Over another threshold...

so as of today, I've run 1,028 miles for 2012, eclipsing my previous record year (2011 - 1,025) with more than a month to spare.  Even though I've been documenting my post-Hartford difficulties (i.e. lack of a "plan", lack of motivation, increasing lack of daylight.....excuses, excuses, excuses..), I've still managed to have my best running year ever.....and I'm not done yet!

I won't be starting to ramp things up again until the end of January, when I go back on "plan" to get ready for my next marathon (Burlington, VT - late May 2013), so I've still got the next 2 months to slog through until the plan kicks in.  But as I sit here and type those words in, the realization hits me that instead of it being a "slog", it's really an opportunity.......a chance to "re-boot".  I've been meaning to really get back to cross-training.....now's my chance.  I've been wanting to get back in the pool......now's my chance.  Hit the weights......now's my chance.  By the time the plan kicks back in, I should be stronger, leaner, and ready for the challenges ahead.

Well, at least it looks good on the screen.......but I've always been a man of my word, and when I make a verbal commitment, I'm usually pretty darn good about seeing it through.

So I hope you've all had a wonderful weekend.....and I wish you all a very good week this week.  Time to say goodbye to November and hello to December!

Onwards!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Just back from the Medway Turkey Trot.......a little bit chilly (38) at 7:30, but perfect for running!  I was breaking in some new shoes (Saucony ProGrid Guide 5.....BRIGHT orange!) and was just looking to have a good run.....hopefully under 28 minutes.  I felt good at the start, but was definitely stuck in slow-moving traffic over the first mile (9:15), but I didn't start weaving and passing.....maybe I should have because the 2nd mile was decidedly hillier (9:18), but I just kept rolling.  Mile 3 was more downhill and flat, so I was finally able to stretch it out a bit (9:01) as I felt I was more warmed up, and then suddenly it was over.  5K's just seem to fly by......I guess my frame of reference has shifted since I started focusing on the marathon, but I barely seem to get going and then it's over.  Still, it was a good race and I felt good about my time....28:34.

Now, it's time to enjoy my favorite holiday on the calendar...........I think what I love most about Thanksgiving is that it's a holiday without a specific "agenda".....just a time to celebrate the bounties of life, the joy of family, and the warmth of togetherness........not to mention a crap-load of turkey, stuffing and FOOTBALL!!!!!!

I wish all the best to all of you.......I'm thankful for being part of cyber-runner/blogger community and am still quite tickled at the idea that I actually have readers!  I've enjoyed sharing in all of your adventures and hope that you've enjoyed reading about mine. 

On this day, may your homes be full of laughter and love, and your bellies full of yummy food!

I'll see you all out there on the road tomorrow.....running off the stuffing!  :>)

So what is there to see in Little Falls, MN??

Due to a little research, I can answer that question.......but of course you might be curious how (or why) I would come to find out.  You see, today is my "blogiversary", and I thought it might be interesting to see just how far I've run over the past year that I've been sharing with you:

1164 miles

So being a curious sort of a guy......who also happens to teach World Geography and US History to 95 7th and 8th graders.......I thought it might be a fun exercise to see just what is out there in America at a distance that I will now call "one year running".  So I fired up Google Maps, placed one point on Franklin, MA, and then extended lines out roughly 1164 miles in every direction (ok, I didn't go east, because that would just be out in the Atlantic Ocean, nor did I go north....sorry, Canada) to see just where I ended up.  What I discovered was really cool, so I thought I'd share my findings with you:

From North to South, here are the places I "ended up"......

Little Falls, MN - population roughly 8300, founded in 1848 (making it one of the oldest towns in Minnesota), located on the banks of the Mississippi River, the birthplace and boyhood home of Charles Lindbergh, also the home of the Minnesota Fishing Museum.

Fort Dodge, IA - population roughly 25200, founded in 1869 on the banks of the Des Moines River, county seat of Webster County.

Sedalia, MO - population roughly 21400, home of the Missouri State Fair, adopted home of composer Scott Joplin.

Marianna, AR - population roughly 4100, county seat of Lee County, on the banks of the (most lovely named) L'Anguille River.

Kosciusko, MS - population roughly 7400, county seat of Attala County, located on the Natchez Trace Parkway, birthplace of Oprah Winfrey.

Atmore, AL - population roughly 7400, birthplace of Evander Holyfield.

Palm Beach Gardens, FL - population roughly 48400, home to the Professional Golfers Association of America, as well as astronaut Scott Carpenter.


So over the course of the last 365 days, I've visited some amazing places I wouldn't have known about otherwise.......I know I'm being a bit weird, but I think it's pretty cool.

But in all seriousness, I've really enjoyed sharing my adventures with all of you.......all through my training and fundraising for the Boston Marathon, and then to my most recent marathon in Hartford.  Through this blog, I've been able to "meet" some really cool people (i.e., that's YOU, my dear readers!), as well as actually meeting Jose when we both ran the Surftown Half.  Beyond that, I've been able to use this forum as a creative outlet, allowing me to share thoughts and feelings that many of you have felt, those common frustrations all runners experience from time to time.  Your comments and suggestions have helped me all along the way and for that, I thank you all.  My hope is that I can also serve you all similarly.....well, I try!

So now I begin Year 2 of my blog as I finish off my most successful running year ever.  I'm going to keep sharing my journey with all of you, and I'll continue to enjoy reading about all of your adventures as well.  This virtual running community is a really cool thing.....I'm just so glad you've all become a part of my life!

1000 down....how many more to go?

So I made it over the 1000 mile hump for the year with my run this afternoon........a milestone I've only crossed once before (last year......on Christmas Day, no less!), so it still feels like something new.  When I did it last year, I was finishing 2011 strong after starting slowly, beginning my training cycle for Boston.  This year,  I'm still struggling to get back the mojo I had prior to the Hartford Marathon.  It's been about a month now, and I'm still hurting a bit and just not quite right.....

When it comes time to write a recap of 2012, I'm going to have MANY positives to reminisce upon, but I'm really hopeful I'll be able to pick things up again and feel better about the way the year is ending, providing positive momentum to carry me into 2013 and the beginning of a new marathon training cycle (for the Keybank Vermont City Marathon - 5/26/13).  I do have a "blogiversary" (just how do spell that?) coming up so I'm keeping this post short........saving a little extra for that post.  For now, I'm going to enjoy watching my UCLA Bruins beat our cross-town rival USC Trojans, then a lovely dinner (pork chops with peppers, mashed potatoes, salad and some red wine) with my family and then it's a family movie night....looks like a double feature of "Battleship" (so much eye candy....Taylor Kitsch for the wife, Rhianna and Brooklyn Decker (a.k.a. Ebony and Ivory) for me!) followed by "The Artist".  Rest, recover, and relax!