather.

So, goodbye 2021. You will be remembered. You were my best fate.