Year in Review

Shawn asked me if I was going to write a year wrap up – and it sounded like a good idea. So here we are…

I started the year last year with a goal of completing a marathon. Derry 16 miler, Hyannis and Eastern States races were all build ups for completing this goal. Each was fun and challenging in their own way. Derry I knew I was under prepared for and also knew I’d be running with some very good runners (as it is a prep race for people running Boston). It taught me that all hills in New England aren’t built the same. The hills of Derry were nothing like anything I had seen (to that point) in any other run. Even though I’ll be skipping Derry this year I cannot wait to get back to it.

Hyannis was a great race as a large group of us ran it. Laura, Justin and I ran the half marathon – Shawn and Drew the 10k. Just a fun day of running and hanging out (and trying to get off the cape to get back to the cars in Seekonk).

When Eastern States came around I had been sick for a few days and seemed to peak on race day. If it hadn’t been for dragging Justin into this race and having to travel – I would have skipped. But me being not the brightest apple on the tree – I ran. Race day I know I had a fever (not sure how high) and the race day weather wasn't going to help – extremely cold, windy and rainy. This was the first race I contemplated bailing out on. Many thanks to Justin for hanging around at the finish line for me.

And then the Cox Marathon – what can I say. A life changing experience. It was the most fun (and pain) I’ve had running ever. I never thought when I started running that I could run 26.2 and do it with a smile. I wish all runs, regardless the distance, could be like this.

The high of finishing the marathon spilled over into the Barrington 5k, where I was able to PR with a 21:59. Another great day of running with great people – thanks again to John Stroker from NY who I ran with most of the race for yelling at me to keep going and get under 22 when I was about to give up.

The 100on100 relay was another great experience – met great runners, ran on a team and ran REAL hills/mountains in Vermont. Running with my sister too was fun as we don't get many opportunities to run together – and she was the person who got me into running. I did learn that running right after this relay was a bad idea – and having a marathon planned, even 2 months after, was not a smart plan. This race took a lot out of me and I did not recover properly.

This leads me to my biggest disappointment in running – the DNF at the Cape Cod marathon. I don't want to rehash what happened – but I never want to feel the way I did that day ever again – physically, mentally and emotionally. Although there was much to be miserable about – it was a learning experience – and I hope to get back out to tackle 26.2 sometime in 2011. And I hope Drew gets a chance to tackle 26.2 again.

The last two races of the year I took the approach of enjoying myself and taking it easy. Two 5ks with friends and family were the perfect way to end the year of racing.

I’ve had some great training runs and some bad. The worse one that sticks out were the day I went out with Justin in Roger Williams Park – got a mile in and had to quit – in freezing cold weather and I had to do the walk of shame (the wrong way) back to the car. But I definitely had more good to great training runs then bad ones….and more good to great race than bad ones.

All in all a very good year of running – to think August 2007 I couldn't run a mile – and this past year I finished a marathon. My plan for 2010 is to run a lot shorter distance races and work on speed. I may try to find a half marathon in late spring or during the fall to compete in and to try and stay as local as possible for races to a) support the local community and their causes and b) save myself some money.

I want to thank Justin, Drew, Anthony, Shawn, Tim, and John for running with me at work and always pushing me. I will miss training with you guys. Hope to come back to RI from time to time to get some long runs in on the weekends. And of course my wife and son– I put in a lot of miles this past year and without their understaniding I would never have been able to put in the time on the weekends.

1491.89 miles for the year!! – only 8.11 miles short of 1500 – maybe I can sneak out for a few more miles in the next hour and half. See you all in 2010!