I usually do not make New Year’s resolutions, but I am setting a goal for next year. In 2021 I will run 2,021 miles.

This year was a strange running year for me. I started running a lot in my health club, but with it closing due to the pandemic, I was forced to start my street running earlier than usual. Heading into May, I already was up to nine miles on my long weekly runs, with shorter ones the other days.

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Then I had an emergency removal of my gallbladder and was out of running action for a month. With very little exercise in general, I basically started over in June. I quickly regained form and was up to about 70 miles a week until the Chicago temperatures dropped.

As I sat lethargically on my couch in early December, I decided the cold wasn’t going to stop me. The cold, snow and ice make running difficult and unpleasant, but I will force myself to run unless it gets intolerable outside. Planning to run isn’t enough, though. That’s where my 2,021 goal originated.

Without the goal it would be easy to skip a day because it wouldn’t matter much. Setting a goal of 2,021 miles in 2021 means I need to average about 39 miles a week. Obviously, I will run more in the warmer weather, but I still need to run consistently throughout the winter to reach my goal.

I won’t bore everyone with my weekly progress, but I might occasionally write about a new running area or other interesting developments. One year from now, I will report back on my results and set a new goal for 2022.

— John Wroblewski, online writer