Monthly Archives: December 2009
Your Top 5 of 2009
Since the year is almost over, I thought I’d give you a special treat – a look back at the top 5 most read posts of the year. This is all about you, my loyal readers. I can’t make this stuff up. Only WordPress can. And apparently, you like what other people have to say (see Nos. 2 and 3 below), but I don’t really mind.
#5 – I am a marathoner and On the way to 100 push-ups
Technically my post from 2007 after the Richmond Marathon is the No. 5 most-read post this year. It’s not surprising since this has a link in my “About me” section, and I’ve linked to it several other times in other posts. It’s just kind of funny to me that a two-year-old post gets enough page views to be in the top 5.
As for my top 5 new posts this year, a post about my 100 push-ups journey takes this spot. A journey I have yet to complete for various reasons. Bring on 2010.
#4 – Stung in the eye
I would expect nothing less for this post to be here because people like to read about gross things. Three months later, I still cringe when I think about how it felt for a bug to get stuck in my eye. Next summer I will certainly be running more in sunglasses or clear lenses at night.
#3 – Are we really born to run? She says YES!
This was my first guest post of the year from one of my favorite bloggers out there. Go check out that post if you haven’t and click on a link to Michelle’s blog to read about her journey to 1,000 miles this year. It’s enough to make that a private goal for me next year. (Wait … I guess that might not be private now.)
#2 – But I did it anyway
More proof that you like other people, this was also from a guest blogger. Not that I mind – the few guest bloggers I’ve had have been great, and this one is from an ultra-runner who also coaches endurance athletes. Check it out for some inspiration.
#1 – A death near the finish line
This post is far and away the No. 1 post for the year, but it’s not a cause for celebration. This was about my experience as I neared the finish line of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon in Virginia Beach on Labor Day weekend. If you go back and reread that post, you’ll see that something is being planned to honor the runner who died that weekend.
Thanks to everyone who has visited this blog this year. Although I hinted at some changes a couple of weeks ago, I will be keeping this URL and name of the blog. While I want to make some changes in 2010, moving this blog isn’t something I need to do right now.
Logging 2010
With many of my thoughts on next year already, my mom gave me a great gift for Christmas this year — “The Complete Runner’s Day-by-Day Log: 2010 Calendar.” If you’re looking for a way to log your miles with some great tips along the way, this looks like something great to have for next year.
In the past few years I’ve used random calendars to log my miles that had no meaning behind them and were not running related at all. I hope that having daily reminders, tips and other running stories will keep me motivated as I train for my second marathon next year.
31 in 31
In this time of reflection, I’m also looking ahead. Funny thing about 2010, though. Besides a couple of races – Shamrock Half and the Richmond Marathon – it seems like I’m setting myself up for a disappointment. I don’t doubt that these races will bring me much satisfaction, but the time has come to do something different when it comes to my goals. I can’t base my goals on miles or race times alone – I need more than that.
So that’s why in January I will start my own exercise program to get the year kicked off right – “31 in 31.” If you know me well, you’ll know that “31 in 31″ was the name of a blog series I helped create in my former job, so I’m stealing my work idea and using it personally.
The idea behind “31 in 31″ will be to do a different form of exercising for all 31 days in January. My thought for this is to introduce (or reintroduce) different exercises to do what many people do for a new year – a recommitment to my overall health and to jump start what I hope will be some weight loss.
This will range from the obvious – running will count as an exercise for Jan. 1 – to some things I haven’t done for years, such as jumping jacks. This doesn’t mean I’ll only run for one day out of the month or do 1,000 jumping jacks one day – a new exercise is simply meant to discover something new and to keep me active. This, I hope, will get me back into the 100 push-ups program or to start the 200 sit-ups challenge. And this will not be an overly complicated program – I’m just picking something, doing it and adding it to part of what will be regular training for the Shamrock Half. (If this sounds confusing, please pose any questions in the comments section below.) If something this basic works well, then look for a more intense version of “31 in 31″ later in the year.
Who’s in?
Top 5 Moments of the 2000s
Last week I got into a brief argument on Twitter that this is not the end of the decade, so why are news stories saying such things? Well, debate all you want – maybe there was no year “0,” but that was 2,000-plus years ago. I didn’t celebrate the end of the 1980s at the end of 1990 or the end of the ’90s at the end of 2000. So this decade, to me, is ending. If you want to celebrate it next year, then go for it. Just don’t invite me to your party at the end of 2020 to celebrate the end of the ’10s. To me this decade began Jan. 1, 2000, and ends in about two weeks. A decade is a period 10 years – you can’t deny the definition of the word.
Anyway, enough of that rant. It’s time to reflect. When looking back on this past decade of my life, it’s easy to say that my adventure into adulthood has been full of changes. I’ve graduated college, gotten married, changed cities a few times, had a son, bought a couple of houses and started running after a long layoff. To have a “Top 5 Running-related Moments of the 2000s” is kind of weird since I’ve only been running since 2004, but running helps define who I am today. It’s important to me to highlight the top events since this adventure began. It’ll help lead me into the next 10 years.
#5 – My first race
After getting married in 2004, I had to do something to keep me motivated so I signed up for the four-miler in Lynchburg that was part of the Virginia Ten Miler event. I’ll never forget standing at that starting line being so nervous. I had those weird thoughts of finishing last or falling down or something crazy like that. What happened, though, was this amazing feeling of accomplishment at the end of the race. It was almost overwhelming. Most importantly, it kept me going. Forty races later, I’m still running.
#4 – The right gear
Getting properly fitted for shoes, getting a Garmin, discovering non-cotton attire and getting an iPod – all these rolled into one at various points in the past six years – have transformed my running experience.
#3 – 13.1 as a father
I revisited this post earlier this year in my top highlights from the year, and there’s no reason it shouldn’t be on this list too. In fact, I debated whether or not it should be No. 2 or No. 3. The feeling of just doing that race so soon after my son was born is still indescribable.
#2 – 26.2 miles
Two-plus years later, I still can’t explain this feeling to you. If you haven’t read my post from that day, click here to check it out. I can’t wait to go on that journey again.
#1 – Jan. 1, 2004
A hike up to Crabtree Falls in Nelson County was the beginning of this journey. While I had a goal to lose weight for my wedding, this picture of me changed everything. It could be the most important picture of my life. I saw it and knew I had to change. Little did I know how much change it would bring, but I’m so glad it did. This photo helps remind me of where I came from and where I never want to be again.
Honorable mentions
For six years of running, it’s hard to pick a top five. I wrestled with certain things to put in here, such as starting this blog. I started as “Running in Lynchburg” in the spring of 2007 to document my Richmond Marathon training. Blogging is right up there with gear — it’s helped keep me motivated in the past few years.
This year alone has been full of memorable moments, but I didn’t want immediate hindsight to play a role in this list. It’s hard … very hard … to keep “Stung in the eye” off this list. To me, though, the decade list was more about my accomplishments rather than the negative things. Moments like the Virginia Ten Miler and my first Shamrock Half Marathon that happened before my blogging days were great, but didn’t quite make it to the top 5.
All in all my running experience since 2004 has been great. I’m looking forward to what this next decade has to offer …
It’s snow-k with me
Big-time snow storms are rare around here, but I love it when they happen. In case you’re somewhere out in a sunny warm climate in the southwest U.S. or loving life in the summer Down Under, there’s a huge snow storm rolling through the East Coast right now. And in my part of Virginia, we received a foot of snow. Some places got nearly 2 feet. You may remember in March when I got all excited about 10 inches of snow, but that didn’t stick around too long — this time around, cold weather is in place and we’ll be seeing this on the ground for more than just a day.
I love running in the snow — it’s usually peaceful and just gorgeous to see. But last night I went out in the peak of the storm — it was snowing so hard that it felt like a hard rain. It wasn’t too deep when I was out … just … crazy. With the snow blowing in my face, I couldn’t hardly see anything. After I de-layered myself, I looked like the ghost of Christmas past (click on the inset photo to get a close-up view) or something awful. It wasn’t pleasant. I’m very thankful for my attempt at a beard this winter though — it’s been colder than usual, so it’s helping keep me warm. I only ran 2.2 miles last night, but it felt more like 5 miles of effort. Like I said, it was crazy.
But the sight outside today is just beautiful. I’d be crazy to head out and try to run in it today. Tomorrow, though, that’s another story.
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