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Here is my assessment on how I have done with my New Years Resolutions for 2011.  In general, I ran much less than I hoped for, due to a naggin injury.  However, I was able to at least do custom runs at most CFA events.  My lofter Bagger Challenge goals did me in though...Only climbed 2 peaks...

Goal #1: Vancouver New Years Day Fat Ass 25km.  done 1/1

Goal #2: Healing my torn ankle ligament! done 1/1

There were only five starters at the 8 AM starting line.  Notably missing was Rachel, who, in addition to Adrian and Karl, had intended to do the full 100 miles.  That was very disappointing to the others who had planned to do the full distance and were looking forward to her company.  The cold weather was almost perfect for running, although the occasional very light showers caused significant anxiety for the event host who remembered the near hypothermic experience of the 2009 Foolish Gerbil 100 Mile run.  Fortunately nothing serious developed weather-wise.

Less than a week until the end of 2011.  With the finish line in sight, I suppose it's OK to take score and see how I did relative to my friends and peers who were bold enough to share their fitness resolutions about this time last year...

Hoping to run for fun and try to dial up the speed a bit in 2011.  Here are the specifics of how I propose to measure my athletic success in the new year:

Running and related events

1. Be grateful each time I can put foot to ground for fun
2. PB a 5k
3. PB a 10k
4. E/B 25 mile walk
5. 50k somewhere
6. Gunner Shaw - 'cause Carlos says it's fun

Dear Friends,
I have pride in offering you all, once again, the full range of events.
The 25 mile Ultra Walk, the "First Timers" Marathon, 50K, 50 mile, and 100K races.
Announcing a few new features this year.
Firstly, I moved the date to the second Saturday in May.
12th.May 2012 the date you should try and keep with your Ultra buddies, here in Victoria BC.I moved the date so that I could offer you, up Islanders and out of town guests, a group rate at the closest and best accommodation option for my race.

By Christopher McDougall, the author of Born to Run. It reads a bit like an update on the subject, 2 years after the book.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/06/magazine/running-christopher-mcdougall.html

But simply putting something different on your feet doesn’t make you a gliding Tarahumara. The “one best way” isn’t about footwear. It’s about form. Learn to run gently, and you can wear anything. Fail to do so, and no shoe — or lack of shoe — will make a difference.

This really is the whole point: Be gentle, soft (and quiet), no matter what you wear on your feet.

With his conquest of mighty mountains Collins and Apodoca, including the discovery and introduction of new user-friendly trailblazes, Ken Legg completes his lifetime sweep of all 56 Peaks of the North Shore Bagger Challenge, and becomes the proud holder of the Twisted Quaich for Spirit, Bag-building, and Unorthodox Achievement.

The Bagger Quaich champions of 2011:

Munro Quaich: Bill Maurer: 50 peaks

Pippa Quaich: Carolyn King: 33 peaks

Harry Quaich: Harry Crerar: 10 peaks

Tundra Quaich: Tundra the Ultra Dog: 22 peaks

Twisted Quaich: tba

Congratulations, despite the summer of dismal weather.

I am happy to say that outside of free coffee for everyone dressed up this Saturday for the Halloween Run, Terra Breads is giving away 2 gift baskets one for best costume and one for worst! Hope to see you all there!

Fittingly, the first snow falls on our glowing pulchritudinous peaks as the Bagger Challenge draws to a close, ending this afternoon at 6:30 pm.

Please check your peak tallies carefully, and send me any of your last-minute conquests tonight. Load those photos up to the CFA flickr account!