Operating in 2023 was not precisely what I anticipated once I began the brand new yr. Not in a foul means, simply otherwise. After I started 2023, I didn’t assume I’d run one other marathon, but it surely made sense. Then, I believed I’d run two marathons, however sadly, an harm took me out of the California Worldwide Marathon. Have I talked about that sufficient, for actual?
After a tough 2022 attributable to harm and sickness, I used to be completely happy to have a reasonably respectable 2023. I rebuilt, I ran some 5ks quicker than I’ve shortly, and I ran a marathon.
January:
Rose Bowl Half Marathon (1:34.55)
1:34:55 is just not one in all my quickest half marathons; in actual fact, it’s one of many slower ones. Nevertheless, it was my quickest one shortly, and I used to be happy that I lastly felt like I used to be working nicely after an extended 2022 and the ‘lengthy flu’ (sure, that’s actually a factor). January felt like the primary month that I felt ‘regular’ since March or April of 2022.
February:
Surf Metropolis Half Marathon (1:36.50)Boney Mountain Path Race (2:23)Nice Aloha Run 8 Mile (57:37)Hawaii Operating Lab 10 Miler 1:15.57
February introduced a number of enjoyable races. My aim for Surf Metropolis was my first 20-miler earlier than the Los Angeles Marathon, and never solely did I do it, however I additionally felt good too. I lastly felt like I used to be turning into healthier.
We went to Hawaii, and I used to be fortunate sufficient to seek out two races in scorching climate. This proved to be good coaching as a result of it helped me get acclimated to the warmth, which was useful because the Los Angeles Marathon turned out to be on the hotter facet. I actually loved the Nice Aloha Run and would like to have the chance to do it once more.
March:
Napa Valley Half Marathon 1:33.14Los Angeles Marathon (3:24.59)
March introduced a few of my higher races of the yr. I completed a marathon! However what I’m doubtless extra happy with is my 1:33 on the Napa Valley Half Marathon. Whereas Napa is a barely downhill course, we ran right into a headwind a great quantity of the time, and you understand who doesn’t run one of the best in wind? LOL, that may be me.
Operating the Los Angeles Marathon was a lot enjoyable. It was most likely probably the most enjoyable I’ve had in a marathon, doubtless as a result of quantity of gasoline I took. I solely felt ‘actually drained’ within the final couple of miles.
April:
Pt Mugu Path Race (1:54.33)Broad Road 10 Miler 1:10.08
After some downtime post-Los Angeles, I made a decision to get again into shorter races. I type of want, for the remainder of 2023, I had caught with shorter races as a substitute of deciding in late summer time to run the CIM. However hindsight is 20/20. After my partner left for a deployment, I made a decision to make one of the best of the state of affairs and ran the Broad Road race again east. I really like Broad Road and at all times have a lot enjoyable. I used to be unhappy to barely miss working below a 7-minute tempo, however the rain undoubtedly foiled that.
Might:
Cinco De Miles 5 Miler (34:49)La Jolla Half Marathon (1:37.43)Menifee Memorial Day 5K (20:37)
Might marked a return to shorter races. I used to be disillusioned with the La Jolla Half. In 2022, it was one in all my favourite half marathons, however in 2023, I simply didn’t really feel nice. My physique didn’t really feel like working a half marathon that day. After that, I started specializing in shorter distances all through the summer time, which is the place I really feel I gained probably the most health.
June:
Corona Del Mar 5k Recap (20:30)Lengthy Seashore Basic 5k (20:40)Orenda Vineyard 5k (21:27)Twilight 5000 (20:19)Arroyo Creek 5k (21:30)
My aim for the summer time was to interrupt 20 minutes within the 5K, however sadly, I by no means felt nice on the suitable day or on the proper course. I had some actually good efforts, like at Corona Del Mar, the place if the course had been simpler, I may need achieved it. Had I run within the morning for the Twilight 5000, perhaps I’d have met my aim. However, sadly, I by no means did obtain that aim.
July:
Angels 5k (3 miles?)Pacific Palisades Will Rogers 10k (45:12)Run Forest Run 5k 20:19
Christmas in July 5k (21:00)
July felt like I used to be working laborious with out seeing a ton of outcomes. Granted, a number of the races had been powerful (just like the Pacific Palisades 10K with over 400 toes of elevation acquire?). However the mixture of warmth and hills was not conducive to hurry. It wasn’t a foul month; in actual fact, I had a extremely nice birthday month, however speed-wise, it was simply okay.
August:
Twilight 5000 (20:35)OC Truthful Run 5k (20:38)
TransPerfect Victory Lap 5k (20:45)
Bra Run 15k (1:08.22)
August was one in all my favourite months, however not one in all my quickest. I acquired to go to Dubai and see my husband. Since he had been gone for simply over six months, it was a pleasant change. Nevertheless, it was not one of the best for working. Did I care? Probably not. The temperatures soared nicely over 110 levels and had been humid, so I ran inside for each run.
The OC Truthful Run was a race the place I feel I might have damaged 20 minutes had it been a ‘quick course,’ however the variety of turns made it almost not possible to run quick (although it was a lot enjoyable!).
September:
Conquer the Bridge 5.3 Miles (6:57 tempo)Santa Monica Basic 10k (44:13)Surf Metropolis 10 (1:11.07)
Race-wise, September is one in all my favorites. The Conquer the Bridge and Santa Monica Basic are each difficult races however a number of enjoyable. I used to be stunned once I positioned third general at Conquer the Bridge. It was a number of enjoyable. The Santa Monica Basic 10K is at all times a troublesome course, and I at all times neglect in regards to the hill at mile 4. However it’s a number of enjoyable.
October:
RnR San Jose (1:33.36)Aquarium of the Pacific 5k (20:59)Lengthy Seashore Half Marathon (1:38.20)SpaceRock Path Half Marathon (2:39)
Efficiency-wise, October may need been my finest month of the yr, though it’s powerful to say as a result of all 4 programs I ran had been lengthy. And never simply ‘my GPS says they had been lengthy,’ however the programs had been a great tenth to 1 / 4 mile over in each street halves. I used to be bummed the Aquarium of the Pacific course was lengthy as a result of I’d have been very near working below 20 minutes. Actually, the RnR San Jose would have been nice if it hadn’t been 1 / 4 mile too lengthy. Operating the Aquarium of the Pacific and Lengthy Seashore Half in the identical weekend was my finest double shortly, but it surely’s powerful to guage as a result of course lengths.
Then, SpaceRocks is a troublesome path race. Time doesn’t matter, however ending a race with 3,000 toes of vertical climb does. I used to be pleased with my end.
Nevertheless, the caveat to a great month of working was that it was the month I acquired injured with my hip problem. Did I push it too far? Probably, however who is aware of. The hip problem took me out of working for about three weeks in October and November, however these had been the weeks that mattered most for the marathon. So, it made sense to withdraw. I didn’t need to simply go run a marathon after taking three essential weeks off attributable to harm, as a result of my physique wouldn’t maintain up. Probably one other harm and undoubtedly not a consequence I’d need within the marathon.
November:
Antelope Valley Turkey Trot (22:50)
Since I acquired injured in October with a hip problem, I didn’t race a lot, and the Turkey Trot was my final race of 2023. I pulled out of each race I used to be signed up for, together with my aim race, the CIM. It was powerful, however at the least the harm didn’t final lengthy; it was simply not nice timing. So, most of November was spent resting, working on the treadmill with a lever machine, and simply taking some downtime.
December:
Since I acquired injured in early November with a hip problem, I didn’t race a lot, and the Turkey Trot was my final race of 2023. I pulled out of each race I used to be signed up for, together with my aim race, the CIM. It was powerful, however at the least the harm didn’t final lengthy; it was simply not nice timing. So, most of November was spent resting, working on the treadmill with a lever machine, and simply taking some downtime..
What’s in retailer for 2024?
Ha, I didn’t even imply to rhyme. I’ve a number of objectives for 2024 which feels loopy to say out loud.
Run below 6 minute mile.
Run below 20 minute 5k.
Run below 1:30 half.
Run quicker than Los Angeles in 2023 (below 3:24)
All of those objectives I’ve finished lots. If you happen to requested me 5 years in the past if these can be “good objectives,” I’d have thought why…I’ve finished these all a number of instances. However not lately.
Spring will is tailor-made in direction of working quicker than Los Angeles final yr. My construct up has not been nice up to now and truthfully I haven’t felt like I’m constructing a lot health, however truthfully I additionally haven’t raced both so who actually is aware of. After LA Marathon I plan to take at the least 2 weeks off, but it surely might very nicely be extra. Then I’ll begin coaching for shorter distances 5ks and hopefully working below 6 within the mile. My present plan is to coach for a half within the fall. After getting injured final fall, I don’t know if my physique can or desires to deal with two marathons in a yr. So that’s the present plan. Perhaps issues will change relying on how I really feel however as of January 2024 these are the objectives. Lastly, are you in search of a Los Angeles Marathon coupon code? Ship me an e-mail at fuelebylolz at gmail dot com and we will run it collectively. (They don’t need them on coupon web sites).
Questions for you:
How was your 2023?
Are you coaching for something?
