Not Exactly What I Planned for 2008

First off let me say that I started this year with a goal to stay healthy and avoid running injuries and have a good time. As of today, mission accomplished! I give a lot of the credit to snow shoeing early in the season and my focus on trail running in the spring. My weekly mileage has been manageable and more importantly consistent.

So where do I go from here? Well I love to challenge myself. My challenge last week was to see if I could beat my PR in the 1/2 marathon, which I set in 2005 at the exact same course (Swanzey Covered Bridges 1/2 Marathon). I've been waffling on whether to run a fall marathon so I figured I needed a physical test to help convince me one way or the other. The challenge was if I PR'd I'd commit to a fall marathon.

Well I didn't PR....but. I was very pleased with my results. It turned out to be much warmer than I expected AND I made no attempt to taper leading up to this race. I trained just like an other week leading up to it. So with all that I managed to run just 30 seconds off my PR finishing in 1:24:50 and I ran the 2nd half over a minute faster than the first half.

So I've decided to run a fall marathon. Specifically I've decided to run the Baystate Marathon. I didn't run my 1st marathon until 2002 and I was fortunate enough to qualify for Boston on my first attempt. Since then I've run two more and each has been slower than the last. My last attempt was over 5 years ago. So my goal this time is not just to finish a marathon, my goal is at the very least to PR (<3:12) and ultimately to break 3hrs. I'm not sure if it's realistic or not but I'm going to try this one time.

In the meantime I need to get ready for Reach the Beach next week!

2010 New Hampshire Half Marathon Calendar

Updated 11/11/09

January
15th Annual Boston Prep 16 Miler (January 24, 2010)
Derry, NH
$40
Not a half marathon but a nice challenge for January.
Tends to sell out so register early.

February
3rd Annual Half at the Hamptons (February 21, 2010)
Hampton Beach, NH
$45

March
Run to the Border Half Marathon (March 28, 2010)
Rye,NH

April
Great Bay Half Marathon (April 11, 2010)
Newmarket,NH
Temple Half Marathon (TBD)
Temple,NH

May
Big Lake Half Marathon (May 8, 2010)
Alton Bay,NH
$50
Nice course, great finish area. Back in the hands of Keith Jordan (Endorfun)
June
Pack Monadnock 10 Miler (June 6, 2010)
I know it's not a half but your times will look like you ran one!
Wilton,NH
$30ish

July
None (that I know of)

August
CHaD Half Marathon (TBD)
Hanover,NH
$50ish

September
Swanzey Covered Bridges Half Marathon (TBD)
Swanzey,NH
Dixville Half Marathon (TBD)
Colebrook,NH
Applefest Half Marathon (TBD)
Hollis,NH
$45ish

October
Smuttynose Hampton Half Marathon (October 3, 2010)
Hampton,NH
$45
White Mountain Milers Half Marathon (TBD)
North Conway,NH
$40
Fast and mostly flat. Great post-race food.
Tends to sell out so register early.

November
Manchester City Half Marathon (TBD)
Manchester,NH
Seacoast Half Marathon (TBD)
Portsmouth,NH

December
None (that I know of)