Before doing that, however, I want to say that one of the biggest things to happen this year has been the discovery of the running community in Minnesota. In 2009, I was on my own. This year, via blogs, Dailymile, Facebook, Twitter, etc..., I've found so many great people that just get out and run. It's been great running/racing with you. Sometimes it's really nice to have someone to run with. And to all the people who have read my blog over the past year, thanks--I hope you'll stick around for another year!
Totals
Running: 940.9 miles
Swimming: 12.2 miles
Biking: 146.1 miles
(I started keeping a log in March, although Jan-March mileage was fairly insignificant. It is possible, though, that I ran enough in those months to break the 1000 mile barrier.)
Mileage for the year was really good, and I got in a lot more cross training this year (I swam 34 times!). Not only did I get in the miles this year, but I varied my training a lot more compared to 2009. I consistently included repeats, hills, tempo runs, fartleks, LSDs, and easy runs. Not only did this improve my running ability, but it kept me from getting bored!
December
Mileage: 56.4 miles
December was mostly defined by a return to running. After Runner's Knee issues in November, I eased back into running in December. Mother Nature didn't help, though, and gave us a lot of this:
So. Much. Snow.
November
Mileage: 26.9 miles
November was my lowest mileage month of the year. I started with high hopes of some 5ks and a 10 mile after recovering from the marathon, but my knee had other ideas. I sorta did a 5k (which I won), and a 6.23k race in the snow. After realizing that my knee wasn't getting any better, I took up competitive TV watching imposed a 2 week rest period on myself. The rest period helped my knee heal up, and I was back in business.
October:
Mileage: 91.8 miles
The highlight of October was a major PR at the Twin Cities Marathon. My goal time was 3:45, and I finished in 3:42:01. With everything combined--the weather, pacing, fueling, the course, spectators--I decided that I couldn't have asked for a better race. Months of training paid off in spades, and it managed to put the Boston bug in me. I raced, then I analyzed, and figured out that in the next two years, I'm going to get faster--much faster.
September
Mileage: 156.8
In September, I tapered, but also logged my 2nd highest mileage month of the year. I also joined the first TCiM Flash Run, which helped us find our 15 seconds of fame on the news. Another highlight of the year was a trip to Boston for a conference, and I got to run around the city and see some exciting things:
August
Mileage: 193.4 miles
August was, in many ways, the pinnacle of my training. It was my highest mileage month of all time. I did 2 of the 3 twenty milers in August. Oh, and I didn't drown. Yes, August was my first (and, to date, only) triathlon. Lakefront Days was a fun experience, and while my swimming and cycling legs were pretty slow, my run was great. Doing the race with friends made it even more fun.
July
Mileage: 139 miles
More new things in July. After a quick trip to Baltimore where I learned that the best way to see a new city is via a good, long run, I ran my first ever half-marathon, Pikermi, Fun-Size Marathon. I ran the inaugural Red, White, and Boom! TC Half Marathon on Independence Day. It was hot, humid, and wet. Really wet. And, as a friend remarked, "Who knew Minneapolis had a mountain?". My time was slower than what I was capable of, but with all the conditions as they were, I'm ok with that. Katie and I also check out the local pro-triathlon scene at the Lifetime Fitness Triathlon.
Uh, yeah, that's not me. I'm much, much faster...
June
Mileage: 100 miles
June was a hot month. I celebrated by beginning my marathon training, yet I didn't expire. I did perspire though. Probably aspired too. Maybe even inspired. Beyond some open water swimming, I was involved with Katie's first triathlon of the season: Croixathlon. I volunteered as a parking lot attendant and course marshal and found myself drenched in sweat and sunscreen. I really got into the the course marshaling part and was maybe a bit too over-exuberant with my "Turn Left". I had a great time--so much so that I'm considering doing Croixathlon this year as a participant. I'm also pretty intrigued by this beach path...
Me at Cleary Lake pretending not to hear Katie
May
Mileage: 60 miles
Three big things happened in May: I set a 5k PR, I swam, and I raced with Katie at the Falls Duathlon. The month began with the Duathlon, and Katie got the short end of the stick by having to ride her bike in gale-force winds. I just ran. We did good, and we're probably going to do the race again in 2011 (maybe not as a team, though).
I added a new discipline to my training--swimming. I was awful at it, and still am. But I didn't drown. I worked with a coach, and that helped a lot. I'm still convinced that humans weren't meant to swim, but it's a skill I semi-possess now. Later in the month, Katie and I had a pretty tough workout trying on wetsuits at Gear West, but emerged victorious and tried them out in a lake. This was my first OWS, and while there's no chance of me being mistaken for a fish, I didn't drown and I count that as a victory. (If you haven't noticed, "not drowning" has been a theme for the year). The month ended with a great race at the Brian Kraft 5k. I PR'd, and even managed some nice blisters.
Katie at the Duathlon
Me at the Duathlon
One of Katie's fantastically awkward photos of me
April
Mileage: 70 miles
I was in "spring training mode" in April, acted like my normal self dressed in a semi-ridiculous manner to win a contest, and decided to put myself in danger of drowning by signing up for a triathlon. Over at Steve in a Speedo's blog, Katie entered me into a "worst dressed" contest, and I came in third place with my overly-geeky entry:
I'm running at the speed of light. No, really--I'm blue-shifted.
I also "Ran the Valley" and put up a respectable 5k time:
Serious heel-strikeage going on there
March
Mileage: 45 miles
In March, I sold my soul to Hal. I started his Spring Training plan, which would lead into his Marathon Training Plan in June, meaning that from March to October, I would be training under Hal's direction. I was ok with that.
February
Mileage: unknown
After waffling for a few months, I did what everyone was expecting and signed up for Twin Cities again. At that early stage, I decided to shoot for a sub 4 hour time. I'm glad that changed :)
January
Mileage: unknown
Dome Running! I discovered that the best way to spend a dollar in Minnesota is to save up for a ticket to a warmer climate was to run at the Metrodome. In January, I started going every Thursday night, and David even joined me a few times. With the Dome deflated now, I've learned to cherish the ability to run in such an ugly building while I can.
It's been a super 2010, see you all after the arbitrary time division that is a product of the Gregorian calendar! (And remember, "Knee High by the Fourth of July" doesn't make any sense in a non-Gregorian calendar.)
1 comment:
Fantastic year! Can't wait to see what 2011 brings.
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