The Running Year That Changed Me

The Numbers Everyone Sees

Looking back on the running year that was:

FIFTEEN races, from the mile all the way up to 50k. With paces ranging between 9.11 to 14.24 depending on the distance and conditions. Moved up a corral for NYRR races. Each race was either a distance pr, race/course pr or I had a segment pr. Maybe it’s due to my lucky safety pins. I beat my previous mile by 35 seconds and am soclose to that sub-9 mile. Likewise with the half marathon. I ran one in 2.31 and change. And am 5 min away from a sub-6 full.

–  Completed my 4th marathon with a 2 min pr when the last third of my training was a garbage fire because I was working through my mom going in and out of hospital, to her going to a nursing home, applying for conservatorship of her, then her passing three weeks after going in the home, and dealing with all of the paperwork and organizing around that while dealing with a *problematic* sibling. (And, doing all that when our locations were a flight or 10 hr drive away).

–  Ran my first 50k 8 weeks after NYC.  Ill-advised? Maybe. Nearly gave in at mile 15.9 because I didn’t feel well, and wasn’t having any fun (I specifically remember thinking that) but I saw the aid station had potato chips. They saved me. I rallied and did the thing. Promptly started crying when they handed me my buckle and couldn’t stop for 5 minutes. The next day I found out I placed second in my age group and short circuited because it’s something I never dreamed of.

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When Training Meets Real Life

But all of this is just the result, what is published, what is known to the non sporty people. What I’m most proud of this year is the grind, the getting up before dawn to get 8 miles before work (never have I ever before this year, lol!). The taking the 1 all the way up to Van Cortlandt Park and the South County trail for 19 miles of long run in the middle of summer. The realization they make flat “hot hands” for shoes so I can actually get out for my 4 miles when temps are in the teens (yes, it DOES happen in NYC. Sometimes. When we’ve been extra bad).

Remembering Where I Started

It all blows my mind that just a few years ago, I weighed 102 lb more than I do now, and my mile pr was 17.48. So yeah, I still get excited when I hit some milestones that are easier or more common for others. But this year has taught me to keep going, be proud of ALL OF IT, the good and the ugly.

Written by Kathleen Smith

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