Last year was not my best running year. Probably, the only worse years I’ve had were 2008 and before I started in High School. For whatever reason, I got started on the right foot around last February but fell apart by summer. Bigtime. Anyway, I’ve picked it up again and should be ready for Chicago in October.

Everything below accounts for my running from Jan. 25th, 2009 to Jan. 16th, 2010. That’s 51 weeks of data I’ve recorded.

I won’t lie. Since moving to Columbia a little over a year ago my running has suffered. Even at my best I’ve only managed to put in about half of what I was doing in St. Louis and even that was spotty. At first I had three jobs and a full load of graduate classes to blame, but somehow seeing as I’m unemployed that excuse just doesn’t cut it anymore. That past three weeks have been a step up. The deal is even now something feels like it’s missing.

I think it’s structure.

I’m making a deal with myself. The first day of work (wherever and whenever that may be) I’m going to sign up for a marathon and start training. If I can’t get myself in racing shape then father time may have to step in here. Necessity is a powerful motivator. And, given my track record for the past year it might be the only one.