yan zhiyou li year end feelings wishing for new year

As the year-end approaches, reflecting quietly, the past 2016, though with regrets, was also full of fruitful achievements. In 2017, let's ride forward with determination, staying true to our original aspirations, and march ahead with heads held high.

Time flies so fast; in the blink of an eye, one-twelfth of 2017 has already passed. Reflecting on the past year, there were moments of bitterness and joy, efforts and rewards. I started running in September 2014, and 2016 was my third year of running. In pursuit of my dreams, I ran a total of 5455.86 kilometers over the year, with an average pace of 5'30", burning a total of 438,286.1 calories (according to data recorded by Codoon).

Due to financial constraints, I don't participate in many races. In 2016, I participated in four marathons: the Dongying International Marathon, the Beijing Marathon, the Gaoqing Qiancheng Lake National Marathon, and the Taishan International Marathon. These were my second to fifth official races (my first marathon was the 2015 Gaoqing Qiancheng Lake National Marathon, with a time of 3:17).

I also participated in last year's Dongying Marathon, but due to limited ability at the time, I only registered for the half marathon. This year's Dongying Marathon was held in May. Contrary to the usual high temperatures of over 30 degrees Celsius, this year was unusually cool. However, I got too excited in the first 32 kilometers and struggled in the last 10 kilometers, finishing with a time of 3:18, my worst performance so far.

The Beijing Marathon in September was a true pilgrimage for me. After a summer of training, I achieved a time of 3:09, meeting the national second-level athlete standard for men's marathons. This was a testament to my two years of training and a motivation to keep pushing forward. With a new breakthrough and a new starting point, I stood at the Gaoqing Qiancheng Lake again, feeling more confident than before. Although the Taishan Marathon the following week was my main focus, I still finished with a time of 3:05.

A week later, at the foot of Mount Tai, looking at the majestic peaks, I felt like a warrior heading to the battlefield. I had heard about the 'notorious' Taishan Marathon, with its undulating course demanding great leg strength. Having achieved a time of 3:05 the previous week, I was already very satisfied. With a relaxed mindset, the race went smoothly, and I surprisingly finished with a personal best of 3:02, placing 19th in the men's full marathon, ending 2016 on a high note.

At the beginning of the 2017 calendar year, I set my goals: to run 6000 kilometers throughout the year and achieve a marathon time of 2:58. I plan to participate in the Wuxi Marathon, Xuzhou Marathon, Dongying Marathon, Beijing Marathon, Shanghai Marathon, Jinan 12-Hour Ultra Marathon, and other provincial races, while also increasing core training. However, all these plans depend on maintaining good health. If my body can't handle it, I will adjust or change my goals, as we are not professional athletes. Our primary purpose for running is to stay healthy.

With the New Year here, I wish all my fellow runners good health and smooth sailing, and I hope Codoon continues to thrive.

Happy New Year!

Author: @Yan Zhiyou Li   Editor: @Codoon People