Review of the Year 2010: 3,333 Miles(Avg 64 Miles/Week)

February, 2010: The Colonial Half Marathon: 1:12:57, 6th overall, Current Personal Record

I dueled most of this race with Berhanu Zeleke before dropping him around Mile 10. It is my current 13.1 PR on a hilly course.

March 2010: My 1:12 hilly 13.1 PR indicated that I was capable of a very strong Spring Marathon. I was in the top 5 for the first half of the Shamrock Marathon before having to stop. It was a sign that the Marathon was not going to be my event this year. I did finish though and signed up for the Chicago Marathon.April 11, 2010: CHERRY BLOSSOM 10 Miler: 54:16, 46th, Current Personal Best

Cherry Blossom marked the turnaround in my running. This was clearly one of the year's highlights for me. I suffered through mile 5 and came back to finish strong and caught as many people as I could. Will run again in 2011.April 25, 2010: Pikes Peek 10K: 32:54, downhill course so not really a sub 33 IMO. First time wearing the Potomac River Running singlet.

10.10.10: THE CHICAGO MARATHON: This Marathon I have so many mixed emotions about because it was going so well at the half...13.1 split was 1:16.. The middle of the race was one big adrenaline rush, crowds of people cheered, I felt amazing. My legs were strong, I was ready to attack...
Unfortunately, it was not the way I envisioned it to be. I had always wanted to run this race-it is a beautiful city, and the crowds are spectacular. Despite slowing considerably to a shuffle after 16 miles, I still finished the race, which I do not regret. My time was 3:04. I have questioned my ability as a marathoner, I have questioned whether I am able to push through. My PR is 2:38, which Dave thinks is my softest PR compared to my other times. But I have conquered the marathon before(twice)...I hope one day I will come back to Chicago and conquer.

November 9, 2010: Dark times. The death of my cousin was and is still a very difficult time for me to accept. Jeff meant so much to me, and I will never forget him. I decided to run the Veterans Day 10K to honor him.

Dickson Mercer wrote a wonderful paragraph in the Washington Running Report on the Veterans Day 10K race I ran:

"Running philosopher Dr. George Sheehan wrote that the race is where we keep the faith, and perhaps no runner put those words into action quite like Potomac River Running's Chris Sloane. Earlier in the week, Sloane received news that his cousin, Jeff Klein, had died at 23. Sloane did not return home from Klein's funeral until late the night before the race, but the Potomac resident still showed up to the Veterans Day 10K with his cousin's name on his bib. Sloane was overcome with emotion while crossing the finish line, but the 27-year-old runner had reason to be proud. His time was 32:58: Sloane gave his cousin the fastest 10K of his life."
November 25, 2010 and December 12, 2010: My last 2 races of 2010 were high placings, 5th at the YMCA Turkey Chase 10K in Bethesda in 32:54 over rolling hills and a 3rd place finish at the Jingle All the Way 10K in a current personal best of 32:51.

Here's to 2011...