Racing through 2024

I didn’t run this year, I raced.

I did some mental math when texting with Liz and another friend and realized I’d raced (as in organized race, not speed) about 90 miles this year. That is bonkers when considering Strava says I’m at ~750 miles.  “I feel seen” is possibly the most over-used comment, but um, busted when this post was suggested for me. It’s not entirely surprising as I had this conversation with Coco and my friend Jess when phone was in listening distance, but I had to laugh. And I did. Linking up with Kim and Deborah to talk about the insanity that was 2024 in running shoes.

First off: it was 123.1. miles. I’d forgotten about Gridiron and Parkway when we first talked about it, and am not good at mental math. That is 16% of my total to date.

Local Favorites:

5K and 4M (14.2)

• My beloved Frozen Penguin.
• Central Park 5K – part of a friend’s journey to running. So fun to be a part of it. I’m actually bummed that NYCRuns has dropped these in favor of Half only as I think a 5K is much more reasonable in winter and the Half doesn’t align with their Brooklyn Half training, so I can’t quite understand the decision.
• Gridiron 4M
• Pride 4M – a walk/run following a dermatology procedure, but I’ll never miss being out there.

10Ks: (31)

 

• Spring Fling – first of three on Governors Island this year. This one featured hail! A friend’s first 10K and awesome to be a part of and I like to think Mother Nature felt the same. Certainly memorable!
• Women’s Mini. Love hate relationship with this race, but I end up running it every year.
• Squirrel Stampede
• Haunted Island 10K – I so love this silliness. First of two Governors Island 10Ks where I tried NoBull Journeys. They don’t work for me for a longer distance, but what I learned from them pushed me back to Brooks, and I am really enjoying the Launch. More importantly, so are my feet.

• Go Nuts for Donuts – an unplanned race that was a transfer when NYCRuns cancelled a Feb 5K I’d signed up for. I couldn’t run it anyway but hadn’t had the chance to cancel my registration. Worked out for the best, and a new to me race. Hands down the best shirt ever and a wonderful/completely ridiculous look. I’m a recent convert to CVG shorts and what better than a Thanksgiving hat, Christmas shorts and donuts?

15K

• My beloved Ted Corbitt. Was not a good choice this year, but I finished. Came the closest I ever have to a DNF, but for this race it just feels wrong. I finished, know what I did wrong and it didn’t recur.

Destination Races (58.6):

• Rock and Roll DC – My first PW of the year. I had a blast, but that course was rude. The company was excellent, and I loved RnR.
• Parkway Classic. Cherry Blossom wasn’t going to work schedule wise, and I’ve talked about this since I realized that Cherry Blossom didn’t technically enter Virginia. Such a fun weekend.
• Midnight Sun Half Marathon – unfair to call it a highlight when there were many highlights, but also unfair to hold any other race up to a race that finished under the literal midnight sun in the Arctic Circle. So glad I had the chance to run this and would wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone.

• Detroit Half – this recap is still unfinished, but I will because it was an amazing race. If not for Norway, it would be hands down the winner because how often do you get to run across an international border? Sunrise on the bridge to Windsor, Canada is a sight I won’t soon forget.

• Jingle Bell 15K – even before Ted Corbitt was messy, I’d decided to do Jingle Jog with a friend. It ended up being a wonderful rebound run. It was a small race, but the volunteers were awesome, especially the one who started singing “Grandma got run over by a reindeer” to me at the last water station. Hains Point in December is a Force. Bonus: two lunches with Coco.

Other:

• Prospect Park 10M. I could not get my head around Parkway Classic training and kept bailing on my long runs so signed up for some external motivation. It was a walk run with friends and to be honest, not particularly worth the travel time but it was a fun something different.

Total:123.1. miles. I’d forgotten about Gridiron and Parkway when we first talked about it, and am not good at mental math and clearly should have asked Santa for more of my fingers . That is 16% of my total to date.

2025 Plans:

Within reason. I am NOT racing 100+ miles. Here’s what I have on the calendar and what I have planned beyond that:

• • January 5: My beloved Frozen Penguin. I actually changed my holiday travel plans to be here for it. I can’t skip my gateway drug especially with it falling around my running anniversary.
  • February 23: Las Vegas Rock and Roll Half. I wanted to do Rock and Roll again, and Arizona tempted me, but the dates didn’t work. I saw Vegas and while I didn’t love the evening run in Norway for rest purposes, I think this will work. I had a great Strip walk to the Las Vegas sign when last there, and excited to run the Strip.
  • April 6: Cherry Blossom. I think this is my fourth running? Besides my love of the blossoms, it’s how I got to this linkup and met you all so it holds a special place in my heart.
  • May 31: Fargo, Yah? Much like Detroit was a means to cross off Michigan, this race will get me ND and Minnesota although the Half doesn’t cross the state line.  Thanks to Jessie, I’m already planning for a famous Dilly Bar.
  • July: Firework 10K. This finally moved back to its weekend, although not the 4th itself.
  • October: Haunted Island

Likely, but registration isn’t open yet: Women’s Mini, despite the love hate relationship, Pride and Ted Corbitt.

Total: 70.

What do you have on tap for 2025? Any of these where we can hopefully meet up?