With almost NINE uninterrupted-consecutive-no alarm-set-no-kids-antics-hours-of-sleep {isn’t sleep why parents go on vacation?!}, this end-of-the-year blog begins. The backdrop for my thoughts & writing isn’t too shabby—sitting garden-side with a gorgeous view of a choppy Atlantic Ocean in Bermuda. Mornings don’t get much better than this! Well okay, I concur… morning-breath juicy cheek smooches from two 5-year-olds are pretty dang awesome; but every hard-working parent deserves a break from those—for a few days anyway!
As a runner, you don’t get many years like 2016. A PR in every distance is hard to conquer in one calendar year, but this year, I accomplished just that! Proud is an understatement. I know I work hard {not to be vain, just #truth!}; but the bona fide confirmation of that hard work comes from the finish line result & from the affirmation received from friends.
This year, I ran 24 races. While two per month on average may seem like a lot for some, they were actually spaced out pretty nicely! Rarely did I race on back-to-back weekends. My home life & work life have remained blissfully intact, despite almost 1,700 miles this year, so I couldn’t happier! How did your 2016 fair?!
JANUARY – The year began with 2 of the 3 races {both PRs!} at the Tidewater Striders Distance Series. If you are local to Hampton Roads, sign up for these cheap, fun runs/races! They are a great training option if you’re preparing for the Shamrock weekend. In the 10-miler, I placed 2nd in my age group with a time of 1:17:51 (7:47/mile). Three weeks later, the pace slowed a bit (7:58/mile) for the 15-miler; but this time, I crossed the line as 2nd female overall! These 2 races were excellent confidence boosters for my February marathon.
FEBRUARY – Three races were run this month, with the Tokyo Marathon being absolutely the highlight. At that epic race, I finished barely off the goal time, but with an exact 7 minute PR – official time, 3:41:28 (8:27/mile)!! I can’t wait to tackle my 2nd World Marathon Major, in 2017, when I run the Chicago Marathon. The other 2 races for the second month of the year were the Game Day 10K (47:04, 7:35/mile pace) & the 3rd of the Distance Series races, a 12-miler, in 1:40:18 (8:22/mile).
MARCH – Two weeks after the marathon, which I wouldn’t normally recommend, I raced as the anchor for a 4-woman relay team at the One City Marathon; my distance being just under 5 miles. A long-time personal goal was broken that day—to cover 4 miles in less than 30 minutes—so although we won our race division, I really “won” that day prior to crossing the finish line! The only other race that month, was a rainy/hailing/windy Shamrock Half Marathon, which I ran in 1:42:25 (7:50/mile); good enough for a more than 3 minute {totally unexpected!} PR. This accomplishment is when the wheels began turning for the upcoming years’ big marathon goal!
APRIL – Only 1 race this month, as I let my body recover from an intense prior 2 months of racing. I headed to Richmond for the Monument 10K—planned mostly to be a fun weekend trip with the hubby; but thanks to a new job for him, I adventured there solo. I did however spend the weekend with close friends, so the race wasn’t a total bust! Covered the monumental {like what I did there?} race in 47:43 (7:41/mile).
MAY – The 5th month of the year had 3 races for me—with the first one happening on the evening of Cinco de Mayo. The inaugural Corporate 5K was run on a rainy evening, with my running feet not capturing any ground-breaking records—official time, 24:08 (7:46/mile). Next came one of my most favorite races—the CHKD 8K, which was an overdue PR, finishing in 37:48 (7:37/mile)—good enough for 3rd place in my age group! The final race of the month was run with my Mother on the race course too—the Lee’s Friends Run on the Wild Side 5K. Only thing to remark upon from this race, aside from its’ amazing charitable cause & it being my mother’s first race, was my crash to the trail which bruised my body up pretty badly. Naturally, I healed; & despite the fall, I finished 1st in my age group in 24:26 (7:52/mile).
JUNE – My birthday month is a much less raced month, mostly thanks to the icky summer weather in Virginia! Only 1 race this month, on a hot mid-week morning—one of the Summer Series 5Ks, put on by J&A Racing. I hope they do this fun race series again in 2017, as it was a great way to get people moving, mid-week, both locals & tourists alike! This race was finished in 23:19 (7:31/mile), which was 3rd female overall.
JULY – For many runners in southside Hampton Roads, July racing only means one thing—the Summer Series on Tuesday evenings at the Botanical Gardens. I mean, who wouldn’t like to have FREE fun, with FREE pizza & beer as a reward, after FREE running around gorgeous gardens on a hot & humid evening?? And with your closest smelly, dripping in sweat, fastie friends!? I agree, it’s hard to pass up. And yes, I am good sell! I do have to disclose, the final night is not free, but the expense is minimal & it goes to a good scholarship fund cause. The final night is the only one that really “counts”… like timing goes permanently on the Internet; so put your best foot forward for that one. This year, I ran the Memorial Scholarship 5K in 24:13 (7:48/mile), & somehow, despite the dew point being some ridiculous number in the 70s, I eeked out a 3rd place age group placing.
AUGUST – Another month I’d prefer to not leave my A/C-filled house, but alas, I do & tend to run very slowly through the humid streets of Norfolk & VA Beach. Again, only 1 race this month, because let’s be honest, who LIKES breathing through a straw?! The ECSC 5K was the lone race, which I vowed not to “race” as I was saving up my energy for the following weekend {see September}. Finished it at summer-tempo effort, in 25:14 (8:08/mile).
SEPTEMBER – The 9th month of the year was a busy racing month for The Running Blonde. As I mentioned in the prior paragraph, I needed all the energy I could contain for the Rock ‘n Roll race the following weekend. After many times of struggling through the awful half marathon course, I became a RnR VB 5K-lifer! Holy crap—it was soooooo nice to make the turn onto the Boardwalk finish, knowing my running counterparts going straight had 10 more humid & treacherous miles until they reached that same finish line. Sorry guys! Probably my best placing at a “big” race, 6th female overall & 3rd in my age group (22:58, 7:24/mile)—VERY proud of this one! Next up was the DC Ragnar Relay. I could go on & on for days about this one; but I would lose all of my readers. Instead, just read about the awesome-ness of my team (click on the DC Ragnar Relay link)! Last up for this month was the Heart of Ghent 10K. I love this race course—it runs past many of my favorite nostalgic Norfolk sites; but my goodness, can we get better weather for this race?! Definitely not a “raced” event for me, but a nice tempo-effort—finished in just under 50 minutes with the pace just over 8 minutes per mile.
OCTOBER – Another trifecta month, with 3 races run. First up, the Crawlin’ Crab half marathon, with no huge goals for this one {icky summer weather with high dew points persisted in southeast VA}. Ended up running half of the half with a friend who really needed support that day—1:58:24 (9:03/mile). While the time wasn’t blazing for me, & no overall or age group placements were achieved, I really RUN & ENJOY it, for races just like this one—cultivating & deepening the friendships made! Next up was a 5K-ish, with the Mother’s of Multiples Club. Official time wasn’t important at this one, but I did defend my winning title; highlight though, was family time! Last up in our 10th month of the year was the Wicked 10K (47:54, 7:43/mile). I had an awful race & I just beat myself up with mental defeat. I couldn’t even muster up a blog post about this one, as it would have been 100% Negative Nellie. I’ve moved on, but the 2016 Wicked 10K will sting for quite a while.
NOVEMBER – My big Fall race had finally arrived. Training had been choppy & sub-par at best; but I’ll admit to it having improved quickly as race day approached. What would be, is what would be—my mantra for the Norfolk Harbor half marathon. Although I did not achieve my sub-1:40 goal on that brisk & WINDY(!) day; I did PR (1:42:18, 7:49/mile). Another PR came the week prior to that goal race, via an 8K at the Richmond Marathon weekend—finishing in 37:16 (7:29/mile).
DECEMBER – After taking off an entire week of NO running following that half marathon {I can’t recall the last time, if ever, that I have done that!}, training commenced in late November for my goal Spring race—the Shamrock Marathon. Racing-wise, two fun races ended the year. First up was the inaugural Wards Corner 10K, which I ran on feel & “sans-watch-glances”, finishing in 47:19 (7:37/mile). Lastly {yes readers, I am almost done, HA!}, was the Tacky Sweater 5K. I went into this race with guns blazing & a goal to leave it all out there. No I didn’t want to get injured; but I also needed to see what I was made of, & what I could do! The result was as sweet as cherry pie—a 34 second 5K PR {huge!}—finishing in 22:13 (7:09/mile).
Cliff Notes Version:
- Ran 24 races throughout the year
- All New PRs – 5K (22:13), 8K (37:16), 10K (47:04), 10-miler (1:17:51), 12-miler (1:40:18), Half Marathon (1:42:18), 15-miler (1:59:26), Marathon (3:41:28)
- Had a blast with so many fabulous running friends!!
And just like that, we are done. It has been uber fun to relive & reflect on each & every one of these races. Much like recalling #allofthefeels of those tough races physically; I have enjoyed reminiscing on the moments with close friends & family. If you crossed my running path in 2016, I say “Thank You”—your journey, whether you realize it or not, has helped to propel my journey. And if our paths didn’t cross, let’s make a goal to change that in 2017!!
Thanks for reading & Happy New Year, from the gorgeous island of Bermuda!!
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