Hello blog-o-world, welcome one and all to 2010!
Now that I've gotten the obligatory pleasantries out of the way, let me say that I've already got beef with 2010. Yes, I know we're only two days in, and I know I made more mistakes writing 1/01/2010 than the NY Giants when they got trounced by the lowly Carolina Panthers 41-9 over the weekend, knocking themselves out of the playoffs (I'm hanging my head down in shame...) but please, please, someone tell me - what is the socially acceptable nomenclature to abbreviate the important events of this year? For example, we all know Chicago '07 and '08 were nothing short of a social travesty and Boston '09 was great because it was my first, but could you honestly say Boston '10 as Boston-TEN (because that sounds so awkward) or should you say Boston-ONE-O? Hmmm...while I'm at it, do we refer to this new decade as the decade of the TENS or the TEENS? And has anyone yet figured out the proper term for the decade we just passed? Sorry if this all seems so frivolous to some or most of you, I'm just so confused...
As for something that's not as confusing...I ran my 4 mile midnight race in Central Park on New Year's Eve and finished up 2009 miles for 2009! Yay for me! Although it may conceptually seem like an easy task, it was anything but. Not only was it windy and cold in the dead of winter on a night when all the sane people were partying and having a ball in heated houses and apartments, it also snowed heavily during the morning which left the roads slushy and slippery and drizzled and rained for most of the night. Fantastic! But despite all of that, I had an absolute blast running this race with my newbie turned marathoner running friend MT. We watched the fireworks at the start, regaled each other with memories of our favorite runs of the past year, sipped sparkling apple cider at the champagne station at mile 2, exchanged high-fives with walkers and runners in costume all along the course, and slogged our way through the four mile course in 44:28. For those counting at home, that's a 10:57 minute per mile pace, easily my worst ever in a road race! But again, it wasn't about the time...but enjoying the night with a good friend sharing our communal passion out on the roads. Still, I found out that climbing hills at that pace is not easy. Everything seems to drag on for so much longer when you're running slow. (Yes, I realize that fact should be somewhat intuitive, but it really isn't!)
I also took some time in between the miles (yes, I had a lot of time, haha!) to reflect on the past year and think about my goals for 2010. Although I might be disappointed with a few minor details, for the most part, I've had a tremendously successful year on the roads. In addition, I've also enjoyed all the new relationships I've fostered as a result of my running. I'm truly grateful for all my new real world running friends, my virtual world bloggy friends, and those who've managed to bridge both worlds. Whether you've never met me before, or have met me a thousand times, I thank you for knowing me and inspiring me and motivating me to be so much better than I ever thought I could be. Hopefully in time, I could do the same for you! (Toward that end, I have some exciting news to share in a few days...)
Below are my running goals for this coming year. Let's rock the roads for 2010. Who's with me?
My 10 Running Goals for 2010
1. First - I will enter my first ever triathlon, ultramarathon, or overnight relay race!
2. Two New Feet for Two New Runners - I will training two newbies to run their first long distance race (it's part of my Pay It Forward campaign).
3. Sub-3 - If you gotta ask, you must be new here...Sub-3 marathon, here I come.
4. As in 4 PRs - I will PR in the 4-Miler and 3 other distances (4 PRs).
5. Pentathalon - I will complete the final two legs of the Laminator Pentathalon (4-Miler in under 24 minutes and Marathon in under 3 hours).
6. Seis (which loosely rhymes with states) - I will run 6 out-of-state races.
7. Seven minute miles - I will volunteer to be the 7 min/mile pace leader for a Long Training Run in Central Park (16-20 miles).
8. 8 City Parks - I will find time to run in 8 different city parks this year.
9. 9 Distances - I will race 9 different distances this year (1M, 5K, 4M, 5M, 10K, 15K, 10M, 13.1M, 26.2M)
10. 2010 Miles - as in 2010 Miles for 2010.
Are you all ready for 2010? I know I am. I can't wait to get started.
24 comments:
Wow those are some pretty amazing goals for 2010, looking forward to seeing you check them all off your list. :)
You have accomplished so much in 2009 and I think that your times rock! What a great idea to finish up the year running in Central Park. It is a wonderful idea to volunteer as a pace coach....very selfless and you will be helping many people to stay on task:)
Great goals for 2010. Hopefully whoever you end up coaching along to their long-distance races realizes how lucky they are to have someone like you showing them the ropes.
All the best in 2010 (I have no idea how to saw it either)
I can't resist delurking to share this. Over here in the UK, I've heard the media refer to this past decade a number of times as the "naughties".
Best of luck with your goals in 2010!
awesome goals for the upcoming year! i'm really excited to see you smash them. and i have no idea what decade we're in now or just exited out of either. good question hah
Great goals. Let me offer up a nomenclature nomination: "Boston Bo Derek"
Here's to 2010 being the year of sub-3!!
So glad I'm not the only one! I've also been perplexed about the naming of 2000-2009. I move that call them The Oughts. However, can we carry this over now with 2010-2019. Ought-Ten?
Will 2010-2012 be called Tweens?
Hmmm...
Inspiring...really. I was just reading about you and your accomplishments/goals and it is so motivating! I would also like to try an overnight relay with my running group. I was looking at the Cape 13. It sounds like fun. Good luck to you in 2010!
you are way too creative with all your goals! :) best of luck to you this year...hope you get 'em all!!
love love love these goals!!! you are right there Lam, cant wait to see you knock them all out of the park :)
at my work they call it "ten" "eleven" etc for the years... im not sure how i feel abotu it :)
i like your goals lam! all about running and yet still varied. i have no idea about all the 'new year' terminology... i'm just saying twenty-ten for now i guess. and i suppose referring to the past as 0-whatever. good luck figuring that out (or not?) and here's to 2010 and a sub-3!
You are going to rock this year and I know those goals are totally attainable for you! :) I look forward to following along and watching you achieve them all! :) Good luck on your swimming classes, hopefully you like it as much as I do!
ohh 2009 miles in 2009 and then 2010 miles in 2010! Thats so cool! I saw the NYE race on TV. I didnt see you there though! lol
Happy new year!
I know Philly is about 2 hours from NYC (went to school up north, grew up down south) if you can't find a race up there, there is a great 24 hour relay in Philly for Back on my Feet. It is for the homeless and its 4 runners doing 4 8 mile loops. I didn't run but I witnessed this event with some of the guys I work with and runner friends of mine. It's crazy but really awesome!
http://www.20in24.com/
Those are some solid goals. Best of luck in 2010.
I've wanted to run the Emerald Nuts Midnight Run, but haven't been able to. Sounds like it was a lot of fun, even though it was REALLY cold!
Your goals are fantastic. I can't wait to read about your journey as you reach them! Good luck!
Looking forward to watching you train and reach your 2010 goals Lam!!! By the way, I'm going to try to make it to the Cherry Blossom 10 miler to cheer you and Dorothy on!!! PRs all the way!!!
Loving the goals and how your set them up! It's going to be a fantastic 2010!
When you figure out what this year/decade should be called let us know because it is driving me nuts.
Nice! I love that you have a triathlon on your list too. Awesome!
Love it! I must say though, that the "OR" in number one did not go unnoticed by me! Is this a cleverly disguised way of sneaking out of a triathlon (ask me about the one in L.I. in July)?
This post also got me thinking about my own goals. I tend to be very event oriented rather than pace oriented (until race day) and maybe that's something I should focus on...
In any event, it has been a pleasure getting to know you and having someone so encouraging (who can destroy my pace at any given time) as a friend. Here's to an awesome, fast and consistent 2010!
First off you are going to have so much freaking fun running a relay! Second we can both commisserate over how we attempt at a TRI! LOL! I'll give you my number so we can text our hatred of swimming. Speaking of, have you started on that yet? I haven't. FAIL. LOL!
You're going to have a great year Lam and I can't wait to read all about it and maybe even hopefully meet you in person to be a part of it! Cheers and good luck!
Happy new year!
Those are some rockin' goals and I can't wait to see you check them all off your list!
A great set of goals!
Goal #1--WTF? I don't even know you any more.
Goal #6--all my races for 2010 are out of state, so let me know if you want to tag along for any of them!
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