About five or six years ago I realized I couldn’t do back-to back workouts anymore. I didn’t mean killers. I meant that if I did what qualifies as a workout (be it LSD, full weights, or speed work) I couldn’t do another “qualifying” workout the next day. So I adapted.

Then about three summers ago I realized that I was gonna hafta rethink my approach to running in the heat. Back in the 80’s I’d had a mild heat stroke. That’ll happen doing a 14 miler in 90+ degree weather. Ever since then I’d set a heat/humidity index ceiling of 100 and would cut way back or stay indoors when that magic number hit. That’s not working anymore. Body can’t take that stress. So my number is now 90. And I don’t like that at all. Oh, I’ll still go for a walk to burn some calories, or workout inside if need be but it’s an accommodation this cranky old man doesn’t like.

And this winter? It’s been pretty mild here in Ohio but I NEVER liked running in the cold. Takes too long to get dressed. Sometimes longer than the run itself it seemed. So here’s what I did. I set a wind chill factor of 32 as the floor until after Thanksgiving. Then I’d lower it one degree a day through December until it got to 0. Hold it there through January, then raise it one every day through February back up to 32 in March. And NEVER run if the wind’s over 15 mph. HATE running in the wind. HATE it. Although my only (Masters) state title came on a damned windy day just off of Lake Erie. This year? I didn’t have the heart. Between the lockdown, the election, the general ennui I just didn’t wanna DO it. So I didn’t. New rule? Thirty two WCF is the limit which means I’ll be taking most winters off or working indoors.

Maybe if I can get the weight down AND put together about six good months of work so I can start thinking about racing again …. then MAYBE I’ll get back to it in the winter. But currently I’m a 1 on the 1-10 scale from “normal” to “world class for an old guy.” We’ll see if I EVER get back.

Edit to add: My alma mater maintains a list for its school athletic records. Almost ALL of the T&F records have been established in the last 20 years although there are a FEW that persist from the 90’s and even back to my era – mostly in events that are no longer contested (like my 600m.) They ALSO maintain a “top 10 by class” in each event. Sadly many athletes have GREAT freshman/sophomore seasons only to fade/vanish by Junior/Senior season. But I’m STILL ON THE LIST! 8th for senior 400m outdoors!