Jingle Bell Jog

     As we all know the year comes to an end in a few weeks.  This also means one season of running is coming to an end and we start our training for the next 12 months of pounding the pavement.  I have one scheduled race left for this year the Santa Hustle in Sevierville, Tn.  It should be a ton of fun.  This will culminate a year which started horrendously for me in Afghanistan.  Before we could raise our glasses of water we lost a young Sergeant.  He was the last Screaming Eagle taken from us in 2010.  I know I have mentioned him before but it was this that pushed me to run like a kid this year. 

     I started training while still in the stan.  Waking up two hours before everyone else sometimes in order to get a quality run in.  I had various partners while over there each was also training for something.  They either had a Physical Fitness test upcoming or they were trying to redifne themselves.  I made it back to the states and continued to train getting used to the humidity of Kentucky again while running.  We then traveled to the town of Millington, TN to run my first race stateside of the year in June the Navy Ten Nautical Miler.  It was a brutal run in 105 degree heat.  I slugged through it beating the heat as best as possible.  My best training partner, my wife also made it through the heat for the 11.6 mile course. 

     From there we ran a few 5Ks and 10Ks as we went through the summer.  We also helped in putting on the 5th Annual Haley's Team Twilight 5K in Anniston, Al.  The Anniston Runners Club (http://www.annistonrunners.com/) came out in full force to help make it a success and I thank them for it. 

     We ran in the run for the fallen and the week of the eagle 10K on Fort Campbell.  We started to train on the weekends with the Clarksville Running Club (www.clarksvillerunningclub.com) .  A great group of runners who encompass all levels of runners.  My better half finished her second half marathon at the Go commando race in October while I used that day to run the 5K as my last tune up before tackling my first Full Marathon in St Louis Oct 23rd.  It was amazing to finish the 26.2 mile course and see my girls at the finish line waiting for me. 

    Then it was on to Savannah for the Rock and Roll Half-Marathon where we ran the Half together and with our long time friends and family.  Another great event which we had a blast with our friends and family and of course my Team Marathon teammates.    We took a couple weeks off before our Turkey day run and then a week later we were running our Jingle bell Jog.  This race was in downtown Clarksville and we ran with about 280 of our closest friends. 

    The race was well organized and from what I could see all the runners had a good time.  We thought the hills would be a challenge to us but the proved not to be that bad.  In the end Gwen had broken through to the podium with her first placing in Age group.  Great work!!!  With just a week until the Santa Hustle we are pumped for it and for our tapering through the end of the year.  I am sure the hustle will be challenging up in the mountains but we will push through it as always.  Well it is on to the next...

What do you have planned to end your year out??