Final notes on the 2022 racing season

Training wisdom and insights from a breakthrough year

It’s hard to believe that it’s been almost two weeks since the Vermont 50. Occasionally, something will remind me of the race and I’ll smile, knowing I left Mt. Ascutney with nothing left to prove. It’s a good feeling.

Another good feeling: After a week of inactivity, my body is feeling normal again. The post-race pain has receded, allowing me to get outside and move my body again. Nothing big or heavy. A few brisk walks, a couple of 2-3 mile runs, and some time on the bike have been enough to kickstart the active portion of the recovery process 

As for the mental side of things, I’ve been pleasantly surprised at how quickly I’ve transitioned from hyper-focused to relaxed contentment. This is a much different emotional space than last year when I felt unsettled, even desperate to hang on to the fitness I had acquired. This year, I know it will come back when the time is right. 

That’s not to say I’m going to become sedentary. I’ve got a few things planned for the rest of the year that we’ll get to in the coming weeks, but no races are on the schedule for the foreseeable future. After diving deep into the competitive well, my reserves need to be replenished before I can consider going there again.  

The goal for the rest of the year is to simply have fun. Forget about times and splits and threshold pace. Just go play in the woods for an hour or two before work. After seven months of dedicated training, I’m happy to say the offseason has officially begun. 

Before saying goodbye to the 2022 racing season, there are a few leftover thoughts and insights about this year’s training cycle that are worth sharing.