This is a summary of my Garmin Connect data from 2012.  It would have been nice to do a roll-up like this at the end of 2012 and then create a coherent set of goals or plans for 2013 . . . but that’s not really how I do it.

As you can see from the above tables, the first half of 2012 (H1) was pretty slow for fitness activities while the second half (H2) was pretty awesome.  I’d have to go back and look through my blog posts to be sure but I’m willing to bet that the change happened around the time that I stopped “asking myself if I was going to workout that day” and just started “telling myself that I’m working out everyday” and then figuring out how to make it happen.

That success continued (with a few slumps and lags) into the first half of 2013:

 

You can see the effect of both the  carry-over momentum from a strong H2 2012 and also of those “slumps and lags”.  H1 2013 was significantly better than H1 2012, but not as good as H2 2012.

I actually sat down and pulled all this data back at the end of June and was going to use it to create a number of workouts/time/distance goal for the second half of 2013.  The intention was to get H2 2013 back up to the frequency and intensity of H2 2012.  But I’ve taken so long to get around to writing this (with some legitimate justification and with even more sheer laziness) that I’m now deep into H2 2013.

And frankly, without looking at the data, it hasn’t been good.  Plus my computer is still in transit from Thailand and I’m not smart enough to figure out how to upload my Garmin data from my watch to my Connect account on my girlfriend’s computer without uploading it to her account.  So all my workout info is trapped on my watch for now.  Therefore, my plan is as follows.

I am going to wait until the end of September.  By then I should have my computer here and be able to upload my data.  I’ll collect my Q3 information for 2013 and see how badly I’ve fallen off the pace compared to the same time last year.  Then I’ll make a plan and some goals (frequency/distance/etc.) for Q4.

Another thing to consider is that I have a March 2014 . . . event . . . on my horizon and if I start training for that event it will constrain my previously freewheeling workout “program” since I’ll have to prepare for a particular event which will require specific things and prohibit others (due to time constraints, recovery requirements, injury concerns, etc.).  So we’ll have to see how that works out.

In the meantime my goal is to quit making excuses (see previous gym rant) and get my butt back into gear to workout consistently.  I have to keep reminding myself of the fundamental truths (two of several anyway): something – anything! – is better than nothing and sweating every day is essential to continued good mental health.