There is no one on this planet than I admired more than my Grandpa Eads. My grandpa always told me to set my goals high. Even if I didn't reach them, he argued, I'd get further along than if I had set the bar lower. Well, it stuck and this mentality is evident in my 2010 running plans. A couple of these races are tentative due to travel/logistical challenges I need to work out. Of course it ALL hinges on me staying healthy & injury free.
My ‘original plan’ was a little lame by some standards, and grossly outrageous by others. But hey, if I’ve learned anything about ultra running standards then I’ve learned that it’s all relative for each individual. Here’s a glance at my original plan:
1. Complete a 100 mile race in 2010
2. Run in at least one 100-mile race with Gilles Barbeau in 2010 (possibly could be combined with #1)
3. Participate in at least 2 CFA events in Vancouver in 2010
4. Host a legitimate "satellite" CFA event in Missouri, complete with REAL LIVE CANADIANS participating in 2010
5. Prove, ONCE AND FOR ALL, to Ean "Action" Jackson that I'm no sandbagger!
Here’s the new & improved, ‘Grandpa would be proud’ plan. This will, undoubtedly, evolve as things change throughout the year, but I’m going for it:
-March 20th – Howard L. Aslinger 24hr race (Cape Girardeau, MO) – REGISTERED
-April 11th – Go! St. Louis 1/2 Marathon pacer (Tentative) - NOT REGISTERED
-April 17th – Double Chubb 50k (Eureka, MO) - REGISTERED
-May 15th – Berryman 50m (Berryman Trail, Mark Twain National Forest, MO) - REGISTERED
-May 16th – GOTR 5k – I volunteer on the race committee (Forest Park, St. Louis, MO)
-June 5th – Vancouver 100k Tentative (North Vancouver, Canada) - NOT REGISTERED
-August 7th – STORMY 100m Tentative (Squamish, BC, Canada) - NOT REGISTERED
-August 27th - Hood to Coast Relay (Oregon) - REGISTERED
-September 5th – Flatlanders 12hr (City Park, Fenton, MO) - REGISTERED
-Spirit of the Osage 50k – Oct 17th (Frankenstein, MO) – REGISTERED
-Host a legitimate “satellite” CFA event in Missouri with participation from Canada (wink, wink - Craig & Gilles)
-Not be a burden on my very gracious friends in Vancouver & North Vancouver as I try to spend as much time as possible up there this year.
-Finally, be sure to give back more than my fair share to Club Fat Ass & St. Louis Ultrarunner’s Group by way of volunteering & contributing where possible.
I’m all ears on suggestions you all may have on how I can possibly get all of this done. I know there’s a WEALTH of experience & generosity within Club Fat Ass. That’s why I’m so in love with it – the fantastic people!
Best of luck to you on your 2010 goals, what ever they may be!
Jason
Comments
It was a BIG year!
2010 went better than I could have planned and I'm especially surprised that I stayed relatively healthy. Race results and participation were up, injuries down and FUN was WAY UP! I even got in a bonus trip or two to BC, which was really icing on the cake. Here are the results of my planned BIG BITE of 2010:
-March 20th – Howard L. Aslinger 24hr race (Cape Girardeau, MO) – REGISTERED (finished 2nd place, 100 miles in 21:21)
-April 17th – Double Chubb 50k (Eureka, MO) - REGISTERED (finished 9th place, 4:30:18)
-May 8th – North Shore Enduro 6hr (North Vancouver, Canada) - REGISTERED (finished 1st place, 5:40:58)
-May 15th – Berryman 50m (Berryman Trail, Mark Twain National Forest, MO) - REGISTERED (finished 4th place, 7:47:21)
-May 16th – GOTR 5k – I volunteer on the race committee (Forest Park, St. Louis, MO) (Ran with Terrific Taylor from Griffith Elementary in her 1st 5K!!!!)
-June 5th – Vancouver 100k Tentative (North Vancouver, Canada) - NOT REGISTERED- replaced with Squamish, B.C. B2B-June 19th & 20th – Squamish B2B (Squamish, B.C., Canada) - REGISTERED (brilliant weekend running with @Tim Wiens and the Club Fat Ass gang - no "winners" and "loosers" here, just good times!)
-August 7th – STORMY 100m (Squamish, BC, Canada) - (finished 2nd place! 20hrs 34mins 02sec!!)
-August 27th - Hood to Coast Relay (Oregon) - REGISTERED (Team finished in 27hrs16mins - 197 miles! - avg pace for me: 6:38/mile)
-September 5th – Flatlanders 12hr (City Park, Fenton, MO) - REGISTERED (43 miles in 7hr 17min - injured, unfortunately, but will heal up for Osage!)
Amidst all of this, Lauren and I moved to FL (Tampa) and although it's flat I guess I can at least my foot speed it a little better down here ;-)
2011 resolutions are in the works but it most assuredly will include a goal of NOT melting down here in the FL heat!
Happy new year Fat Asses, and congrats to you all on some amazing runs and fun times in 2010...
Jason
Hi Jason, What a great year
Hi Jason,
What a great year you had! Glad we were part of some of the highlights.
Can you calculate your % of goals achieved, please.
How's 92.95678% sound?
Thats as close as I can get
That sound like a rough
That sound like a rough estimate if I ever seen one...
Thanks, I'll go with that.
Wow, that is quite a revision
Wow, that is quite a revision of your original goals! Sounds like you are on a roll. We certainly like to see more off you up on the north shore trails - even though you are dreaming about Ned's Atomic Dustbin already ;-) And I hope that some of those FA's will join you on a satellite CFA event in Missouri.
Our guestroom is always open...
If it's worth doing, DO IT.
Thanks for the hospitality, Sibylle! Ned's - my oh, my - It's a real treat. Of course, I've only run (fallen) DOWN Ned's. I think one needs to also go UP Ned's to truly appreciate his splendor & appeal
Good or bad, I'm not sure, but I've never been one to try something "half-way". I'm usually all-in, and running appears to be no exception. Ah, but only if I were faster...
Oh, plus, I figure if I can check all of these off my list for 2010 (and live to tell about it), then I have a legit shot at the New Year's Resolutions contest!