Would you believe I ran ten whole races this year? It’s not at least one or two a month, but it’s an improvement on seven in 2021 and two in 2020! Yay me! Let’s review the first five.
26.2 with DONNA Half Marathon
I was excited for this half. Was it a comeback half marathon? Sort of, in the way that I really wanted to cover 13.1 miles again after injury and the pandemic. We planned the most amazing weekend, with a hotel on the beach and plans to meet up with our families. I was looking forward to cute, matching tanks and photos and snacks on the course. What we got? Record low temperatures, whipping winds, and pouring rain. I am one of those annoying positive people, but my smile was gone by mile 10. Then again, if I can do a half in these conditions, it can only get easier.
Gate River Run 15K
So again, I was looking forward to the Gate. It’s the biggest and best around. Of course, right before I got injured, and J was sick and couldn’t run. I had no idea what to do. It’s a walker friendly race, and I could certainly walk. But then I felt like I should wait until I was up to par. I literally drove my car to the event that morning, prepared to go right back home. Sometimes, I’m too much of a mess for words. But I forced myself into my corral, ran until I got too uncomfortable and power-walked the rest of that course like a boss.
Raptor Run 3K
I finally had the chance to take on the Raptor Run 3K, hosted by our local Alligator Farm. Sure, 3K is a short distance, but you get to take your chances against an actual (inflatable) raptor, so yeah. I planned to be there. Scheduling was never on my side for this event but it finally all worked, and I was so glad to be there. Some awesome friends joined in the fun and it was really perfectly great. Plus, it was a nice distance to challenge my healing knee.
Spud Run 5K
The Spud Run was my birthday request. I wanted to run a race for my birthday, with my favorite people. And so we did exactly that. The course is through gorgeous potato and cabbage fields, and every runner gets to take home two cabbages and a sack of potatoes. It makes me laugh and I love it. Last year I did the 10K version of the same race and I would like to do that again.
Florida Striders’ Memorial Day 5K
The Memorial Day 5K is the anniversary of my first official race, TEN YEARS AGO! What? I must have lost track. Oops. I try to run this one every year, if I can, but it doesn’t always work out. Is it always hot and sunny and humid? Yup. That won’t hold me back, though.
Do you ever miss big milestones? Dates and numbers aren’t my thing so I forever lose track.
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You ran a nice variety of races this year! I think my favorite is the Spud race–love the ‘swag’! But I’ll have to wait for the next installment. Nice work.
What a nice year of racing.
Definitely forgot dates and milestones. I forget my PRS if I don’t look them up and am constantly forgetting my fist anything.
I think April 1, 2008 was my first run ever and Jan 16, 2011 my first half.
You ran some fun races! I especially like the Spud Run because the swag is so unique 🙂
Who doesn’t love running for a sack of potatoes!