3000 kms in 2021!

A year of running for charity

Yesterday (15/12/21) I smashed my 2021 goal of running 3000 (outdoor) kilometres in a calendar year.

I reached 3001.46 kms in 283 activities, with an average distance of 10.61 km per run, an average pace of 4:42 min/km with 14 days remaining in the year.

3000 kms was a significant increase on the outdoor running totals from previous years.

• 2021: 3001.46 kms

• 2020: 763.01 kms

• 2019: 438.51 kms

Charity

To enhance this self-centred goal, I chose to raise money for the Starlight Children's Foundation Australia—A charity that brings positivity and joy to seriously sick Aussie kids. Together we have already raised $850! Please help by donating and/or by sharing this post with your social network (link).

Why

I set this goal to challenge both my mental grit and physical endurance — motivation and inspiration quickly diminish with any prolonged hardship.

Things that challenged me during the goal:

• Negative thoughts

• Over-training

• Injuries

• Optimal (per run) distance

• Optimal calorie intake

• Time management (Working 6 days a week and running most days)

• Loss of concentration or proper running form (I run without headphones)

Things that were reaffirmed during the goal:

• Be at peace with mental and physical discomfort.

• Be your own hero. Let go of self-limiting beliefs.

• Be kind to yourself. Work hard, rest hard.

• Stretch goals are effective. Smaller goals can morph into larger goals. 

• Injuries are inevitable. Stretch, eat well and sleep well.

• Motivation and inspiration are fleeting.

A PDF of the run data from this goal is available here.

Thank you to everyone who supported me in pursuit of this goal. I appreciate you!!