When I thought about writing a 2004 in review, I said to myself, "Self, why would anyone want to know about your running in 2004 or any year?"  As this website expands, I sometimes wonder the value of having an "About" page.  I am not an egotistical, self-absorbed person.  I am not a great runner ( I mean, look at me, I look like a tank busting through the middle of a 4-3 defense).  Why on Earth would anyone be interested in my running?  I have come to the conclusion that it is not necessarily about others interested in my running (although, some of you might very well be for some unknown, warped reason), but it is more about me interested in the running of others and sharing the joy and love that I get out of running.  If, through something someone sees on Runners' Thoughts, motivates them a bit more, helps them deal with a similar struggle, gets them to take that first step out the door, to complete that first quarter mile, to run further and longer, to run with a smile in their heart and mind, or just get them (or me) to think a bit more, then it is all worth it for me.  I hope that I can do it justice by keeping this site interesting, thought provoking, and active.  I don't make resolutions for a new year but I do set goals.  Certainly, one of my goals for the new year is related to Runners' Thoughts, to keep the site updated and engaging.  I am not a great writer, so faults you will find, but read your own thoughts in between the lines. (now that line almost sounds poetic!)  I am not just interested in my own thoughts, I am also interested in yours.  There is so much to learn in this sport and I am not just referring to the gadgets, training programs, and shoe technologies. I am referring to what we learn from ourselves and from others engaged in the same love we all share - running.

I am not sure how to explain 2004.  I have been running for 11 years and and just about ready to join a new age group in February (45-49).  Alas, I will be the youngest in my age group again.  In many areas I have reached my peak, particularly around speed.  I don't think I will be running a 20 minute 5K again.  However, the beauty of this sport lies in the fact that we always have the ability to set and achieve goals - open and masters goals, age group goals, gender goals, new distance goals.  All of us started with the goal of going one mile - even elite runners.  At some point in their lives, they achieved completing that first mile.  We then set our sites on the next goal and the next.  The more we achieve the more we want to achieve.  In many cases, the goal might just to be as relaxed as possible on a run - to take in the sights, the smells, the sounds - to allow our sensory experiences to fill us with life!

In 2004, my number one goal, as it has been for the last 10 years, was to break 4 hours in the marathon.  It was one of those things that I never doubted that I could do but one that I had never achieved in 9 marathons.  Although completing all 9 previous marathons, there were some pretty ugly marathons in there.  My best to that point was 4:13 run in Baltimore in 2003.  Two weeks later (yes, I know that I should not run two marathons in two weeks ) I had my worst marathon experience in NYC finishing in 5:43.  Most of my previous marthons were in the 4:25 range where I ended up walking much of the the last 3 or 4 miles.  In Baltimore 2003, it was the first marathon where I made it running the complete distance.  There is something to be said from a confidence perspective when you run the entire 26.2 distance.  Going into 2004, I decided to run less races (I had been running about 25 races a year) and learn from my previous 9 marathons for what I had to do to break 4 hours.

2004 was an incredible year from a running perspective.  I not only broke 4 hours in the marathon, but I broke 4 hours in the 4 marathons that I ran.  I am in the process of writing an article called 10 years and 9 marathons to a sub-4 marathon - a takeoff on the book by Dave Kuels' book called, 4 months to a 4 hour marathon.  OK, so I am a slow learner !    Here are some of the accomplisments of the year...  

• Overall personal bests or master's personal bests in 10 or 11 races.
• Overall personal bests in 9 mile (Run for the Diamonds), half marathon (Runner's World 1:42:57) and marathon (baltimore (3:48:01)
• Completed 4 marathons in under 4 hours, in order, Ocean Drive (3:56:58), Vermont City (3:56:30), Baltimore (3:48:01) and Richmond (3:55:09)
• Masters' personal bests in the 5K (21:36), 5M, 10K, 10M
• Ran approximately 1900 miles
• Commuted 4 hours a day to and from NYC for work (I add this because people say that they do not have time to run.  I got up at 4:30 every morning, made the trek into NYC and got my run in! - no excuses!)

Here is the table of results.

Date	Run	Location	Distance	Time	Pace	Finish	Total
1/1	Hamilton Hangover	Hamilton, NJ	5M	36:44	7:21	71	419
3/21	St. Paddy's	Freehold, NJ	10M	1:17:55	7:40	131	481
3/28	Ocean Drive Marathon	Cape May, NJ	26.2M	3:56:58	8:59	130	371
4/28	Runner's World Half	Allentown, PA	13.1M	1:42:57	7:53	377	2103
5/30	Vermont City	Burlington, VT	26.2M	3:56:30	8:58	827	2268
6/27	Pine Beach 5K	Pine Beach, NJ	5K	21:48	7:02	88	645
10/16	Baltimore Marathon	Baltimore, MD	26.2M	3:48:01	8:42	590	2189
10/31	Frost on the Pumpkin	South River, NJ	10K	46:41	7:31	42	213
11/13	Richmond Marathon	Richmond, VA	26.2M	3:55:09	8:57	1182	3225
11/25	Run for the Diamonds	Berwick, PA	9M	70:17	7:49	342	1016
12/5	Reindeer Romp	Point Pleasant, NJ	5K	21:36	6:57	57	300

Whatever your goals may be, I wish you well in achieving them.  They are all within us.  It is a matter of commitment in making them real!

Happy and Healthy Running in 2005!