2005 was quite an interesting year.  I didn't have the success in the marathon distance that I had experienced in 2004 but I did have good experiences.

Marathons

I added two more states to my quest to run a marathon in each of the 50 states.  The St. Jude Memphis marathon was my 10th state which qualified me for the 50 states marathon club, now which I am a member.  Two years ago I qualified to become a Marathon Maniac by running two marathons in 16 days.  Although I qualified at the lowest criteria (Bronze), I still qualified.  I am Marathon Maniac #211 and working to achieve higher levels.

The year started with the Las Vegas Marathon which turned into a weekend of strange bedfellows - NASCAR and marathons.  Michael Waltrip and Kyle Petty ran the marathon in an attempt to raise $1 million for the Victory Junction Gang, a camp for terminally ill children.  Being a NASCAR fan, I invited my nephew Shawn to run the Las Vegas Marathon and experience a special NASCAR package where we got to meet 'n greet Michael and Kyle and then go to a post-marathon concert with other NASCAR drivers with a performance by Hootie and the Blowfish.  We also received all of these other little amenities for our donation to the Victory Junction Gang.  Just the donation enough to help the children would have been enough.  Shawn got to run with Kyle for a few miles and chatted with him.  Overall, we had a good time.  However, the marathon organization was abysmal and the course just flat out boring.  They took us 26 miles out into the desert and had us run back.  There was virtually nothing to see except desert and desert mountains.  Once we got near Las Vegas, it was more industrial.  I guess most runner felt the same since they hired the president of the Los Angeles marathon to make it better.  The New Las Vegas Marathon now includes running down "the strip".  Las Vegas was my 5 consecutive sub-4 hour marathon after struggling for many years trying to break 4 hours.

I didn't fair as well in Baltimore this year.  I susepct it was a combination of things including 70 degree weather at the start and probably pushing a bit too hard in some half marathons leading up to Baltimore.  It was one of those where you just want to pack it in at the halfway point (which I have never done although wanting to).  I have run all 5 Baltimore Marathons, one of 58 people to do so,  and received a special commemorative pin, key-chain and sack.

The St. Jude Memphis Marathon was my 10th state.  It was also my first time to Tennessee.  Seeing Beale street was one of the highlights, including running up it.  There is so much history related to rock 'n roll and the blues in Memphis.  The course passed Sun Records where Elvis, Johnny Cash, and Carl Perkins made their first records.  I also stayed at the famous Peabody Hotel, home of those stupid little ducks that walk out and get into a fountain in the lobby.  I was staying there at the same time The Rolling Stones were there and saw them walking through the lobby.  The course itself was nice but a bit deceptive on the hills in the second half.  The finish is great being in Autozone Park running around the outfield warning path and finishing ont he 3rd base side of the field.  Overall, it was an excellent trip.

Other Races

Overall, I had a solid racing year.  For some reason after the Las Vegas Marathon, my legs were quite sore and tired and remained that way most of the rest of the year.  I still managed some very solid 5K's around 7 minutes per mile and a master's PR in the 10 mile running 1:16:26 in the St. Paddy's.  The odd thing about that race was that I went into it expecting nothing and starting out at a very relaxed pace.  At the race progressed, the pace came to me and I just ran the way I felt.  I guess that can be considered a lesson learned - to go into races very relaxed and let the race come to you.  The best half-marathon was in New Jersey.  This was another race where I let it come to me.  This is a double-loop course.  I took it easy the first loop and then ran a negative split to get under 1:45.  It might have taken a little out of me for the upcoming Baltimore Marathon but hey, it wasn't like I was going to win anyway.  I just missed an age-group award in the local Witches Hollow finishing 4th in my age-group.  In June, I ran 5 races; 3 5K's, a 10K and a 5 miler with pace ranging from 7:01 - 7:43.  I also ran 7 consecutive races with times under 7:43 pace.  I know this doesn't sound world class and even good local runner's would say, "hey, what's the big deal?"  but it is relative for all of us how we compare our own progress or demise in some cases.  Yes, in the scheme of things, time isn't all that important because the essence of running is not about time, it is about the act, the journey, living it, fun, the feeling, the high.  However, it does give us a measurement.  The thing is, I don't remember the races for the time I ran in them, I remember them for the experiences I had in them.

Date	Run	Location	Distance	Time	Pace	Finish	Total
1/1	Hamilton Hangover	Hamilton, NJ	5M	37:07	7:25	79	380
1/30	Las Vegas Marathon	Las Vegas, NV	26.2M	3:57:11	9:03	752	2210
3/13	St. Paddy's	Freehold, NJ	10M	1:16:26	7:38	92	373
4/24	Runner's World Half	Allentown, PA	13.1M	1:46:59	8:13	638	2348
6/5	Hartshorne Trail	Highlands, NJ	7.2M	64:03	8:50	N/A	N/A
6/11	Princeton Fete	Princeton, NJ	10K	47:50	7:42	99	448
6/18	Sheehan Classic	Red Bank, NJ	5M	36:45	7:22	225	1738
6/19	Run For Dad	West Windsor, NJ	5K	21:55	7:03	71	458
6/22	Trenton Waterfront	Trenton, NJ	5K	21:49	7:01	55	253
7/4	Revoluntionary Run	Washington Crossing, PA	10K	46:57	7:33	207	742
7/9	Belmar 5	Belmar, NJ	5M	36:51	7:23	341	2273
7/14	Sean's Landscaping 5K	Hamilton, NJ	5K	22:17	7:10	42	183
9/18	Philadelphia Distance Run	Philadelphia, PA	13.1M	1:47:13	8:11	2068	8600
10/2	Jersey Shore Half Marathon	Sandy Hook, NJ	13.1M	1:44:51	8:01	152	618
10/16	Baltimore Marathon	Baltimore, MD	26.2M	4:37:54	10:38	1374	2409
10/30	Witches Hollow 5K	Millstone, NJ	5K	22:04	7:07	20	127
12/3	St. Jude Memphis Marathon	Memphis, TN	26.2M	4:19:58	9:56	820	1531