New Year

I haven't had too much time to blog with the holidays and being sick, but I feel like I am starting the new year in a good position to improve my running.  Last year was great for me, mainly due to the fantastic people I run and train with.  I have always enjoyed the variety of runners who meet on Sundays, and this year our group grew a bit and became a little more consistent.  One of my favorite aspects of running is the social camaraderie.  Everyone runs by themselves for some, if not most of the time. But the opportunity to meet up, socialize and share the experience is something most other sports don't lend themselves to.  It's tough to cary on a conversation on a bike, and even harder while swimming.  Plus, there are few workouts which can max you out so quickly.
The addition of the Wednesday Workout has, without a doubt, been the biggest boon to my performance and overall running enjoyment.  It was just barely a year ago that I got up the courage to join these guys, and it's been a great ride ever since.  There is always a bit of apprehension joining a group, especially one where you are certain to be the slowest, and by quite a bit.  But there has usually been someone for me to try to keep up with on the workout, and the warmup and cool downs are always fun, and challenging.  Plus it is great to see such fantastic athletes go thru their own similar cycles of ups and downs.  Everyone is on their own path, but if you can tag along with others for part of the way, it is more enjoyable and you can go further than you ever thought you could by yourself. 
As far as the races this year, Boston was certainly the high point.  I had a PR by over 8 minutes, 3:17:53.  Mount Washington was great, but I didn't do as well as I had hoped.  There is no way to know what to expect with that one, but I look forward to doing it again.  Pisgah, Elijah's Race, The Greyhound Race, 4 on the Fourth, The Cranberry Run, Bridge of Flowers.  I had pretty good times at most of these, but I certainly look to improve on them this year.
Probably my favorite thing that happened this year, running wise, is how a few people I know have been inspired to take up running, in part, because of me.  Running can be a daunting task to those who don't do this.  But it is great to see someone give it a try, stick with it for a while, and realize, hey, I can do this.  I still want to train hard and improve my running, but getting more people involved thru the Sunday Run and now the even more casual Friday Afternoon Running Team is something that I think will continue to grow, and I enjoy that immensely.  


My only real goals for the year are 3:10 at Boston, a low 19 minute 5k, and under 2 hours at Pisgah. I feel pretty good about my chances.


Here are the last two week's running logs.


12/20 -12/26
MON. : 3.5 mi & 2 x Nautilus workout
TUES. : 7.5 mi, 5 @ 7:02 (35:10)

WED. : 9 mi, 4 x 800 2:55/2:57/2:58/2:59
THU. : 

FRI. : 5 mi FART
SAT. : 
SUN. : 15 mi @ 7:48 (1:57:05)

TOTAL : 40 mi

12/27-1/2
MON. : 5 mi am, shoveling,

3 mi pm & Nautilus
TUES. : 4 mi

WED. : Sick.
THU. : Better, but still sick.

FRI. : 5 mi FART
SAT. : 10 mi, w/45 min 10k as tempo
SUN. : 13 mi @ 7:30 (1:37:36)

TOTAL: 40 mi

2011 TOTAL MILES : 23