What was your surprise accomplishment in 2019?!

lorrpb

Which fitness accomplishment in 2019 surprised you a little bit, or a lot?

For me it was cycling 1060 miles. Last Jan I had a grand total of 85 miles biking experience. I had many opportunities to ride this summer and loved every minute. Never expected to get over 1,000 mi this year! Looking forward to what next year holds

rheddmobile

My husband and I unexpectedly ran an ultra marathon! At the last minute my husband and I entered the Tour d’Esprit 24 hour race, which is a time based race during which you run as many circuits of a 1 mile course, both roads and trails, as possible. We had not been training for anything more than 10k, and had never previously run longer than a half marathon. We figured we would do at least 10k, since a glance at previous years’ results showed that the majority of people in our age group did 10k, attend the spaghetti dinner at the race site, and then see what we had left in the tank.

We ended up doing 11 miles before dinnertime. A half is 13.1 miles so it seemed obvious we should do at least a half, since it was only a couple more miles. Then we said, hey, if we just do that again we will have run a marathon! So we did 27 miles that night. And then we got a little sleep and said, 27 miles is technically an ultra since it’s longer than a marathon but it’s kind of weency for an ultra, why not do a few more miles and call it 50k? So we did a few more miles and ended up running our first 50k.

It’s not something I planned to do, and I doubt I will do it regularly, but we enjoyed running all through the night in the wilderness, passing other runners quietly struggling in the darkness, checking in with the guys at the timing booth each circuit. A 24 hour race is very different from a 5k!

koalathebear

My accomplishments are much tinier.

I lost 32kg and got to goal weight - but my surprise accomplishments were:
1. from only being able to plank for 20 seconds, I could plank for 2 minutes
2. I could walk up a hill/stairs without feeling like I was going to die

RunsWithBees

I surpassed my yearly running mileage goal by a hundred miles, for a grand total of 700 miles! I attribute this to the fact that I had a UAE procedure to treat multiple fibroids and I’m no longer borderline anemic from them for the first time in years! I feel like my endurance has improved immensely. Also it’s now been about 6 years since I started running and I feel like I’ve really dialed in my form... didn’t even have any tendinitis so it’s been a fantastic running year for me, I’ve had so much fun! Happy New Year to all!

RunsWithBees

koalathebear wrote: »

My accomplishments are much tinier.

I lost 32kg and got to goal weight - but my surprise accomplishments were:
1. from only being able to plank for 20 seconds, I could plank for 2 minutes
2. I could walk up a hill/stairs without feeling like I was going to die

That is awesome! I can completely understand your second point because that was literally my relationship with stairs/hills when I began my weightloss journey about 7 years ago. Congrats!

RunsWithBees

rheddmobile wrote: »

My husband and I unexpectedly ran an ultra marathon! At the last minute my husband and I entered the Tour d’Esprit 24 hour race, which is a time based race during which you run as many circuits of a 1 mile course, both roads and trails, as possible. We had not been training for anything more than 10k, and had never previously run longer than a half marathon. We figured we would do at least 10k, since a glance at previous years’ results showed that the majority of people in our age group did 10k, attend the spaghetti dinner at the race site, and then see what we had left in the tank.

We ended up doing 11 miles before dinnertime. A half is 13.1 miles so it seemed obvious we should do at least a half, since it was only a couple more miles. Then we said, hey, if we just do that again we will have run a marathon! So we did 27 miles that night. And then we got a little sleep and said, 27 miles is technically an ultra since it’s longer than a marathon but it’s kind of weency for an ultra, why not do a few more miles and call it 50k? So we did a few more miles and ended up running our first 50k.

It’s not something I planned to do, and I doubt I will do it regularly, but we enjoyed running all through the night in the wilderness, passing other runners quietly struggling in the darkness, checking in with the guys at the timing booth each circuit. A 24 hour race is very different from a 5k!

From one runner to another... WOW!

RunsWithBees

lorrpb wrote: »

Which fitness accomplishment in 2019 surprised you a little bit, or a lot?

For me it was cycling 1060 miles. Last Jan I had a grand total of 85 miles biking experience. I had many opportunities to ride this summer and loved every minute. Never expected to get over 1,000 mi this year! Looking forward to what next year holds

You are absolutely radiant in that pic! Congrats!

okc0mputr

In January 2019, I weighed 231 pounds. I quit smoking, eating fast food, drinking coke, and all things containing corn syrup, and went on a low calorie vegetarian diet. In march I bought a spin bike and began using it every day. By june I had dropped 40 pounds, and now in december I'm weighing in at 160. Talk about surprise accomplishments, I'm still wondering whats going on!

aokoye

It was a big year for me, not so much in terms of weight loss (which is fine - though I did go down at least one size) but rather in fitness. I competed in a sport for the first time since I was in 8th or 9th grade, I got second place in men's novice 4+ boat class at NW regionals (out of 3, but we beat the third place boat by multiple seconds), I learned how to scull, I competed in multiple sculling races, and I managed to figure out how to force myself to do strength training.

AliNouveau

I had surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff and after just a couple of months I have recovered more than some ever do from the surgery. So I guess getting the shoulder repaired and a speedy, determined recovery is my biggest accomplishment

chris89topher

Two of my biggest accomplishments were continued daily exercise, even when I REALLY didn't want to. And becoming vegetarian. That is something I have ALWAYS wanted to try for as long as I can remember. Finally attempted going veggie at the beginning of 2019 and I LOVE IT. It's a lot of fun trying all kinds of different foods and combinations of foods. I've tried so many things I've never eaten before. For example, Jicama, rutabagas and acorn squash to name just a few. Where have they been all my life?? Yum!

Lolinloggen

I had planned the Tongariro Alpine Crossing in NZ in 2019 and we did it. My surprise was the ease I did it with I am not a good climber and the steepness and height difference of this one-day hike is quite dramatic Still my husband and I did it in a very decent 6.5 hours.

The real surprise was my walk fro my husband's work to our home. I took the scenic coastal and parks route as much as I could. Took me 8 hours or so and was 36.4km a well as 56K steps completing all my Garmin steps related badges

nighthawk584

Went from Obese Class II BMI to Normal Weight BMI from April 6th to Dec 31st.

Machka9

Probably the half marathon I ran last January!!

I'm a cyclist, especially a long distance cyclists ... I've dabbled in running now and then, but didn't really expect to ever actually run anything as long as a half marathon!

andreab861

Wow, these are some motivating accomplishments - congrats to all! I struggled with my weight all year, but I did commit to walking 200 miles each month, and ended the year with just over 2,500 miles.

sijomial

Both my Century rides in 2019 were surprise accomplishments in different ways.

First one in July was supposed to be an organised Audax ride of just under 90 miles as preparation for my planned big August one where I was raising money for charity. Coming back from a major lumbar disc prolapse, a lot of family commitments and subsequently feeling under-trained I need to confirm to myself I could get the distance.
When the route came though it had grown to over 90 miles and on the day a road closure and reroute brought the distance up again. And then only 14 miles in I had a huge and very fast crash. Bike was a bit of a mess but I could make it rideable - I was a lot of a mess but could ride on with a torn medial knee ligament, displaced clavicle, mashed hand and fingers plus a lot of abrasions. As the day was ruined I thought I should salvage something from it.
A navigation error brought the distance up to 98 miles so I went past the finish and back again to click off the 100 miles and finish my hardest ever ride on a small high.

My physio had cleared me to ride in the August one "as long as I was sensible and didn't crash". My knee was very unstable as it was already missing a couple of important bits before I badly tore the MCL and although riding shouldn't damage it further a crash could be serious. Sensible plan was to take it steady until all the major climbs were done by 60 miles and then raise the pace only if I felt OK.
A few minutes before the start I had a "sensible and senile are far too similar, sod it - don't finish and wonder how you could have done it if you had given it everything" moment. Decided to flip my plan and push hard from the start and slow down if I had to.
Ticked off all three goals of a Century PB, 20 miles in an hour (managed 40 in 2hrs) and raised well over £1000 for a cancer charity in memory of my FIL & BIL.

Lobsterboxtops

November 2018 I started rowing on my concept 2. In 2019, I finished several challenges, rowed all available days (I travel for work and pleasure) except for 13 days. And I made it to 1million meters! Basically everything was a surprise accomplishment as far as rowing goes.

moonangel12

Last New Years I was recovering from a total hysterectomy and single oophorectomy... mentally, emotionally, and physically I was a mess! Definitely struggled with depression through all of winter (SAD plus the emotional mess from all the hormone fluctuations and inability to get on with normal life).

Started to get back into running, but had gained enough weight that it was pretty hard on my joints. By the end of our cross country vacation in August I was up 15 lbs from before surgery. Day to day I just felt awful.

One day I said “no more!” Enjoyed a last hoorah meal out, and the next morning started MFP.

15 lbs down, physically able to do more than I have been able to do in years (fibro and chronic fatigue). I fully ran more than one 5k and am currently training for my first Sprint Tri this spring! 6 months ago I felt “done” - at 35 I didn’t know if I was going to ever be able to do much outside of day to day functioning. My mom has commented on how much better I sound emotionally as well. A couple hiccups where depressions tries to show it’s ugly self but it is quickly snuffed out!

ETA: oh! And yesterday I did 90 minutes at the trampoline park with the family! Rock wall, flips, jumps, dodgeball, basketball dunks - it was a blast! My husband said he feels like he has his wife back He never made me feel bad on my hard days/weeks/months, but inside he didn’t know if life would ever be the same

Heidijens123

Mine is the fact that I became a water aerobics instructor! And not only that I've been told by several people I'm the best one at the pool and my classes are always fuller than anybody elses. I've also been asked by the gym to get certified and teach High Fit. I'm still debating that one as I have random knee pain. Sometimes its fine other times it randomly hurts.

springlering62

I can run 5k at a time. Running wasn't even on my radar at the beginning of the year. I hadn't run in 40+ years, and even then was under duress in PE class. Once I started running, my goal was to run, with my daughter, the 5k path around the lake where she lives. We did that a week or two ago.

My 2019 goal was to get an arm balance in yoga. I've gotten several variations, and am working on headstand in the middle of the room. Lost confidence after getting one up and then taking a noisy and embarassing fall in the middle of a crowded class. However, getting one up at all was a surprise accomplishment in and of itself.

So 2020 goal is a headstand in the middle of the room. I can easily balance on my elbows, it's just getting the dad gum feet up in the air!

H_Ock12

I signed up for a marathon and (surprise!) got preggers before the run...so I ran my second marathon 14 weeks pregnant.

rachelr1116

I started running! I started C25K in July and kind of fizzled out by September because I bought a house but after moving I kept running intervals. I never managed to run more than 5 minutes without a walk break but I've never liked running so even doing 5 minutes at a time is a big thing for me. In December I started C25K over again with a goal of actually finishing it.

mom23mangos

I actually completed C25K. I hated running, but I pushed through and it wasn't that bad. I still don't like running, but at least I know I can do it. I did however find a love of swimming and was able to push past panic attacks with my face in the water in order to learn how to swim laps.

quiksylver296

Qualifying for and competing in USAPL (powerlifting) Nationals.

NorthCascades

Tied for #68, Little Annapurna.

https://www.summitpost.org/washington-top-100/171584

helen_goldthorpe

I started riding grass track events and became regional champion. Admittedly I was the only entrant in my category, but you can only beat who turns up to be fair, it’s a fairly daunting type of racing to get into if you didn’t start as a kid (no brakes!) so giving it a go is an achievement in itself.

Less of a surprise was a 100 mile TT as it was my target for the season, but pleased to get under 5 hours and finish 12th in a national championship.

MikePfirrman

Just keeping up with cardio through a 9-month rehab from a thoracic disc injury. Wasn't able to do my exercise of choice (indoor rowing) but kept up on exercise by working out on an Assault Bike and didn't take off but a few weeks all year. Proud of my resilience and tenacity, though performance took a huge hit this year, at least weight didn't. Back is nearly normal now, whatever that is in your mid to late 50s.

lightenup2016

I was diagnosed with an arrhythmia type heart condition (Long QT syndrome) in April 2019, and put on a beta blocker for life. My doctor warned me to take caution while running, and to limit it to a certain speed and distance. The beta blocker greatly affected my ability to run comfortably (it prevents your heart rate from going as high as usual), and I was pretty bummed about it for several months. I felt like if I lost some of the weight I had gained in the past 1-1.5 years, maybe I would feel better running. So in September I made some sustainable changes to my diet, and I’ve lost almost 20 lbs. Yes, running feels much better, even on the beta blocker! In November, halfway through the weight loss, I did a much-anticipated 10K with family (with my doctor’s approval as long as I didn’t overdo it), and smashed my previous years’ times.

I do wonder sometimes how well I could be running at this point if I hadn’t been diagnosed, but I’m also thankful to still be running, and in fact I think the diagnosis has helped motivate me to lose weight and stay active.

PennyP312

I got 130lbs on my bench.
A well respected strongman at my gym convinced me to test my strength one day and I was shocked I pushed it once!
Going to get the big plates this year 💪🏻💪🏻

Duck_Puddle

I had all kinds of goals for 2019. I was going to focus on speed early in the year for a March race, train like a madwoman for a hilly half at elevation in the fall and stop with the crazy schedule of long races - just have some fun and enjoy experiences. Aka do epic *kitten*.

LOL.

I got manflu/plague early in the year, and absolutely smashed my leg in a trail race in June (some parts are still numb today). Training plans? LOL. Nearly nonexistent until about September.

I ran the 2 mile march race anyway. In a green tutu, leprechaun cat leggings and a Viking helmet. Finished 10 seconds off my PR.

I set off for the half at the end of September on 4-ish weeks of training. I live at sea level. The race was hilly and at elevation (5-6k ft). I did not really expect to finish. It was my second fastest half.

I then tromped around the Canadian Rockies for a week before flying out to Moab to do another half (15 days after the other). Then tromped around Moab for a week.

Bottom line from all this-I ran some of my fastest races ever on almost no training. Certainly nothing done to maximize performance in either. I ran one in costume. I ran 2 half’s in 2 weeks on almost no training. To say those results were unexpected would be a massive understatement. Evidently-my PR’s are very soft.

Im sometimes surprised by how well I do in a race. But never like this.

So this year, assuming no illness/injury (LOL), I’ve amended my “do epic *kitten*” goal to include “train for a race and see what I can actually do”

arussell134

I ran a half marathon PR of 1:53.54... at age 40! I also ended up running 1,360 miles in 2019. I didn’t set a mileage goal or do any longer races besides the one half marathon... I just run a lot and run most days... I guess it added up!