Reflections !!!

Feeling in a reflective mood this evening.

I have lots to look back on this year (I know there are still 2 months to go).

I've been amazed by my running this year & done things that a year ago never seemed possible.It's been a year of many firsts.

I'm a bit of a stat Junkie & could go on for hours about targets I've set & goals I've reached but you'd all be asleep !!

I have done 22 marathons (or longer) & by the years end I will have run 28, 5 more than the previous year, I've run my longest race, my shortest race, my fastest marathon & completed a journey of a lifetime back in May.

I guess the reason for my Reflection is tommorrows New York City marathon as for me that marks where it all started just 4 years ago & I was able to say I had run a marathon, I never had any intention of doing more than 1, once you've done one & proved you can do it what's the point in doing it again - it has become my "heroin" & after May 2010 I will be looking to wean myself off it & get my life back, I'm not gonna give up the running as it has given me so much, It has given me some wonderful friends, it's made me fitter, more positive & has made me see nothing (within reason) is out of reach,but I will be cutting back & trying to lead a "normal" life again.

There will still be a few boxes to be ticked off - I want to get to 100 marathons & then pick just 8 or 10 "Special" ones each year - Boston is already on the calendar for 2011, To my amazement I managed to qualify for this & may have to do it in case I never get the oppurtunity again & I also fancy 2011 could be the year I finally make my half marathon debut ?

I'm looking forward to tomorrow,watching Paula destroy the finest women athletes on the planet whilst enjoying a lovely cup of tea before heading out dreaming of once again seeing the crowds in Central park & the tears running down my face remembering the day I became a marathon runner, my only regret that I didn't do it whilst my father was alive. In the 1970's he worked in Kenya & he'd have given me so much ribbing about keeping up with the runners from the country that for a couple of years he called home.

Setting foot in Africa in May for the first time in 33 years will I'm sure be emotional & i'll be dedicating my Comrades run to the greatest man I ever knew, My father - he truly was "Da Man" :)

keep on running

Foxy :)

ps - was it the Smokey Robinson & the miracles that did tonights blog title ? really should google it !!