2025 “By The Numbers”

Last year, my most‑read post was my “By the Numbers” breakdown comparing my stats across three activities—sporting clays, gym workouts, and biking—for 2023 and 2024. Gary Larson, the cartoon genius behind The Far Side, once noted that people are most interested in what other people do. He was right. Numbers tell stories, and we relate to them because they reflect real choices, habits, and priorities.

At the end of that 2024 post, I laid out a few goals for 2025. Time to see how I did.

1) Sporting Clays

I predicted a decline in registered shoots while keeping my social shooting time intact. That’s exactly how the year played out.

• Registered events: 64 → 41
• Registered targets: 5,500 → 3,750
• Recreational targets: 3,653 → 3,542 (essentially unchanged)

I also planned to take more lessons in 2025… and didn’t take a single one. That likely contributed to my stagnant performance in registered shoots—no punches this year. Still, the enjoyment factor stayed high, especially shooting socially and spending more time with guns other than the 12‑gauge tournament setup.

2) Gym Time

My goal was consistency with a bit of evolution—same frequency, more variety. Mission accomplished.

• Gym visits: 169 → 177

Throughout the year, I added targeted work for muscle groups I had previously underemphasized, especially shoulders, hamstrings, and glutes. This paid off in overall balance and strength.

3) Biking

This is where things really took off.

I expected an increase, especially in the colder months when I used to stay indoors. What I didn’t expect was a 97.6% jump in total mileage.

• Total miles: 5,255 → 10,384
• Number of rides: 187 → 250
• Average ride distance: 28.1 miles → 41.5 miles

That’s a massive leap. And yes, I’m proud of it. Crossing the 10,000‑mile mark put me in the top 0.4% of athletes worldwide on Strava.

So What’s the Net Result?

Across all three activities, 2025 was a deeply satisfying year.

• I enjoyed shooting as much as ever, even with fewer registered targets.
• Time with friends on the course was a highlight.
• Gym work and biking combined to produce meaningful improvements in fitness (as I mentioned in a previous post).
• And the biking milestone speaks for itself.

Looking Ahead to 2026

Sporting Clays

I expect to continue the same trend—fewer registered targets, more meaningful experiences. Last year’s trip to Savannah, GA for the state shoot with my wife and friends was a perfect example of the kind of shooting I want more of. I’m aiming for quality, not quantity, and for friends helping friends improve while having fun.

Gym

My mission is simple: continue fighting sarcopenia, the age‑related loss of muscle mass. I have a DXA scan scheduled for August to check my progress. Consistency and smart programming remain the plan.

Biking

While biking will stay central to my fitness, I’m intentionally reducing the time commitment. Logging 10,384 miles required 645 hours—a huge investment. For 2026, I’m targeting around 6,000 miles (roughly 500 per month), which should maintain my cardiovascular fitness without consuming quite so much time.

And for anyone curious:
10,384 miles ÷ 645 hours = 16.1 mph
Not bad for the solo riding I prefer.

If you’re someone who likes to measure your progress the way I do, consider taking a few minutes to outline your own numbers from last year. It’s amazing what you learn when you put the data in front of you.