The Awesomeness of 2011 and looking forward to 2012

Like most runners – I tend to use this time of year for some reflection on the year that is rapidly approaching the end.

2011 started with me running. At midnight, December 31 2010, I was running. And winning. Yep, I was first place male at the Freedom Park 12 hour run. No, really, I was winning. W-I-N-N-I-N-G. Shit, you don’t believe me. Of course, never having been in that position, I learned that it creates a whole new set of problems that I didn’t know existed. For example, I didn’t fuel and hydrate properly, and as a result ended up falling apart with 3 or 4 hours to go. I couldn’t hang on to it. So, the year started with second place male, (third overall). Good start.

Over the course of the year, I have ran 1017 miles in races/organized runs. I have failed in two races, Umstead 100 where a cold prevented from going any further than 50 miles, and also I had a DNF at Javelina where I kicked a rock and twisted my knee.

I have run around 2200 (with a couple of weeks left, I will see if I can get that to 2300) miles total for the year – above my target of 2111.

The highlight was of course finishing Tahoe Rim Trail 100. The most unbelievably difficult thing I have ever done. This 33 hours, 59 minutes and 20 seconds was one of my life’s greatest achievements.
2011 has also been the year I got faster. I have PR’s in 5K, 13.1, 26.2, 50k, 12 hour, 50 mile and 100k. The ones I wanted though, 100 mile and 24 hour have alluded me.

Here is my 2011 race list

1	Freedom Park 24 Hour (43.38m)
2	NC Fat Ass (9m)
3	Frosty 50k
4	Weymouth Woods 100k
5	Geezer Pleezer 4-Miler
6	Pilot Mountain Marathon
7	Umstead Trail Marathon
8	Ellerbe Marathon
9	Umstead 50
10	Hampton VA 24 Hour(57.25M)
11	Panther Prowl 5k
12	Inside Out Sports 1/2 Marathon
13	Conquer the Cove Marathon
14	Boogie 50-Miler
15	Chatooga 50k
16	Lake Tahoe 100-Miler
17	Laurel Valley 35-Miler
18	Two Bridges 50-Miler
19	CARA 5k
20	Hinson Lake 24 Hour(68.11)
21	Oct 1 Shirt Run
22	New River 50k
23	Medoc Trail Marathon
24	Ridge to Bridge Marathon
25	Seaboard 5k
26	City of Oaks Marathon
27	Javelina 100k
28	Pinehurst Turkey Trot 1/2 Marathon
29	Derby 50k
30	Crooked Rd 24 hour
31	Pittsboro 5k

To save you from counting, that is 31 events, 22 were 26.2 or above, and includes 15 ultras. Not bad.
It means I will finish second or third in the Mangum Track Club “What’s the point” race. I would have won most other years.

As always – it is the people I come across that make this sport so special. I have met many and made many new friends. The “Team Awesome” experience was fantastic – and somehow, figuring out a way to bring that whole concept forward to 2012 is going to be my generic goal – what do I mean by that? Well, I don’t mean that every race has to have a dozen members of a team like we did in April – no, I think it means that I have to bring awesomeness to every run I do. It doesn’t necessarily mean maximum effort – it means maximum enjoyment, along with a sprinkling of maximum effort.

As for more specific goals - and I consider these targets, targets that I can move if I want to –  first on the list is getting a Western States qualifier. Also sub 24 hour Umstead would have to be a consideration – but just finishing Umstead is a secondary goal (and will also provide me with the qualifier). I think based on the way I started there last year, I probably have a reasonable shot at it. I still see a 100 miles at Hinson lake as perfectly manageable, so would like to get that done in September. (WTF? LOL)

I’m thinking I would like to see if I can manage at least four 100 milers. Umstead, Tahoe RIm, Javelina and one or two others.

I have already mentioned on another post (here) about the 2012 5k challenge. That is a 5k every week under 24 minutes (60 seconds grace in January). I’m also thinking I would like to shave a minute off of my 5k time – let’s set a target of 22.5 minutes. If they do the panther prowl in May, that would be a good as any place to go for it again – the location of my current 5k PR.

100 pushups – There is a good website that outlines a training plan to get to do one pushups (surprisingly hundredpushups.com) I think that will be a fun challenge.

I would like to log 2412 total miles. 201 miles per month. Not sure I can race as much – but heck, let’s make 1000 miles of racing a target.

I would like to get my name picked out of the hat for Western States Lottery (yeah – good luck with that. WTF? LOL)

Finally – 2012 – (I’m hoping people say “twenty-twelve” instead of “two-thousand and twelve” by the way), I just want it to be filled with awesomeness, and I want to stay happy and healthy.

Have a great Christmas – may it be filled with too much booze, too much food and great presents. Oh, and if you happen to be near Sanford on Boxing Day – (December 26) feel free to come along to Jimbo’s Boxing Day Dumb Ass, Bad Ass, Mad Ass, Fat Ass Fun Run at Kiwanis Park