2012: The Year In Review

2012: Review Of The Year

6502 miles at an average of 125.03 per week.

What a record-breaking year 2012 turned out to be. Although I didn't topple 1998 as my highest total, I slew a whole set of records in the process. Here they are:

1. Most 100s done in a single year (50). Previous record was 46 set in 1998.
2. Most consecutive 100s done in a single year (50). Previous record was 42 set in 2011.
3. Earliest week in a year to do 100 miles (week 2). Previous record was week 4 (2007 / 09 / 11).
4. Quickest time to get my weekly average to 100 (week 6). Previous record was week 11 in 1998.
5. Shortest time to reach 1000 miles (achieved in week 10).
6. Shortest time to reach 2000 miles (achieved in week 17).
7. Shortest time to reach 3000 miles (achieved in week 25).
8. Shortest time to reach 4000 miles (achieved in week 32).

Other interesting stats:
Best week: 206.4 in week 32 (w/e 12 August).
Peak average: 130.65 in week 37 (w/e 16 September).

It's been a tremendous achievement to keep up the 100s week in, week out, despite the worst summer in my memory. It was also pleasing this summer to be able to post a 200 mile week, something I was surprised to find I'd not managed since August 1999 - excluding the special effort made in 2011 on the Berwick trip of course. There was nice symmetry too that I missed out on 100 miles only in the first and very last week of the year.

I often use cricket references in this blog when talking about centuries, run chases and averages. Comparing 2012 with 1998, it's tempting to say that whereas '98 saw a Kevin Pietersen-esque acceleration halfway through the innings (av. 161.1 in the last 20 weeks of the year) 2012 has been much more an Alastair Cook kind of innings, with a steady, no fuss accumulation leading in the end to a big total. I finished the year 679 miles behind 1998's monster total. That's only 13 miles per week on average.

Here's the updated chart of my annual totals, showing where 2012 proudly takes its place at #2 in the list of achievement:

And so onto 2013. I've set myself the target of 6000 miles again.