6 more days to start 2017 and its time to start planning my next year. Well, I love to make lofty goals and then fight to achieve those or may be die trying. Quite dramatic, huh!! So what’s next and what should I do in 2017 – run longer than 100K or run faster. My greedy mind doesn’t settle for anything less!! I would become a laughing stock if I say I want to run 2,190 miles and break Karl Meltzer’s record on Appalachian Trail or run 3,067 miles Trans-continental from SFO to NYC like Pete Kostelnick.

Coming back to the ground, I really wish I can test my endurance, my physical and mental limits over and beyond 100 miles in 2017. After year and half of running and putting in some consistent mileage, I feel myself ready for the next big challenge (even though I am nursing my little injuries currently). 100 miles is nothing big for some of my running friends and they have already run some bad-ass 100 Milers and longer races so not a big deal. I am still a novice runner and will keep taking baby steps. Some of my 2017 races that I registered for

• Bandera 100K (Hilly)
• Run LOViT 100K (Hilly)
• Grasslands 50 Miles (Sandy, hopefully it doesn’t rain)
• Canyons 100K (mountainous, part of Western States Course)
• Bryce Canyon 100 Miles (mountainous and my first 100M)
• Chicago Marathon – Expecting 3:30 Hours finish this time

Building Endurance will be the key focus in the first half of the year and then speed in the second half to get 3:30 hours finish in Chicago. There are so many races of 2016 that I love to participate but can’t afford to get greedy instead focus on only few ones. I will need at least couple 100Ks in my run-up to BC 100 Miles.

OK, what do I need to do to build my endurance and pace? Interval runs, fartlek runs, tempo runs, hill workouts or many more combinations of these and get lost in daily/weekly counting of mileage, checking the leader-boards on Strava. It’s too time consuming, treacherous, painful and I will constantly keep finding short-cuts to the success. Who wants to go through all that rigor and who has all the time in the world? I just want to enjoy running, a better excuse for me.

I would rather make running as my way of living everyday life than tying it around all the numbers. I like simplicity. Few other soft goals for next year

• Digital Detox – no smart watches and no more recording of my runs
• Running Efficiency – Full/rhythmic breathing, landing, cadence and form
• Everyday Yoga – Flexibility, meditation and breathing

Professionally I am a big fan of digital and most of my lectures are around Digital Banking. I am a big tech geek when it comes to running gear but when I ran couple times without a sports watch, I felt more liberated. I could connect with nature, hear my breathing, watch my feet landing, ran my own pace and could engage the right muscles during up/down hills. No more analysis/paralysis, I will be running with and for the pure joy of running. I think running with minimalist gear and baggage has more appeal to me. Whenever I see boatload of shoes in my closet, that always reminds me that I have never had any shoes until my 10^th grade. Minimalist shoes is my next goal but it may take some more time for me to adjust to it. No, this is not because I have read “Born to Run” book and got inspired by Tarahumara’s lifestyle. Yes, they amaze me but not so much so that I will go live in Copper Canyon J. There is a reason and value in minimalism. Back to the Neolithic age!!

Everyday Yoga is also big on my radar. I strongly believe that one should run (and nothing else) to improve their running but yoga is something which can strengthen your lungs, makes you stronger mentally and gets your more flexible with strong muscles and you don’t have to slog hours to do it.

That’s my TO-DO list (or goals) and that too published so I will be held accountable!!