What will I do in 2009?

Hmmm... Putting stuff like this out on the web really makes you think.  It will be out in the ether of the internet for years to come.  My grandkids may find it in a digital archive sometime and ask my kids if I got it all done.  I learned from all the coaches I have had over the years that it is better to have a few rules and stick to them than to try to cover every situation with a written rule.  I am going to take that same approach to my goals for 2009.  I have a few goals that I am determined to achieve.  If I reach those, most of the smaller ones I have will be accomplished in the process.  I'm watching David Letterman as I write this, so a 'top 10 goal list' seems appropriate.

So, here is an attempt to list them.  I plan on checking my progress at the end of each quarter so I'll revisit these no matter what the results are.

1. Get my 26.2 sticker.  I have crossed most of the standard distances in races in 2008.  2009 will be the year I get the big one.  I am scheduled to run the Myrtle Beach Marathon on Valentines Day.  I am not setting a time goal for this, just getting the medal will be enough.
   
2. Set a PR in the 5K and 10K distances.  Once the marathon is complete, I hope to recover quickly enough to PR in these two distances before the heat of the summer is upon us.
3. Race every month of the year.  This year I started in March and missed July and December.  With my limited Clemson education, I was able to calculate that I missed 4 months.  
4. Complete 5 events that are 10 miles or longer.
5. Run a race out of the state of South Carolina.
6. Complete the requirements for the Tri-Running Series T-Shirt.
7. Place in my age group in a race.  (I guess I need to find a real small race with no 40-44 year olds)
8. Run 1200 miles during the year.
9. Continue my yoga classes.
10. Maintain my Weight Watchers Lifetime status.

Potential Races:

1/3 - Resolution Run 1/2 Marathon (registered)

2/14 - Myrtle Beach Marathon (registered)

3/7 - Reedy River Run 10K

3/21 - Shamrock Fun Run 5K

3/28 - Race for the Inlet 5K @ Myrtle Beach

3/28 - Milliken Earth Run 5K

4/4 - Cooper River Bridge Run 10K

4/25 - Greer 5 Miler

5/8 - GHS 5K

5/16 - Easley Lions Club 5K

6/13 - Sunrise Run 8K

July - Need help.. I'll be at the beach over the 4th....

August - Midnight Flight 10K

9/18 - BMW 2 Miler (A real fun race)

10/25 - Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, DC (Don't know if I can handle 2 in one year)

10/31 - Spinx Runfest (1/2 or full..... Hmmmm)

November - Lungs for Life 5K, Taylors Turkey Trot

December - Paris Mountain Road Race

So, if I can fill out July, I should have lots of opportunities to run.  I need to find some 10 Milers or Half Marathons to fit in there to get my 5 distance race goal.

I think it is a pretty aggressive schedule, but one that I should be able to attain.  My guess is that I will focus on the 1/2 marathons and 10 milers after I complete my marathon.  I just can't imagine being able to devote the time needed for training again.

What are your goals for 2009?

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Small addition:  I would like to do another Sprint-Triathlon in 2009, especially if I can score a road bike beforehand....

Blog alert...

2009 goals are being drawn up now...  (Thanks Megan).  Give me any suggestions now or else I'll have to do this on my own....

16 miles yesterday...

Yesterday was a great day for running.  It was overcast with mist/rain during a lot of my run.  I plugged away and got my 16 miles in despite having a less than stellar day of fueling and hydration on Saturday.  The 16 miler was supposed to be next Sunday, but I went ahead and ran it because of the half marathon I am running this coming Saturday.

It was the furthest run of my training cycle so far and it felt pretty good.  I think I could have gone 18 if I had to.  Because of the rain, I wore an older pair of shoes.  I think that I would have felt even better if I had been in my new shoes.  

I tried a Roctane and a regular GU during the run and I seemed to stomach them OK.  I will probably keep experimenting during the next few long runs to see what I like best and how much of it I can tolerate.  

I did 1.25 miles on a track during the run and that was OK.  I also had a loop that I doubled up on.  I didn't mind it as much as I thought I would, although I am going to try and find a route that doesn't have any repeat loops in it for my next long run.  The rest of this week is pretty easy as I go 6 miles tomorrow and 7 miles on Thursday.  I was supposed to do 6 on Friday, but with the half on Saturday I'll probably skip that run.

One other note, I did the long run without my iPod.  I ran for 2 hours and 45 minutes with nothing in my head except for my own thoughts.  For those of you that know me, that is pretty scary!

Christmas day is in the rearview mirror, time to focus on training...

Christmas was really great.  I know Christmas is great with little kids, but as ours get a little older it is a nice change too.  They still love their presents, but they enjoy family a little more too.  They also can handle a day of celebration without naps and tantrums!!

I got a great pair of running tights that I was not expecting.  That was a great surprise, I hope it actually gets cold enough to need them.  Although, I must admit that an early spring wouldn't bother me either.  Another great surprise was that the tights were actually too big!  I loved that and didn't mind going downtown to exchange them today.  In fact, we spent a good portion of the day out running errands.  We avoided going into the mall even though we had to circle it to get to some stores on the perimeter.  

I got Lee a cool Timex Ironman watch that also controls you iPod.  She wants a Garmin eventually, but wanted a watch with interval timing for now.  I priced it at two stores for $100 to $130, so I was about to just buy her the Garmin.  Then I went to Costco and they had the exact same watch for $29.  That left enough in the budget to get her a new pair of Nikes that she wanted.

Now it is time for me to really focus on training.  I got in 6.5 today, though I didn't do speedwork.  I am skipping tomorrow and and running 16 on Sunday.  I am switching this week and next week so that I can get the Resolution Run 1/2 Marathon in next Saturday.  I am going to run it at a comfortable 9:30 pace (hopefully) and use it as a workout.  My coach/buddy Allan is going to pace me on it.  That will be a nice slow run for him as he gets ready to try and BQ at the Houston marathon 2 weeks later.

One other thing, my Nike Air Zoom Structure Triax +11's are still the bomb.  I can't believe how great they feel and I am having a hard time rotating them.

Great day for a run and oh yeah, Merry Christmas!!....

Today was perfect running weather, at least until the rain started.  I got out early for some last minute shopping and got home in time for a 7 miler before lunch.  The weather was perfect and I felt great.  I started to run with a Santa hat on, but then I decided that getting a Santa hat all wet and sweaty wouldn't make the rest of my family very happy!

Traffic was pretty light, so the section of E. North St. that I run on was a breeze.  I was supposed to run at a 10:06 pace according to my training schedule, but I ended up at about 9:30.  9:30 is the pace I am planning on running for the half next Saturday (1/3), so it was good getting 7 in at that pace today.  I think I can sustain it for a half and still have a good recovery to keep on my marathon training.

I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas!  I won't be running tomorrow, but you can bet I'll be back out on Friday....  

Rest Day....

Today was a rest day after a long run yesterday.  I am off a day, but should be OK with this schedule for the rest of the week.  I'll run tomorrow and get Christmas off.  Then Have runs on Friday and Saturday.

I stopped by Fleet Feet today and feel confident in saying that there will be lots of runners getting goodies for Christmas this year.  I had a hard time focusing on others instead of looking at goodies for myself!  Of course, 45 minutes after I walked out of the store I got a call that the pouch for my fuel belt had arrived.  I think I'll wait until after Christmas to pick it up.  I have had enough of the traffic for this year!

I did pick up a GU and a Rocktane to try on my upcoming long races.  I want to make sure my stomach handles them well.  I also need to start doing a better job hydrating before and after my long runs.  I have noticed a huge difference when I hydrate properly.  After Christmas, I am going to really work on my overall nutrition plan for the rest of my training.  I want to make sure I adequately fuel without adding in unnecessary calories.  

We had some family over tonight and it was fun.  It really starts to feel like Christmas when you have family around.

Star Trek Running...

My inner geek (ok, maybe it isn't only 'inner') was thinking about how cool it would be to have access to a holodeck like they have in Star Trek The Next Generation.  Being able to set the location and conditions (and running partners for that matter) for every run would be pretty cool....

Narcissism....

If I told you I stared at myself in a mirror for two hours, you would think I was narcissistic.  If I told you that I was actually running on a treadmill that happened to be in front of a mirror for two hours, you would think I was just crazy.  I would tend to agree with you.  It was just too cold for me to consider a 12 mile run outside today.  I don't have the proper gear for my legs yet and I couldn't imagine two hours out in sub-freezing temps.  

I got the 12 miles in on the treadmill, but even with the TV and staring at myself in the mirror it was miserable.  I did kind of enjoy seeing people come in, struggle through their workout and leave while I was only 1/3 of the way through my run.  It was a little of an ego boost, but after a while I just felt like an idiot.  I really missed being outside and noticing little things about the neighborhood while I was running.  I missed seeing friends and some of the dogs that greet me along my route...  I'll definitely be happy when my running tights get here so I don't have to go through that again.

At least I was able to keep a perfect pace up for the entire run....

How far can you run on a treadmill?

Wow, it is more than a little cold outside.  Yesterday was windy and I was kind of glad that I was too busy with party preparations to run, but now I am regretting it.  I finally ordered a pair of running tights from SierraTradingPost.com.  They got down to $10 and I figured that even if they don't fit, I can't go wrong trying them at that price.

So, until I get my tights I am not sure I want to run outside in this kind of cold.  That leaves me with the treadmill option.  I need to get in a 12 mile run, so I wonder if I will go insane on a treadmill for two hours.  They do have a TV on each treadmill at my gym, so maybe I can find a good Christmas movie to watch if I decide to go that route.  I am going to see what the temperature is at 11:00 and make my decision, but I am pretty sure I will be on the treadmill...

Not exactly a rest day....

Well, I didn't run but I was on my feet most of the day. I am going to pay for it tomorrow because it will be right around freezing in the middle of the day when I run tomorrow.

I'm looking forward to the run, even if it is cold. I need to burn off some party calories from this weekend!