Running Retrospective of 2023

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It was in the final days of 2022 when I looked at my runs of that year and shared a brief recap on Facebook. The highlight was undoubtedly reaching my goal of completing the local 10k race here in Tübingen, a feat that had lingered in my mind for years. However, as the glow of accomplishment faded, I noticed me slacking off in my exercise routine. The absence of a new goal left my motivation and passion for running dwindling.


This realization bothered me. It wouldn't have been the first time that I stopped running regularly. I do not really remember what my exact motivation was back then, at that moment. Or why I choose "Running" over other topics as my theme for 2023. By the way, google "theme vs goals" to find an explanation of what I mean by "theme".


So I picked "Running" as a theme and I ran with it. Literally. 


In 2023, I laced up my running shoes 101 times, covering a distance of 673km over a total time of 3 days, 5 hours, and 18 minutes. That is more than I did in the previous six years combined. 10 more hours and I would have spent 1% of the year running. And even while I am writing this, I need a moment to let this sink in. To realize again and again what progress I made. 


The journey wasn't always smooth. It took longer than I thought to get started. After each big race, there was this entitlement that I earned a break. Or while traveling, it is so easy to find an excuse to skip an exercise. While I managed to avoid facing the colder winter temperatures for a while, I am now back and have to convince myself to put on my shoes and step out into the cold weather.


Despite my genuine enjoyment of running, it has yet to become second nature. It is still an effort to step out and start. 


What helped me most was having a training plan that tells me what to do and when. Ideally, I always run on the same days of the week. Looking back at 2023, I am happy with what I have achieved. And I feel that I have deserved a break. But at the same time, I feel I want to go further. When I started running all those years back, I never would have thought that I would want to run long distances. The idea of running a half-marathon sounded so far-fetched. 


But yet, after I had finished my first official 10k in 2022 and due to the training leading up to it, running a half-marathon didn't feel so far off anymore. 


After all, it was "just" double the distance that I just finished, and with a training plan, it suddenly felt very much within reach. So I had set the target to run my first half-marathon on Dec 3rd, 2023 in Tübingen. Long story short: I ran my first HM earlier than this date in Budapest. And then I ran a second one on the originally planned day, but instead of running at negative temperatures in Tübingen, I ran in warmer humid weather in Singapore. Somehow, this last one is also the one that I am most proud of so far.


While I was originally planning to run my first marathon in 2025, I am now sitting here, boosted with a bit of over-confidence: Can I maybe run a full marathon it already in 2024? 


Other stuff that happened around this theme: I have been visiting several friends when there was a running event happening at their place. To me, that is way more interesting than visiting museums and other cultural stuff. And if there are no running events, I can still do sightseeing runs. It is nice to plan a route across a city and run it before there are too many tourists up and about. However, it usually comes with the downside of still exploring the city on foot for the rest of the day. My final list of places abroad where I have been running turned out longer than expected, and could have been longer, but for some reason, it happened that I visited several places twice. 


Fast-forward to today: I have been slacking off way too easily: Recovering after my last half-marathon, jet lag, rainy weather, winter time, ... the excuses are plenty. It is time to pick new destinations for running events. After all, I just treated myself to a new pair of running shoes.


Anyway, that was 2023, I leave this video with my highlights, and I am looking forward to 2024.




Location: Tübingen, Deutschland

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