Tally Ho for 2009

The 2009 racing season is over for this runner, and preparation for the 2010 Boston Marathon is officially underway.

My last race was on Sunday December 6, when I ran the first leg of the five-leg, 28-mile Mill Cities Relay. The race begins in Nashua, NH and ends in Lawrence, MA, after running through Lowell, MA...mill cities, you know. It was good to experience it, though a little odd in that I didn't know my teammates. The Winner's Circle Running Club was vying for the 'Most Teams Entered' award, and recruited heavily. It would have been a lot more fun for me to participate with buds....

My objective in 2009 was to race less than in 2008, and when I did race, to run competitively. I think I achieved both goals, though I haven't really done a race tally like I do at the end of each year. I figured I could do it here:

January
No races but lots of silly runs in bad weather

February
Mid-Winter Classic 10-Miler, 1:10:58, 2nd in age
Martha's Vineyard 20-Miler, 2:35:09, 1st in age

March
Kerrymen Pub 5K, 19:25, 1st in age

April
Fiddlehead Run for the Arts 5K, 18:40:34, 1st overall

May
Sea Dogs Mother's Day 5K, 19:28, 3rd overall
14th Annual Memorial Mile, 5:41, 1st overall

June
18th Covered Bridges Half-Marathon, 1:30:13, 2nd overall
1st Annual Sea Dogs Father's Day 5K, 19:23, 3rd overall

July
Bridgton Four on the Fourth, 25:43, 5th overall
Ocean Park 5K, 19:06, 1st in age

August
12th TD Banknorth Beach to Beacon 10K, 39:38.9, 1st in age

September
PunkinFiddle 5K, 19:40, 1st overall

October
Tufts 10K for Women, 39:53, 3rd in age
Great Pumpkin 10K, 40:00, 1st in age

November
MRC Turkey Trot, 19:28, 1st overall
Burn off the Turkey, 19:14, 1st in age

December
Mill Cities Relay, 2:58:21, 1st Place Coed Seniors Team

As I said, I achieved my goals, but like most runners I am questioning whether I could have done better. Should I have raced more? Should I have trained more? Is more better? Blah blah blah blyeck. It's over.

Yesterday was day one of an 18-week marathon training program. I am following Coach Hal Higdon's Intermediate I schedule, and I'm looking forward to it. I have never done pace running the day before a long run so it should be interesting. My marathon goal is 3:15, which will be a personal record, and by all accounts, I should be able to do this.

Here's the Plan: Put the blinders on, train smart, and enjoy the ride.