Starting to Work on Next Year: Redefining My Own Possible--Mark Wigmore

As I mull over the possibility of one last marathon this year, more and more I am turning my attention to next year. I don't do New Years resolutions, but I do like to look ahead, set some targets and then figure out how best to get there.

So far, I have sketched in a couple of things. In May, I will organize the pace bunny team at the Ottawa Race Weekend. Last year, there were 40 runners in the races and we did well. My goal will be get a higher percentage of pacers within 1 minute of their target time (would love 100%).

In August, I am planning to run the Reykjavik Marathon in August with my son. It will be his first marathon and I can't think of a better place to do it. Not big but unique. I visited Iceland with my wife 16 years ago and it is a stunningly beautiful country. It will be memorable for the two of us. We are doing this as a family trip so planning will also mean saving. Phil is planning to run the half marathon at Ottawa in May and then we will take the following months to figure out the right pace for marathon. Right now, we are both thinking 3:30--may be less. Whatever it is, we will run it together and it will be awesome.

In September, I will likely organize the pace teams at the Army Half Marathon and pace the 4:00 time at the Scotia Bank Marathon. I am working through in my head, my fall race marathon. Wineglass, Steamtown, Prince Edward County, Toronto Goodlife, Hamilton, West Palm Beach. So many good races in great locations.

I am thinking I will spend a little bit of the winter working on speed work. There is a 400 metre indoor track at a Dome in Ottawa which encourages me to do more interval work in the warmth as opposed to long runs in the cold. I would at some point like to focus on my 10k time--hopefully running sub 40 minutes--but with goals that are mostly marathon in length, it is hard to be dedicated to that goal. Working that through in my head.

I continue to appreciate the support of the Nathan team. I intend to continue to wear the shirt in races next year. I still have the words "Go Nathan, Go Nathan" ringing in my ears from New York.

Mark