Mizuno tights and shirt, Runner’s Gate, Lakeville, Minnesota

Confirmation number for the 2012 New York City Marathon lottery – third time’s the charm?

Last taper run for Megan before Disney World, Lake Nokomis, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Email from the New York Road Runners announcing the 2012 NYC Marathon lottery.

http://www.marathonguide.com/

45F and sunny, December 18th, Lake Harriet, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Inspired by the idea behind Megan’s clever blog Forty by Thirty, I’ve been trying to think of a theme I could do to spice up my running goals for 2012 and beyond. I’ve seen people running with “50 Marathons in 50 States” shirts and Megan has talked about it in the past, but I never really considered it before.

I’ve only finished four so far, so 46 more before I turn fifty probably isn’t logistically (or financially) feasible. Fifty marathons before fifty is probably more realistic. I do like the idea of researching and planning all of those trips, though, especially since I haven’t been able to travel for fun much the past three years.

When I started writing the list of states, there really aren’t a lot that jump out. Hawaii, Oregon, New York, Texas and Massachusetts are easy; some of the others will take more research (see the full list after the jump).

With Boston moving the goal posts again, it will probably take me a few more years to get a qualifying time. If I started running more than 2-3 a year, though, it might happen quicker. It will be tough to not run Grandma’s and Twin Cities every year, but I’d probably have to save that money for other races. We’ll see…

Since I’m still grandfathered in for the New York City lottery, I’ll be running that in 2012 or 2013 and I’m thinking maybe I’ll try Fargo in May. Here is the list, with states in bold already completed:

1. Alabama
2. Alaska – Mayor’s (June)
3. Arizona
4. Arkansas
5. California – Los Angeles (March) or Big Sur (April)
6. Colorado
7. Connecticut
8. Delaware
9. Florida – Walt Disney World
10. Georgia
11. Hawaii – Honolulu (December)
12. Idaho
13. Illinois – Chicago
14. Indiana – Indianapolis (October)
15. Iowa
16. Kansas
17. Kentucky
18. Louisiana
19. Maine
20. Maryland
21. Massachusetts – Boston (April)
22. Michigan
23. Minnesota – Grandma’s, Twin Cities
24. Mississippi
25. Missouri
26. Montana
27. Nebraska
28. Nevada – Las Vegas (December)
29. New Hampshire
30. New Jersey
31. New Mexico
32. New York – New York City (November)
33. North Carolina
34. North Dakota – Fargo (May)
35. Ohio – Flying Pig (May)
36. Oklahoma
37. Oregon – Portland (October)
38. Pennsylvania
39. Rhode Island – Ocean State (October)
40. South Carolina
41. South Dakota
42. Tennessee
43. Texas – Houston (January)
44. Utah
45. Vermont
46. Virginia
47. Washington
48. West Virginia
49. Wisconsin – Eau Claire
50. Wyoming

I’ll continue to update this post as I find additional races that sound good.

Any suggestions?

http://jog.fm/

http://autopilotlegs.wordpress.com/2011/12/01/introducing-kristi/

http://getingear10k.com/registration.html

Exercise Bike and Treadmill, Fortune Bay Resort Casino, Tower, Minnesota

Limited Edition Mizuno Wave Rider 15s, Size 9 1/2

Twin Cities in Motion postcard (Organizers of the Twin Cities Marathon and many other fine races)

http://www.crossfitsouthbay.com/2011/05/skinny-fat/

http://sarinaslimsdown.tumblr.com/

http://itsracetime.com/AthleteStats.aspx?ID=182041

I feel great. To finish with a PR and I had to stop and throw up, I am very happy with…

Exercise Room Treadmill, Fortune Bay Resort Casino, Tower, Minnesota

http://ifeinsteinran.com/?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=Community&utm_campaign=A%252BBrilliant%252BRun

As I mentioned in my recent iPhone post, I regularly use an app called Weightbot to track my weight. The two graphs above came from that app – the first was my best year (2009), while the second is the current year (which is somewhat incomplete, as I don’t have a scale during the week at work).

I currently have a goal weight of 160 pounds, which seems to be eluding me by about ten pounds. I got close in 2009 by running 1000+ miles, but right now I’m having trouble getting back in the 160s. My mileage total so far this year is just under 700 miles, but I’ve done a lot more cross-training (mainly biking). Diet is probably the remaining reason, but that’s a lot tougher for me to change.

All ten of those remaining pounds can be found primarily around my midsection. My pant size has remained steady at 32 inches, but the “beer belly” region is the one thing I wish I could re-shape. Effective exercises targeting this area seem elusive, but I keep trying. I’m now to the point where I’m relatively happy standing in front of the mirror, but it would be nice to have a little more definition in my core.

Looking at those graphs again, I have to question the body-mass index definition of “overweight” outlined at the 170 pound mark for a male who is 5’9″ tall. I don’t really feel overweight now – especially after coming down from a peak weight of nearly 200 pounds. I think the “normal” range for that height goes down to 150 pounds, which seems ridiculous to me. Still, I’d really love to see that 160 number appear on the scale someday soon…

http://www.active.com/donate/2012mmrfBSIM/BSBGervai

http://www.weightinvain.com/?p=2505

My Favorite Running Landmark, East Minnehaha Parkway, Minneapolis, Minnesota

http://www.susanruns.com/

http://www2.brightroom.com/email/80175/1960/114061448