At the end of the year we are supposed to summarize and reflect on our past year of running. I’ll do a little of that and also sum up the decade.
Although the year did not end well with the injury to my SI joint in October, the first 10 months (and 2 years prior) were quite a ride.
I went into 2019 planning on taking another crack at US 60-64 age group in the 15K road race and maybe the track 10000 meters. I did neither of those, nor was I able help our masters team win the USATF Grand Prix overall title–tell the truth we were never in the game–thwarted every single time we lined up against the Atlanta Track Club. With injuries and other commitments in the way, we never fielded a fully strong team and our opponents always found a way to finish ahead. We can always say maybe next year. But that’s what we did last year. And I did not win the overall title either, leaving that on the streets of Tulsa.
Despite those setbacks, however, the year was fantastic for running and I would not trade those 10 months for anything.
Championship Racing
I ran a total of six championship races and here are the results:
USA Cross Country Championships 8K – 30:22 (2nd)
USA 8K Road Race Championship – 28:19 (1st)
World Masters Cross Country Championship (2nd)
World Masters 1/2 Marathon (1st)
USA 5K Road Race Championship (1st)
USA 15K Road Race Championship (8th)
Finished runner-up for both individual and team category in the USATF Grand Prix Rankings.
Awarded USATF Age Group Long Distance Athlete of the Year
Rankings and Times
Ranked World #1 in 5K road and Half Marathon
1 mile road race – 5:25 (10th USA)
5K road race – 17:28 (#1 World Ranked)
8K road race – 28:19 (1st USA)
10K road race – 37:30 (3rd USA)
Half Marathon – 1:17:49 (#1 World Ranked)
The 5K and half marathon are also in the top 10 all time USA for the age group
Summary
Interestingly I began and ended the decade with an injury (with the shoulder injury in between).
At a time when I am supposed to be slowing down, I have run faster in the last three years of the decade compared to the first three, as well as the years in between.
2010 – 2012
1 mile – 5:04
5K – 17:37
10K – 36:35
Half Marathon – 1:19:50
2017 – 2019
1 mile – 5:15
5K – 17:28
10K – 35:43
1/2 Marathon – 1:17:49
I attribute that to good health (better diet) and lifestyle (moving from Alaska/6 months of winter, to Colorado and altitude, with better access to competitive races).
Special thanks to my family and friends for support over this past decade.
rrunnin234 