– He wasn’t very old.

– No, he was pretty old. He was 41.

– Oh yeah? Oh, that’s old.

David and Jennifer, Wargames

It’s a great film, Wargames, if you haven’t seen it. It’s about a young High School kid who manages to hack into the US Defence system and accidently nearly start World War III. That’s an amazing feat when you look at the archaic hunk of shite home computer he’s using. More technology in a phone these days. I know I’m not really selling this well, but it’s got Ally Sheedy in it and we all need lots of Ally Sheedy.

Get on with it. Ok, there was a point. I loved this film as a kid, and apart from the accidently declaring Nuclear War on the Russians, it’s really a film about the young flicking their Vs up at the set-in-their-ways-think-they-know-best older generation. I used to laugh at that line about 41, but in a ‘yeah, what a bunch of old twats’ kind of way.

And now I’m 41.

And I think the 2020s 41 is very different to the 1980s 41. My Mam had a perm at 41 that made her look about 60. I think most people’s Mams in the 80s did. 41 is no longer ‘old’. They used to say life begins at 40. Try saying that to my Grandad who’d been down a pit for 20 odd years by that point, and only lived another 20 years. I don’t think the phrase has ever really been true until the last couple of decades. There are so many opportunities to be healthier, exercise, and live longer. Although, I’ve told my wife that if I’m proper knackered just unplug me.

So, 41 isn’t old. I love you Ally Sheedy and I always will. Maybe not as much as Phillpa Forrester, but you’re still wrong. Therefore, this 41 year olds goals are…

2022 Goals

• Update the notbuilttorun website a lot more – Haha, unlucky suckers. I’ve noticed though, I tend to go through a flurry of updates at the very start of the year and then the very end. So really, update it more consistently.
• Run Every Day (RED) in January – We’re not as lockdown tastic as we were last year, so life might get in the way. However, I’m currently 14 days in and apart from my grumbling Achilles (standard) we’re well on track. Until said Achilles pings.
• Run 1,000 miles – 3 years running I’ve hit this, the last year with 200 miles in change. As long as I avoid injury and illness, I should hopefully hit this again. At my current rate, I’m projected 1,144 which I’d take all day long and then some.
• Get a PB – I didn’t get any ‘outside’ PBs last year, but still managed some Zwift/Treadmill ones. My find the need for speed on the Treadmill and get some inny ones. I’m also counting Strava Segment PBs, so surely there will be one in there somewhere? (Spoiler Alert – I’ve hit some in the first 14 days)
• Run a Half Marathon – Of course I’m in the GNR September, Number 11, and it’s back to it’s original course. As an aside, if it is back to it’s usual format, this will be the moment I decide life is back to ‘normal’. The Sunderland Half is on the 8th May. It’s tempting.
• Run longer than 13.1 miles – I tried this last year, I didn’t do it. There is no fail, only try. I failed to try though. The goal is still to get to 16 miles by the end of the year. My thought is to attempt it after one of my Halfs, while I’m still in ‘the Zone’. Whatever zone that might be.
• 300 miles on Zwift- Ah Zwift. I’m not sick of it. Yet. March to Dec 2021 I logged around 300 miles. That seems like a good and achievable number to aim for. We like achievable stuff, it brings balance to the force caused by the probable failure of the goal above..
• Run on Holiday – I’m supposed to be in sunny Menorca in May, a holiday now 2 years overdue cos of some global pandemic or something. Like a sad sack, I’m taking my gear for a bit of Balearic sea breeze and beer sweating.
• Remain in Employment – People to feed, bills to pay, trainers to buy.
• Avoid catching/passing on COVID – Get super boosted. Wear a mask rat lickers.

Piece. Of. Piss.

I hope everyone’s 2022, running or personal, goes as planned. Or a good unplanned at least.

Remember, 41 isn’t that old. But if you see me in a nightclub at 2am, you have permission to shoot me.