For a few years now, I have been following a path of very structured training, and it is only after fully abandoning it in April that I realized how little it served me. Not in the sense that it did not produce results, but more that my personality does not like my athletic pursuits to be treated as “work” and a second job.
I have seen too many people on this path, and while it may have made them stronger, faster athletes, I think it also had the consequence of making them… less. Less fun, less well-rounded, and so focused on results that they lost why they enjoyed being athletic and outside in the first place. Because, honestly, if you are only thinking about workout times, power numbers and zones, and recording every single meal and snack… that is not fun; that is obsession.
So, I spent the second half of 2025 switching back to finding the joy and fun of just being strong and athletic. I have not done a single structured workout since March. I have still been methodical and mindful about how I am exercising, but it is far more flexible and enjoyable than what I was doing previously. Also. Not a single moment on a trainer inside. I cannot express how much I did not enjoy spending 3–5 hours on the trainer last winter most days.
And my FTP has gone up over 20 watts in the past 8 months. I feel stronger. Hills that felt hard last year barely seem to register now. And I still have a deep well of endurance and resiliency. All of this while taking up swimming and running again and working a full-time job.
Here are 2025’s overall stats:
Cycling- 9,653.7 mi
- 513,837 ft
- 570.5 hours => 23.8 days
- Lowest amounts since 2021
- Biked around Olympic Peninsula in 2 days (341 miles)
- Attempted The Kraken, which is essentially the Boulder Octopus with the addition of Ward and SuperJames. 18K of elevation. Alas, just as I was starting Lee Hill, the skies opened up with freezing rain and I had to bail. Next time.
- Gravel bike: New rear derailleur, rebuilt wheel, lots of brake pads; still the same chain and chainring!
- Last run: December 10th 2019
- Started with 2-3 mile walks and worked up
- First run outside: June 14th
- Now up to 6.5 miles at 12 min pace
- 93.2 miles total
- Mostly used for recovery, but also was part of my mental therapy this year.
- 265 miles, 81 hours
- Last swim: July 10, 2019
- Up to about 1.2 miles
- 124,172 yd => 70.6 miles
- 760 hours => 31.7 days (!!)
- Estimated 528,796 Calories burned, 454,500 from cycling alone