It's Been a While

So It's been a while.  A lot has happened this year up to now.  I ran and finished the San Francisco Marathon, and it was tough.  A 4:24 which is over my original goal of a 3:45 but the way my training got a little derailed in June I'm happy to have finished at all.  And I did run the Salinas Valley Half again, only this time it was more than five and a half minutes faster.  I was really excited to finish with a 1:42:08.  And right now I'm helping my wife train for her first half marathon in November. I'm excited to run it with her and cross the finish line together.  So as far as my goals for the year I'm right on track.  What's next for me though?  Well I've signed up for Hanford's Relay For Life.  Right now my team consist of myself, my wife, and my brother-in-law.  I'm hoping to get a few more members on my team.  My goal is to do the entire 24 hours myself.  I'd like to do at least 80 miles in those 24 hours.  So for now I'll be raising money, preparing, and training. Hopefully I'll be blogging more as well.

2010 A Year of Rebirth

 I'm happy for the things I've accomplished this year.  In January I could hardly do a mile without walking.  I've come along way. From the injuries that forced me to change my running shoe and even my running style, to the triumph of completing my first race way under my target time.  Afterwards I slacked off a bit to much and let life get in the way of running.  It happens I know but I felt guilty about it more and more.  The time I got to spend with my family was worth it though.  These running triumphs pale in comparison to seeing my daughter take her first steps or watching my wife complete her first race. I finished the year with 476.99 miles of running.  I've ran in so many places and met so many cool people along the way.  Another rewarding experience this year was handing out Finishers Medals and sweatshirts at the Fresno/Clovis Two Cities Marathon.  I was honored to be the first one to shake a good friend of mines hand after he completed his first half.  Training with my running partner Matt out in the foothills of Exeter in the crushing heat.  He almost stepped on a snake out there.  The time that I thought I was going to die running in the 110 degree heat for 6 miles.  It all prepared me for the race that seemed easy at 53 degrees.  2010 was a great year for me.

  In 2011 I have real goals to hopefully double my miles at the very least.  I'm running my first Marathon at San Francisco in July which should be fun.  Hopefully I'll have enough strength to do the Salinas Valley Half the following weekend.  My goal is to get at least 4 half marathons or longer for 2011.  I'd also like to get the family more involved with my training since it is going to take up a large portion of my time.  Hopefully I can get my wife to understand how important this is to me.  She's been really supportive in the past but this will be a whole new level of commitment.  I may have to learn to love the dreadmill to make this work as well. It's now officially 2011 here.  I need to get to work.  I want everyone that reads this blog to keep me accountable.  I need to run at least 4 days a week. I need to get my diet right. And I need to motivate those around me to lead a more active lifestyle.  So here's to 2011, may it be a great one.