A Year End Review

2010 was an interesting race year. It was a roller coaster of a year, with very challenging courses attempted. Here is a summary of the year:

January: Training

February: Training

March: Tom King 1/2 Marathon ...1:38....not bad with a cold/flu earlier in the week

April: Training in Saint Croix in the heat - preparing for N.O. 70.3 ......New Orleans 70.3...5:02 .......a PR! A great way to start the season...3 State 3 Mountain 100 mile bike ride...tough...hunkering down for IM Lanzarote

May: IM Lanzarote 140.6.....13+ hours...7 hours on the bike....very very tough course....nap on the boardwalk....a tough tough day!

June: Training in Leadville

July: Leadville Silver Rush 50 Mile Trail Run 10:04

August: Leadville 100 Trail Run.....DNF at mile 72....a big bummer.....rookie mistakes made....going back in 2011 for the Ledman

September: Franklin Classic on Labor Day 10K ......40 minutes and a 8 place finish.......Syracuse 70.3....whipped my 24 year old nephew, Timmy,....still got it...5:20...no PR....cold water....chilly day..tough bike.

October: Chillin out...decided to sign up for NF 50 Trail Run at the prompting of Daley......

November: Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot 5k......19:18....2nd place for 40-50yr age group

December: North Face Endurance 50 Mile Trail run......toughest course to date....11:48...20,000 feet of elevation gain/loss..secured a victory over my 23 year old pal Daley :).....last race of he season.....

Christmas is 6 days away and I've got all my Xmas shopping completed, presents wrapped and going to try to relax over the holidays and focus on strength training....specifically my core....and waist down. I'm nursing a few injuries and have taken note of the following:

1. Lower left IT band....hurting still from the NF 50...hill running.
2. Lower left heel/Achilles...not a big issue....over came this injury with calf raises and stretches :)
3. Mid right achilles strain....this injury flared up intermittently throughout the season...calf raises... stretching...and indoor treadmill training was the key to recovery....not pushing it.
4. Exercised induced asthma..struck at mile 62 in Leadville and again during a training run in Golden CO, think I've got this issue now under control. I'm going to need to train in conditions that cause it to flare up so I can take an inhaler and make certain that it'll do the trick...don't want to try it for th first time during the LT 100 in August.....

I'm going to begin working on my 2011 resolutions, but for now, pretty happy about experience gained in 2010...Heading out in the morning for Denver, then back home on Wednesday night or thursday am.

Cheers!