The Rearview Mirror

This week has been kind of slow on the running front. It has been a combination of Christmas tree removal (We have a real one and it is a two day process to take everything off of it, take it down and clean up), and just general activity. I was looking over some of my times on the nifty new race results page that I have created, and thinking about how my training has been going. It it amazing how far I have come in just a few short years.

In 2011, which was the first year in a while that I had run with any kind of seriousness, I had a very elusive goal. It was to run a 5K in under 10 minutes a mile. This eluded me through two races in 2011. My best time was an amazingly close 10:01/mile in the Plymouth Fathers Day 5K in June. I felt like I was flying through that race. When I saw the time on the clock as I finished I sprinted as fast as I could to try and beat that barrier, but to no avail. It would take until a race in October, just a few weeks before my half marathon run for me to break the 10 minute barrier, and I would smash it, coming in at 9:15 a mile, and this was in REALLY cruddy weather. To give some perspective on my 5k times in 2011, here they are in order:

Corktown Races 5k, March 13th, 2011, 33:18, 10:43/mile

Plymouth YMCA Fathers Day 5k, June 19th, 2011,  31:09, 10:01/mile

Jamesers 5k, October 1st, 2011, 28:46, 9:15/mile 

Belle Isle New Year's Eve 5k, December 31st, 2011, 29:22, 9:28/mile

It was amazing to cross that finish line at 9:15/mile, I almost did not believe it. Oh don't worry, I know that in the grand scheme of things I am slow, and I am ok with that, but it is always good to accomplish your goal. Taking 4.5 minutes off your 5K time is pretty impressive. I more write this to speak to anyone out there who is thinking of running, and lamenting how slow they are.....its ok, everyone is slow when they start. If anyone can prove that even the most out of shape individual can start seeing drastic improvements with some practice, it is me. 

 

So get out there and run.

If you thought last year was nuts, here is a recap of my 2012 goals concerning time:

1. Run a 5k in under 9 minutes a mile

2. Run a 10k in under 10 minutes a mile
  
3. Run a half marathon in under 11 minutes a mile
 

A Bit of a Reach

In my last post, a review of the Detroit Half Marathon, I said that I would be thinking about some goals for running in 2012. I think it is good to have goals, and since I have spent weay to many hours in corporate business planning meetings, I will use the S.M.A.R.T. plan for my 2012 goals. Yup, we are going there. In case you did not know, check out the idea here. Here is what each letter means:

S - Specific. It is much easier to fudge your progress on a goal when it is broad and general. Narrow it down and you can really guage progress.

M - Measurable. No fuzzy pseudo-goals here. Everyone loves goals they can measure. Rosiecat loves it even more cause she is a bon-a-fide scientist. .

A: Attainable. Ok, so I will not be qualifying for the Olympics this year, sorry to disappoint.

R - Realistic. Again, climbing Everest is probably not going to happen.


T - Time Framed - Goals must have a set beginning and an end.

So under this system there can be no fuzzy goals, so in fine JD tradition I will start with two totally fuzzy goals:


1. Have Fun. If I am not doing this and having a good time, then it is all not worth anything
2. Balance running with family. I love The Wife and CE too much to let them not get the attention they deserve.

Ok, now to the goals that follow the S.M.A.R.T. plan

1. Run a 5k in under 9 minutes a mile
   - My fastest 5K this year was the Jamsers 5k @ 9:16 a mile. I rate this goal as highly doable.

2. Run a 10k in under 10 minutes a mile
   - My fastest 10k this year was the Solstice 10k @ 11:09 a mile. I rate this goal as likely.

3. Run a half marathon in under 11 minutes a mile
   - My only half this year was Detroit, which I ran in 11:29 per mile. This is going to be a stretch.

4. Run at least 3 trail runs
   -I only ran 1 in 2011, and I sucked at it, so I just want ot get more of these under my belt.
   - I am also thinking about running one of those crazy obstacle course races in 2013, so good training.

5. Run at least 3 half marathons
   - I am currently scheduled for 2, RockCF in April and Detroit in October....lots of space in the middle.

6. Upkeep this running blog, shooting for two posts a week.

7. Sprint a mile in under 8 minutes.
   - I don't have any record of this, last time I knew I did it was in HS.

So those are my 2012 running goals. As the author I reserve the right to completely change and or add ot these goals. Anyone out there have any 2012 running goals? Of course I welcome thoughts and reactions to mine as well.

--JD