I wasn't sure if I was going to make a list of goals for this year, which is why this post is in February, instead of the early part of January. But, I've been thinking a lot lately about what I want to accomplish for 2010, so I thought I'd commit those goals to paper (computer).
I'm trying to run a race in each of Illinois' 102 counties. As of last year, I'm up to 42. So, my minimum goal for 2010 is to run at least 10 races, to get my total to over half of the counties in this state. That shouldn't be too hard of a goal to reach, as I've raced in 16 and 15 new counties over the last two years.
After that, I will give priority to running races in counties where races are hard to find. Two years ago, after a four month search on the Internet, I couldn't find races in 18 counties. Since then, I've found races in at least nine of those 18 and have even run races in six of them. Still, because races come and go, anytime I get a chance to run a race in one of these counties, I hope to do so.
This year, I'd like to run several races in counties in the Wabash River Valley. That area of the state is kind of hard to get to from Springfield, so I'd like to finish off those counties if I can. Last year, I ran in three of them. This year, I'd like to knock out at least four.
I also hope to do a race or two in deep southern Illinois. And, I'd like to do at least one half marathon. I've kind of resigned myself to the idea that there will be a lot of 5ks this year, but a half marathon or two would help balance that out.
I think I am going to skip next week's Fly With the Eagles half marathon in Williamson County because I am not yet ready this year for the distance, but I hope to do at least two races in March, including the Delavan Panther Frostbite Classic half marathon.
So, those are the goals, plus the additional goal of having fun.