Medals of races past

Borrowing an idea from Jess and posting pictures of where I keep my medals and which are my favorites.

I won't hide that one of my silent reasons for running is that I get big medal as a reward.  Sure there is an army of other more honorable and immaterial reasons to run, but let's face it, sometimes you just want the pony.  There is something special in getting a medal placed around your neck: it links your small accomplishment to the long line of human athletic achievements throughout the ages and well into the future.  It's arguably my favorite moment of racing (regardless that it coincides with the end of the race).

The first time I ran a race and didn't get a medal I was upset.  Really upset.  Since then I've vainly made sure the races I sign up for have a medal waiting for me at the end--especially since I now tend to travel long distances to races, I need to come back with a souvenir.

With all this talk of medals you would think that I had a dark room set aside for them outfitted like the Museum of Natural History with custom spotlights on each medal and an adjacent engraved plague with a description of the race .  But I live in New York, there's no such thing as a spare room.  I actually--and slightly ironically--store them in a green cardboard box on top of a bookshelf:

Opening up the box you see a salad of ribbons.  Underneath the medals is every bib number I've ever worn.  Since not every race yields a medal I've made it a habit to hold onto every bib number I've worn over the past six years.  But I digress.  This post is about medals.

My favorite medals based on looks are (below, going clockwise from the pink ribbon): Flying Pig Marathon, National Half-Marathon, Maple Leaf Half-Marathon, NYCM, and Disney World Half-Marathon.  The Pig and National medals are high quality medals and cool custom ribbons.  The Pig has the added benefit of having a flying pig on it, which gives it +10 style points.  The Maple Leaf medal is my only non-metallic medal.  It's blown glass, hand made and stamped by an artisan in Manchester, VT, where the race was held.  I can't pinpoint what makes the NYCM so badass it, I think it's because it the only race I've run with built in prestige and wow factor (therefore prestige + wow = badass?  I agree with that algebra).  It might also be the simple refined look of the medal: it doesn't have a four-color logo or a custom ribbon.  It's just a good size, well-crafted, brassy medal that has a subdued ruggedness about it. Finally, the Disney medal is my "big boy" medal.  It probably weighs a pound, is a real quality medal, and just reeks of "yeah, I just did that."

In going through the medals I realized that I have another kind of favorite.  These are the sentimental favorites (too lazy to rotate the picture below, so you'll have to rotate your screen).  Going clockwise from the top right: Breakers Marathon, NYCM, Baltimore Marathon, Delaware Marathon, Great Bay Half-Marathon, and Boston Half-Marathon. 

The Breakers medal is cheesy, I will readily admit to that, but I still fantasize about that race: how perfect the day was, how well I ran that race, how stunning the scenery was, how over-the-top incredible it was to see 20 minutes disappear from my Marathon PR.  I know I will probably never get to run "that race" again. 

The NYCM was the hardest race I've run physically and mentally.  It was a rough couple of months leading up to the race and I clung onto my running in order to keep some sanity.  I had built that race as the end all be all and it did not fail.  On the physical side it wasn't the worst course imaginable, but crowd management played a much bigger role than I expected (or prepared for).

Baltimore wasn't my best showing: I stopped and walked good long portions of that race.  The race wasn't itself wasn't particularly memorable: if you've been to Baltimore you'll know what I mean.  But it was my first, and there are way too many attachments to/lessons from MY FIRST MARATHON EVER for me to deny it a special place.

Delaware represents my current Marathon PR.  Great Bay represents my current Half-Marathon PR.  My two fastest efforts to date.  While both were good races, they will one day be replaced by medals from new PRs.

The last one here is Boston.  This is my number one dime (it's a Duck Tales reference, look it up).  It's a humble medal, nothing particularly cool about it.  The race itself was your archetype New England race with rolling hills and autumn foliage.  But it was my first athletic event, ever.  Before this medal you did not see sRod run, after it, you did.  This medal is more than metal and fabric, it is a symbol of a change in my life.

Those are the highlights of my collection.  They are now safely tucked back inside their box, with the bib numbers, eagerly awaiting new members to the fold.

An addendum to my 2010 goals

Facing a shrinking time window to be timely I kinda of just spat out my goals for 2010 a few weeks back. Now, with more time (and now that I'm back into training) I'd like to revisit those goals and add a few more.

1. Continue filling up states on the map. In 2009 I passed the 1/5 mark on my goal to run a race (Half or Full Marathon) in every state plus DC. I'm up to 11 states and have four out of town races on the calendar for 2010. (Of course, there is still plenty of space to squeeze in a fifth race this year....)
2. Keep bringing down my times. The Marathon and I are on good terms again, so I'm going to keep shooting for a PR and crawl closer to a BQ. 3:40 is the next time goal I have in mind, let's see if I can make it happen in Wilmington or Maine. As for the Half-Marathon, my next benchmark is 1:45 and given that my HM times are still on a long-term downward, I think I will definitely hit that this year.
3. Get a dog. We are finally moving to an apartment that not only allows dogs, but has a gigantic terrace that we can use as a dog run. After 4.5 years of living in this city without a dog, we are going to get one. (BTW, does any one know a good terrier breeder?)
4. Try shorter distance races. This one I add half-heartedly. For some reason I just don't really care about races shorter than 13.1 miles: I ran five HMs and a Marathon before my first 5K or 10K--and I've never run those distances again! But that nagging voice in the back of my head keeps saying that I should be better rounded and start playing around with the shorter distances.
5. Run a relay. This one is really pie-in-the-sky because I only have one real life runner friend (oddly enough, who I met via this blog). However, I would love to run in one of those crazy 12-person, pack up everything in a van, run overnight for 200 miles relay runs.

2010 goals

No flourish here, just a straight up list of wonderful bullets.

Goals--keep doing from 2009

• Write over 100 posts. Ideally I'll write more, hopefully closer to 150, but life tends to get in the way pretty often.
• Train outside as much as possible. I just feel better when I run outside/not on a treadmill. For the next couple months of Winter I'll have to do most runs indoors, but the second it gets back into the 40s pre-dawn, I'll cancel my gym membership and will be out on the roads again.
• Stay happy in my job. I'm very happy where I am now. Thanks to the recession I've been through enough employers that I now have a much better sense of what is a hiccup and what is a long-term problem.

Goals--new for 2010

• Have a 50-mile training week. I'm just curious as to how that feels.
• Integrate HR into my training. For Christmas I got the HR monitor for Fenny, so I can now join the chest-strapped elite. I've been curious about measuring my HR for a while and now have no excuse.
• Run 1,500 miles. Once I added in the balance of my December runs the official grand total mileage for 2009 is 1,318. Another 200ish miles shouldn't be that hard, especially since I'll log about 650 per training cycle.
• Keep up with Pop bits. I've only got one installment under my belt, but I'm hoping to make it a regular part of the blog.

Nothing too exciting, but I hope that's a sign that I've got lots of things going in the right direction.

First day of 2010 is all about 2009

Time for a little reflection before seeing what I want to tackle over the next 365 days.

Let's see how I did on the 2009 goals:

1. Log 1,000 miles for the year. EPIC WIN! Not counting runs from the past two weeks--because they are still in Fenny and not in my log yet--I have run 1,286 miles. The distance from my apartment in NYC to my parent's house in Miami? 1,293.
2. Get presents for family members' birthdays. EPIC FAIL! I actually did better on this one last year. Ugh. I will get there.
3. I want to be happier in my job. UNEXPECTED WIN! If anything went completely opposite to what I planned it was my career. Worked my tail off only to lose my client. Ended up getting laid-off on my first day back from vacation. Took a freelance job at an agency that people would die to work at. Interviewed for a job 500 miles from New York. Finally took a job that was a promotion and raise (in this economy!). And now I am actually happy with my job--and I don't remember the last time I could honestly say that.
4. Get more involved in the running community. DOUBLE FAIL! I didn't rejoin my running group: my excuse was always that the group started runs too late in the morning--wah wah wah. Although I have to say that my running didn't suffer because of this. I also didn't volunteer at a single race, which I have no legitimate excuse for.
5. Move to a new place. NON-FAIL FAIL! We didn't move, but I can't call this a real fail. Our landlord raised our rent only $25, so I didn't actually lose that much by staying put.
6. Become an uncle. FOREGONE WIN! This kid is absolutely adorable. Once we get back to NYC I'll post some pictures.
7. Run at least five races. FAIL, BUT ALMOST A WIN! Due to the economy and shifting jobs travel and racing plans were put on hold. Actually, the only reason I did a fall Marathon was because the race was in my backyard. However, even with all that I ran four races this year, got two states off the list, and got a redundant state (NY) off my list.

What else went down in 2009?

• After a year and a half of running with the Super Runner's Shop weekend running groups I finally got my free shoes.
• After about 10 attempts, I finally had a successful 20 mile run.
• PR'd in the HM distance by five minutes.
• Did an entire training cycle outdoors and it felt really good. Getting off the treadmill felt like dropping junk food from my diet. I felt like I got more bang for my buck on every run and that everything just worked better.
• Ran my first Marathon that I had to fly to--which proved to be a great experience
• Had my first celebrity sighting while running.
• Surpassed 100 posts in a calendar year, 106 to be exact

Looking at this 2009 doesn't sound all that bad. But were definitely plenty of things that can make 2010 better.

Kicking off 2009 right

Training for the 2009 racing season has officially begun!

I kicked off the my training for Little Rock/Great Bay/Wilmington this morning with a three mile tempo run. It's been almost three weeks since my last run, so this morning's run was surprisingly difficult--which is always how training starts, right? You look down the barrel (i.e., your training schedule) and think "What the hell am I doing? There is now way I can do this again." And then little by little you relearn how to run and how to turn over your legs and how to breathe properly. Then, after a while you find even an eight mile tempo run isn't that daunting and a 16 mile long run is just a "morning stroll" before brunch. It's like a little rebirth at the start of every training season.

In keeping with the spirit of starting the year, I'm also laying out my goals--running and otherwise--for 2009 in no particular order:

1. Log 1,000 miles for the year. The problems with my IT band early on in 2008 set me way back--I got in about 890 miles. But so far I'm in great shape and have three races on the calendar. One thousand miles should be totally doable this year.
2. Get presents for family members' birthdays. It's not really a matter of needing to buy something for someone, it's more a matter of showing my family that I'm still thinking of them even though I'm far away. I got better at this during 2008, but had a hard time with the people who don't need anything and buy everything they want (ahem, parents).
3. I want to be happier in my job. My job has taken a turn toward the crapper pretty much since October and I need to fix that. Not sure what that means just yet, but stay turned.
4. Get more involved in the running community. This is two-pronged. First, I need to get back with the group runs (which I stopped doing over the summer because the heavy mileage didn't go well with the late start on hot summer days). Second, I need to volunteer more at NYRR events.
5. Move to a new place. From what I'm hearing, even the housing market here in NYC is softening. Although we probably won't be able to buy a place, we are going to keep looking for a new apartment since we can hopefully negotiate a deal by moving.
6. Become an uncle. Well, this isn't a goal that I have much control over. It's more my sister's job. But the good news is that she's already two months pregnant! The little guy or girl right now is about the size of a lemon or orange or some other citrus fruit, but by late July we'll have a new member to the family.
7. Run at least five races. I want to do some serious damage to the 50 state goal this year. Right now I have three races lined up for the first half of 2009 and I should be able to get a Fall Half-Marathon and Marathon on the calendar. If all goes according to plan I'll be more than 20% of my way to completion by the end of the year!!

I made my first goal

Never, never, never quit

I'm channeling Winston Churchill for my final hours before the starting gun at Fairfield. I'm about to head out for an easy 30-minute run around the 'hood. But before that, I want to get all my thoughts down before they swirl out of my head as they tend to in the hours leading up to a race.

Goal Times

• Goal 1 (attainable): Come in close--but under--my PR of 1:53:42. Completely doable because my Half-Mary PR pace is 8:41 and most of my training runs have been faster than that. (I do realize that for humility's sake and out of respect for the distance that my attainable goal should be "to enjoy the race," but damn it, I am a cocky 20-something that always has something to prove.)
• Goal 2 (challenge): Come in at 1:50. That would shave about four minutes off my time. It's within the realm of reason, but it won't be easy to maintain that 8:24 pace.
• Goal 3 (pie in the sky): Come in at 1:45 (essentially an 8:00 pace). This would be exceeding hard because it's hard enough to maintain this pace for a six mile run. Can't imagine how I'll do it tomorrow.

Weather
Oh New England--your weather patterns are horrible. This week was beautiful. Every morning I woke up to a chill in the air, puffs of clouds in the sky, and glorious sunshine. However, tomorrow's weather for Fairfield calls for light showers leading into scattered thunderstorms. While the rain sucks (I've never actually run in the rain), it does guarantee cool temps (high 60s) and plenty of cloud coverage. The rain also spoils the beach plans we had for the rest of the day. Boo.

Travel
The lovely seaside town of Fairfield is just one-hour North of New York City. I could actually take the commuter rail to the race, but that would mean getting on the 5:35am train out of NYC--I just can't bring myself to get to Grand Central at 5:30am. So we'll be renting a car tonight and driving up at 6am tomorrow.

I've never stayed this far away from the race starting line, so hopefully it turns out alright.

Race Day Strategy
I've been good about this race and studied the course quite a bit over the past few weeks. The hardest part of the race seems to be the hilly midsection. Although I've heard from people that have run this race in the past that there are some surprise hills at the end.

So my plan for the race will be to take the first two miles easy, which shouldn't be a problem because with 3,000 runners there will be a lot of people in my way those first couple of miles. Miles 2-4 I want to settle into a good pace, trying to get toward my goal pace. Miles 5-7 have the biggest climbs and downhills, so there'll be some speeding up and slowing down--which I anticipate will completely mess with my pacing. After mile 7 it looks to be pretty easy, with a few rolling hills--which I like because little hills help get the blood pumping without taxing me too much and can really boost my mood if I tackle them well. After the hill in mile 11 I'll be going through my gravvy songs and hopefully just feeding off the excitement, making a mad dash to finish line.

I'm really hoping to be smart about this race and not just attack it blindly like I normally attack a race. But I'm sure come tomorrow morning I will be suffering from level 5 runner's brain and all this good thinking would have gone to waste.

Music
There have been a few changes to the playlist for Fairfield, I've updated Tuesday's post with the new mix. I had to switch out some songs that just didn't feel right.

Final Thoughts

• It's been over a year since I've raced at this distance, it's going to be a good time to returning to my favorite distance
• When it starts to hurt and suck and the world starts crumbling around me I will just think: Does it really hurt that much? The answer is always no.
• It is quite possible that this race, as much as I've prepared for it, will go bad. I'm not going to lie: if all does go horribly wrong I will be upset. If my GI tract acts up, as it has lately, I'll have to stop to get that out of the way. If I break out into stitches, I will have to combat them and probably have to walk. If my IT Band flares up, I will have to stop and stretch and inject walking breaks. But, I know I will finish. It might not be the time I want or the beautiful race I had hoped and dreamed about, but I will get my shit together and get to that finish line. I will never, never, never quit.

I am becoming America!

While wrapping up today's group run with the Super Runner's Shop (six more runs until a free pair of shoes!) one of the other runners asked me why I'm not doing the Long Branch Half-Marathon again this year. That prompted me to write this post.

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Yes, you read that right. I am becoming America:

Ok, ok, not that America, but this one:

Ok, ok, becoming might be an overstatement, but let me explain.

Way back in 2005, after I ran the Boston Half-Marathon, I swore I would never run again. However, my aunt, a fellow runner at the time, decided to sign me up for Disney without me knowing, figuring that if I did a Half-Marathon once that I could easily do it again. She paid for registration and I was going to be in Florida anyway for Christmas, so I couldn't get out of it.

While Disney is in the records as my slowest Half-Marathon, and despite my complaints about the 2am wake-up call (ugh!), it probably did the most to cement my love for running. It was such a fun race and I was able to pick up the training so easily that I knew I was hooked by the end of that race. (Also the gigantic shiny Donald medal helped a lot too.)

I'm not sure what inspired me, but sometime in the months following Disney I decided I was going to run a Half-Marathon in each state. I really wish I had a cool inspirational story, something grand like: while my long-lost Godfather lay on his deathbed I promised him that in his memory I would run every state in the country fundraising to find a cure for his disease--but alas, I have no story to tell. The same way you remember to buy sugar at the grocery store is the same way this goal popped into my head.

I've had this goal for about three years now and as you can see from my completed races, I've made a dent in this union of states, amassing a total of six states (plus another three to come this year). Sure, this is a far flung goal that will probably take decades to complete, and really, if I fall shy by about 20 states I still would have achieved an impressive collection of races--so why do I stick with it? My classic argument is that many runners have the goal of qualifying and making it into Boston--which is a very noble goal. But in most cases, that goal (once you dedicate yourself to making it happen) will probably take a few years. And then what? Which is exactly why I have this multi-decade goal that will probably keep me focused on running well into my 40s.

Now you may have realized that I've already violated the whole Half-Marathon in every state bit with the Baltimore Marathon last year and the fact that I plan on running more marathons in the future. I'm doing this for several reasons: (1) I hated calling myself a Half-Marathoner, (2) I like to push myself out of my comfort distance, and (3) the same reason they climb Mt. Everest: because it's there. So to cumbersomely restate my goal: I want to run a Marathon or Half-Marathon in every state plus DC. (Although technically a Marathon is really two Half-Marathons, so I am correct in saying I want to run a Half-Marathon in every state. But that's just a technicality.)

Now, unfortunately, I know right off the bat that there at least two states that I will be doing twice. The first is Massachusetts. I already ran the Boston Half-Marathon, but I know someday I'll be back to run it's storied, significantly longer, older brother. The second is New York. I ran the Queens Half-Marathon back in 2006, but the bastards at NYRR didn't give out medals! Who holds a race longer than 10K and doesn't give out medals??? Come on. So just because of that silliness I want to run NYC's big race and get the medal I rightfully deserve. (Yeah bitches.)

This give me a grand total of 53 races to run before I'm done: 50 states + 1 District of the Colombian persuaion + 1 Mass double-header + 1 NY redux. Thus far, I've averaged two races a year, which means 26.5 years of racing, which means I'll be within earshot of 50 when I finish. (Hey Joan Benoit did it.) However, I'm trying to do three or four races a year, which will bring that age closer to 40. And like any compulsive planner, I've been building a list of races to run over the next 20-someodd years:

• Fairfield Half-Marathon (CT)
• Maple Leaf Half-Marathon (VT)
• Breakers Marathon (RI)
• 3M Austin Half-Marathon (TX)
• Little Rock Marathon (AR)--largest medal in racing and you know I need me one of those if I'm going to Little Rock
• Big Lake Half-Marathon (NH)
• Marine Corps Marathon (DC)
• Tybee Island Marathon (GA)--only because I can eat at Paula Deen's restaurant afterward
• Indianapolis Half-Marathon (IN)--because you actually get to run on the Speedway, how cool is that?
• San Francisco Marathon (CA)--only because you get to go over the Golden Gate Bridge, twice.
• Las Vegas Marathon (NV)--I mean what other race can you run by New York, Paris, Venice, and a Flamingo?
• Flying Pig Marathon (OH)--the name sold me
• Mayor's Marathon (AK)--although the Norwegian midnight sun race actually happens at night--I mean during the day...but when it's supposed to be night--how crazy is that?

P.S.-I know about the 50 State Marathon Club. But I won't join for two reasons: (1) the Half-Marathon is my favorite distance and (2) I only have one Marathon down and I'm not about to start all-over because of some club says my Half-Marys don't count. Boo on them.

Notes

No focus this morning, just some random thoughts/updates/ramblings:

• Going to see my General Practitioner this morning about my IT Band in hopes of getting some help. I don't know how good her sports medicine skills are, but we'll find out today. I'll also ask her about active release, see if she knows anyone in the area that practices it. Hopefully she'll fix me up like she did after Footgate so that I can actually run Austin instead of walking it briskly.
• My latest musical obsession: Feist of iPod and Verizon fame
• We're buying a new computer this weekend!! Thanks to Santa Claus, we have funds to finally get a new machine. There will be much celebration when we finally toss this dinosaur, something along these lines.
• Now that everyone is back in the office I can pick up where I left off before Christmas. The future looks pretty bleak for my current agency: I will be off my current client probably by the end of next week and they aren't sure where they can fit me after that. I let them know that I am close to getting an offer from another agency. Their response was actually supportive, they said if it is better than what they can offer me then they would encourage me to take the position. I know the offer will be better than what my current agency can offer, so my days there are numbered.
• I'm trying to set up my race calendar for this year, so far, this is what I've got:
  • Jan 27: 3M Austin Half-Marathon in TX
  • Apr 6: Loco Great Bay Half-Marathon in NH
  • Jun 22: Fairfield Half-Marathon in CT
  • Sep 7?: Maple Leaf Half-Marathon in VT
  • Oct 26: Marine Corps Marathon in DC
• My thoughts on this race calendar:
• If I can't run Austin, then I will run-walk, crawl, shuffle, and/or hobble my way to the finish line, damn it. I gave up my time goal a while ago, my goal now is to finish that race before it closes, which is a luxurious 4 hours.
• The Great Bay HM is pending that I can get my IT Band fixed soon. Otherwise, I'll scrap it. I'm already committed to Austin, forcing myself through Great Bay would be craziness...although I have been called that on several occasions.
• I have convinced my wife and her friend to run Fairfield with me--if you knew my wife you would be completely shocked--so I'm really looking forward to this race.
• Since I'll be in the middle of marathon training in September, I figured a Half-Marathon would be a nice way to spice up the training (and get me out of the city).
• Oh Marine Corps, you were my Plan B marathon last year--how foolish was I? This year I know to sign up the second registration opens.
• If I go according to this plan I'll get four states and one federal district out of the way this year. Granted most of them are annoyingly small states, but Texas will be a nice big chunk of the map. The good thing about the New England states is that they are really easy and cheap to get to and can double as a weekend getaway.
• San Francisco fell off my list because it was just not going to work out--awkward timing, expensive tickets, etc. But it will stay on my ever increasing list of races I plan to run.

Should auld acquaintance be forgot?

As seems appropriate, I woke up this morning determined to write a "looking back, looking forward" entry as I ice the hell out of my knee. So here are some resolutions, both running and secular, based on what I've learned in 2007 and want to accomplish in 2008.

1. Stop avoiding birthdays. Ever since I started living away from home I've taken that as liberty to skip on giving birthday presents to my family. It's a bad habit and that's why I'm ending it. So mom, sis, dad, etc., expect some presents from me along with those phone calls this year.

2. Get rid of this damned IT pain. Hopefully, this can be solved in the short term (i.e., the next 96 hours). But I have a sneaking suspicion that the pain probably stems from the regular abuse of running long distances. I spent the last 10 months of 2007 training for some half-marathon or marathon--this IT pain may be a sign to ease it up on the long distances and maybe introduce some 10Ks and trail races to the mix.

3. ...that said, it would be cool to break 1000 miles next year. In 2007 I logged 816 miles--which doesn't include running in January or February since I didn't start tracking my runs until March. Let's round up to 850 to account for Jan and Feb. If I didn't have Footgate back in Nov/Dec I would have at least hit 900. Increasing the mileage a measly 10ish% doesn't seem like a debilitating, pain-inducing goal.

4. ...that said, I have the unspoken goal of increasing my speed every year. And while 2007 wasn't a banner year for speed, it was one for endurance, you know, with MY FIRST MARATHON EVER! I set a crappy PR for 26.2, so speed at that level I hope won't be much of an issue. As for the Half-Mary, I was aiming to PR at Austin--but that relies on this damn IT band healing. I have my eyes on a few other Half-Marys this year with hopes of reaching an 8:00 min/mile pace or better.

5. Eat right. Good God, do I love to eat. Any food, any cuisine, day or night, sweet or savoy--although I'm a real sucker for the sweets. You know what it is that my wife got me a chocolate cooking class for Christmas in hopes of helping me achieve my life-long dream: opening a dessert restaurant of my own. Yeah, we're talking serious foodie here. This eating problem is one of the reasons I started running: so that I could eat whatever I wanted and not have to worry. But I've realized in the past year that if I want to improve my running/overall well being, that the diet has to change. So this is a resolution to eat that chicken salad instead of the steak and pomme frites, snack on those crackers instead of that cupcake, and for God's sake eradicate the ice cream from my freezer.

6. Apply some running discipline to our finances. 2007 was a recovery year after the major expenses of getting married and moving to a new apartment. And let's not even mention that I didn't quality for my company's 401(k) until today--yes, the company I may be leaving in the next few weeks. But as of right now, all the credit cards are paid off (including all the Christmas shopping) and we are in the black. Now it's time to get our save on.

7. Take more pictures. My wife got me a camera as her wedding present to me. The idea was to document our new lives together. Cute, I know. Even cuter was that she used the pictures I took during our first year together to create a photo album, which she gave to me as my anniversary present. What I've learned during the past year is that I like to take pictures...when I remember to take the camera. For most trips/events I just forget to pack the camera. So I bought a bag for the camera yesterday, and placed it near the door, in hopes of remembering it on the way out.

So here comes another year of running and trying to make the most of everything and anyone I am luck enough to have. Three, two, one...Happy New Year!

Refocus

Ok, so I've come to terms with it: Fairfield is off the plans for this year. And didn't get into New York...so that's off too. Oh yeah, and it turns out that DC filled up BEFORE the lottery for the NY Marathon was called. Hmmm. So there go all my plans for 2007. Love it.

No NY or DC this year means I have to find another race to be MY FIRST MARATHON EVER (as it should always be referred to as). So I'm defaulting to Plan C: Baltimore. I've heard great things about the city, I'm a big fan of Chef Duff, and I always see Baltimore Marathon t-shirts at races. Based on that expert analysis of the race, I signed up this week.

Now it's officially on: the 2007 Baltimore Marathon on October 13 will be MY FIRST MARATHON EVER. So excited.

But wait...oh crap...that means I have to start training for a marathon. Hmmm. Perhaps I should get on that.

(Also...on the housekeeping front...adding a couple things on the right today since I finally have the time)