I finally have a day off, with some time to actually sit down and compile a look back on another really awesome year in running. It’s truly hard to believe that it just takes some dedication and good health to push out the kind of results that I have been able to achieve in just five years.
What truly began as a quest to help my son when he joined his High School Cross Country team, has become a passion of mine that would be hard to give up. I don’t want to give it up, in fact, I am still striving for more. Getting that BQ is really the only thing that I didn’t achieve in 2015, but that’s ok. I had so much fun on the pavement, so let’s have a look back.
Hilton Head Marathon- 2/7/15. My first ever AG placement in a marathon! 2nd place! Was thrilled with my performance in my first race of 2015. Finish time 3:46:53
Asheville Half Marathon- 3/15/15. I paced the 1:50:00 finish group, on a beautiful day in the mountains of North Carolina. The race is so challenging, yet running here evokes so much respect and history that even the hills are welcome. Finish time 1:49:17
All American Marathon- 3/22/15. My second year in a row racing from Fayetteville to Ft. Bragg. I had a really hard fall and got pretty banged up right before the race, so just finishing in one piece was a big accomplishment on the day. Finish time 3:50:51
Rock ‘n’ Roll Raleigh Half Marathon- 4/12/15. The intense marathon course here in 2014 prompted me to only take on the Half this time around, and then they changed the course, and left me wanting to run the Full. Feeling a bit of a let down, a good race almost turned sour with leg cramps toward the end. I pushed through it with the help of cheering supporters. Finish time 1:47:46
New River Marathon- 5/2/15. A fist time running way up in the northwest corner of my state, the course was absolutely breathtaking! Very challenging in parts, but a quiet, small event with so much to offer. This race was one of the highlights of my year. Finish time 3:50:13
Run the Quay 10k- 6/6/16. So much fun running my hometown event, and then watching my younger son run the 5k right after me. Sub 8 minute mile pace on this undulating downtown course with about 35 turns. Finish time 48:48
Aspen Valley Half Marathon- 7/18/15. Adding a new state in a 50 state quest that will probably never be completed, I paced the 2:15:00 finish group high up in the Rockies. I felt privileged to be running such an awesome event, and the salad during the post race festival was amazing! Finish time 2:14:41
Revel Rockies Marathon- 7/19/15. Taking full advantage of my weekend in Colorado, this challenge was a first for me. A Half on Saturday, then this Full on Sunday. Back to back. The elevation and a lack of proper hydration killed my BQ attempt, but with ten miles of intermittent killer calf cramps, still managed to finish. Finish time 3:46:46
Carowinds Run & Ride Half Marathon- 9/13/15. Pacing again for Beast Pacing, a weekend riding roller coasters with my son was reason enough to run this race. Although the course was mega short, I made sure to get as many runners to the finish line in under 1:50 as I could. Finish time 1:49:18
Marine Corps Half Marathon- 9/19/15. Ran this Half for the first time, and with my older son. Been wanting to fit it into my schedule for a few years, and glad we finally ran it. Race day’s weather was really tough, with temps way to hot and humid for a half marathon, but we both managed to win age group medals, so it was a father/son double. Finish time 1:48:08
Chicago Marathon- 10/11/15. So happy to return to such an amazing marathon in one of my favorite cities ever! I absolutely love this race, and would do it yearly if I was lucky enough to get in and had the travel funds. Not my best race of the year, but certainly a blast with millions of spectators cheering me on by name! Finish time 3:49:38
Bull City Race Fest Half Marathon- 10/18/15. Amazing event in downtown Durham, my son and I paced a race for the first time together in the same group. An epic experience that we both really enjoyed. We paced the 8:30 per mile group and came in just under goal time in 8:29. We rocked it! Finish time 1:51:14
TCS New York City Marathon- 11/1/15. What can I say? The NYC Marathon was the crowning achievement of 2015 and my last race of the year. One of the Big 6, this race has it all. Big city, big production, millions of spectators, and too many bridges! Having my Dad and Brother there cheering me on was the highlight of my year. Finishing in the top 15% was more than I could hope for. It was also my fastest marathon finish of 2015. Finish time 3:45:23
All in all, just an amazing year of running and racing. Six Fulls, six Halves, and a 10k sprinkled in for good measure. Happy New Year to you all, and hope that your running takes you places in heart and sole, that you never thought possible. Here’s to 2016! Make it EPIC!