It is always fun to go back through my races at the end of the year, to see if the goals that I set for myself were met or exceeded, and to see what went well (and what went badly). My goals were straightforward. They were to peak for the Spring and Fall seasons and run close to my PRs. I had just joined the Master's age group [December 01]. To run well in this new category, with my eye on the National Master's Track Championships (Indoor and Outdoor) would measure if I could hold my own (or if I would get blown away at this level!).
Here are last year's highlights:
Jan-Feb: A couple of successful runs really boosted my spirits and confidence, indicating that I was not slowing down with age (yet!). I was invited to a collegiate meet in January, and set an Indoor 5000M PR, which was unbelievably exciting. Then in February, at the George Washington Birthday 10K, I ran a sub-34 minute 10K, which was the earliest I had ever done that in a year (the earliest I had pulled that off in previous years was in late March). Something was going right with my training!
Mar: The National Master's Indoor Track & Field Championships were held in Boston during the last week in March. I could not believe how nervous I was before the races, because I had no idea what to expect. The 3000M was on Friday afternoon, and after getting some warm-up time on the track, I knew good things were going to happen. First, the track was banked, which meant that you would not lose much speed going around the curves on this 200M track (similar to race cars and their tracks). The surface returned a bounce with each step, so that would help everyone spring forward just a bit faster than normal. We started quickly, but after halfway into the race, the finishing places were determined, and I ended up with a bronze medal for 40-44, and a PR! The next day was the mile, and even though I finished 11th in the 40-44 age group, it was another PR, so this trip easily exceeded my expectations!
Apr: In DC, when you say racing and April, you are talking Cherry Blossom. This was one week after the National Track Champs, so I definitely had the speed, but would the stamina be there for a successful run? It turned out to be yes, as my time was the best single racing effort of the year (even better than the PRs that were just set), and I finished 4th in the Master's division, which was an unbelievable thrill.
Jul: A personal milestone was reached at the Heritage Festival 5 miler in Fredericksburg on July 4 when I completed my 2,500-lifetime race. It just reminded me of how much fun I have had all these years, and that the excitement of competition is a pleasure that motivates me to keep putting those miles in every day.
Aug: The next major event for me, the National Master's Outdoor Track & Field Championships, were held at the University of Maine in early August. There were three events lined up, a 5000M Thursday, a Steeplechase Friday, and the 10,000M Saturday. The 5000M was a great start to the event, even though I finished out of the medals in the 40-44 age group (4th place); it was a PR! Another PR followed that up the next day at the Steeplechase (11th place). Nevertheless, the moment that made all the hard work this year worthwhile was the 10,000M, as I won the Gold. It was easily the most enjoyable weekend of my running career, and one that I will always remember!
Oct: The Georgetown 10K and Army 10 miler were the focus races for the fall. Finished 3rd Master's in Georgetown, and after the top 5 master's were awarded their trophies at Army, I ended up with 3rd in the 40-44 age group, getting my first award at this race, the largest 10 miler in the Nation. Too many military guys are still fit at this level, and they fly in from all over, so this will always be a tough one do well at.
Dec: Another personal milestone was reached, as I won my 100th race of the year at the Jingle Bell Jog 8K in Rockville. All I can say is that I am so lucky to have all these opportunities to do well, and am healthy enough to be able to accomplish them all.
Therefore, my final thoughts on the year are that even as I entered a new age group, I still trained as hard as ever, and the results exceeded my expectations in every respect. For the coming year, I plan to work hard, stay fit, enjoy the experiences, and be thankful for all the friendships I have developed with this great sport.
Best of luck in 2003,
Ted
2002 PRs: Indoor 1 mile - 4:42.90; Indoor 3000 meters - 9:25.01; Steeplechase - 12:05.87; Indoor 5000 meters 16:26; 5000 meters - 16:10.89
Performances that are now in my top 10 overall for each distance:
- 3000M (9th - 9:24.1 Thomas Johnson; 10th - 9:25.01 National Master's Indoor)
- 2 mile (7th - 10:13.8 Thomas Johnson)
- 5K (7th - 16:10.89 National Masters)
- 4 mile (8th - 21:36 Shamrock)
- 10K (9th - 33:45 GW Birthday)
- 10 mile (3rd - 55:02 Cherry Blossom; 10th - 56:17 Army)
- 12K (5th - 43:46 Riverbank)
- 20K (4th - 1:13:51 JFK)
2002 Races - 239; 2002 Wins - 103
Lifetime Races - 2615, Lifetime Wins - 735