2013 Review and Goal Setting Time

It was another good running year for me.  I made most of my goals, finished the year healthy and with a continued desire to get stronger and faster.  I can tell I am nearing the point of diminishing returns, but I have a few more goals I would like to hit.  So what did I accomplish this year?

5k - I had set a goal of breaking 18 minutes and ran a 17:52 at the Brian Craft 5k in May.  I think I may have maxed out here and will be content just to run another under 18, maybe a PR by a second or two.

8k - PR'd by well over a minute here, running a 28:41.  This was early in the season and pretty proud of myself for this effort.

10k - definitely overachieved here.  I had set a goal of sub 37:30 and ran a 36:42 at the ALARC Legends race.  Not really sure how I did this and not so sure I can repeat.  To run a sub 37 again would be a real treat.

25k - finally ran a sub 1:40 at this distance.  Of course, just as I master the distance, they change it to a half marathon for 2014.

HM - came up way short here.  I was shooting for a 1:23 something, but it was super windy in New Prague that day and I came up well short.  I still have a soft PR here, so I am making a spring HM as my goal race for 2014 with a goal of 1:23.

Marathon - I had great conditions for both of my marathon attempts in 2013.  I cruised at Grandmas for a 2:56 and had a great day at Twin Cities with a 2:54:58.  I plan on running Twin Cities again in 2014 with a goal of a Moose Mug or 2 hours plus my age.

MDRA Grand Prix - I made my goal of winning my AG and had the added bonus if being 3rd overall.  I also have 9,045 points which is my highest total ever and ran all 13 races.

Minnesota Runner of the Year Rankings - I had a couple of qualifying races in 2012 and I hoped to move into the top 10 for 2013.  Looks like I will end up 6th overall with 24 points.  Way too many super speedy 50 years olds for me to think I can rank any higher.  I did run the 3rd fastest 2013 marathon for 50 year old Minnesotans.

Total Mileage - I thought I could hit 3,500 miles for the year, but I am going to come up about 200 miles short.  Not an important goal.  Just like the running streak, not a big deal.

So yeah, a good year.  Looking forward to what 2014 has in store.  With no spring marathon planned, I can focus on shorter distances and more racing in general.

Skinny Time

When I completed Twin Cities Marathon I weighed in at a whopping 155 pounds.  Pretty scrawny for my 6'1" frame.  That is a pretty typical weight for me in the middle of marathon training.  Jump ahead to Thanksgiving,  post-marathon and I weigh in at 166 pounds.  Also, not a surprise, as I have been eating and drinking like a pig and only running 30 miles per week.  Well, I think the lazy days are over.  Looking at the 2014 calendar, I see that there is a my mile race in January and also a half marathon on January 25th.  I'm in no shape to race a half marathon now,  and January 25th is only 7 weeks away.  Time to get back work.

Speaking of skinny, I have always noticed that us skinny people are not given the same courtesy as our friends on the other side of the spectrum, the heavier folks.  Let me explain.  I was working at the running store, having a nice conversation with a female customer.  She asked me how long I had been running, to which I replied, "Oh, a long, long time."  Her response was, "yeah, I could tell, you long distance guys always look so skinny and emaciated."  Wow, could you imagine if this conversation took place between and overweight chef and a restaurant patron, for example?  "Yeah, I can tell you have been a chef for a long time, because you all look so fat and puffy."  Then a few weeks ago at a buffet lunch, someone slapped me on the back and said, "You better load up and get some meat on those bones?"  Would they tell a fat person, "You may want to put some of that food back, big fella."  

I did race this week, the Tonka Turkey Trot.  Finished in 18:54, which isn't bad considering what a fatty I am!  Always humbling to be beat by a runner in a turkey costume!

Happy Running,

Rick