2012 Running Round-Up

On January 1, 2012, I set three goals for the year:

• Run 1,200 miles
• Run a sub-2:00 half-marathon 
• Run a sub-4:30 marathon

Things didn't go exactly as expected.  By year's end, I logged 950 miles.  My attempt at a sub-2:00 half marathon started well but was crushed when I hit the finish line at the Rock 'n' Roll USA Half in 2:04:31, just barely a PR.  I ran two marathons this year, but Providence didn't go as well as I'd hoped and, although I ran a consistent race at the Marine Corps Marathon, it took me almost 20 more minutes to finish a marathon as it had in 2011.  When it came to shorter races, PRs were also hard to come by.  Compared to the progress that I made between the 2010 Baltimore Marathon and the 2011 Philadelphia Marathon, 2012 was the year of the running slump.

When it comes down to it, I don't think that I pushed myself nearly enough.  If I had put in the extra work, run on the days that "I didn't feel like it," pushed myself during speed workouts, and gave it my all on race day, I could have met my race goals.  I could have met my mileage goals. 

Failure can be very inspiring, though.  I didn't reach my goals last year, and it only makes me want to push myself harder to reach them this year.

So, again, my running goals for this year are to:

• Run 1,200 miles
• Run a sub-2:00 half-marathon 
• Run a sub-4:30 marathon

It's hard to believe that 2012 is over.  It was a good year, but I'm going to do everything in my power to make 2013 even better.

Happy new year, folks!