2008 Recap

Since starting this blog in May of 2008 I have been able to document many thoughts, memories and goals and I have found it to be an effective tool, not only in monitoring my own actions, but in learning from and connecting with amazing people all over the world.

2008 was a roller coaster ride in a few different personal areas but one thing that remained consistent was stellar personal race times. Let's take a look back at some of the most memorable races:

• Being at the starting line at Disney Half-Marathon and seeing the Hanson's-Brooks Team show up just before gun time and realizing that my top 3 prediction was gone.

• Running about 20 feet away from Lance Armstrong in The Boston Marathon hearing him chat with his buddies.

• Battling with Michael Wunsch in many of the local trail races including Highland Forest 30-mile, Forest Frolic, and Monster Marathon.

• Chasing Leigh Schmitt and Jack Pilla all day at The Finger Lakes Fifties 50-miler and having my brother Jamal run the last 3.5 miles with me.

• Finishing my Associates Degree with a 3.44 GPA and transferring into a Physical Education Teacher Certification program (K-12).
  

• Breaking the course record at Green Lakes 50K, meeting Brazilian world-champion and Badwater course record holder Valmir Nunes, and eating some birthday cake and hanging out with Todd Baum and company.

• Winning my first 100-mile run at Iroquois Trails 100 in Virgil, NY. Definitely a vision quest! Thank you to my awesome family and crew/pacers. I could not have done it without you! Raising $5,600 for Lupus with the help of the other Lupus Runners. Awesome job guys!
  

• Getting talked into running a two-person 50-mile relay at Can Lake and recording the second fastest relay time ever with Michael Wunsch.

• Working hard to break the 50K course record at Mendon Ponds in Rochester and a personal record to finish the year in The Philadelphia Marathon.

• Being named Western New York Ultra Runner of the Year and being asked to join Team Inov-8 for 2009.

I tallied up all the miles I ran for 2008 and with races and training combined I came up with 2,900 miles for the entire year...Solid!...I'll take it...and trust me... I did think of going for 3,000 but realized it wasn't worth getting injured over.

Also this year Erica and I have decided to make our move to the Portland, Oregon area in early August of 2009. She took a professor position at Portland State University teaching Information Systems and I will finish up my schooling out there to then look for a teaching/coaching job.

I would like to take this time to thank everyone from the Ithaca area and The Finger Lakes Runners Club, Ithaca Triathlon Club, High Nooners, Enclave, all the people associated with The Western New York Ultra Series and all the people that I met and became friends with at local races. This is such a great community for running and endurance sports and we will definitely miss everyone and also be back to visit somewhat regularly. I would also like to give a big thanks to my family and friends that have supported me so much throughout the years. Finally, Erica thanks for being such a great partner! I love you much. Watch out...she's registered for Skunk Cabbage Half-Marathon and training hard! ;0)

I don't know how much blogging I will be doing over the next month with us being in Costa Rica but am looking forward to another great year to come in 2009. Happy Holidays everyone!