2014 was quite a year in running for me. Originally I had wanted to aim for running 2014 miles this year (tracking with Run This Year) but I realized around October that I wouldn’t hit that number. I’m really not even disappointed, because I still think I will hit close to 1900 which is by far the most I have ever run in a year. (I think in 2013 I ran about 1300.) I also know that I was smart about backing off on the miles when my body needed a break, which probably allowed me to continue running all year long.
I’m joining in the “Year of Running” review with Amanda (Miss Zippy) to sum up some of the highlights of the year:
Best race experience? There were actually quite a few good ones this year! Philly was a special one because it was my goal race and I PR’d by 15 minutes. But I also have a great time at the Baltimore Half (also a PR) and the Charles St 12 (first time doing that distance). Luckily there weren’t really “bad” races this year although some had less than ideal weather conditions.
Best run? As much as I complained about the snow early in the year, those runs were kind of special. I really enjoyed running in the fresh snow– it was the melting/icy mess that happened the next day that was an issue. I remember some of those snowy runs were really peaceful. I also loved running in Maine since I don’t typically have the opportunity to run in areas surrounded by nature.
Best new piece of gear? Since I like to torture myself, I would have to go with my Trigger Point Grid X foam roller. I guess that’s not really “gear” but I can’t think of any new gear I got this year. I would say my Garmin 620 but technically I started using that last December.
Best piece of running advice you received? I feel like I learned about about running this year. In two days at the RRCA certification course I learned more information than I knew what to do with. I also feel like I have learned a lot from other running bloggers as well. One specific piece of advice that sticks out in my mind actually came from an 8 year old. I remember over the summer my chiropractor’s daughter was hanging out in the office and he asked her to tell me one piece of running advice. She thought about it and said “Just run your own race”. She went on to talk about how other people go out really fast, and you may want to keep up with them, but thats not always the best plan. (She is actually an amazingly fast runner for her age and that was a lesson she had to learn while running cross country.) Without even realizing it, my mantra during my fall marathon was “just run your own race”. At the time I forgot where it came from, but it really helped me to run a consistent race and stay strong until the end.
Most inspirational runner? Honestly, I feel like this year I have found “average” runners to be extremely inspirational this year. Sure, the elites are amazing and we have talked about how they are under so much pressure to perform and that is stressful. And they sure are inspiring. But its harder to relate to them. As I have followed other runners’ blogs and read about all of their successes- THAT is what I find inspirational. I wanted to name some of you here but the list would be far too long and I know I would accidentally leave someone off.
If you could sum up your year in running in a couple of words, what would they be? Focused and fun.
How was your year in running?
What races or runs stand out in your mind from this year?
What was the best piece of running advice you have received?
Also linking up with Katie since this year was pretty marvelous.
We must be really in sync because I was just planning to write a recap like this for next week! It was actually hard for me to remember the whole year and piece it all together! For me this year, the standouts were injury recovery last winter and then right into the Boston marathon. And I like how the foam roller has its own section!
It was kind of hard for me to remember the whole year also which it was nice the follow the outline that Amanda made. If I tried to make my own recap of the year I think it would have been all over the place!
What a great running year. I had a pretty good year as well, even though I didn’t PR at any races. I really like my foam roller to since buying a high density one. I really like your bracelet….great motto!
Thanks! I don’t really like to define running by PRs because there are so many other factors involved. I don’t know what I ever did without a foam roller!
I can’t even believe this year is ending and I am receiving the race emails to sign up for the half marathons I feel as though I just ran ! And yes to run your own race, I always tell myself that during a race. Any chance you would come up to run the LI Half in may? I assume I will do it again.
I also can’t believe 2014 is almost over, I have no idea where the year went! I would love to do the LI marathon but I have a bunch of things going on this spring so not sure if I can fit in a trip to NY. But I will have to see how everything else lines up this year!
I love this post idea! I torture myself with the trigger point foam roller too and love it! I think one piece of running advice that has helped me is – “Take a mile at a time.”
That’s a really good piece of advice and something I tell myself all the time! It has definitely helped me to get through some of those longer and harder runs.
I love posts like this. It is so motivating, encouraging and inspirational for all of us serious runners. It makes me so happy and content to know it is as an important part of many people’s lives as it is in mine. The running community is so supportive and encouraging and the running blogs help us to share our good as well as hard running experiences and I find that to be helpful points of refreference as well as enjoyable to share the day -to-day running stories. Have a great week!
Thank you! You are right that it is important to reflect on both the good and bad parts of running. I also really enjoy reading about others’ running journeys!
Yay – I was looking forward to reading this!
Great year for you – and I totally agree that listening to your body is much more important than some arbitrary number.
I loved reading along with your training and all the great races – I do think you had an awesome year.
I always hear the ‘run your own race’ and it has probably been around longer than either of us has been alive – but it is such a simple truth that we all need to hear and remind ourselves.
And I totally agree that running on fresh snow before it is plowed is just an amazing thing … I might not like the super cold mornings, but I do like having winter 🙂
Great post and thanks for sharing!
While it was a little disappointing to not hit 2014 miles (because I was kind of close, and on track for well past that in the beginning of the year) I know that my lower summer mileage was really important for me this year. There is always next year to maybe hit 2015!
I am with you on the snow/cold weather running…and it’s really the ice and wind that make the winter runs miserable, I think!
You had such a great year! Oh the wisdom of kids. I adore her advice! So very wise.
I know right? Such a simple statement but so true and important.
Great year! I really like the motto run your own race. I think that applies to just about every area of life too. We just can’t compare ourselves to others. Cute bracelet too. 🙂
Thanks! I agree about “run your own race”. I didn’t realize how important it was until I started thinking about it during some of my races. There is no use comparing ourselves or trying to run a certain way just because thats what others are doing.
Focused and fun – I love that. Focused so we can hit goals, fun because … why else would we do it? If I didn’t already have a running blog I would steal that as my blog name, haha.
You have had an exceptional year of running. I’m so glad I found your blog this summer and had the chance to follow along with your marathon training and got to see you get that huge PR!
Thank you! I am also glad that we found each others’ blogs! And “focused and fun” would make a pretty good blog name:)
I think that we both have learned a lot about our bodies this year–and I think that our running and our mentality will only be the better for it. What a great year for you! Congratulations, and there is so much more to come!
Thank you! Its all a learning process. We will never know it all and there will always be opportunities to improve in some way. 2015 will be a great year!
I am currently wirting a post kind of similar to this on my own year of running in review. I loved reading yours! I can’t believe 2014 is nearly over. It’s a little mind blowing to think that a whole year passed THAT quickly!! That 8 year old sure is smart! That is a lesson I have learned myself a few times, for sure.
That is the best picture of you with the mich ultra! You look sooo happy! I’m assuming that is after your half PR because your eyes are open and you don’t looks as delirious as one does post FULL marathon, lol. ( Nearly All of my post marathon pics always have my eyes half closed!)
That picture is actually after my spring full marathon! But it was over an hour after I finished so maybe thats why I look a little more put together:)
I can’t wait to read your year of running review!
Not a great running year but I’m ending it on a high note and hope to continue that into next year 🙂
Good for you! I look forwarding to seeing what 2015 brings for you!
Glad you had an awesome year of running. I love the two words you chose. Fun & focus are two qualities that’ll keep you out of a running rut. Can’t wait to hear what 2015 brings!
Thanks! That’s how I felt about “focused and fun”. It was once I started using those qualities that I really started to see improvements in my running:)
You had a really fantastic year of running! Not a bad one in the bunch. Love that you got out through last year’s nasty winter, too. Let’s hope this year will not be a repeat of that one! Fantastic advice from the little girl. It’s amazing how they figure it out. Maybe b/c they don’t over think it like we do?
I really want to run that Charles St. race this year–i’ve been gone that week the past two years. Thanks for playing along!
I am also keeping my fingers crossed that this winter isn’t as bad as last! That was unbelievable.
I agree about kids not over thinking things. I think sometimes if we just kept things more simple we would be much better off.
You should definitely try to do the Charles St 12 next year! It was a really fun event!
I’d have to agree that The Charles St 12 was one of my favorite races of the year too. We had perfect weather & it was cool meeting you & Salt! My other favorite would probably be the Parks Half Marathon in September, where I unexpectedly PR’d.
I love that girl’s advice about running your own race. It was something I had to adjust to after racing cross country in high school where I was always competing for a place. But now I only focus on myself in races & love it 🙂
I’m sure its much different to race against people than to race against yourself. I realized that my body usually knows the best way for me to run my best race, by not going out to fast and finishing strong.
Charles St 12 was so fun! I hope to be back there next year!
You had such a solid year. A 15 minute pr is HUGE! And awesome job ramping up the miles you run, too. I’m excited to see what 2015 holds for you!
Thank you! I couldn’t believe how many more miles I ran but it was the first year I was running consistently for the entire year.
Great recap! I’m going to fill this out since it’s a great way to reflect on the year! I loved the Charles St 12 as well!
The survey was a good way to review the year in running without becoming too overwhelmed! Otherwise my post would have been all over the place:)
The Charles St 12 was such a fun race!
You’re amaaaazing!!! 1900 miles?!!!! I wonder what the world record is…I would have guessed that haha.
Haha if you look at the Run This Year website its amazing how many miles some people ran!!
Congrats on a great year of running and learning to listen to your body.
Thank you!
Sounds like you’ve had a great year 🙂 I would have to agree with you wholeheartedly on who your inspirational runners are. And that’s a huge jump in miles! You should be so proud of your accomplishments; you’ve run alot of miles this year!
Thanks! It was a great year and I’m really happy with how it turned out. And glad to hear you agree about inspirational runners!
I had a great year of running! I went from knee surgery in January to running Boston in April! That was stressful, but I did it, and it was a blast. Also ran my first 10k. I’m proud of that one, too. 🙂 I don’t race a lot… 2 races per year sounds about right to me. 🙂
That sounds like an amazing accomplishment! Sometimes a few quality races is better than lots of random ones. It’s all about what works for you!
You had an amazing running year! Congrats! Can’t wait to see what next year brings for you!
Thanks! I’m excited for next year, too!
You had an amazing year of running! I enjoyed reading about all of your best races in detail leading up to your marathon. It’s funny you mention about the fresh snow. My parents are both from Iowa and I always comment on how I wish it snowed here, and they said it’s nice when it’s all powdery like that, and makes for some picturesque holidays, but a lot of the times it can be an icy mess. I agree with you on being inspired by “average” runners. Like you said, the elites are inspiring, but sometimes it can be more inspiring to see the success and struggles of people who don’t get paid to do it and who may not have as much support for other things in regards to seeing the right kind of doctor without in costing a fortune and those types of things. I was inspired this year by you and so many other bloggers as well 🙂
Thanks! Its been so awesome getting to know you and other running bloggers. I love being able to share my experiences with others and hear about what they are doing for their training!
I love that advice. Just run your own race. That is so simple and perfect. It is something I think I came to learn myself, too. I am glad you had so many awesome races this year. I am also glad that I got to read all about them. You were such a huge source of inspiration for me during marathon training!
Thanks and that is so nice to hear! Running our “own race” is definitely a lesson that needs to be learned at some point. Sometimes kids are so wise!
I love reading people’s answers to this survey- congrats on your year of running!
Thanks! I’ve also been enjoying reading these!
You’ve had an awesome year – congrats!
Thanks!
Yay for an amazing year of running 🙂 I’m so happy that you picked Philly as one of your best race experiences this year (slightly biased because I’m a Philly girl haha) and congrats on a huge 15 minute PR!
My 2014 running year has been my best to date. I ran pretty consistently from March-May and again from September-November, so I’m really proud of that. This just inspired me to put up a 2014 wrap up post of my own later this month, so thank you!
Thanks! It sounds like you had a great year too! I’ll be looking out for your 2014 recap:)
Nice retro Lisa! I would say that my Trigger Point foam roller is also my fave new piece of gear – all other rollers do not compare now. Charles 12 is on my list for next year since they moved the date to September! Hoping to add a couple more Balti races for 2015 🙂
I didn’t realize the Charles St 12 was moved to September! That will probably make it even better with hopefully cooler weather!
Sounds like a great year of running for you! I love my foam roller too — hurts so good!
Love my foam roller! Not sure how I ever used to run alot with using one regularly!
Just came across this. I will have to show Avery as she will love it. Hope your doing well.
She is a very inspiring runner already at such a young age! I hope you are doing well too!