I set a 10 miles-a-day target in 2011 but was fat, unfit and lazy. I hardly did any riding except for my forum rides so I only managed 1,789 miles, 49% of the target.
Same target in 2012, but I was still struggling with my weight and lack of motivation. I was doing a bit better but would never have made my target. It became completely irrelevant anyway when my pulmonary artery ended up like a black pudding with just a drinking straw's worth of circulation left down the middle of the clots. 9 days in hospital and then a very slow recovery kept me off the bike for the rest of the year. Only 1,117 miles ridden, 31% of my target.
My target for 2013 was just to live and recover well enough to get back on my bike. I didn't really set a mileage figure. I finally achieved my goal on April 20th after 8 months off the bike - yay - this was the beginning of my new cycling life! I was enjoying being back on my bike and built up to doing 25 hilly miles. The consultant was pleased with my progress and I came off my meds. 3 months later, I ended up back in hospital. No black pudding artery second time round. This time the scan showed multiple distributed clots in both lungs. The doctor said it was as if somebody had blasted my lungs with a shotgun. It did stop me riding for a few weeks, but I did not want to let my improved fitness slip away too much. I did what I could, but did not bother logging the miles.
That was a long-winded introduction to me answering the original question! I set my 3,650 mile target again this year and have used it to motivate me to get the miles in, even when I didn't feel great, or the weather was iffy. I have had a few more health wobbles but am generally doing well. I have managed to get 134 miles ahead of my target so far and have less than 300 miles to go. I am bound to do less cycling in December so I should end the year having done just over my target. Target to date 3,220 miles but I have actually ridden 3,354 miles, 92% and counting. I should get a few more in today. Oh, and these are not flat miles - they are hilly Yorks/Lancs miles. I usually do at least 1,500 ft of climbing per ride and have done several this year with over 8,000 ft! I think you could say that I am pleased with my progress!
All being well, next year I will set a 4,000 mile target, or about 11 miles a day. The year after that will be my 60th, so it would be great to set a 6,000 mile target (60 * 100), but let's see how my health and fitness do in 2015 first, eh?
