As the year draws to an end, it’s time to reflect back on the crazy year called 2020 and my year of running, something I’ve been doing as the year dwindles to an end each year since 2013. For whatever reason I can’t find my 2015 post so I can only assume that it’s been sucked into the great abyss of the internet.

 

Best race experience:  HaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHa!!! I was injured during much of the year, specifically the first quarter when there actually were some live races. By the time I was ready to sign up for a race and actually run it, COVID numbers were ticking back up and races I’d hoped would be in person had switched to virtual.

All things considered, though, my best race experience was the Virtual 2020 Ashburn Farm Thanksgiving Day 5K which I ran on my treadmill. It was a glorious day – 54° and sunny – at 9 AM when I’d planned to run the course with my son, daughter-in-law, and her mom, but COVID had me quarantining inside after an exposure to someone who had tested positive. With minor symptoms, I’d gotten tested the previous day and was stuck indoors for 14 days.

 

Best run:   My best run was in early December when I ran with my friends for the first time all year, and considering that it was totally pain-free made it perfect. As I like to say, “Any run is a good run, but a pain-free run is a glorious run.”

 

Best new piece of running gear:  I have scratched my head over what new piece of running gear I acquired during 2020 and I couldn’t come up with anything new other than replacement running shoes. Now if I were to write about my new bike and all of the new cycling gear I purchased in 2020, I’d have plenty to talk about…

 

Best running advice you’ve received this year:  During physical therapy for my injury the first half of the year, my therapist Ashley introduced me to McKenzie press-ups. She advised me to start and end each workout with a set of 20 press-ups. I’m pretty convinced that my diligence to doing press-ups several times a day have made a huge difference in my successful recovery.

 

Most inspirational runner: I was truly inspired by Chris Nikic who made history as the first Down syndrome athlete to complete an IRONMAN at IRONMAN Florida in early November. Not only did Chris train for and complete a marathon, but he also successfully completed all three events of the triathlon, something most people can only dream of doing.

 

Favorite picture from a run or race this year:  Since there were no in-person races, my favorite picture will have to come from a run. Although the picture is blurry, I like it because of the colors and action.

 

Race experience you would repeat in a heartbeat: I think I get a pass on this question this year…

 

If you could sum up your year in a couple of words what would they be? Be persistent!

My injury kept me sidelined for far longer than I expected, but I was determined to take my time and allow my body to fully heal as I gradually replaced walking intervals with running. My physical therapist suspected that I’d come back too quickly after previous injuries, not allowing my body to heal completely and setting it up for re-injury more easily.

 

Questions:

  • • Focusing just on fitness and meeting your fitness goals, how was your 2020?
  • • If you’re a runner, what was your favorite run or race?
  • • Being optimistic, have you planned your 2021 racing calendar? If so, which race are you most looking forward to running?