With the recent turn of the calendar year, comes a desire to perform better in my running. I know right now I am not competitive enough talent wise, and I may not ever hit that point. However beating myself is something I CAN DO. During my recent 2 week off time I did some thinking about what I wanted to accomplish and what I wanted to do during my 2012 running year.

Mileage

2012

Last year I was able to rack up 1214 miles, for my first year back in running in over 10 years, all in under 11 months. This year I take it up a notch and try my hand at the 2000 mile milestone, 2012 miles in 2012, cheesy but hey its a goal.

50

My new planned goal for every week’s mileage. This is my base. Currently I am ramping up to that in hopes that my body doesn’t revolt on me. This will fluctuate between 50-70 throughout the balance of the year.

Races

The big 3

-April 29 Flower City Half Marathon (sub 1:50)
Last year I ran the 5K, my first 5K here, this year I plan on making a great half marathon

-May 27 Buffalo Half Marathon (sub 1:45)
Ran my first Half marathon here and put up a poor time, this year I plan to decimate my course time.

-Sept 23 (or Nov 4) Rochester Marathon or NYC marathon (sub 3:50)
I will either return to the site of my first marathon putting up a better time or if accepted run NYC

The building blocks

The more I run trails, the more I like it, and the more I have an itch to run more. So in the midst of the marathon/ half mary training, I am planning on doing a trail series and portion of a course I plan on running next year. I have found the once a week trail time I am taking now is helping me IMMENSELY.

-Dirt Cheap Trail Series
a 6 week trail race that is much like the winter trail series I am doing now.

-SEHGAHUNDA trail
I want to run this trail marathon next year, with the possibility of running an “ultra” trail next year as well. Fleet Feet does a tour of the legs and I might join them this year.

Number Crunching

Along the way I also plan on doing some 5K, 10K and obstacle stuff to have some fun amidst all the seriousness and run the XC season once again. I plan on a short break at my 6 month and a longer break at the year turnover. Here are some of my precieved goals for the year. My first “race” (I don’t consider the Freezeroo or SCWT as my races as I am not training for them for time) will be the one that started it off for me last year, The Johnny’s five Mile.

5000m:   21:30
5Mi:       39:00
10000m: 50:00
1/2 M:      1:45
Full M:   3:50

Cross Country

5000M: 23:00 – Beaver Island PGUNYXC series
6000M: 27:00– Stonhedges PGUNYXC series
8000M: 36:00 – FLCC Campus PGUNYXC series

Trail / Obstacle Racing

8mi obstacle: 1:25 – GVH Mudslog

Health

Weight

I expect to be in the low 150 range when I hit my first race in mid March. It’s only a 10-12lb drop but its huge for me.

Diet

Trying to cut out more of the crap. My metabolism has been on overload, I just need to learn to control and suppress

Injuries

I have found AIS (active Isolated stretching) to be doing wonders for me, and I am committed to continuing in its practice. I have also committed to doing more barefoot training to strengthen my feet, the weak link right now as I see it, and obtain good form.

Other

In short I plan to have a great and fun second year in my return to running and hope to work with my daughter and wife as they hopefully take up and tie the laces on.

What about you…what do you have planned?

Line Break