Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday! Ours was hectic and crazy and fun, but I have to admit I’m glad it’s over and now I can enjoy my fabulous week at home. Plus all the cookies and wine and treats…oy.
Anyway, here’s the scoop. Normally I loved doing these little running year-in-reviews (see 2012, 2013, 2014). But this has been a strange, strange year for me in terms of running.
Lots of highs, plenty of lows, with a bunch of new experiences thrown in for good measure. And I ran the fewest number of races than I have since 2012.
I’m trying to think optimistically about 2016, because I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed with how 2015 ended. Not just with coming within four seconds of a goal that has taunted me for over a year now, but there was the sickness. And the injuries. And the way I now feel like I don’t know where I stand, or what to expect of myself next year.
But I don’t want to dwell on the bad stuff or the uncertainty. Because like I said, there was plenty of good, too. Like the realization that I love running with friends! I had been a solo runner for so long, but this year I experienced how much fun — and how motivating — it can be to run with someone else.
I loved my long runs this summer and fall with my friend L as we trained for the Smuttynose Half Marathon. We chatted, we kept quiet when we were pushing hard, and having the company and support really made those long double-digit runs go by so much faster. And, to top it off, we both PR’d at Smuttynose. Coincidence? Nah.
Running also introduced me to some new friends in town over the last few months. What started out as a supportive Facebook group for local running moms has turned into a training group as well, and it’s been a blast.
Now my fellow “Mama Striders” meet a few early mornings a week, and a whole bunch of us are planning to run Boston’s Run to Remember together. We’re all at different paces and different levels, but everyone is so supportive and it’s been such fun getting to know these ladies better.
Plus, I’ve also found I kind of like running in the dark with my spiffy new headlamp!
Other new experiences for 2015: My first trail race, my first 5-miler, running a 5K with my son, my first time doing full-fledged/I-want-to-throw-up track workouts, and my first time coming in as one of the top 3 women overall in a race!
Read on below for more of my year in running…
Races participated in: 9 (lowest total in 3 years)
Distances:
5K: 3
5 mile: 1
10K: 3 (including a 10K trail race)
10 mile: 1
Half marathon: 1
New-to-me distance: 5 miler
Coldest race: Shamrock Shuffle 5K
States run in: Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Oregon
Countries run in: United States, Canada
Placed in age group: Along with coming in as the third overall woman in the Monster Mash 5K, I was technically the first in my age group (love those local races!)
New PRs: 2 (half marathon and 5-miler)
Running groups joined: 2 (Mama Striders and Tri-Valley Frontrunners)
Races run alone: 1
Races run with others: 8 (!)
Best Race Experience: Even though it was as heartbreaking as it was awesome, I have to go with the Smuttynose Half Marathon. I felt like crap (and likely had pneumonia at the time), but I felt so strong throughout the race! A PR at 2:00:04 and I know I would have gone sub-2:00 if I had been at 100%. Plus it was a beautiful (and flat!) course. I’m already looking forward to redemption in 2016.
Best Race Swag: The Smuttynose Half Marathon fleece jacket, hands down
Best New Piece of Gear: My Under Armour Fly-By Stretch Mesh Tank Top and (finally) a real pair of running sunglasses
Proudest Running Moment: Crossing the 5K finish line with my son
Most Challenging Race Experience: The Tufts 10K, which took place a week after the Smuttynose Half Marathon while I was being treated for pneumonia. There’s no way I should have attempted to run this.
Biggest Lesson Learned in 2015: Listen to your body. And don’t take anything for granted.
Year in Running in One Word: Unexpected.
I don’t quite know what the next year has in store for me, running-wise (especially with a PT consult scheduled for mid-January), but I do have my “wish list” of races, which I’ll share another time. Until then, wishing you all a fabulous (and safe) New Year’s and I’ll see ya in 2016!
Laura says
I had pneumonia this past year too! I’m glad you were able to run your race anyway! I was on bedrest for 4 months 🙁 Here’s to a rocking 2016!
Courtney @ eat pray run dc says
Fleece jacket for the win! Good year!