2019 didn’t find me toeing the line at as many races as most years, but you can bet that I had fun at the four races I ran. The 5K’s were both local, but I traveled to run the half marathon and 4-miler. All were run with either friends or family and I only had my personal photographer along the course at one of the races.
2019 RACE STATS
2 5K’s
1 4-Miler
1 Half Marathon
4 Total Races
2 Local Races/2 Destination Races
2 Age Group Wins
1 Age Group Third Place Finish
23.3 Racing Miles
3:42:43 Spent Racing
9:34 Average Pace
Endless Fun
2019 New Day New Year 5K
I started the new year off right by joining my friends to run the New Day New Year 5K. The swag for this race is just about the best I’ve come across. Last year it was a blanket; this year a hat, buff, and gloves – and all sporting the race logo.
How’d I do? Not so great and this race confirmed that I needed to see my spine doctor to help me figure out what was causing my right glute pain and leg numbness. Unfortunately, when I called on January 2nd, the earliest appointment I could get was for late January. I sidelined myself and didn’t run again until a glorious, albeit easy, half mile on February 28th.
Back to my race results… My friends and I stuck together, all running slowly – due to hangovers, injury (me), and empathy. It wasn’t pretty, but enjoying hot chocolate with my friends after the race made it all worthwhile!
- 34:13 (11:02 pace) – 3rd age group
Not bling, but cool swag
2019 Firecracker 5K
It just wouldn’t be Independence Day without joining my friends to run in the Firecracker 5K and I was bound and determined to be healthy for the race. After the aforementioned nagging injuries subsided and I was able to gradually start building my mileage up at the end of March, I got back into my regular running routine. SI joint pain reared its ugly head and sidelined me once again for three non-consecutive weeks in June.
How’d I do? Apparently, those three weeks away from running were just what my body needed because I ran a good race and finished with a decent time. Those 60-64 year old ladies in Reston are fast and even with what seemed like a pretty good time, I missed third place in my age group by 14 seconds.
- 27:22 (8:49 pace)
2019 Marine Corps Half
When my friend Beth suggested I join her for the Marine Corps Half at Camp Lejeune, NC while visiting her husband and her over a long weekend, I jumped at the chance. With ten Marine Corps Marathons under my belt, I knew the Marines would put on a great race!
With my winter and spring injuries mostly behind me I was able to slowly build my mileage, topping out at twelve miles two weeks before the race. I kept my training cycle as low keyed as possible, skipping any sort of speed work and sticking with easy conversation paced runs.
How’d I do? Despite the heat and humidity on race day, I felt great and my body responded just the way I’d hoped. I didn’t run a super fast race, but I felt great and ran strong enough to finish first in my age group!
- 2:04:37 (9:31 pace) – 1st age group
2019 Charlotte Turkey Dash
My turkey trot tradition continued with this fun race with family and friends even though we were out of town. Part of our invitation to spent Thanksgiving in Charlotte was a promise that we’d start our day with a race!
How’d I do? Having never run a 4-mile race, I knew I’d be getting an automatic PR so I went into the race with a little extra pep in my step. I felt good, but not great during the race; however, that could have been the result of enjoying more than one glass of wine the evening before the race. Even though I’d drunk lots of water before, during, and after the wine, I still felt dehydrated throughout the race.
Despite the dehydration and being overdressed, I was able to keep my head in the race and focused on maintaining a somewhat steady pace. My pace was good enough to earn a first place in my age group!
- 36:31 (9:08 pace) – 1st age group
This look back at my 2019 year of racing has gotten me excited about 2020. Who knows what 2020 will bring, but I hope I’m able to stay healthy and perhaps run a few more races than in 2019.
- Questions:
- How did your racing year end?
- How many races do you plan to run next year?
- Are you running in a New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day race? ~ My friends and I have decided that instead of running in a race on New Year’s morning, we’ll meet for a run and coffee/hot chocolate afterward.
My 2019 year was great until Dec.
If my foot is ok, I’ll run a short race on New Years Day.
Hope we both have an injury free and fun 2020.
Yes, here’s to an injury-free 2020!
Nice bling! I ran more races than I ever have this year, and still have two more to go, a 5 miler on Christmas Eve and a 5k on NYE. Some incredible highs and of course a few lows. Here’s to more of the same for both of us in 2020!
Beckett @ Birchwood Pie recently posted…Weekly Eats: French Toast with Love
Have fun at your next two races! And yes, here’s to a fun and injury-free 2020 for us both!
That swag from your NYD race is killer! A bunch of us always meet up on NYD and run at the lake…usually 3 miles. Someone always brings champagne and OJ, too 🙂 I ran 19 races in 2019 (with a potential 20th one while we’re in San Diego next week for the Holiday Bowl). YIKES! I didn’t realize there had been that many until I was writing up my “year in bling” post last week.
Kimberly Hatting recently posted…Just Cool It…and don’t skip the cool-down
Isn’t that swag the best? I was so pleased when I saw it!
That cool about the potential for running a race in San Diego next week. You’ve got to do it! 😀
I also did fewer races this year but had a blast at the one’s I did do. Looks like you did too!
Deborah Brooks recently posted…My Year in Running 2019 Miles of Smiles
I did, just wish we’d both ended up at the same race at least once!
Those Marines do put on great races, don’t they? I have a running friend who now wants to do some of the other Marine Corps races after completing 11 MCMs. Maybe I will travel with her to do one or more of them this year. OUr running group always meets on New Year’s Day (late morning) to do a run, followed by breakfast items and hot chocolate/coffee. It’s a great tradition!
Laurie recently posted…Humble Enough?
Yes, the Marines always do such a great job with their races so I don’t think you and your friend can go wrong with whichever races you choose to run.
That sounds like a great NYD tradition and I’m looking forward to doing similar this year with my friends!
Looks like you had a great year of running–you are an inspiration to me!
I had a surprisingly good year of running/racing, in spite of struggling with RA-related fatigue throughout the spring. I had to learn to listen to my body and I sure couldn’t push myself when I was feeling so bad. I’m so grateful to have found endurance again.
Awww, thanks, Wendy! You are such an inspiration to me and so many others. Your dedication and determination running with RA sets such a good example for others.
There may not have been many, but it sounds like you did great!
I actually did run more races than you, but just one half. A couple of AG places which is very unusual for me! Very proud of the first medal I earned as an AG award.
Next year . . . my guess is there still might be only one half. Still much family drama, making it hard to commit to much — plus a very good chance that family drama could come to an end, which obviously will be tough as well.
Congrats on a handful of strong races! Way to come back from injuries!
Thanks, Judy! Congrats on your AG awards!
[…] race experience: This past year I ran in only four races: New Day New Year 5K, Firecracker 5K, Marine Corps Half, and Charlotte Turkey Dash. If I have to […]