Recap of 2011

Check out my highlights of 2011.  It was a fun one.  


January 1
First run of the year was a painful one.  Just the day before on the last day of 2010, I had overworked myself on a 14 miler.  That was the furthest I had ever run before.  It resulted in severe tendinitis in my right foot.  I was advised by my physician to stay off of it for two weeks and was booted up.  Didn't run again until Jan 13 and didn't fully recover until Jan 23.


February 6
I had been on the dailymile social website for runners and athletes since early fall, but only had 2 friends on there and both of them I knew personally.  Out of the blue some person named Blanca G friended me and now I had this total stranger motivating me on my routine 3 and 4 mile runs.  So I then started randomly friending folks on this site just to see what other runners do and what habits they carry, not knowing that I was building my fan base LOL.  Outside of my family, my biggest source for motivation.


March 1
One of my new Dailymile friends Julie A.K.A. "J Gal" hosted a virtual half marathon online which I participated in.  Whomever participated was to simply run 13.1 miles some day that week wherever they were located and post the results.  I was preparing for my first ever half marathon and this was the perfect dress rehearsal.  I ran one of my routine routes which is rather hilly I might add and I clocked myself completing it in 2:14 for a 9:48 pace.   I had never been able to run a sub 10 pace for that distance until that day.


March 13
Completed my first ever half marathon, the Rock N Roll Dallas in 2:07:41 for a 9:44 pace.   Pretty good to be self trained, I think.


April 17
Completed a 16 miler in training.  Record distance.


May 8
Finally figured out how to tackle hills.


July 7
Ran 10 miles of a 15 miler in training before I figured out I had put my shirt on backwards.


August 7
Decided to run 16 miles in 88°  heat, but didn't take in any electrolytes. Only water.  Never made it to mile 14.  Caught a severe cramp in every muscle from my waist down including my butt.  All at the same time.  The worst pain I have ever been in.  A by-passer driving by who saw me on the ground screaming like a girl had to take me home.  Lesson learned.  From that point on I have  carried electrolytes with me while I run.  Even when it's 40 degrees out. 


August 19
Joined the Dallas Running Club.  Best decision I have made all year.  Thank you Keishabadger :)


Late August
The heat in Texas was so bad this summer that I found myself waking up at 4:30am to get in runs.  The temperatures were still in the high 80s and low 90s at night!  Day temps were between 105° and 110°.


September 5, Labor Day
Temps dropped dramatically.  I was able to complete a 15 miler at home with no issues.  Paced at around a 10 min/mile.  It was definitely the heat making me slow for the previous two months.  A big confidence booster.


September 18
I took on the moniker "The Night Train".  Stemed from listening to the song "Night Train" by James Brown the day before and the fact that I was doing most of my runs primarily at night.


September 25
First group run with the Dallas Running Club (DRC). They placed me in the 1:55 half marathon group.  I quickly discovered that I love group runs over running solo.


October 1
First race since the half marathon in March.  DRC "The Loop".  Was a 15K which was a complete loop around White Rock Lake.  Funny thing is 20 years earlier my wife and I attempted to walk the circumference of that lake.  A very difficult task at that time.  Little would I know at age 43 I would be running loops around it.  Completed the race in 1:23:54 for a 9:00 pace.  Also the first time I was in the same race as Keishabadger whom I consider my runner sibling.


October 9
My most enjoyable run of the year happened during a downpour.  Dailymiler "Pantha" earlier that year mentioned that warm rain runs were great and this did not disappoint.  I got in a sweet 18 miles.  My wife called me on my cellphone concerned because I was gone for almost four hours.


October 16
Met dailymilers Tim Timmaaay and Lupe (Mrs Crazymofo) for the first time during a routine run at the lake.


November 6
Ran the DRC Half Marathon.  Finished in 1:55:25 at an 8:46 pace.  Remember, the group I joined at the DRC's target time was 1:55.  Just made it.  This is so far the race I'm most pleased with the results.  I overachieved to get it.


November 11
Our half marathon group ran with the 4:00 full marathon group on a 15 miler.  Was one of the toughest training runs I had ever been on.  Started at a 10:19 pace and the last  half of the run ended averaging around 8:50.  The route we ran started at the DRC clubhouse which is at White Rock went to Highland Park, to the Katy Trail and back to White Rock.  There were some really hilly areas on the way back.  The pace leader of the Marathon group, Rick was impressed that I was keeping up really well and encouraged me to train with the full marathon group in the winter/spring.


December 4
White Rock Half Marathon.  OMG.  That's all I have to say.  Cold, rainy, miserable.  And I ran it with a cold.  But it's in the books now.  PR'ed at 1:54:23.


December 5
The idea of running a full marathon in 2012 had become cemented in my mind.


December 24
Planned group run with Tim Timmaay, Lupe and Bal AKA "Crazymofo".  On a second solo run, finally met who I consider now my run mentor Blanca G face to face.  Though that meet lasted all of 10 seconds, made my day and probably my week.


December 26
Received first Garmin Forerunner, courtesy of my aunt and my wife.  That is the equivalent of giving a crack addict an upgraded pipe to smoke from.


I just hope 2012 will be as enjoyable as 2011.  One thing for sure it will be race filled.  For now, my shout outs to....


Dailymilers
My frequent flyer dailymilers (in no particular order):  Rachel U (whom everytime I read her posts I freeze my butt off just sitting there reading), Danny W, Steve T,  Terri P, Tasha G, Runtarantantan, Steve T, Chanthana the great, Michelle M, Jay S, Stephanie H, Luc (what's up mate), Teresa F, Leslie B, Amber F, Valerie, Rosanna L (the energizer bunny), Jen F., Oksana (whatever name you are on DM now lol), Pantha (whom sets and has no limits), Ted, Petite (only friended maybe a month or two ago but is already one of my faves to read about on DM), Keith H (when I wake up he's motivating folks and before I go to sleep he's still motivating folks), Ann P., Paula G., Runnergirltrain (hate i missed you at the Trot would have been nice to get a pic with you and have two "trains"), Shelly M,  Tabitha, Kia 7 (if you are on FB check out her group page Evolve with Kia, it is awesome), Gaby (and Max), Pavlos, Erin C, Vk, JGal and her awesomeness, Gina B, Jeremy F, Andleeb, Alfred, Tam Tam, Carolyn, Roger L, Catherine O, Dionna, Allison J, Pamela Drop Drop Droppin it M, Christina I

and also from Dailymile those whom I've had the opportunity to actually meet (Terri I'm including you because it's gonna happen)

Terri F who's humor keeps me cracking up constantly on DM as well as FB.  Can't wait to meet you.  Crazymofo and Lupe my most favorite runner couple, Tim Timmaay whom it looks like I'll be running in most of the same races this year and of course Blanca whom I'm looking forward to getting in a few runs with this year whenever I can.

Dallas Running Club

The entire 1:55 pace group.  Namely Tara, Elizabeth, Vonnie and our pace leader Steve.  Shouts out to Veejay, Mike, Renee and Ros and a special shout out to my runner sibling KCR "Keishabadger" who brought the DRC to my attention.

I would also like to thank my producer.. oh wait.  Wrong speech.

Here's to a fun, productive and hopefully injury free 2012.  You guys take care.