2010 Recap - Results

"If you know me, you are well aware that it has been a rough year..."

Was how I started my my 2009 Recap. And as many of you know, 2010 wasn't a cake walk either. The year started with Sherpa and I pushing each other along as we pushed for the longest streak of 1 mile or more days running. His run tapered off as he became extremely busy with school, mine pushed on as a NEEDED escape. My personal journey of trying to buy a home would experience brief peaks of happiness followed by days and days of dark depression as everyone and everything in the system was failing me. I watched my mileage build more than it ever has in the first few months of a year. I spent more miles that any year prior with friends and family by my side. An Ultra a month was John and my goal for one another. We succeeded for most of the year. With Trips to Vermont, Virginia, Tennessee, back to Virginia, Maine, and Vermont in the first 6 months my running travel budget was at it's all time peak. It was by far the best spring, training and running wise of my life.

Unfortunately, buying a home was taking its toll. With failures continuing, and money slipping away, I turned to the bottle to help me escape. Hiding the pain and hurt underneath a BAC of .08 or higher. While running still had a place in my heart and life, cracking a cold one now took higher priority. On warm late spring / early summer nights where I'd enjoy a light jog around the lake, I'd crack 6 or more Coors lights and sulk around the home where i was renting a room. My Pepere' passed away, and while we weren't that close as i got older, i was reminded of the days I'd spend with him as a youth. Dark days those were.

The second half of the year off with a bang as Leah joined me on my annual 4th of July trip to VT. Where we were able to share a 4th of July 5k with my dad and brother. A week later we got a couple of old friends to join us at the Balloon Festival 5k. One doing her first ever race, the other doing his first real run in 3 years. Soon thereafter. I'd disappear into the woods for a week with Dustin and Heather as they continued on their journey to Thru-hike the Long Trail. It was the clarity i left the woods with that I believe helped lead me to my new home. No longer would i try to kick water uphill. It was much easier to just sit back and let this chips fall where they may. I told no one, did nothing, just let the pieces fall into place.

Fall came quickly, and I was able to share the VT50 with new faces, and old. I witnessed a suicide, bought a home, and threw a massive party all in a week. From here the pace slowed drastically. No longer was i constantly scanning documents, dealing with 10 things at work while trying to do my job. My race season dropped off and it was finally time to breath.

All in all, I'd say 2010 was a good year. With any good year/race, it has it's highs and it's lows. You want to quit, you want to just give up and accept your DNF. And at races, I've done this, but in life, man, there's always another day. Always new people to meet, new trails to run on, new mountains to climb, new goals to reach, new lives to touch. And that's the goal for 2011. To expand our little group of Team Robert / Hillsboro Trail Runners outside of our tight knit friend circle.

Here's to sharing many more miles, stories and laughs in 2011!

Notables of 2010:

- Trained more then any year before. (even more than last year!)

- I did more travel for races then any year prior...AGAIN (VA - 2 times, TN - 1)

- Encouraged an old friend to run her first 5k, and got her husband to join

- Started a small little running club on Facebook that has led to us running more and have Event trips in 2011 already planned.

- Got to race by my father’s side 7 times, including the infamous Barkley!

- Raced with my woman in 15 of the 23 times

- Thru-Hiked the Greenway again

- Spent a week on the Long Trail

- Won 2 hockey championships

- Finally ran a Beer Mile

- Was part of two fantastic weddings

- Bought a home!

- Set a couple of PRs & accomplished many of my goals.

Season breakdown
1 Snowshoe Race
6 Trail Races
7 Road Races

9 Ultra’s

Jan 24, 2010 - Hammy Slammy 50k – 6:20

Feb 27, 2010 - No Power, No Problem 50k – 6:40

Mar 6, 2010 - Peak Snowshoe Marathon - 10:15

Mar 20, 2010 – Shamrock 8k – 51:49

Mar 21, 2010 – Shamrock Marathon – 4:30:42

Mar 27-28, 2010 - The Barkley - 1 Loop - 15:39

Apr 18, 2010 - Muddy Moose 14 Miler - 2:58:42

Apr 25, 2010 - Mud Muck Moose - 48:00 +/-

May 15-16, 2010 - Massanutten 100 - 68.7 Miles - 24:00 - DNF

May 29, 2010 - Pineland Farms BF5k - 26:10

May 29, 2010 - Pineland Farms 50k - 6:16:22

June 6, 2010 - Peak Ultra 53 - 16:02
July 4, 2010 - Clarence Demar 5k - 28:03

July 9, 2010 - Balloon Fest 5k - 43:02

Aug 12, 2010 - Cigna Coorporate 5k - 21:28 (PR!)

Aug 22, 2010 - Moose on the Loose 10M - 43:08 (PR!)

Aug 29, 2010 - Fox 50k - 7:35

Sept 19, 2010 - Pisgah 50k - 6:20:06

Sept 26, 2010 - Vermont 50 - 10:53:15

Oct 10, 2010 - Oktoberfest 3.4 -29:12

Nov 25, 2010 - Turkey Trot 5k - 31:20 +/-

Nov 28, 2010 - Loni's Birthday Run - 6:00 +/-

Dec 5, 2010 - Adam's Run - 39:55