My last cycle for the year. I abandoned my exercising Big Year back in November. Let me now sum up what I achieved over the year, and you’ll see why I call this Big Year a failure.
I began cycling in 2017 and, as part of a Big Year, clocked up just over 4,000 kms. This year I aimed for 2,000 kms. My final reckoning? Only 1,480 kms.
In 2016 I jogged 1,700 kms. I remember I used to castigate myself for this because it didn’t seem like enough. Well, last year I came back to 1,200 kms, and this year I aimed to match that goal. My final reckoning? I still have a couple of jogs left, but I reckon it will be only 830 kms.
Last year I visited the gym 100 times (call it twice a week), and this year I aimed for the same. My final reckoning? Only about 70 visits.
All up, I can sensibly apply the label of “failure.” Excuses abound, such as an injury, a lingering cold, but the main issue was psychological.
But can I cut myself some slack? I set some minor goals to do with diet and habit, and they worked out well. I’ve nearly eliminated platter cheese from my diet and I rarely snack in the afternoons any more. I had nearly 3 Alcohol Free Days per week over the year, and averaged two glasses of wine per day, which was the goal. All good.
And the best result of all? I kept straining to exercise, right through the year, even when it wasn’t going well and despair seemed round the corner. Let’s see how well 2019 goes, without any “Big Year stimulus.”