2011 Recap #1: 9 Marathons, Average Finish Time 3:27:31

2011 Recap: Part 1
One thing I learned in 2011 ... you can't PR at every marathon!!!  That should be obvious to a 43 year old man, but apparently I'm just now figuring that out.  I have a little tendinitis right now in my right hamstring that I've struggled with for most of the year.  Why?  Over-striding from trying to run too fast.  One thing this dummy is gonna focus on in 2012 is limiting  my "A" races where I "go for broke"!  I'll probably just try to set PR's in two races (maybe one).  That being said, I was really happy with my average finish time for the 9 marathons I ran this year.  If you take out Kansas City, which I intentionally ran a little slower because of the Des Marathon the next day - the average drops to 3:25:39.


9 Marathons ... Average finishing time 3:27:31
  2/20 ... Austin Livestrong Marathon - Austin, Texas ... 3:29:01
  4/18 ... 115th Boston Marathon - Boston, Massachusetts ... 3:20:35 (former PR)
  5/21 ... Scheels Fargo Marathon - Fargo, North Dakota ... 3:22:52
  7/10 ... Missoula Marathon - Missoula, Montana ... 3:22:32
  9/11 ... Sioux Falls Marathon - Sioux Falls, South Dakota ... 3:21:15
10/15 ... Waddell & Reed Kansas City Marathon - Kansas City, Missouri ... 3:42:25
10/16 ... Des Moines IMT Marathon - Des Moines, Iowa ... 3:30:47
11/20 ... Route 66 Tulsa Marathon - Tulsa, Oklahoma ... 3:20:03 (current PR)
12/10 ... Rocket City Marathon - Huntsville, Alabama ... 3:38:06


I really felt in control of all races except for Rocket City where I kinda gave up (I was just worn out). Looking back, I think I really began to figure out "how to run a marathon".  I still have A LOT TO LEARN.  But I think I made some pretty significant progress.  I also PR'd twice ... first at Boston in April, and then later at Tulsa in November ... so that was cool! In 2012 I really want to qualify for Boston again with the new qualifying standards. But I've gotta get to 3:15, which realistically I'm not sure will ever happen. (I'm glad I qualified and ran it when the times were a little slower - ha!) Hopefully I'll have another year of good health and I'll get 9 or 10 more under my belt!  Have a great weekend!
... be great today!