A Balance, Redefined

December 22, 2024

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Location:

Vestavia,AL,USA

Member Since:

May 31, 2007

Gender:

Male

Goal Type:

Other

Running Accomplishments:

Marathon Top 10 Finishes: 7 Bridges ('15), Utah Valley ('13), Salt Lake City ('08), Top of Utah ('07), and St. Louis ('04). Ran around the equator (24901.55) in 4,388 days.

Personal Records
Marathon 2:39 (SLC '08)
1/2 Marathon 1:12.30 (Provo River, aided '08)
10K 34:16 (Track, sea level '00)
10K 33:15 (Des 10K, aided '08)
8K 25:32 (Crack of Dawn, aided '13)
5K 16:44 (Track, sea level '00)
5K 16:07 (Running of the Leopards, aided '12)
 

Short-Term Running Goals:

NYC Marathon November 3, 2019 done 

London Marathon October 3, 2021 done

Tokyo Marathon March 3, 2024!!!

And my largest challenge to date, raise $20,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in honor of my cancer survivorship and in memory of those lost to blood cancer...
DONE! $26,403.70

https://pages.lls.org/tnt/al/london2021/awende

Long-Term Running Goals:

Enjoy being a Masters Runner.

Get under 3 hours one more time...

Personal:

Grew up outside Chicago and joined the blog while I lived in Salt Lake City. Now living outside Birmingham. I am married with two daughters. Wife thinks I'm crazy for doing marathons. And yes I am crazy I'm a scientist for a living...

Click to donate
to Ukraine's Armed Forces
Miles:This week: 0.00 Month: 0.00 Year: 331.25
RM 090416 Lifetime Miles: 136.06
Saucony Type A Lifetime Miles: 200.18
Nike Vaporfly Pink Lifetime Miles: 122.22
Saucony Ride #37 - Black Lifetime Miles: 56.50
Saucony Ride #38 - Neon Lifetime Miles: 53.50
Saucony Ride #39 - Grey Lifetime Miles: 59.50
Brooks Launch #38 - Grey Lifetime Miles: 65.25
Brooks Launch #39 - White Lifetime Miles: 57.50
Brooks Launch #40 - Blue Lifetime Miles: 54.00
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTrainer 1 MilesTrainer 2 MilesRacer MilesTotal Distance
12.000.000.000.000.000.000.0012.00

A year-end recap

 

As always thanks to all who have supported me this year. It was so nice to partly be back on the blog. I don’t feel like I have contributed as much as I used to/should, but I still appreciate the support.

 

This year has been such a wild ride. In January I thought I’d be moving by June. Then in March I knew we’d be in Utah at least until the following June. That definitely caused some disruption in planning and life and was the constant undercurrent to this year. I also traveled more this year than any year to date. However, throughout it all I have maintained one of my highest mileage years since I started recording in Nov ’97 and was on 6 publications bringing my total to 23.

 

In fact with the run today I also hit a major running milestone, 50,000 km! Initially, and based off the 5K this spring, I was hoping to hammer a PR 5K today but that will have to wait. I started planning it when I hit the 30,000 mi mark. However, I never thought I’d get it done in 2012. The nice coincidence is that by hitting this mark I am exactly 1 mile into my 3rd highest mileage year ever. The only years higher are my record breaking 2008 (fun to turn 30) and the follow-up 2009 (2005 = 2564 4th, 2009 = 2674 2nd, and 2008 = 2797 1st).

 

Sunday when I started planning how to divide the final 22 mi to the mark I thought it would be nice to run 10 mi on Sunday so that I could have a 12 mile run as my last run of 2012. Yes I am a number freak. I am not exactly sure how this happened except that there were finally no major injuries and I kept consistent. My lowest mileage week was the first week of the year with only 23 miles. However, after that I had all additional weeks at or above 30 miles, with 23 weeks at or above 50 miles. Unlike 2008 when I had a number of weeks over 80 miles and four over 90 miles, my highest mileage week this year was a 74.5. By no means was this my fastest year and I was definitely more of a tortoise than a hare this year but I still managed one PR, a first since July of 2009! I also managed 11 races, more than 2010 and 2011 combined. It felt so great being back to running again.

 

Even as late as heading out the door this morning I was still planning on hitting some type of hard miles within this run. However, seeing the snow again and the ice underneath made footing very questionable at most places. At 3 mi I thought about turning around and doing the 5K on the treadmill but even with the questionable footing I was in need of the long run outside and just went with it. It snowed on me the entire run and was just a nice easy and relaxing run. I went to Memory Grove via a quick stop in lab to take care of my only bench work. Then took South Temple back up toward home. Saw deer in a couple spots and a few other runners out there.

Avg.  9:00 HR 132

There is a lot more I would like to write about life changes etc., but I think for now and for the purposes of a running blog I will close here with 2565 miles this year and crossing that 50,000K finish line. Next up 40,000 mi. At my 5-year average this will take me until about 2016/17 to complete…

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Brooks Launch Orange #2 Miles: 12.00
Night Sleep Time: 6.50Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 6.50Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Jake K on Mon, Dec 31, 2012 at 12:10:04 from 98.165.232.107

I enjoyed that recap. A very good year for you. You are always balancing so much... I'm impressed by your dedication to excellence on so many levels.

From Adam RW on Mon, Dec 31, 2012 at 12:13:35 from 67.171.121.150

Jake, I also enjoyed your entire year. You have really shown me what the human body is capable of. I am so impressed how you are able to maintain such a high level of excellence. Your annual total is nearly 1/4 around the earth! That just blows my mind. Awesome running and I look forward to your 2013 racing!

From ACorn on Mon, Dec 31, 2012 at 16:26:12 from 24.2.76.146

Happy New Year! Great running this year!

From JD on Mon, Dec 31, 2012 at 23:19:19 from 65.130.141.52

nice recap - congrats on such a productive year. I enjoy reading about all the great running you manage to fit into your life - you really came back strong this year!

happy new year!

From bgrun on Tue, Jan 01, 2013 at 11:38:45 from 68.251.37.230

WOW! What wonderful achievements.

2013 will be even better for you!

Love, Mom

From Jon on Tue, Jan 01, 2013 at 22:07:54 from 107.203.52.135

50k!

From jtshad on Wed, Jan 02, 2013 at 09:34:36 from 141.221.191.225

Great recap of a long running career. Nice goals for the upcoming year. I hope the work future comes into focus as you desire for you and the family.

From Adam RW on Wed, Jan 02, 2013 at 11:56:33 from 67.171.121.150

Thank you all.

2013 is sure to bring a lot of changes.

Jon, That is very tempting. If I could have hit the mark for my birthday I was thinking about finishing it off with a 35 miler... We will see. The longer races are tempting.

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