2012 in Review - Bring on 2013 - I'll Keep Getting Stronger!

So here I sit at the end of 2012, reviewing my 2012 running year, and looking forward to 2013 like so many other runners.  From middle of the packer runners like myself, up through professional runners as well. 

So before babbling on reviewing my year and looking forward, as I as I often do, here is a video which summarizes things - in this case my 2012 in review, and simultaneously looks ahead to 2013?

It is easy.  Sesame Street - "What I am."  And the first verse summarizes things for me now and next year perfectly:

If what I am is what's in me, then I'll stay strong that's who I'll be, and I will always be the best me that I can be.
There's only one me I am it, have a dream I'll follow it, it's up to me to try.
Oh, imma keep my head up high, Keep on reachin' high, never gonna quit, I'll keep gettin' stronger!

I dig this song.  It keeps everything so simple.

And my dream is to run a sub 3 hour marathon.  And in 2013 it is up to me to try!


And I think in 2012 here is my favorite running image of the year - at the Mt. Fuji Marathon:

Blhhhhh!

Me sticking out my tongue at my entire running year (well mostly just the fall season portion of).

In that I got my year off to to such a great start, with a a new 1/2 marathon PR - 1:28:15 at the Kumagaya 1/2 Marathon on 2012-03-18.
Followed up by a 3:14:19 at the Nagano Full Marathon on 2012-04-15.

I was on top of the world.  And there was nowhere to go but up (improved times).  Or so I thought...

And over the summer I put my miles, topped off my running (due to the summer heat) with swimming, and ramped up the weightlifting.  
But somehow during the fall racing season I came crashing down to Earth like Arnold Schwarzenegger in the movie Erasure.

 "Aw Man, did that hurt?  It had to hurt, I saw it."

Yes it did hurt!  All fall running season long.



 I had the following three races in the fall:

• The Inawashiro Full Marathon on 2012-09-08
• The Ota Subaru 1/2 Marathon on 2012-10-28, and 
• The Fuji-san Marathon on 2012-11-25

The first and 3rd I can (somewhat) understand my times due to the oppressive heat heat then during the Fuji-san Marathon the newly (since last year) introduced brutal mountain incline portion of the course which totally did me in.
As far as the 2nd race (the Ota Subaru 1/2 Marathon), I absolutely chocked like a dog.  No excuse.

So my year in 2012 could best be described as starting out with a bang in the spring, and then bringing it in absolutely WEAK in the fall.
But the thing that sucks, is that is that I know I became a better runner in the fall season.  I just absolutely did not capitalize on my fall fitness... 

But!  I will capitalize on my improvements in 2013.

So going into 2012 I had I had 5 goals.  So lets see how I did towards each of them;

(1) Well I qualified for the Boston Marathon.  I did in fact run under a 3:15 marathon.  Winning!
(2) I did in fact run under 1:30 for a 1/2 marathon.  I put in a 1:28:15 in the spring.
(3) Start cracking 6:30 min per mile pace in my weekday tempo runs.  Fail!!!
Somehow this eluded me all year!  I put in probably 2 sub 6:30 tempo runs all year.  Crap!
(4) Become a better long distance runner.  Well I think I did this, but it is a bit of an ambiguous goal.
(5) Don't lose too much weight.  Fail!
I gained around 5 pounds this year due to weightlifting.  Grr...  Not good for running.



So..

What are my goals for 2013...?  
There is one goal and one goal only.
To run a sub 3:00 hour full marathon.  Period.

I think it is a stretch for this upcoming year (and that 2014 spring may be more realistic), but you have got to have dream big! 

So it is 3 hours or bust!  I have to do this.  Outside of my absolutely crushing work workload, I must have something to push me and to give me sanity at the same time.  And this is it.  The magic 3 hours...  I have got to see a 2 in front of my name in a full marathon time!!!

There is no time to slow down now! 

I flippin' love this song!  Don't slow down!

Another song which is appropriate for my 2013 which my daughter listens to thus it found its way onto my iPod - I admit it, is Jesse J - Domino.  And a 3 hour Marathon must fall like a domino.

Jessie J - Domino

Bring on 2013!!!


Again to quote my song for 2013 - Will I Am "What I am.":
Gonna hold my head up high, keep on reachin' high, I'm never gonna stop, I'll keep gettin' stonger.
Nothins' gonna bring me down, never givin' up gotta go, yeah...I'll keep gettin' stronger. 




Running is Awesome!