Running in 2015. Looking back at the good!
Year of Running 2015
I love taking a look back at the year and seeing everything that has been accomplished. Please take a minute to reflect with me and to look back at some of the great running moments from 2015!
Best race experience:
This year I ran the Maine Half Marathon on my birthday less than a week after running The North Face Endurance Trail Marathon in Utah. My legs were pretty fried so I didn’t have any time goals in mind other than to just finish and to have a solid run. What made this race experience so great is that I ran this race as a part of the Rise. Run. Retreat. weekend with an awesome group of running bloggers. The energy from the weekend was positive and the other women who ran were motivated by their goals for the race. This energy was contagious. I often head to races by myself and do much of my training alone since I live in a very rural area where there aren’t many running groups (if any). I loved the feeling of knowing that the other women were out on the course not only running hard in their own race but also cheering each other on. This was definitely a tough run for me and although shorter than the trail marathon the effort felt way harder and my tired legs felt like lead but I pushed through and forced myself to pick up the pace during the last few miles. Not only was the weekend a blast but I surprised myself by running a 1:42 Half marathon!
Best run:
Early in June I ran the Skirt Sports 13er (a Virtual Half Marathon). I ran in my tiny New Hampshire town at dusk and pushed hard for 13.1 miles finishing just as the sun fell behind the mountains. It was a gorgeous night for a run. I was proud of how hard I was able to push myself for a half marathon distance on my own finishing in 1:45! I felt so alive and strong. It was great to finally be feeling strong and ready to run again after 5 months off during the winter due to a back injury!
Best new piece of running gear:
I received the The Nathan Sports Women’s Zeal Race Vest for my birthday from my Mother-In-Law and Father-In-Law (They know me well). This hydration pack is awesome. It was designed specifically for women with a 2 Liter bladder and 9 Liters of Storage space. There is a lot of room to stow away layers after stripping down when a run heats up. It also has an 18 ounce speed draw flask which I love because I always carry Skratch Labs Hydration mix with me in addition to water. It has plenty of pockets for energy gels and also your phone. There is also a “shock cord” on the outside of the pack that allows you to store other layers. This vest is extremely comfortable and doesn’t slide around when you run. As an added bonus the color is great and it has reflective trim.
- Best running advice you’ve received this year:
The best advice that I received this year was from elite runner Tina Muir at the Rise. Run. Retreat. She talked to us a lot about her experiences with running and training as an elite. She said that it is good to run without looking at your watch. We have all become so dependent on looking at our watches and the splits that we have lost the feeling of the run. It is important to learn to run your paces and to know what it feels like to run at different speeds so that you can run and listen to your body and find the pace that you are looking for.
Most inspirational runner:
Andrea Duke. 36 year old mother of two. I recently read about Andrea, an aspiring Olympic hopeful who discovered a talent for running later in life and is now on an Olympic quest. I am inspired by her because I can relate to how she came to find a new love for running after kids.
Favorite picture from a run or race this year:
This is definitely my favorite race picture from 2015! This year I was fortunate to have the opportunity to travel to Park City, Utah for the North Face Endurance Challenge Trail Marathon (Thank you for the entry #TNFLOCALS!). I rediscovered my love for running in this race. Over the past few years I have felt in a running rut after dealing with some injuries and feeling emotionally stressed about running due to the tragic events at the Boston Marathon in 2013. I went into this race with absolutely no expectations for a finish time. I ran simply for the adventure and embraced the great gift of being able to run in such a fantastically spectacular place. The trails were a runners dream. Smooth switchback trails leading through the Wasatch Mountain Range with sweeping views around every corner. This photo perfectly captures the exhilaration that I felt as I ran through the wilderness in Utah (I even saw a moose!). I was in my happy place and had a run of a lifetime!
Race experience you would repeat in a heartbeat:
If I could repeat any race experience it would be the Lobsterman Triathlon 2015. This was my second Olympic Distance Triathlon. I went into this race with no time goals only a goal to race hard, to have a great time and of course to finish. This was definitely my best triathlon yet. I finally feel like I am getting the hang of racing three different sports and the transitions between each one. At the Lobsterman I felt great on the run after my transition from the bike to the run. I passed a lot of people on the run and ended up as the second finisher on the run leg of the race. I definitely grinned from ear to ear as I ran and just enjoyed the course!
If you could sum up your year in a couple of words what would they be?
My words for this year in running would be:
- running happy
- no more injuries
- stronger
- driven
- goals
- dreaming
Please tell me about your year of running! Also, be sure to join the Link-Up with Eat, Pray, Run DC in sharing your year in running. It’s simple! Just cut and paste the prompts that I used here and write all about your year in running 2015 and add your link to the link-up! Cheers to another amazing year of running in 2016!
Giveaway
p.s. Don’t miss my current giveaway from The North Face happening now! I am giving away a The North Face Thermoball Jacket and a $100 Gift Card. Please visit my giveaway HERE and enter now!
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I love this look back, what an awesome way to relive all of those great moments! 🙂 The Maine Half Marathon is one of my bucket list races.
Becki @ Fighting for Wellness recently posted…Jingle Jog Virtual 5K Bib & Medal Mock-Ups
I love this and looking back at your year of running with you! There’s so much joy in that picture of you in Utah. I’m so glad that I was able to be a part of some of these moments even if it was just cheering from the sidelines! I’m really looking forward to 2016 and having a healthy and happy year of running.
Christine @ Love, Life, Surf recently posted…A Runner’s Pledge: Injury Prevention for Runners
Wow, what an amazing year of not only good memories but accomplishments! You are such a great inspiration for both staying fit and positive reflection.
It looks like you had an amazing year! You look so happy in all of those pictures which shows how much you love running. Great job, and good luck in 2016!
Kristen recently posted…One Word to Describe the Holidays
Looks like you had an amazing year! Congrats 🙂
Taylor@Food Faith Fitness recently posted…Cranberry Pistachio Gluten Free Shortbread Cookies with Balsamic Reduction {Vegan + Paleo}
Congrats on an awesome year! I wish I could run a 1:42 half on fresh legs, let alone tired! Running with others can be so motivating and inspiring. Love the hydration pack – I may need to invest in 2016!
Janelle @ Run With No Regrets recently posted…How To Stay Fit in the Running Off-Season
What a fun year of running you had! Thanks for sharing your favorites from the year.
how fun, what a great year! I have that same hydration vest and I LOVE it!!
Mar @ Mar on the Run recently posted…Apps For Your Mindfulness Practice
I had serious FOMO for the rise run retreat and for the Skirt Sports race. Do you think you will make it out there this year?
Deborah @ Confessions of a Mother Runner recently posted…Jingle All The Way-The Husband Project
Can’t wait to do my year end wrap up and really look back at all the great moments!! I love my hydration pack too!
Amanda – RunToTheFinish recently posted…Apply These 5 Yoga Stretches for IT Band Relief
I STILL need to get a vest… maybe I’ll check out yours!
Carmy recently posted…Brooks Glycerin 13 Review
This is so inspiring! I would love to get more into running, but it’s so intimidating! 🙂
I love this! And I’m hoping to get mine up soon. The Maine half was my favorite too- can we repeat that whole weekend asap?
Laura @ Mommy Run Fast recently posted…What to do if your workout isn’t giving you the results you want
So love this and hope to take my own look back. That said, this is the year when I learned to never say never since I was never going to run a full marathon (did in September) and now find myself planning on running an ultra next year. Thanks for sharing!
What an awesome year for you!! I will be taking a look back soon after our vacation! You got some awesome photos and some great experiences!
Sue @ This Mama Runs for Cupcakes recently posted…7 Tips on qualifying for the Boston Marathon {Guest Post}
Love this! Congrats on all your awesome races! I love how HAPPY you look in your race photos!! 😀 Despite still dealing with an ITBS, this year was way better than last year as I’ve made huge progress, learned a lot about my body, and completed an awesome Olympic tri 😉
Ariana recently posted…Tips To Help You Stay Healthy For The Holidays
You’ve had a great year, and I’ve enjoyed following you! Looking forward to seeing what you do in 2016!
Wendy@Taking the Long Way Home recently posted…Celebrating Running in 2015
I just loved reading this Sandra! What a wonderful year of running for you and coming back after an injury makes it that much sweeter!
I absolutely LOVE the pic of you in Park City – it’s so beautiful there and the photo really captured your joy. 2016 is going to be so awesome!! I hope to see you and run with you in the new year 🙂 I am going to work on my year end post also – so fun!! xoxo
Natalie recently posted…5 Awesome Hostess Gifts For The Holidays
Was browsing the IDEAfit news feed and found this blog post there.
It sounds like you did a heck of a lot of running this year. 1:45 for a half-mary’s pretty fast in my book! 🙂 Happy for you!! Had to cut back from running years ago. I’ve since moved on to other physical activities.
My year could be summed up with the words “grit” and “grace.” 🙂
Have a great holiday season!
Patricia recently posted…How to keep the holiday calories off
Just fantastic and I couldn’t agree more about Tina and the Maine Half marathon – definitely my favorite race of the year as well. I’m SO glad we got to know each other and I really hope we can race together this year!
Great job on a year filled with SO much and YOU did it all. Congratulations my friend.
Allie recently posted…LYTE Up Your Running Life with EnduroPacks #Giveaway
I love this so much. What a great year you had. That picture of you running NorthFace is amazing!!! Sounds like a dream race 🙂 I’ve done the marathon relay here outside of DC and it was so fun!
courtney @ eat pray run dc recently posted…Holiday Gift Guide: Generic but Thoughtful Gifts
What a great year of fun and accomplishments!
lindsey recently posted…2015 Year of Running
Great year! I recently read a piece on Andrea Duke and she is truly inspiring! I’ve never done a relay race but it is something I do want to do eventually 🙂
Congrats on an amazing 2015! I absolutely love this post and seeing all your great moments. Meeting you at Rise.Run.Retreat. was certainly a highlight of my year. We better make a meet-up happen again in 2016. Wishing you an incredible year ahead. xoxoxoxoxoxo