In only my sixth full year of running (for the sake of running), 2009 has easily been my biggest, most successful and most satisfying. Prior to this year, I had only once experienced the satisfaction of being the first to cross the finish line of a race (Heart Center of the Rockies 10k, '08). This year alone I won a total of seven races, easily beating any and all expectations I had going into the year, so I think it would be fair to label 2009 as something of a break-out year for myself (at the tender age of 34/35). A full break down of my finishing positions in the 23 races (416 miles) I ran go as follows:
1st: 7
2nd: 5
3rd: 2
4th: 4
Other: 5
Much of my competitive success this year has come from running in smaller fields against local runners, but even admitting that, I'll give myself some credit for being consistent across a broad range of distances, while also maintaining a consistently decent level of fitness throughout the year - meaning that when fields were weak I could capitalize.
I am well aware of where I stand in the grand scheme of things on the running hierarchy (especially on roads, where there is no hiding from the black and white of finishing times), but being able to race at the head of a field, no matter its size or talent, has added a new level of fun to the process for me.
Some runners compete almost exclusively against the clock, and that is fine, but truth be told I much prefer the heat of battle than I do the satisfaction of a new PR. With that in mind, I look forward to continuing a few rivalries that have developed this year and last, while also stirring up a few more. In addition, I am anxious to run a few races again in 2010 that I felt went sub-optimally for me in '09, the most notable of which is the race on Manitou's Big Hill - this time up and down.
With regards to times, I set a bunch of new personal records this year, some by hefty margins - suggesting that I am still on the steep section of the improvement curve (for now) - although I suspect the curve will begin to level off in 2010, but I do hope that I have a couple more years of continued improvement before age begins the slowing process regardless of the effort I put into training. Here are the personal records I achieved this year:
5k: 17:19 (split for the 10k at Harrietsham in December. I consider this to be at least 40 seconds soft).
4 mile: 22:00 (Thanksgiving Day Run).
10k: 34:48 (Harrietsham 10k in December. A reasonably solid PR, although it was run on the back end of back-to-back 100-mile weeks).
Marathon: 2:43:35 (Dublin).
50 mile: 7:03 (Collegiate Peaks).
** I didn't win a single one of the races I PR'd at.
My half marathon PR was set three of four years ago in the 1:23 range, so that is a target for 2010, as is my 5k PR which I hope to bring down to 16:30 or lower in the first half of 2010. I would also like to find a fast 50 miler to run (maybe AR50) to set a PR there. Other than that, my races were largely at altitude and on mountainous singletrack courses, where the only real measure is previous course-and-distance times. Those races that I did run for a second time this year were all considerably faster than previous efforts.
At times this year, I have felt a bit short changed at getting into the sport so far advanced into my prime competitive years, but then I think back to the fun I had playing rugby and other team sports as a kid, and I realize that I probably wouldn't change a thing - other than the hatred I had for running as a training tool, and a few years in my middle 20s where I achieved little to speak of with regards to health and fitness. I also try to remind myslef as frequently as possible to quit whining and understand how fortunate I am to even have the freedom, health and desire to get out and do what I do on a daily basis.
I plan to train hard in 2010 to continue to make the most of the time I do have left to run to my body's full potential. As such I have set some pretty lofty goals for 2010, which I won't go into here, but suffice to say that Bandera is one of a few stepping stones towards the goals I have set.
Thanks to all who have offered advice, encouragement (here or elsewhere), company on the trail, inspiration and laughs over the course of the year. Running is a solo endeavor, but I find it to be a whole lot more fun when shared with good friends - old and new alike.
See you on the trail ....
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- Happy New Year Everybody
- Kakapo Artificial Insemination a 2009 Success
- Gott nytt år!
- It's the last day
- Art Trap
- Spiral Icon
- Inside Bubble Bobble
- Varför börja lagom när man kan börja med sällskap?
- Racing Year in Review
- Halsrapport
- Manhattan Paleolimnology
- En hals som förstör
- Kontraster
- Rousseau and Echolocation
- Harrietsham 10k
- Week Ending Dec. 27
- Re-shaping
- Sluggish and meandering
- Saltwood Boxing Day Run
- Playlist - 26th December 2009
- Snöigt
- Mystery of Amazon Manatee Migration Solved
- In Memoriam
- The Shining movie poster
- Min julafton
- Music for Landscapes
- God jul!
- Julen är här
- Merry Christmas and have a cup of Civet Poo!
- Jeez Louise and Thomas Sabo
- På plats i värmlandsskogen
- East Kent Sea and Countryside
- Merry voXelMas!
- Banana flavoured Cinnamon Chips Mmmm!
- Across the ocean
- Julledig!
- Stephen Fry on Operation Rhino
- The Ducks gave Cate the cold shoulder
- Leviathan: An Interview with Richard Mosse
- Geospatial Holograms
- En vit jul?
- Muscatatuck
- The Burj Dubai as Storm Machine
- Week Ending Dec 20
- Både bra och dåligt
- Crash State
- Dance and show us your miracles!
- Playlist - 19th December 2009
- Med solen i ögonen
- On Bombs and Preservation
- VIERNES
- A User's Guide to New York City pt. 2: Street Vend...
- A User's Guide to New York City pt. 1: Tenants' Ri...
- And the winners are!!!!
- Don't skip in Landstrasser-Hauptstrasse
- Technabob logo redesign
- Overweight
- Recent Site Change
- A PHOTO STORY BY REED + RADER
- An Ocea of calm
- Merry Christmas !
- THE FIRST DAYS OF SPRING - A FILM BY NOAH AND THE ...
- China, Iran, Myanmar, Australia
- CANDIE - POSITIVE MAGAZINE
- PHOTOGRAPHY OF GALA COLLETTE
- WASHED OUT - BELONG VIDEO
- PHOTOGRAPHY OF SANDY KIM
- Best New Blogs of 2009
- Love in the Time of Home Quarantine
- Pica-sso
- Napoleon did not have this much trouble!
- They might be Golden Crowned Hornswoggles
- Cracking the Planet
- Pirate Radio Speleology
- And a little child shall lead them (and my giveaway!)
- Christmas Classic 4 Miler
- Week Ending Dec 13
- Playlist - 12th December 2009 - Funkology
- HOT CHIP - ONE LIFE STAND
- ART OF COREY SMITH
- Editorial cartoons
- We would like to talk to you about the bible
- Northern White Rhinos Returning to Africa?
- Blog catchup time
- HEALTH LIVE VIDEOS AND INTERVIEW
- It's time to Butt Out
- Ninja christmas
- MEMORYHOUSE - TO THE LIGHTHOUSE
- CANDIE - STIMULUS RESPOND "SKIN"
- Eat the Earth
- PORTISHEAD - CHASE THE TEAR
- When a door closes
- TIMES NEW VIKING - BORN AGAIN REVISITED
- Get the Rat Hat ready
- Blackout
- Don't stand during the Messiah
- Make Mine a Minaret
- How To: Seed Grenade
- Welcome to the Sultans Suite
- Agenda
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