*From the guy with a Garmin watch.
So without further ado here is what I can remember about the races that I have ran this year. Maybe a brief synopsis with a couple sentences and I'll finish it all with goals for 2012. So if you don't have a sense of humor don't read on.
January
At first I didn't think I ran a race in this month, but then I realized I did. I paced the Charleston Marathon. I was suppose to run a 3:15 but nobody in my pace group listened to me (a recurring theme later on in the year). So I ended up running something like 3:19 or 3:17 I'm not really sure. I wasn't really motivated to do this race. I said I would do it and held myself to this decision, but felt that this was not a wise choice. The course wasn't that great. I ended up driving home after the race with the goal to see how fast I could get out of Charleston. There were some positives like getting yelled out at the expo by some elderly women because I didn't know if there would be a pace group for 10:30 minute miles (maybe train faster?), getting lost in Charleston with Allen, eating everything that you shouldn't before and after a marathon and not feeling that bad.
Also in January I started graduated school again at UNCC. It was ok. I went to DC to interview for a job**. I saw snow.
**Spoiler: I got it.
February
The only month where I didn't race. I went to watch a race, which is something I am loathed to do if I'm not racing. What could be more boring than watching people run? Watching people run on TV? But I went to watch Cupid's Cup, the year before I finished third or fourth I'm not sure. I didn't run this year because I wasn't in shape from the marathon fatigue, so I watched. There were a lot of people I knew running and most everyone ran well. I did a workout after the race and confirmed how out of shape I was. I don't think there was any motivation to do any races in the month, so I just trained and chilled.
Of course in this month Ol B-Mizzle came to town and made some poor choices. But things happen you deal with it and move on. And afterwards I imposed a self exile on facebook and athleticore. I did this before in November 2009 and had two people call me up worried if I was ok. In 2010 nobody called or emailed me if I was ok, that's probably because of a combination of things, but it just confirmed what I already knew. The things I joke about not really being true were actually true. (Although I've never ran a race and won and had that race not reported)
March
I began my racing 2010 season on a course that I have ran numerous times, on a road numerous times. It was the beginning of the end. I wasn't sure what I was going to do. I thought I was in good shape, but I had to see what was going to happen. Sometimes you know that you are going to run well from the first step. It also helps if you have confidence. I ran the Shamrock 4 miler in a PR of 21:34 (or something like that). I finished fourth. Did anything really change after the race? Not really. I just ran a bit faster but was the same person. It was an ok race, and I felt that maybe I could have ran faster. I got beat by two runners that were a lot faster than me, and lost to someone that ran a 5k the night before (again!!), and felt that I didn't have the physical toughness to gut it out on the third mile. Oh well last time I'm running that race again. Not to shabby.
So I got the job in DC but still went to school. I hung out with Dustin and John and did some runs with Kent. I can't think of too much to say about this time. Of course when I showed up to the Shamrock race people would say "WHAT YOU ARE STILL HERE WHEN ARE YOU MOVING TO DC", and I would say (playing with my feet and talking to them) I...uh...think in June". I had to hear this about 100000 times from March to June.
April
I ran way to many races in this month. I ran the Bulldog 5k and finished second, but wanted to win. I ran a PR and knew that I actually couldn't have done any faster than the time. I was something miffed about what I had heard the day before when someone asked me why I wasn't going to do the race seeing that I was out of town. Well I didn't know why that would be said, so I used that to my advantage. The Bulldog race was fun to run and see some people that I hadn't seen in a while. I went out with a plan and came close to doing well, but didn't run that well. I got a 2 mile PR in the race. And had to really reach down in the well to beat a former runner that I coached. Because there was no way I was losing to him.
The other race I did was the Skyline 5k and I knew that I wasn't going to run well at all. I was physically fatigued and had nothing in my legs. I hit the first mile in 5:17 and that felt like death. I tried and lost contact and just tried hard enough not to get passed. I don't remember what my overall time was or place. It was probably something slow. Oh well.
So on the night of the Skyline race I go to the club social downtown and am the DD for Dza. I realize that I am going to have a fun night. The picture that is taken between the two of us I use for my job (well I crop out Dza). Of course it gets to the point where I realize that I'm probably going to sleep at 4:30 or 5am, and that I'm the only sober person in a van on the street somewhere in downtown Charlotte. These are quite unusual circumstances you place yourself in.
May
I ran the Twilight 5k. I got done with the warm up and really just wanted to get in my car and go home. I didn't really feel like doing the race and really didn't want to talk to really anyone. Of course I'm to nice of a person to complete ignore pleasantry so I talk and pretend to be interested in the race. I see Sunde and decide to set the pace for him in first mile and hang on from there. Which turns out that I run behind him for the first mile in something like 5:04 and realize that I really don't want to do this race anymore and just jog and stop a couple times in the race. I nearly run 18 minutes for the race. I find the whole process of competition in these races a bit humorous. What does it matter what place I come in? What does it matter what time I run? There are much more important things to do other than worry about times/workouts/races/running related things. I take a long break from running and wonder if there really is a reason to actually run again. It's an interesting thing that I really didn't mind taking a couple days off from running and not have to worry about if I am going to get my run in. Sometimes it doesn't really matter one way or the other. You're putting a foot in front of the other relatively fast.
On a lark I entered the WWC 10k and decide to run it for the heck of it. Did I feel refreshed or OMG THIS IS SO WHAT I NEEDED. No that's lame and people who think like that are people who will go around from thing to thing to be reassured. It was a new challenge and I wanted to see if I could do it. I ran one other trail race back a long time ago. Fell three times, thought I bruised my lung, looked like I ended up losing a fight with roots. This time I just went out and ran without worry of time or place. I knew that this was going to be hard. I ended up finishing second in the race. It wasn't bad. I felt muscles working that hadn't worked before.
June
I ran one race a track race. I didn't expect to much. I ran some workouts and ran like crap in them. I was going to run the mile and maybe the 5k. I expected a sub 5 for the mile if I was lucky. I didn't know what to expect. I ran a 4:40 in the mile, not bad. I ran a 17:06 (or something close) in the 5k, not good. I guess this started to confirm to me that workouts and worrying about them/or doing them was overrated. I nearly ran a PR in the mile without any real work. I ended feeling pretty good about the mile race. Just ran the 5k for fun and that was what it turned out to be.
In this month I left for DC and was able to have some fun. I was thinking about having a going away party at a friends place, but was told "How many people will show up? Nobody." And I had a going away run the day before I left and two people showed up and when I relayed this to someone in the know they said that's about two more than I thought would show up. So I left Charlotte on my own terms, well not really, but with my head held high. The last night I ended up going out with John and Dustin and that was great.
July
I ran one race in Maryland. I ran the Twilight 8k. I got a PR of about 5 seconds. I didn't run as well as I could. It was humid and hot and hilly. Oh well. I honestly don't remember anything else from this race, other than it taking an hour to get to the race on the train.
August
I came back to Charlotte after a week long conference in Nashville. I shouldn't have ran the race. I felt sick coming off the plane. I was sweating a lot in the warm up. I ran a 5:20 mile and felt like crap. I had walking pneumonia. I did not feel good. Another 5k where I ran bad. Oh well. In Charlotte it was good to see friends that I hadn't seen before.
September
I ran one race, it was a half marathon on the C&O Trail. I warmed up from my apartment and then ran the race. It was 4.5 from my place. It was hot and not a lot of shade. I felt ok. I lead for most of the race. I got passed by this guy around mile 6, he also beat me at Thunder Road, and then let this other guy beat me for second. I didn't want to race him that bad. My time was 1:18 something or whatever 5:59 pace was. It was a good training run. Got a medal, it's still unopened in my kitchen. It was at this point where I wasn't that pleased running and thought about quitting, because what was the point?
October
Ran a race got second, didn't realize there was money involved. Should have tried harder. Felt ok, not in particular great shape. But hey it was ok. There wasn't much to say about this race. Ran smart and that translated to an ok day.
November
The month of the big race. I did ok. I ran well, but forgot gels so I didn't have a fun last 10 miles. Was it that big of a deal. I guess for others, but not for me. The race became an instant conversation starter: "I just wanted to say good job in the marathon". "Eh...thanks (stands around awkwardly thinking of something else to say. Can't. Nods head). I've said it before so I'll say it again. Big deal about the race. I don't feel any different than I did at the beginning of the year. I didn't tell anyone at work how I did in the race, and nobody knew how I did until my sister told them. To me it wasn't that big of a deal. Probably could have ran better. Of course satisfaction comes in the form that I did maybe 3 to 5 workouts for this race, didn't do that tempo at or lt tempo crap. I didn't worry about hitting times, workouts. I guess either I'm an outlier or that stuff is just in people's head. I do know starting the race I was thinking early on, you know I'm running this race, it doesn't really feel like a race, it doesn't really feel like anything. Maybe that's why I didn't run so well at the end. I don't know.
So here's the thing I got this giant 4th place finisher plaque/frame. I don't have a car and can't take it on a plane. So it sits on an empty bed in the same spot it's sat since I got it over Thanksgiving break. The medal that I won or received is in the same spot with all the other running crap I've gotten (crap is a harsh word, let's call it stuff). I don't know where exactly the medal is, but it's here in Charlotte with all the other stuff and will probably stay here. I don't think I've ever worn it or really looked at it. These are the things that don't motivate me to run or do well.
December
Not going to run a race this month. Got hurt by something in my foot/toes after the race. Not much more to say about this month.
So in 2011 got PR's in: 5k, 8k, and marathon. I don't know how many miles I ran. It's over 3k. Is that more or less than last year? I don't know. It doesn't really matter. I know I averaged 75 miles over 12 weeks in marathon training, so that right there is impressive (to someone I guess). What will happen in 2012? I would like to get PR's in some events, but if I don't I want to know that I at least tried my best to get them. Will I run another marathon? Maybe. Honestly I would rather see friends do well and achieve their goals than my own. I have specific running goals, but will keep them to myself. But back to the long race, will I announce it on facebook? NO.
Don't get me wrong if you post running related stuff on facebook more power to you, if that gets someone to do something great. But I'm not that person. I don't put that stuff out there and don't really care if people see what I do in a race. If you want to know ask me. Maybe you will get an honest answer. The only person to know is the person telling you. You just have to decide for yourself.
In 2012 I have one race already signed up, will there be more? Yeah I guess so. Will I ultimately let loose on all things and not really care about things that other people care about? (Or does that sentence make any sense?) I'll add pictures of this year in running. Maybe? Perhaps?
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