2024…the place to even start. Do I say that yearly and each month? Most likely. However actually, the place do we start right here?
2024 was a theme of fine races, however not nice. I consider I’m the fittest I’ve been since 2021 however none of my races have actually proven that. There have been some good races, however not nice. That’s to not say it hasn’t been a enjoyable yr, as a result of it has, however man it’s been a bizarre yr.
Fast Information:
Variety of 5ks: 14
10ks: 4
13.1s: 8
Marathons: 3
*Began 3, completed 2. Deliberate.
Different distances: 4
Swim Occasions: 2
States raced in: 5 (CA, NV, CO, VA, FL)
States run in: 6 (CA, NV, CO, VA, FL +Japan)
That’s it? Wow, it seems like I’ve run in lots of extra states.
January:
A number of January was spent getting back from my hip damage. The damage didn’t take me out, that lengthy nevertheless it did take rather a lot longer than I hoped to get well. I missed my December 2023 marathon (CIM). I ran two races: Citadel to Coast 8.2 miler and Rose Bowl Half Marathon. Neither race went effectively. They went superb however not effectively, my physique simply didn’t appear to have it.
February:
Ommph, in February, I consider I caught COVID. It wasn’t the worst illness I’ve gotten, not even the worst of the yr nevertheless it did take me out for per week or so and it took me about 4-5 weeks to really feel higher. In early February, I began the Surf Metropolis Marathon. I ended up operating 20 miles as deliberate, getting progressively quicker. I typically want I had simply completed the race, as a result of I used to be feeling so good however that was by no means the plan.
The day earlier than the signs hit me, I ran the Redondo Seaside 10k. I used to be shocked to run 7:00 tempo in a 10k, one thing that had alluded me for a number of years. Then I prompty obtained sick. Throughout that point, I ran the USA Ladies’s Half Marathon in Key West. I used to be uncertain if I’d be capable to race it, and finally I ended up operating not racing.
March:
March was principally devoted to the Los Angeles Marathon, my favourite race. A couple of week earlier than, I had a hamstring factor pup up. Then I simply overdid it the day earlier than, so the race was considerably tough for me. It was a lot enjoyable although and I used to be fornatute sufficient to run within the sub elite corral. Which meant I obtained to run many of the race alone. It additionally meant that how I felt was on full show to everybody.
One other spotlight was operating the Screenland 5k dressed as High Gun. LOL, cringy based mostly on what my partner and I each do for work, nevertheless it was a variety of enjoyable. Though operating a 5k in full spandex in La spring…just isn’t simple.
April:
April marked entering into summer time of pace (quick woman summer time), though the Carlsbad 5000 by no means felt nice. Actually, I simply felt like I had no pop in my legs. (stunning, only a few weeks after Los Angeles). My husband and I celebrated our 9 yr anniversary with a hike. We didn’t hike as a lot this yr and that was principally as a result of after Mt. Fuji, I used to be achieved with mountaineering.
Could:
Could introduced yet one more illness, omg simply why? I obtained a throat virus, the place I assumed I had strep, nevertheless it was a virus. It was essentially the most painful factor. I missed Mountains 2 Seaside. I might have run, however I’d have gotten others sick and it will have simply been dumb.
A pair weeks later, our in legal guidelines came over and we ran the OC Half Marathon. It took over 2 hours to select up our baggage and we finally simply by no means did. (They mailed them).
Then in late Could, I ran the La Jolla Half Marathon, one of many hilliest street halves within the US. It wasn’t my day till Mile 10, once I ran my quickest final 5k on that course. So I used to be joyful to finish with a bang.
Till trying again at weblog posts, I forgot I ran two 10ks as effectively. The one on Edwards was low key, however the Laguna Hills Memorial 10k, I ran a 42:21 and my quickest 10k in a number of years. Because the title suggests, it was not flat.
June:
Summer time of 5ks was in full swing by June. I additionally ended up attaining my aim of sub 20 minures. Just some years in the past, that wasn’t an enormous aim for me and I might do it with out coaching. Nowadays, operating doesn’t come as simple to me and so lastly being underneath 20 in the past, was so satisfying. Plus, I obtained to interrupt the tape at Lengthy Seaside.
The remainder of the 5ks have been enjoyable and served a objective. I obtained out of the world and loved some pace.
July:
In July, we went to go to my brother and his spouse in Japan. It was a variety of enjoyable, however man operating in Japan in the summertime is tough! I ended up operating on the treadmill your entire time we have been there. We climbed Mount Fuji, which was the toughest hike I’ve ever achieved and I haven’t been mountaineering since. (5000 ft in 4 miles).
I ran the Angels 5k earlier than we left and set a course PR (the race is at all times brief). Then after we obtained again, I ran the Conquer the Pier 5k which was chaotic and my physique was jet lagged. I can’t say Venice is my favourite spot in LA.
August:
August and September are what I name the “darkish occasions”. Actually I ought to simply name them the recent occasions. Los Angeles will get highly regarded and sunny, which implies it’s not nice for racing. LOL, in fact that applies to the Mojave Desert the place it may be 120.
I ran two 5ks together with one on the monitor. Yearly I do the monitor race, I overlook how scorching it’s. It’s humorous, I began in final place in my warmth however was in a position to go a number of individuals as a result of warmth carnage. I additionally did the Edwards Aquathon which was a 2 mile run, 1k swim, 2 mile run. We began round 4:30 and by chance it was a “cooler” day. By that I imply it was over 100 levels.
Lastly in August, we took a enjoyable trip to Colorado and ran the Mt. Sneffels Half Marathon. They needed to change the course as a result of flooding and it was considerably tougher. Operating uphill at 6000 ft of elevation. The spotlight for me was stopping to take a photograph with a spectating cat and one way or the other nonetheless getting third lady general.
September:
September has a few of my favourite races within the Los Angeles space, sadly they didn’t go nice for me. I ran the Conquer the Bridge the place my legs simply felt drained. Adopted by the Santa Monica Traditional which was shortened as a result of warmth (and thank goodness as a result of 5k was greater than sufficient for me). Then lastly the Surf Metropolis 10 miler, which I did after operating 13 the day earlier than with a good friend.
Between beginning a brand new job in July and starting to extend my mileage for the marathon, my physique was simply drained and it meant races weren’t as quick as I had hoped.
October:
HAAA. In October, I ran two 5ks and a half marathon. I had deliberate to run RnR San Jose once more, one in every of my favourite races. However I wa going by some issues and mentally didn’t have it in me to drive to San Jose. So I ran the Lengthy Seaside Half Marathon. It was scorching however the lowlight…spotlight? was getting locked in a concrete lavatory. I went in and as soon as the door shut, I rapidly realized the “pull” piece had fallen off and I used to be unable to tug the door again open. It was traumatizing however fortunately somebody heard me yelling and karate kicked the door open. Significantly, it will have been an incredible motion film. After that, I used to be achieved with my race however I needed the medal so I finioshed.
November:
November felt like I used to be lastly making health good points. I ran two halves: Las Vegas and Richmond and each have been within the 1:31 vary, about 2 minutes quicker than latest halves. They each had issues occurring that made them not excellent. Las Vegas was extraordinarily windy (with a headwind your entire means as a result of it was level to level) and Richmond I used to be getting sick…once more. However I’m proud of my efforts and I do know I ran run a sub 90 minute half on a superb day.
I additionally ran two turkey trots together with one at Edwards the place I received a turkey and ended up jogging residence with it. I used to be in a position to intestine out the O’Facet Turkey Trots (2x5k) and I do know I’d have been again underneath 20 minutes if I felt excellent.
December:
That illness led into one other illness that I obtained only a few days earlier than California Worldwide Marathon. To be sincere, I do not know why I obtained sick a lot final yr. It’s in all probability greater than I’ve within the final 5 years (being within the workplace a lot did me no favors).
California Worldwide Marathon seems like I’ve talked about it greater than sufficient, nevertheless it was simply not my day. Getting sick made your entire race a grind and I virtually puked. In some way I ran my quickest marathon since 2018, nevertheless it was not what I skilled for.
Ideas:
Whew, in the event you made it this far you may inform 2024 was the yr of imperfect races and getting sick means an excessive amount of. I nonetheless managed some respectable races and whereas nothing was the “finest ever,” I used to be in a position to run a few of my quickest occasions from the previous few years.
In 2025, I’m hoping for a race or two that aligns with feeling good. I’m additionally hoping to keep away from getting sick a lot once more subsequent yr.
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Query for you: How was your 2024 of coaching?
