Happy New Year!!!

I can't believe that 2009 is coming to a close in just a few short hours!  I have had a pretty great year, both family wise and with my running.  This year, with more than four years under my belt of running, I finally feel like it all clicked.  I have to thank my hubbs for a lot of this since this is the first year that I really let him "coach" me if you will.  He had always been a staple on his bike during my long runs but before this year the rule was he couldn't say a word to me while I ran unless it was encouragement!  But I finally realized that his point of view while ridding next to me was probably greater than my own as I logged all those miles.  He helped me with my gate, my form, my kick, and gave me the confidence I needed to finally grab that BQ I had been chasing for so long.  Thanks Ari!

I have never been one to publish or even really tell others about my goals in the New Year, running or otherwise.  Call me superstitious or just plain afraid to let others down, I never wanted to make public, to even my hubbs, what I had on my own goal list.  This year though, I think with the help of all you bloggy peeps and the courage to know that I will only get stronger in my running, I am going to share what I hope 2010 brings to me in my running.

First off, I really want to enter into more shorter distance races.  I have only ever ran one 5K and one 10K and I know that I have the ability to cream those times and get a new PR in both.  So for 2010, I hope to run a sub 45min 10K and a sub 23min 5K.  Based on my running on the roads and the treadmill lately, I believe both are completely achievable.  I have a 10K in February I am looking forward to as I will be in full swing Boston training.  Now I just need to find that "perfect" 5K to round it out.

Last year I knocked a ton of time off my half marathon, too.  In July I ran a 1:36 half, and although I still believe the course was just a bit short, I do know that I had a true sub 1:40 half.  The rest of my half marathons for the year just couldn't break that 1:40 again.  It could be due to the fact that I was racing a lot and just got burnt out, but I do love me the half marathon distance.  So, for 2010 my goal is to break 1:40 in the half marathon again.  Actually I would really like to see a low 1:38 or 1:37.  I think that this is also very achievable, by picking the right race I know that this is a true possibility.

The biggest goal I really want to achieve is a low 3:30 marathon.  I was on track for this in my Fresno marathon but that slipped away when I was fearing that Ari had gotten arrested :)  My normal, really feel good pace when I have been running is sub 8:00/min miles.  8:00/min miles equates into a 3:30 marathon finish.  With the right course and the training, I really believe I can knock some major time off my 3:38 PR.  This is one that I am super excited about.  I would love to achieve this in Boston, but I also want to enjoy the experience instead of just racing by all of the history.  We'll see how my training goes during tax season (which is always a challenge) but there are some really great Fall marathons out there that I know would be a great chance for me to try this out.  Finally, I really want to hit that 2,000 mile mark.  I had well over 1,500 this year and know that without injury I can hit it!  So, starting January 1st, I'm aiming for 2,010 miles ran in 2010!

2009 was a year of racing for me.  I had a blast, but I also know that by the end of the year I was BURNT OUT.  I fell out of love with running for a few weeks and I don't want that to happen again.  I have my races picked out through July and from there I am going to go with feel.  I don't want to feel obligated to run a race anymore just because I paid the race fees six months before.

I feel confident in my goals for 2010 and know that I have set the bar high but also achievable with the hard work :)  I have really enjoyed reading all of your goals and am excited to cheer everyone on in the coming New Year!

My hubbs and I are heading to Sacramento tonight to ring in the New Year with my Bro and SIL and some other friends.  It should be a really nice night.  We rented a limo so none of us have to drive and are having dinner at Morton's.  Mmmmm.  Tomorrow Ari and I are heading to Tahoe for the weekend to snowboard.  I saw the doctor yesterday again and I do have a concussion.  All of my symptoms are classic of a concussion and all they really tell you is to take it easy (i.e. don't opperate heavy machinery, blah, blah, blah) and that most of the symptoms disappear after 3 weeks.  He didn't exactly say "don't snowboard," but I think I am going to sit out tomorrow and then check in with myself on how I feel Saturday before I hit the slopes.  I still have been getting bloody noses about 4 times a day but the confusion is less so that is good :)  I will definitely being going for a run tomorrow, you have to bring in the New Year with a run on day one!

Have a safe and happy New Year!  Thank you again for reading and supporting, I can't wait to see what 2010 brings for all of us!
Happy Running peeps!