Onward and Upward

Continued training into winter

After Marine Corps Marathon I just tried to keep at it, training through winter and taking in some low-key races.  Oh, and for whatever reason I immediately signed up for the National Marathon (a spring race in Washington DC).  It felt early to be signing up for another marathon, but also a great way to stay motivated during winter - a time when its easy to revert back to the tendencies to sit on the couch watching football, hanging out in pubs, and other degenerate - I mean - "social" activities.

Race: Fairfax 4 Miler
Date: Dec 31, 2009
Finish Time: 26:33

Recap: This was just another low key race, but a good chance to focus on speed.  Ran on New Years Eve it was bitterly cold out that year and drizzling with freezing rain.  Still a great time with some friends and a nice springboard into New Years Eve festivities.

Downtown in Fairfax, Virginia pre-race.

Race: National "D.C." Marathon
Date: March 20, 2010
Time: 3:21:17 (unofficial)

Recap:  Nothing big to report on, great race, perfect weather, couldn't believe I made it through winter and had a big new PR to show for it already!  Looking back I couldn't believe my progress after not even 2 solid years of running.  The only downside is I felt like I was getting into that range of what runners call "diminishing returns" - future improvements would take exponentially more work than what it took to get to this point.  PRs would not come easily anymore.

The National Marathon (now the "Rock and Roll USA" Marathon and half-Marathon) offer a great urban course through Washington D.C., looped, and mostly flat.  Its not quite the "to-do" that the Marine Corps Marathon is, but offers a nice spring alternative.

Training and racing continues into spring

Race: Cherry Blossom 10 Miler
Date: April 11th, 2010
Finish Time: 1:09:51

Recap: Broke the 70 Minute mark just barely, so progressing quite nicely.  The run itself is a beautiful course through D.C., starting right on the National Mall by the Washington Monument (must be a logistical nightmare for the organizers), goes past the tidal basin to see the springtime Cherry Blossoms as well as other monuments.  A great spring companion to the fall Army 10 Miler, you however shouldn't expect too fast of a time due to the crowds and the slow start getting out the chutes.  The race isn't standard sign up (first come first serve), its either by a lottery or you must register with a group, so grab some friends or try your luck at the lottery sign-up.

GW Parkway 10 Miler
Date: April 25th, 2010
Finish Time: 1:07:53

Recap: Another beautiful run from Mt. Vernon, along the Potomac on the George Washington Parkway, and finishing in historic old town Alexandria.  Pretty psyched I was able to maintain a well below sub-7 minute mile pace for such a long time.  Starting to heat up though weather-wise, so I knew that while summer would bring lots of miles and endurance training, speed would be tough to improve upon until Fall.