Ad Multos Annos – v.1.0 RUNNING
First, let me acknowledge the fact that blogging has been at the bottom of my priority list over the last few weeks. I have been eating, drinking, reading, movie watching, snowboarding, parade watching, Rose Bowl game attending, and yes, exercising. It’s not that I don’t like blogging, I just like watching Twin Peaks on my lunch break more, it is one of my favorite things to do but it is also extremely time-consuming, but I am now officially back at it! Oh, whats that? Yes, yes I did use the “R” word in my title. I think I am ready to start saying it again…RUNNING…and just so you know, just because it wasn’t being discussed, I was still pounding the pavement. As for the Latin, “ad multos annos” is a phrase that translates “to many years”! It is a prosperous phrase that looks forward and since 2012 is in the books, I am now looking forward to 2013. Let’s recap the achievements of the past year and then set some new goals for 2013
My main fitness goal at the beginning of the year was to run a half marathon. Last January the thought of a half marathon had me questioning my sanity, this year a half marathon seems like a training run. The unfathomable goal for 2012 was to run 1,000 miles and the unknown goal was to complete a marathon. The completion of my first half marathon left me on such a high that I decided to run the New York City Marathon and we all know how well that turned out. The good news is that although I did not end up running New York this year, the training for it propelled me to my goal of eclipsing 1,000 miles! This was such a big deal that I decided to dedicate my last run route of 2012 to celebrate in grand fashion….
No, it is not a snake…it is supposed to read as 1,000!
The perseverance and commitment required to be a runner has made me mentally and physically stronger in a way that I never imagined. I am so thankful for a year of health and growth thanks to running!
Running Bucket List Items achieved in 2012:
- Bucket List #32 – Run 1,000 miles in a year
- Bucket List #33 – Run an event and place in my age bracket
- Bucket List #36 – Run a half marathon
2012 running recap:
Number of Races Completed : 6
5k’s (1) – Claremont Turkey Trot – NEW PR – Time – 20:19 (6:32/mi)
10k’s (2) – Pasadena Marathon (10k) – NEW PR – Time – 46:14 (7:26/mi) – Camp Pendleton Mud Run (MUD PR) – Time – 56:14 (9:08/mi)
Half Marathons (3) – Pasadena Rock’n'Roll Half Marathon – Time – 1:51:34 (8:31/mi) / Windward Half Marathon (Hawaii)- Time – 2:03:52 (9:27/mi) – / Malibu International Half Marathon NEW PR – Time – 1:49:34 (8:21/mi)
Marathons – ING New York Marathon (Cancelled)
Longest Run – 20 Miles!
Most Miles in a Month : September : 143 Miles
Shoes Retired : (3) RIP Saucony Guide 4′s!
Total Miles Run : 1,003.89 miles logged and a mud run
Total Number of Runs : 181 and a mud run
Total Number of Mini-Tantrums in Which I Cursed Running Before Pushing Myself Out the Door : 181 + a mud run
Average Pace : 8:40/mi
So maybe you noticed two PR’s I did not previously share…well, that is because I didn’t feel like writing about either after New York…I didn’t feel like talking about RUNNING but in very un-Dominick fashion, let me sum up both races “quickly”. The Malibu Half Marathon was the race I chose to do one week after New York, I wanted to put my training to good use but did not feel like running a marathon. I did little to no preparation for this race mentally and failed to read the course map properly the day before…
Yeah! A little downhill with a lot of flat terrain…
I actually thought the course was going to be flat and went about dreaming of a NEW PR somewhere around 1:45 since I had trained to run a 3:40 marathon, I figured that would be easy! Do you see my error? If not, let me explain, the course BEGAN at the half way mark…it didn’t finish there. Now, I think you will see why I hated this race. I had trained for a semi flat marathon and came up against an extremely hilly half marathon. Around mile 8 I was walking up a hill, cursing myself, wondering why I was running, beating myself up about giving up and saying things like…is this how you would have responded to adversity in NY? I even pondered walking the rest of the way since I kept falling further behind the 1:45 pace group. I decided to suck it up and just kept telling myself, this has to be the last hill…I was wrong every time until the last mile when I could finally see the finish line. I was thankful it was over, it was that miserable. The frustration subsided when I realized that even though the race sucked, I had set a new PR and not given up. That course was brutal and to beat my previous record by 2 minutes was good enough to put a small smile on my face. I would have liked to have crushed my previous time but it wasn’t going to happen on that course. Here are a few pictures of my beard and my Stoked Mentoring jersey that I was supposed to wear in NYC…
That pained look was pretty standard throughout the entire race…
Happy to be done…notice I lost a few articles of clothing…err threw them off my body in anger.
As for the 5K PR, this race was completely different from the half marathon. I knew I hadn’t been training for speed, my goal was to beat my previous 5k time of 21:45 and hopefully break 21 minutes but if I did neither, I was ok with it. I thought it was doable because I was in much better shape than the previous year so my heart should be able to endure any pace my body could. It was cold, the course was somewhat flat and I was focused. 5k’s are a different beast, you have to start at race pace and then try to hold on for 3 miles. The first mile was filled with doubt as my legs and heart warmed up. I kept my eyes on a group of runners that included a tiny girl who was maybe 10 years old, I wanted to stay with that pack or pass them. With about a mile left, I felt like I needed to slowdown but knew I had to fight through it and kept focusing on the finish. The last quarter-mile I began jockeying for position with a girl who had been around me almost the entire race, she looked like she was beginning to give into the pace so I decided to be the motivator that people have been to me in the past. I said, “come on! We are almost done, it’s just around this corner, 100 yards, push it!”. She said, “OK!” and we both sprinted through to the finish. When I stopped my iPhone, I thought, maybe there was an error, it was under 21 minutes! My official time ended up being lower than my phone tracked…20:19, so exhausting but so rewarding! It is worth noting, that little girl was not 10…she was 9, and she finished about 45 seconds ahead of me…and I am not embarrassed to have been smoked by a future Olympian. Here are some more pictures of my beard…
Pre-race…no I am not picking my butt…I am hiding my water bottle thank you very much…
10 Running Goals for 2013 – 2012 was injury free and I can honestly say that I am in the best shape of my post high school life and loving it, so why not keep it going?!
1. Bucket List #28 – Run a Half Marathon in San Francisco – I wanted to run the inaugural San Francisco Rock N Roll Half Marathon this April but dragged my feet because I was hoping to find someone to run it with me…mistake…it is now sold out! Looks like I will have to find another event in San Francisco if I want to cross this one off the list.
2. Bucket List #37 - Run the NYC Marathon – Call me stupid but I am going to stick to NYC as the one and only marathon (as of right now) and give it another go in 2013…I am crossing my fingers for a cool summer and disaster free November in the greater New York area.
Other goals for 2013
3. Run the year injury free! How do I do this? Lots of stretching and cross training. I am committing myself to doing at least one Pilates, Bar Method, Yoga, or cross training style class each week. Can we talk about how intense Bar Method is? If you have ever done this, please tell me that I am not the only one who crumbles into a trembly mass…
4. Go sub 20 5k, sounds easy enough right since I had a low 20′s this year…but that is still going to be difficult to do considering the only 5K I do right now is the Turkey Trot.
5. Run 1,100 miles – I made a 300 mile jump from 2011 to 2012 and I am not sure I can do much more but I am going to try to bump it up a little here and there!
6. Run a 5 minute mile…just one…not sure if it will be possible but I want to try!
7. Run the Camp Pendleton Mud Run without walking. This is probably the most difficult goal of them all…this will truly be an accomplishment.
8. Run a race with an acquaintance from the Blogosphere…does anyone want to run New York?
9. Start a run club in Pasadena. There are already some run clubs in Pasadena but I have a difficult time connecting with those runners. I feel like I want a slightly more aggressive club with people who I might actually enjoy hanging out with after the run. No offense to the current groups I run with…I just want something different and I can’t change your clubs!
10. Run a half marathon out-of-state. Not sure where but doing the Windward Half in Hawaii miserable fun. Any suggestion? Throw some ideas at me!
Races on tap for 2013
February – Rock’n'Roll Pasadena Half Marathon
April – RAGNAR Relay Southern California
June – Camp Pendleton Mud Run
November – ING New York City Marathon
The others are TBD
All in all it was a great year of running and I look forward to many more years!
What are some your 2013 running goals?
30 Responses to “Ad Multos Annos – v.1.0 RUNNING”
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Longest Race
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO SF is sold out???????? OMG!!!!!!!!!! I’ve been thinking about registering since November.
Yeah! Super bummed about it. There are a few others in the city but I really wanted to do that one. You can fundraise but I am all tapped out after New York City.
Tee hee…butt picker!!
First of all, how awesome is it that you ran the outline of 1,000? Kinda looks like Nessie, but that’s just me. Congrats on your HUGE accomplishment.
Secondly, if I can get in (yeah right) I’ll run NY with you!!
Ha, I didn’t really pay attention to the butt picking until I put it up on here…I am surprised no one on Instagram called me out for it.
As my gf would say…”it looks like a snake…see the two little eyes”. I am pretty psyched about it so thank you!
As for NY, its a lottery but I am not sure how the cancellation will effect the 2013 system. You can always fundraise in, I would donate!
1,000 miles!! You’re amazing. Remember when I was a better runner than you? That was short lived. Proud of you for all the hard work you put in this year!
Thank you but we both know that you are still a better runner, I am just more committed, there is a difference.
Congrats on those 2 secret PR’s! That 5K PR was huge and the half marathon would’ve been too, if it hadn’t been for that course. Hills suck, and even more so at the end of the race.
You could accomplish both #2 and #8 if you decide to run SF Half in June. I’m thinking about running the 2nd Half. Registration prices go up on 1/15, so I’m going to decide soon. What do you think?
Thanks Jen, TOP SECRET PR’s! The 2nd Half looks like an awesome route…$95 is steep but it might work! I will kick it around for a couple of days. Have you done that even before?
No I haven’t run it before, but it’s definitely on my list! It’s less scenic than the 1st half, but starts at a much more reasonable time and it’s flatter. I agree about the price though. So expensive!
I tried to “tweet” you (god, that sounds vulgar), but dunno if it worked. Anyway! I found a discount code for SF Half — save $10 before 1/19 with DSC10AMBAE2013. I’m registering tonight!
Also, some fun videos of the course (scroll down): http://www.thesfmarathon.com/the-race/course-maps/
Ahh, let me ponder! That would be a slightly better price, I also have to check my schedule to make sure it doesnt conflict but thanks for the coupon!
1000 miles! Amazing…and as for the snake graphic, it’s totally appropriate since you ran towards 2013, year of the snake!
For the record, it does look like butt picking.
All your goals sound amazing, and that story of your Malib marathon is inspiring…I’m really hoping to beat my PR on Monday in my race but not sure if I can without a running partner…CAN I!? Oh self doubt, you little bitch.
I like your take on the “snake” the most…I will go with that. For the record, I KNOW….which is why I was surprised no one mentioned it previously…maybe it only looks like noticeable butt picking because I brought it to your attention?
I train without a partner so once race day hits, its just me and my thoughts as usual. You definitely can do it! I am excited to read the post, I am assuming it is in Japan?!
I train without a partner too, in the sense that we don’t always do runs together and when we do we aren’t on the same pace after mile 1. But for every half I’ve done I had someone else doing it with me, so on race morning I kind of had that pal to help me get motivated. Now it will be me and couple thousand Japanese people who I can’t talk to!
I’ll give you the replay next week!
Just take your phone out and put the speaker on while you play Gangnam Style and see what happens…
I’m with you though, I definitely prefer to have someone with me at the start even if I’m not planning on sticking with them. I would really like a race where I could run with someone at the same pace, that would be awesome!
YES, it is awesome! My race in September was with my sister and we are on the same pace. Finishing together felt amazing!
You had an awesome year, and you’re fast man. I’ve been killing myself to get a 50 minute 10k or 1:50 half. Well I’m definitely doing the NYC marathon 2013. And that 1000 route, brilliant.
Thanks! I don’t think I am fast yet but I am definitely getting there. 10k’s are pretty brutal too, it also makes me feel like I am going to run out of breathe and the last mile tends to feel like an eternity. I have seen your times, I think you can get both of those goals in 2013. We’ll keep in touch and maybe we can connect on race in NYC!
I also see Nessie! That is quite creative! I’ve never considered making shapes with my courses. And I will join your Pasadena run club!!! Even if I only make it to the L.A. area once every…4 years.
Congratulations on your races! That 5-K time sounds miserable, but amazing! And your half course was good training for San Francisco. The half marathon I did there was so hilly, but the views are worth the pain.
OK, so my body doesn’t draw well with GPS! It was supposed to be an obvious numerical value but I see Nessie as well…especially with the elevation pace thing at the bottom, it kind of looks like water.
I have to look into the Run Club idea…my inspiration is the Bridgerunners in Brooklyn, their club looks amazing and full of fun non-stereotypical-runners that form a pretty solid bond. I want that.
Thanks for the congrats. The 5-k was miserable, maybe one day I will be “A” fast, I doubt it but I have to dare to dream. I am not looking forward to SF’s hills…that is why I have a half marathon on there because I can’t imagine doing a full in that city…it would be brutal!
I was about to ask what races you have on tap but I just remembered that you have the grandaddy of the all coming up!
Yup, there is that one. We’re also thinking of doing the Garden of the Gods 10 miler in Colorado Springs and the Imogene Pass Run which is 17 miles of uphill goodness between Telluride and Ouray. And I want to do RnR Las Vegas. I’ll also probably put in for the Nike Women’s and New York lotteries, if NY opens one.
WHOA…thats a race schedule! Looks like you guys will be spending some time in Colorado! R’n'R Vegas would be fun but its sooooo expensive…the half and full are the same price so I am going to assume you are doing the full.
So many running goals! That’s awesome. My brother asked me to join him in a 10k which last year at this time would’ve sounded like a cakewalk, but since refusing to get off my lazy butt lately, I’m not sure. You’re right, running takes a TON of mental discipline, good for you for sticking with it
You got it! The good thing about running is it only takes a couple of weeks to round back into form.
it’s great to see you back and running strong! you have quite a program ahead, and i admire your goals! congratulations, you’re doing well! z
Thanks Z! I hope all is well with you. I have been keeping up with your blog and enjoying all the turtle pics especially. Thanks for reading as always!
You had such a successful running year! First of all, don’t lie about the water bottle…you’re definitely picking your butt. Second, you should do the San Fran US Half in November or April. I did that with my sister in Nov ’10 and loved it. We ran across the bridge, a little loop on the other side and ran back over. Gorgeous! Third, about wanting to run a half in another state–it’s such a good idea. It’s a great way to see the city AND accomplish a goal. Would you ever try for a half in every state? Can be pricey, but you’re still young!
Thanks, I am pretty psyched on 2012…not sure when I want to plateau with running or if there will be a desire to progress, for now, I am going to focus on a little progression for 2013. WATER BOTTLE…although I was wearing compression shorts, so…you know.
The US Half in April is now the R’n'R SF, that is the one I wanted to do before it sold out! November 3rd would be awesome but if I do New York then that will be marathon day….bummer on both!
As far as running a half in another state, I agree, it is a great way to see a city…just not sure what city I want to see this year! I am not sure if I want to turn this into a half marathon in every state but I am not counting it out…and thanks for believing I am still young!
Fun recap!!! I want to run in Cali! I once did the Superfrog Triathlon at Coronado Beach, but other than that, nothing! Let me know of some good Cali ones!!! And of course, you’re running those with me. Especially if you are going to bust out a sub 20. I would die!!! But secretly love it!
I am still fairly new to actual running events, I wish I knew which ones were awesome so I could guarantee it would be worth a trip…so far Camp Pendleton is my only annual race but I think the Pasadena R’n'R half will join the list as well. Sub 20 is going to take some serious effort but I will get there if my heart doesnt burst. You could easily hit sub or 20 minute 5k, you just haven’t tried yet!