With 2013 coming to close today I thought it would be appropriate to outline some of the moments I had as they pertain to running. It has been a great year altogether but I feel I have really done some great things to re-kick off my running lifestyle. Here is my list of things:
1. Started my track coaching job for Eagle Grove Middles School/High School. I already coached cross country for a season in 2012 and decided to take an assistant position to coach some track. I had a great time and fell back in love with the sport. Coaching, for me, is much more rewarding than competing.
2. Signed up and started training for the Dam to Dam. I put on some minimal miles towards the end of February and early March with the track team (I love running with the athletes).
3. Organized the Run for Boston in Fort Dodge. Along with some great friends, Danny Milligan, Robbie Teff, Kacee Schmidt, Jeremiah Feine, and others I was able to organize a 5k to raise funds for the victims of the Boston Marathon Bombing that occurred this year. We had over 200 people show up and raised close to 6000 dollars to send out to Boston. This was one event that proved I am surrounded by a great community of people who really want to do good for the world.
4. Ran the Dam to Dam. One of my athletes from cross country decided to run the Dam to Dam so I thought why not? I will run it too. I started training in February and this slowly died off as I switched to coaching middle school. I ran the Dam to Dam the last day of May without running for 6 weeks. To my surprise I did it and ran a pretty decent time of 1:31 for a 20k. This next year I hope to go sub 1:20 (with training this time around).
5. Ran a few small road races. The thing I love about small road races is I have a good chance of doing well, place wise. Sometimes I actually walked away with the gold medal. I lowered my 5k time to a low 18 and it just makes me wonder what I could now.
6. Got together with old teammates and ran the Regional time trial 5k that Iowa Central competes in. We were able to get enough people together and form an alumni team and run the 5k. It was quite possibly the worst 5k I have ever run but the experience was great.
7. Read Born to Run by Christopher McDougall. This book has inspired me to get back into the sport of running and really changed my entire perspective on the sport. I changed the type of shoes I wear. Changed my perspective and have been running (a lot) ever since.
8. Ran a half marathon in Cedar Rapids. After I signed up for the Des Moines Marathon (7 weeks out) I decided it would be a good idea to see where I was at with my training and run a half marathon. I had been running with the cross country team I coach and was feeling pretty good. I signed up for the New Bo Fest Half in Cedar Rapids. I ran a 1:31 which was great as far as I was concerned as I had run the 20k in May with the same time. I placed 8th overall and 3rd in my age group. I needed that confidence booster to really push me.
9. Ran my first marathon. I am an impulsive runner. I like the feeling of just going out and running without a plan. Most people spend months training for a marathon, I spent 7 weeks. I attribute my motivation to the people around me, Danny Milligan, Patrick Olmstead, and Robbie Teff who all ran the marathon with me. It was a team effort and I had a blast. I can cross it off my bucket list but I plan on doing a lot more now. I finished in 3:03.57 which puts me just under the 3:05 Boston Qualifying mark. There have not been a lot of moments in my life that rival crossing the finish line after running 26.2 miles.
10. The Eagle Grove High School boys cross country team qualified for the state meet. This was my second year coaching the program and the boys and I set the goal early on in the season to qualify for the state meet. Last year the team placed 6th and we knew to qualify this year we had a lot of hard work ahead. I have been blessed to work with such strong, motivated, and good spirited young men. They truly showed their character this season and got the job done. When I heard news that we qualified for the state meet I was overwhelmed with emotion. It makes my top 5 for the happiest moments in my life. It is the first time the team has been to state since 2007 and to be a part of a program that is growing is a great feeling. I have to thank the parents, the supporters, Jerry Becker for all his wisdom and knowledge, and the guys on the team for making this year so special.
11. Signed up for two more marathons and my first ultra marathon of 50 miles. Within the next year I hope to complete many more big races. I am currently registered for the Triple D Winter Race Marathon in Dubuque which takes place January 19th. I am registered for the Zumbro 50 miler which is on April 12th. I have also registered for Grandma's Marathon which is in June. I look forward to these events and hope to carry on what I have started this year with my running.
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