When I look back on my running accomplishments during 2011, I can see a gradual improvement in my overall performance and that makes me feel great. Running 1,421 miles represents a 142% increase over my 2010 mileage (588 miles) and I managed to achieve several new PRs as well as completing my BIGGEST accomplishment thus far – running my first marathon!
2011 marked the third year that I ran the Philadelphia 10-Mile Broad Street Run. This has been one of my favorite runs because of my Philadelphia roots. The race course (Broad Street) is mostly flat and a straight run through many of the Philadelphia neighborhoods that represent my upbringing and schooling. The race starts in North Philadelphia where I am able to pass by both of the campuses of Temple University (Main and Medical) where I attended college, Center City where I was born (Hahnemann Hospital) and lived after finishing college and ends in South Philadelphia where I lived up until I was 22 years old. It's a great run with about 40,000 runners and I plan to run this event once again in 2012 where my goal will be to run it as close to a 9.0 minute mile as possible – Look Out!
During 2011 I ran quite a few 5K races and my best pace for this distance was 8:01. That puts me as close to an 8:00 minute mile I've been able to achieve and I have my eyes set on achieving a 'sub 8.0 minute mile' for a 5K in 2012!
The Half-Marathon is probably one of my favorite distances and I managed to run a 9:06 minute pace in Philadelphia during 2011. Similar to my goal for the 10-mile Broad Street Run, I hope to achieve as close to a 9:00 minute mile pace as possible. I have not registered for any half-marathons thus far but I hope to run this distance in at least 4 races in 2012.
The one thing that's nice about running a new distance for the first time is that you automatically have a new PR, right? Well, that is exactly what I did when I ran the Philadelphia Marathon in November, 2011 and finished in a respectable 4:23:46 – that was a 10:05 mile! Clearly, this puts me so close to the 10 minute mile, I have no choice other than setting a 2012 goal to run a marathon at a 10 minute pace or better! I am still undecided as to whether I should plan to run 1 or 2 marathons in 2012. I definitely would like to run the Marine Corps Marathon in October. The jury is still out on whether or not I run another marathon in the May-June timeframe. I hope to make that decision within the next month.
So, all-in-all, I have lots to be thankful for with regard to my 2011 running accomplishments and plan on continuing to improve my performance and definitely stay injury free J
Happy New Year!
John
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