2010 Running Recap and 2011 Running Resolutions

So... it's officially 2011.

I'm sitting here with my first cup of coffee in the New Year.  And I'm looking outside at the rain... which is kinda depressing since it was 60 degrees yesterday.  I'm hoping to get my first run of the New Year in today...

But I'm also thinking about the past year running-wise.  I've got a lot to be thankful for.

2010 Recap:
Lots of great things happened running-wise last year in my first full year of running.

• I ran a total of 575 miles for the year!!!  That's an average of over 1 and a half miles a day, even on days off, over the course of the year.  Pretty good!  (Below is a picture of my running output for 6 months from RunKeeper.)
• I ran my first 1/2 marathon!!! Akron was awesome. (2 hours 6 minutes 40 seconds)
• I ran a handful of 5k's... Zaney Reindeer, Fireman's Festival and Susan G. Komen.
• I set personal records in all of my 5k's... most notably the recent in the Zaney YMCA Reindeer run at a 24 minute 27 seconds.  
• My wife started running.  (She couldn't resist after I got started!)  The picture above is Jackie and I finishing out the year running!

All in all, it was a good year of running.  I have settled into a little online community of runners in the Runchat group.  We meet online on the 2nd and 4th Sundays at 8 pm on Twitter and chat about running.  It's a fun little community that I get to be a part of.

On the downside, my running didn't end as consistent as I would have liked.  The weather has reeked havoc on my running... we've had some serious coldness here already and rain always keeps me inside.  Additionally, I've been hitting the holiday treats pretty hard.  (Which has not been good for my diet or weight.)

But... 2011 is right around the corner!!!

2011 Running Resolutions:
As the new year is getting started, here's what I'm shooting for this year running-wise:

• My mileage goal is 750 for the year.  Modest goal considering what is below.  That's a little more than 2 miles a day or 14.4 miles a week!  You can follow me on RunKeeper where I keep track of my running.
• I'm signed up for the Flying Pig 1/2 Marathon in Cincinnati in May (yesterday actually).  (Yes that is really the name... and no I'm not making it up!) I'm shooting to break the 2 hour mark.  Additionally, Jackie is running with me!!! Should be fun!  I'm going to hit the training a little harder the second time around in hopes of getting a faster time.
• I'm planning to run my first full marathon (26.2 miles)... the Air Force Marathon at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio.  My running "bucket list" includes all the military marathons so I thought I'd go ahead and knock one off early. 
• Drop 15-20 pounds... get the weight down to about 220.  My weight is hanging right in the 237-245 range... which is not bad.  But I would be much faster if I could just drop another 15-20 pounds.  So, the diet tightening begins today... 
• Finally... I would like to set new Personal Records in the 5k (sub 24 minutes) and 10k (sub 50 minutes).  On top of a PR in the half, that will give me a fresh set of PR's in the 5k, 10k, 1/2 marathon and full!  

So...
That's where I've been this year.  And that's where I'm heading.  If you're a runner, feel free to join in the conversation.  Post a couple of your goals below.  I love to see what others are shooting for!

Happy Running 2011!
Jim


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End of 2009... Beginning of 2010...

It's hard to imagine that another year is almost at a conclusion. It seems to be that every year gets a bit faster. As a kid, it always took fffffooorrreevvveeerrr for Christmas and the holidays to get here. Now, it seems like it's here before you know it.

But as 2010 is set to arrive tonight (and for once, we'll be in eastern timezone as we're still in PA... which is odd since usually we're in North Aurora), I'm thinking about how 2010 should be different than 2009.

A couple of my New Years goals are similar to last year...

• Read pages more than I spend watching TV.
• Continue to lose weight... I've already lost 30 pounds and by October 17, I want to lose another 50 pounds.
• Read a portion of the Bible everyday.
• Run a 10K, half-marathon and maybe a full 26.2 mile marathon
  

These are several goals that I'm already in some way working on. As to whether or not I'll add new goals, I haven't decided yet... these are still a pretty hefty load.

But as 2010 arrives, I'm praying that I am open to following God's leading. Who knows, aside from God, what is coming in 2010. But I'm praying that I have the wisdom and faith to follow God in whatever He sets out before me. God is in front of me and behind me... "Then the angel of God, who had been traveling in front of Israel's army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from in front and stood behind them... Exodus 14:19"

2010... I welcome you. And all that God is going to do through you.

Jim