Hi all,<br><br>
I know I haven't been around much lately. I've been in a real funk, and haven't been in a good mood for posting.<br><br>
But today I've got some good news. I just posted this as a blog on my MySpace page:<br><br><span style="font-size:small;"><span style="font-size:x-large;"><i><b>IT'S OFFICIAL - I DID IT!!!!!!!!!!</b></i></span><br><br>
So, it's Christmas morning, and I went out the door for my 10 mile run. I knew if I got through this run I would be giving myself the best Christmas present that I could give me.<br><br>
Let me take you all back in time for a moment. On Halloween, I checked my running log for 2007 and found I had run 2169 miles during 2007. Not a bad total, but during 2006 I had run 2566.45 miles. I decided I wanted to take a shot a passing that number this year, and setting a new personal best. I really didn't know if I would be capable of doing that. I did know one thing though, I wouldn't get there if I didn't try.<br><br>
I had a great November, and left myself in a situation where I might be able to make it happen. Then an injury struck. It felt like "turf-toe", in my right big toe. I had to take 5 days off from running.<br><br>
Again, the song "The River" came to mind. I was going to let the PR go and chalk it up to injury. Then these lyrics came to mind: <i>Too many times we stand aside, and let the waters slip away, till what we put off till tomorrow has now become today. So don't you sit upon the shoreline, and say you're satisfied. Choose to chance the rapids! Dare to dance the tides!</i> I decided I didn't want to let it go without a fight.<br><br>
When I finally started running again, Mother Nature decided she wasn't going to make it easy on me. We had 3 snowstorms in the span of 10 days making the running very tough. Conditions were slippery, snowy, cold, wet, and not the best for running.<br><br>
I stuck with it though. I kept thinking about "The River", the hit song by Garth Brooks, and the lyrics "<i>I'll never reach my destination if I never try, so I will sail my vessel till the river runs dry.</i>"<br><br>
This morning, all that effort paid off. I gave myself one of the Christmas presents I wanted. It was one of the presents that Santa couldn't bring. Only I could give myself this present. I've reached my goal of a new personal best in mileage for a year. <span style="font-size:x-large;"><b>I DID IT!</b></span><br><br>
In 2006 my personal best mileage was 2566.45 miles. That's definitely a good number. But, so far in 2007 I'm at 2566.64 miles. I know, it's not by a huge amount right now, but I still have a few days in 2007 to improve on it. In October I gave myself a "stretch" goal of 2600 miles for the year. With any luck, I will get there.<br><br>
Many of you have been supporting me through this season as I trained for the marathons, dealt with the heat, and took a shot at this PR. I want to thank you so much for that. I couldn't have done it without you.<br><br>
I feel very fortunate to have gotten through this year without serious injury. I've had a few minor injuries (like the turf toe), but no serious injuries.<br><br>
Some of you will remember <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Irc-qt7svTw" target="_blank">this moment</a> from earlier this year. That's me crossing the finish of the Bay State Marathon (I'm the one in the white shirt and black shorts yelling PR Baby!). PR stands for personal record. Today I'm yelling the same thing! <img alt="smile.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/smile.gif"><br><br>
Thanks for reading, and Merry Christmas.</span>
