Happy Tuesday! Just one more week until Christmas – say what? Since December is winding down, I thought it would be a good time to summarize my year of running. Let’s jump right into it!
January –
I had a pretty high mileage month clocking 123 miles. There were also so, so many cold weather runs since this was my first full month of marathon training for the Shamrock Marathon.
Kicked off the year in style
This was a fun few days…
Facts! LOL
February
I completed the Supermans, Squats and Twists Challenge, which was not easy to do while marathon training, lol. I also had another high mileage month at 139.5 miles. For Lent this year I decided to give up chips, which was a good decision to curb all my snacking. Also I ultimately decided not to run the NYC Marathon in the Fall (from my deferred entry). Most importantly, I was stoked for the Winter Olympics!
Yup, still cold.
My one and only 20 mile training run.
I was a little excited about the Winter Olympics…
March
This was the month I ran my 3rd marathon and actually had a pretty decent race, despite not getting a PR (I also ran the 8K race the day before). This was state #8 for me (Virginia). The month was pretty busy – I completed the Total Body Challenge, ran 90.4 miles, began my Be The Match journey and purchased my car off lease (a huge expense I wasn’t expecting, but worth it NOT to have a monthly car payment). I also went right into another training cycle for the Cleveland 8K and Half Marathon.
No better feeling than crossing the finish line of a marathon
April
My birthday and Easter fell on the same day! In April I completed the Tricep Dips, Push-Ups and Jump Squats Challenge. I also started my Invisalign journey which will hopefully be over in a few months (I’m in the homestretch)! Sadly, the Tunes Tuesday link up ended in April. Unfortunately the link up just didn’t get the type of participation that we had hoped. Most importantly, watching the Boston Marathon in April was quite the experience. I don’t think anyone will ever forget those crazy weather conditions!
Birthday/Easter miles!
The crazy Boston Marathon
I also just kept on running!
May
I ran the Cleveland 8K and Half Marathon, which was state #9 for me (Ohio) and met Rachel in person! I also got serious about dropping some pounds and joined WW (formerly Weight Watchers).
Miss this girl!
June
This was a crazy month! With Cleveland behind me, I really wasn’t training for anything so I was pretty much in maintenance mode. I also traveled to New Orleans for a work conference and fell in love with the city. At the end of the month I completed my Be The Match journey and donated my bone marrow to a cancer patient.
New Orleans in such a great city and I can’t wait to go back!
I forgot that Toys R Us also closed this month. This photo made me so sad 🙁
Right before going to the OR to donate bone marrow.
July
I ran the Rock ‘n’ Roll Chicago 5K and 10K and got to meet SO many blogger friends in person for the first time. I can’t put into words how much fun I had that weekend and I miss everyone!
August
Nothing really to report in August. Because it’s usually so hot I don’t plan any races for August, but I did get in a lot of training runs for Rock ‘n’ Roll Philadelphia. I also took off work the last week in August for a staycation.
September
I ran the Rock ‘n’ Roll Philadelphia 5K, 10K and Half Marathon. My body was hurting after all those races! After Philly I went right into training for all of my Fall races.
I got to see Kim again in Philly! 🙂
October
In October I ran the SoNo Half Marathon and it was one of my worst races ever. I was VERY close to a DNF but pressed on. Also one of my races was cancelled due to weather, which was basically a cop out because the race organization had been crap from the get-go. But it was probably a blessing in disguise because the race may have been super unorganized. I also started to register for 2019 races.
I didn’t move from this spot for a while after the SoNo race.
LOL
November
Unfortunately this is the month where I started dealing with a few running injuries, specifically my hip and ITB. I volunteered at the NYCM Expo handing out bibs and it was so much fun! I ran the NYRR Dash to the Finish Line 5K the day before the marathon – it’s always such a fun race! I also completed my first StepBet game which was a really fun way to make sure I stayed active and hit my goals. As I always do for November, I ran a Turkey Trot 5K on Thanksgiving morning 🙂
Reporting for duty!
No race shirt this year, but not sure how I feel about the hat…
December
This month has been busy and it’s not even Christmas yet! I ran the Rock ‘n’ Roll San Antonio 5K and Half Marathon which was state #10 (Texas) for me. The following weekend I ran the Kiawah Island Half Marathon, state #11 (South Carolina) and got to spend the weekend with my friend Abby that lives in Charleston. Last week I found out that I got into the 2019 Chicago Marathon which I’m actually thrilled about!
RnR San Antonio
Half Marathon #39!
This year I was also lucky enough to be an ambassador for the Shamrock Marathon and Cleveland Marathon, Pro Compression, Rock n Blog and FitApproach. Through FitApproach I was selected for a year long campaign with Great Lakes Gelatin. I love their products so it’s been a nice campaign so far.
2018 was a heck of a year! What were the highlights of your year?
I’m linking up with Marcia from Marcia’s Healthy Slice, Erika from MCM Mama Runs and Patty from My No-Guilt Life for Tuesdays on the Run.
I’m also linking up with Annmarie from The Fit Foodie Mama and Nicole from FitFul Focus for Wild Workout Wednesday.
Last but not least, I’m linking up with Lora from Crazy Running Girl, Marc from Train With Marc and Debbie from Coach Debbie Runs for Coaches’ Corner!
Wow, it really does sounds like a heck of a year! Here’s to 2019 being a great year 🙂 The highlight of my 2018 was probably my trip out to San Francisco and my brother’s wedding.
Thanks! So cool that you were able to visit San Franciso for your brother’s wedding!
That is a whole lot of racing! And so nice that you were able to meet up with so many bloggers/friends.
I like the hat! I would totally have preferred it the year I ran that to another race tee.
Thanks Judy! It seemed like things really amped up the last part of the year but it was super fun.
I haven’t worn that race hat yet but it is growing on me, lol
You’ve been a busy girl this year! It was SO great to see you in Chicago for RnRCHI! Gosh I totally forgot we had the winter Olympics already. My bad.
I actually forgot about the Olympics until I started writing the post, lol.
wow! You had a busy year. Congrats on all the great races, and good for you for donating blood marrow. That is so selfless and generous of you!
Thanks so much Laurie!
It was SOOOO great to get to meet you (and Mom) this summer 😉 You had quite a year…marathon, numerous half marathons, many other races and the bone marrow donation. I’m so proud of my #KimTwin 😉 I hope we can hook up at another race (or several?) in 2019!
I was so happy that I got to see you not once , but twice!
It was certainly a crazy year but also a lot of fun. We’ll need to figure out where we can link up for a race in 2019.
Sounds like a great year! Especially all the blogger meetups.
Thanks Hannah! I would say that the blogger meetups were the highlight of the year for me.
You had a kick butt year my friend! So glad that we had a chance to meet in person and hope we “run” into each other again this year
Yes! I really hope I get to see you in 2019. I feel like we need one annual blogger meet up per year, minimum!
How cute are you with the olympics hat! Love catching up on all the posts from before we were following one another. So glad to get to know you
LoL thanks Cari! I’m a huge Olympics fan so I always go all out for the summer and winter games, lol
I agree – so happy that we started following each other this year and I’ve enjoyed getting to know you via your blog! Hopefully I’ll see you at a race in NY in 2019!
What a year for you!!! Naturally, my favorite moment was RnRChicago and spotting you at Beatrix. I was so excited to finally meet you in person–but it felt like we were old friends. Hoping for some more of that in 2019.
Of course, that’s my favorite part of 2018 too! I wish I lived closer – I miss you! 🙁
I miss you too!
Looks like a great year you’ve had! Hope you have some great training miles in 2019!
Thanks so much Marc!
Wow! What a great year of running! Here’s to more of the same (and better) in 2019!
Thanks so much Debbie!
You had an AMAZING year!! I love that you included Geoffrey! Poor Toys R Us!
Right?! That’s just the saddest photo! I still can’t believe the store is closed.
You had a pretty great year! You’re going to crush Chicago next year.
Thanks Nicole – I sure hope so! I hope we’re able to meet up at a race next year.
Wow. You had a great year. Lots of variety. All distances and you bet some bloggers. I hope we can meet someday.
I definitely want that hat. I have 2 Dash shirts that don’t fit.
I only have one of my 3 Dash shirts left, lol. I think the hat will be good for really cold weather runs.
Hope to see you at a NYC race in 2019!
what a year, Kim!! incredible! quite some highs and a few lows – but hey if it was all perfect I guess it would be hard to appreciate, right?
I LOVE the abbott hat by the way… how could you not love it? too bad it doesn’t match the scarf from the 5K your mom ran in Chicago 🙂
speaking of which, TOTALLY can’t wait to see you again there!
i think my highlights have a lot to do with travelling and some of the running I was able to do in places I’d never been before. Not necessarily races. I had a couple of lows (two DNF’s) but I was very happy to complete Amsterdam Marathon and I had a blast (though I’m broke now haha) in Las Vegas with my friend Tina.
I was thinking the same thing about the hat, LOL. My mom ran the race and has the hat as well 🙂
I was so proud of you for completing the Amsterdam Marathon after your DNF. It took a lot of grit to do that!
YOu definitely had a GREAT year!!! Here’s to 2019 being better!!!
Thanks! Here’s to a fun filled 2019 🙂
What a great year! I love all the photos and colour, and the shamrock t and medal, from before I was following you. Here’s to a great 2019!
Thanks so much Liz!
This was such a fun look back – you had a great year! It was so great seeing you again at RnR Chicago. Can’t wait to catch up with you in Boston in May and to virtually train together for Chicago – here’s to a great 2019!!
Thanks Michelle! I’m looking forward to seeing you in May and October next year too!