We all know I LOOOOOOVE to run races. I am a self-professed
"race-aholic," after all. I counted up the races I ran in 2016 and that
number is awesome: 31! So, I thought I'd do a review with a brief
blurb of each race. I know that quite a few of them (everything after
June, in fact) I haven't posted my race recaps for, but I promise to get
those posted soon. Better late than never, right? Until then, here's a
quick review of my 2016 racing...
• Rogue 30K, Jan 10
th
3:25:45. This was my first and, sadly, only time to run this race.
This ended up being the last year that this event would happen. There
was apparently logistical issues with the area where the race was
held and it was just more trouble than it was worth anymore. In case
you don’t know a 30K is roughly 18.5 miles. Because the lead cyclist
took a turn where he was supposed to go straight, we were all led
astray. So in order to try and remedy the issue,
they added a little to the end of the course and it ended up being a
little over 19 miles total. It was a really cold day and I was super
bundled up, and I had rolled my left foot getting out of my car when I
stopped for a bagel and tweaked my foot. I do
wish that this race was happening again in 2017 as I’d love to redeem
myself and get a better time.
• Chocoholic Frolic, Feb 7
th
58:56. A fun race that was actually short. If I remember correctly,
it was right at 6 miles, not the promised 6.2. It was fun and an okay
substitute for the Hot Chocolate race I had actually wanted
to do but couldn’t afford to make happen. The swag was a semi-nice
quarter zip pullover…I say semi-nice as it had no thumbholes…booo! May
or may not run this one again next year. Still up in the air.
• Austin Marathon, Feb 14
th 4:35:17. Love, love, love this race. This was the 2
nd
time I’ve run the full marathon at this race. The super neat thing,
since this year’s race happened on Valentine’s day, the bibs
were heart shaped! How cool is that?!?! Going into this race I had
hoped for a sub-4:30:00 finish, but went too fast the first half and
that signed my warrant for hitting the wall. Then my music refused to
play when there was still a 5K remaining. Thank
goodness for spectators or I wouldn’t have been motivated to finish as
well as I did. At the time of this race, this was my marathon PR…by
about 9 minutes!
• Music Run, Feb 20
th
45:43. This was a fun run that was completely untimed and I did it
with my friend Heather. We walked most of it as she wasn’t in running
shape, even for a 5K. We had a great time talking and the race
was at night and everyone had glow in the dark stuff, so it looked
really cool with us all snaking all over the place. They had music
stations that played different types of music so that was cool.
• Illuminations Half, March 5
th
2:17:01. A night time race that ran us around the grounds of the Hyatt
Regency Lost Pines Resort outside of Bastrop, Texas. We ran on the
golf cart path, wood chip paths, dirt paths, paved roads,
chunky gravel roads and across the grass. I discovered during this
race that the light from my LED visor was completely insufficient. I
had a decent time, but when I do this race again in 2017, I need to make
sure I get to the race sight WAY early because
parking is ridiculous.
• San Felipe Shootout, March 12
th
7:07:43. This was what I call the “mud & flood.” It had POURED
rain for almost a week straight before the race, thankfully stopping 2
days before, so the completely flooded state park had a
chance to drain a little bit. The water was still up to my chest at
one point. People shorter than me had to actually swim that part! The
reason my time was over 7 hours is due in large part to the conditions,
but also because I ran all 3 races that were
offered. The 5K, 10K and half marathons. I remember the 5K took me
about 56 minutes. While the course conditions were miserable, I still
had a great time and this will definitely be an event I remember
forever.
• Shamrockin’ 5K, March 19
th
30:58. Another race with my friend Heather. Except we didn’t run it
together. We each ran our own race. This obviously wasn’t even near to
a PR for me. I wasn’t feeling tip top, of course. Add
that to it was COLD and WINDY and yea, you get what I got. If this
race happens again in 2017 and I don’t have other plans that day, then I
will probably run it again.
•
ASH Dash, March 26th 27:09. I love this race. It’s a 5K. It’s run
100% on the grounds of the Austin State Hospital and benefits their
volunteer group. At the time of the running of this race, this was my
5K PR. I also won 1
st
in my age group, which got me a super cute little golden bunny trophy!
• Austin 10/20, April 3
rd 1:34:31. Love this race. My 3
rd
year running it. Definitely running it again in 2017 (registered for
it at this year’s expo for super cheap reg fee!) and every year after
that, so long
as I’m able to, of course. This is my current standing 10 mile PR.
The course is pretty flat and this is the ONLY race I run completely
without music. I just love it. And they have a band or musician of
some sort every ½ mile…you can set your Garmin by
it!
• Capitol 10K, April 10
th
59:21. One of my absolutely favorite races. Favorite 10K hands down.
It’s a VERY hilly race, so it’s definitely a good challenge. They have
a king/queen of the hill challenge as you run down (up?)
15
th street to where it turns into Enfield. I love seeing
how many people I pass when I go up that hill as it gives you your rank
as you cross the timing mat at the bottom and top of the hill. When
2016 started, my goal was to run a sub-1 hour
10K and this was my first success in that regard.
• Sisters “Better Half,” April 23
rd
2:19:23. A very flat, but at about 3500 feet above sea level, so it
was more taxing on my body than a half marathon at the elevation I’m
used to in Texas, which I think is about just 500 feet
above sea level. This is a very scenic, double loop course. You get
to see the heavily wooded neighborhoods, the heavily tree-lined highway
as you run down the pedestrian path off to the side of the roadway, the
mountains in the near distance, ranches full
of horses and cattle, old barns and other buildings. It’s just great.
There are no spectators other than the people that live in the houses
you run past, though. Given the chance, I would most likely run this
one again.
• Bend Half, April 24
th 2:29:58. This was the 2
nd
of my back-to-back half marathon endeavor. This one was in, well,
Bend, which is the neighboring city to Sisters (these are in eastern
Oregon). Unlike Sisters, Bend
is NOT flat. It is downright mountainous. There was one hill the just
kept going and I remarked to another lady “why do they hate us so
much?” HA! There was a bit of the race on a dirt trail and I LOVED
that bit of it. Even took a short video of it as
I ran! I was definitely tired from my effort at the Sisters Half, and
was happy to finish and get my really awesome, Oregon-shaped medal.
• Wildflower Half, May 7
th
3:02:52. This race is run in the Bastrop State Park where a massive
wildfire plowed through a few years ago. The park and surrounding areas
are slowly recovering. As a result there is so much new
growth and the scenery is absolutely beautiful…even if not a little sad
as well as you run past all the charred remains of the trees that once
stood there, so tall and proud, but are no more. This was, obviously, a
trail race and as a rule of thumb for me,
I don’t give one hoot about my pace during a trail race or trail run. I
just enjoy the scenery and making new friends on the run.
• Sunshine Run, May 8
th 1:04:03. This was my 3
rd
year running this race. It’s a mostly flat out-and-back course with
one somewhat steep but short hill that will totally sneak up on you,
even when you know it’s coming
for you. I was really hoping for a PR, but I was foiled in my
attempt. After the half marathon effort the day before, I just didn’t
have it in me to go sub-59 minutes. Still a good race, though.
• Autism Speaks Texas 8K, May 29
th
48:31. I love this race. I’ve ran it 3 times in the past 4 years
(missed last year as I was out of the state visiting family). It’s a
great course, on Camp Mabry. I run like 5 or 6 races
a year on Camp Mabry. This is not a flat course and does have 2 hills
per lap, so 4 hills total as it’s a double loop course. And, of course,
it benefits Autism Speaks.
• Freedom 5000, July 4
th 29:07. Was seriously hoping for a PR or an age group award. If I remember correctly, I think I came in 9
th
in my age group. Ugh. I did get loads of compliments on my outfit. I
love being
super patriotic for this race and basically try to look like freedom
threw up on me. Or maybe exploded all over me. Hehe. Like fireworks!
• Free-da’s Run, July 23
rd 27:12. My very first age group award finish where I got to stand on an actual podium! I got 3
rd
in my age group and it was awesome. They were handing out free sausage
wraps post-race so
I managed to grab 2 and because I didn’t want to eat them at that time
and didn’t want them in the photos, I stuck them in the back of my
sports bra and the race director and photographer, when they saw them,
thought that was hilarious.
• Night Moves Half, August 6
th
3:37:50. Another trail race…on mountain bike trails…in the dark!
Brilliant! In the middle of summer too, on the coast. So when I
crossed the finish line and the race director said I’d just come
from the swimming pool I had to laugh. This was an awesome experience
and I hope I can do it again in 2017!
• Dragon’s Den Half, August 13
th
2:20:20. This one is named Dragon’s Den because it’s in the middle of
summer and is supposed to be HOT, however it was overcast and chilly and
shortly after I finished, it started raining! Nothing
dragony about the rain. This was another double loop course and was
somewhat scenic as it ran around a city (?) park and some ball fields
and such. It was mostly a cross country type course.
• Loteria Run, Sept 16
th 25:40. Hello 5K PR! However, not good enough for another podium finish (same racing company as Free-da’s Run). I got 4
th.
Wah wah. But, I ran this race dressed as a mermaid. I didn’t
have my tail sewn together at this point, so it was just leggings with
the seashell top. It only chafed a little bit, which surprised me.
This race was a lot of fun because of the theme. Plus I just love Cece
the race director!
• Bun Run, Sept 25
th 28:14. My 3
rd time running a Bun Run, but 2
nd
time running it at this particular location, however it was a
completely different route from the previous time I ran it there. I had
a long run scheduled for that morning so I ran 11 miles before the
race, then ran the race relatively fast-ish, but didn’t think I’d run
fast enough for an age group award…found out 2 days later when randomly
checking the results that I had, indeed gotten
an award. They kindly mailed it to me, even though I expressed that I
was willing to swing by and pick it up to save them the postage, but
they insisted on mailing it.
• Back to the 80’s 8K, Oct 2
nd
43:26. First time for this race. It was the kick off race for the
Austin Runner’s Club Distance Challenge. Yet another race where I had a
long run scheduled for race morning, so I arrived early,
ran I don’t remember how many miles pre-race, then ran the race,
completely smashing out a new PR for the 8K/5 mile distance, then ran
some more post-race for a total 19 miles that morning. Really want to
do this race again in 2017 and go even more all out
with my 80’s costuming.
• Capital 2 Coast Relay, Oct 14-15
th
4:04:23. OMG! This was such an AMAZING experience!!! I ran 4 legs
for a total of 24.96 miles. I got a new PR for the 10K distance during
my 1
st leg of the relay (I was runner
#3). I made so many new friends during this experience. I got a
whopping 2 or 3 hours of sleep during the 33 hours it took my team to
complete the 223 mile relay distance. But I wouldn’t change anything
about it…except maybe taking a book for the part where
we had to wait for hours and there was no cell or wifi service/signal.
Our team also finished 2
nd in our division so we got super cool faux-Yeti tumblers…the 20 oz size, I think.
• Fight Like a Girl 5K, Oct 16
th
26:03. I did this race last year in my walking boot. So I redeemed
myself this year. In order to be in the running (HA!) for an age group
award, you obviously had to be a timed runner, which
was an extra $5 for the timing chip. I gladly paid it. this is a
cross country course with some brief moments on a paved walking path.
This was my 2
nd fastest 5K and I scored 1st in my age group! Sadly, this was the last year for this race.
I’m glad I got to actually run it before it was no more.
• Hill Country Halloween Half, Oct 29
th 1:58:43. My 2
nd
time running this race…sort of. Last year ended up being a virtual
race as it got stormed out and they canceled it, but we all still got to
pick up our medals.
I ran in my full ghoulish mad hatter costume at a sub-9:15/mi pace.
People kept telling me I was amazing (literally at least 3 people said
exactly that) and asked how I was running so fast in a costume. While
the course is ¼ mile short of 13.1, I know I
can finish a half in under 2 hours. I know I can! The best part, when
they put up their link to register for next year, I was the picture on
the link!!!
• Run For The Water, Nov 6
th
1:36:31. The second race in the Distance Challenge series and another
first time race for me. This was a 10 mile race. I hadn’t intended to
race it, but I was going through some emotional issues
at the time and just needed to run it out. So I did. I ended up
getting exactly 2 minutes off my current 10 mile PR without even meaning
to…on a SUPER hilly course! So, I’m confident I can finish a 10 mile
race sub-1:30:00. I’d love to run this race again
in 2017.
• South Padre Island Marathon, Nov 12
th
4:29:53. One of my favorite races. Last year was the inaugural event
for this race, so I have ran it all 2 times it has occurred. I was
really hoping to finish 4:15:00 or faster and
thought I’d trained adequately for that, but I wasn’t prepared for the
head wind I faced on the north end of the island and it just sucked
everything out of me and my pace faltered. There was crying, but there
was also sucking it up and driving on. I finished
the final mile of this race to the tune of military cadence. I hope to
run this race every single year. Even if it means traveling back to
Texas when I no longer live here after retirement.
• Run With The Heroes, Nov 13
th
26:47. This race has my heart. Literally. I love it. I do not miss
it. Which is why I ran it the day after running my fastest ever
marathon. I had originally planned to use this as a shakeout/recovery
run…more of a jog, really. 10:15-ish pace. However, after the initial
stiffness worked its way out of my legs after ¼ mile, I wasn’t to be
stopped. One of my friends ran up next to me, not knowing I was going
to be there, and said “what the eff are you
doing here? Didn’t you run a marathon yesterday?” Yes, yes I did.
Hehehe. That’s how I roll! Anyway, logged my 3
rd fastest 5K and scored a 3
rd place age group award and got my photo taken with the chief of police!
• Turkey Trot, Nov 24
th 44:25. My 3
rd
time running this one. The first year I went with a very minimal
costume. Last year I went as an Indian maiden. This year I wanted to
do a more fancy Indian maiden costume.
I found an amazing, yet cheap, reproduction headdress to go with my new
Disney Pocahontas costume. The photographer got a couple amazing
photos of me too! I got my second fastest 5 mile time. I am confident I
would have PR’ed this distance had I been a
timed runner and hadn’t had to deal with weaving in and out of walkers
for the first mile. I love running this race. It’s a great way to feel
a part of something on a family oriented holiday when you are nowhere
near your family.
• San Antonio RNR Marathon, Dec 4
th
4:31:56. I wasn’t going to run this race originally, but then on
Global Running Day, they had a massive sale and it was only $69 to
register. I couldn’t turn that down! So I ran it. I again
had aspirations of finishing 4:15:00…or at least PR’ing. The weather
conditions were way less than optimal. Rain, wind, cold. I was decked
out in Marathon Maniacs attire. While I didn’t succeed in even snagging
a new PR, I did get my second fastest marathon
by not a huge margin, just 3 weeks after the fastest marathon I’ve ever
ran! So that’s a win!
• Decker Challenge, Dec 11
th
2:03:29. Race #3 of the Distance Challenge and yet another first time
race for me! I usually run the Brown Santa 5K that is run the same day
and starts 15 minutes after the half (the Decker Challenge
is a half marathon, btw). This course is very hilly. In fact, after
the finish they have one of those giant photo frames you can take a
picture with that says “What the hill?” Hahaha! I ran the first 10K
with my friend Rob before he dropped off. He knew
I was shooting for a PR so I knew he understood me leaving him behind.
And PR I did! By almost a minute and a half even! This was a crazy
difficult and technical race. Not sure if I want to try and run it
again in 2017. If I do the Distance Challenge
again, then I will for sure. So we’ll see.
So,
while I have a RACE 10K PR of 59:21 from the Capitol 10K, my 10K
distance PR is 53:59. So I have every hope and expectation of finishing
closer to 50-flat at a 10K in 2017.
2016
was an amazing year in racing for me. 31 races! Wow! I am definitely
a race-aholic! I love, love, love racing! Racing makes my running
world go ‘round. I love training for races almost as much as I love
running them. I’m hoping
that 2017 is just as amazing, if not more amazing for me and my racing
"career."
