What is this and why the heck do I do it? This was a new years resolution that started in 2013. I decided to run at least 1 race each month to keep me accountable to running and in shape. In 2014, Erica joined my team and I began to run 4 Erica! I run 4 is amazing and I love what it has done for my buddy, myself and thousands of others who are members of IRun4! Learn about IRun4 HERE.
This year was INSANE! I have never ran so many miles or accomplished so many goals in a year. I ran TWO 100 mile ultras this year! And I am only about 55 miles away from hitting 2019 miles in 2019. I had no idea that would ever be possible for me. I didn't set out to do that either! I just happened to look at my miles halfway through the year to see where I was. I normally aim to run at least a1000 miles a year. So to hit this goal is just crazy awesome! I can't wait to blog all the amazing races I participated in this year, 24 races total! I have already written 2 posts on my hundreds. You can recap those here: Umstead 100 and Yeti 100. I will break down my year of racing, by month, below. I am again beyond thankful for such amazing running friends, both old and new!
...And next year? Well... I know I have another 100 up my sleeve so I can put in for Western States again (the ultimate 100). As for anything else exciting? I wanna pass nursing school! 😉
January: This is highest mileage month I have ever had. I hit over 300 miles this January. I was training very intensely for my first 100 mile ultra.
*Red Nose Half
*Fat Ass 50K
*Mt. Mist 50K
I ran the Red Nose by myself this year. It is a free half marathon in Columbus that I usually participate in every year. The river was flooded and they had a course change this year, making it my fastest half marathon ever! 1:54
Next up was the Atlanta Fat Ass 50k. This is another free race I participate in each year at Sweetwater Creek State Park. It is free for GUTS members. This was my PR for a 50K as well. I finished in 6:49/
Mt. Mist 50k. This was an excellent 50K in Alabama at the beautiful Monte Sano State Park. They have pretty strict time cut off's for this 50K so we were definitely booking it! I got to run this one with Barbra and Dave. It is a beautiful course and I really enjoyed this one! Time was 7:14.
I adore this picture. It was taken by the Mountain Mist photographers. Barb didn't quite make cut off, but she was there waiting for me with a hug and pictures!
This race gets hand painted plaques for finishers, they are just beautiful!
February:
*Huff and Puff Half Marathon
*Cloudland Canyon 50K
*Cloudand Canyon Half Marathon
*Thrill in the Hills 50K
*Mt. Cheaha 50K
This is the only pic I can find from Huff and Puff this year! I volunteered at the beginning of the race, then ran the half marathon. I was having so much fun I must of forgot to take pics! I love Revolution Running and always enjoy this event!
A pic of me and Jessica from the race photographers at Huff and Puff.
Next up, Run Bum's Cloudland Canyon Half Marathon and 50k! Yes, I did both, back to back days. Remember? I was training for my 100.. which turns out I over-trained.. but that is another story.
Got to run the first half of the 50K with my friend David Dodd!
This race is just beautiful. Cloudland Canyon is a gorgeous Georgia State Park, and Sean- the RD makes sure you see ALL the beauty there is to see at these races!
I ran the half the next day with my best friend Stacy. It was rainy and the views were foggy, but we still had an excellent time!
Thrill in the Hills 50K! Can't say this was the best race in the world, but I sure can say it was one of the most important races of 2019. I say that because I met a true sole sister on the trail that day. I don't think our paths crossed by chance either. I met my wonderful friend Arabelle at Thrill in the Hills and we just had the best time that day! We clicked and have spent many hours on the trail together since that day.
I have no idea what we were laughing at, but we ALWAYS smile when we run together!
This was our 7th annual Hot Chocolate 15k! We always do the Hot Chocolate and we always have a great time. Even if it pours or it's cold.. or whatever other crazy weather event happens!
Mt. Cheaha 50K was a blast! I did this one alone. It was at Mt. Cheaha State Park in Alabama and is part of the Pinhoti Trail. I had a great time at this race and really enjoyed the views.
The race finished at the top of Mt. Cheaha. A few days after the race, I got to go on my favorite running podcast and do a recap of the race. (East Coast Trail and Ultra)
*Yeti 7/11
*Jogging for Jude
*Widowmaker
The Yeti 7/11 is a super fun race! It's more like a friend gathering than a race. There is 7 hour and an 11 hour option. You basically run a 4 mile loop as many times as you can in the 11 hours, and eat all the junk food one can hold over the course of that 11 hours. It was a blast! A day with the Yeti Army is always fun!
Jogging for Jude benefits a local family and their children who have Down Syndrome. This is always a favorite of mine!
The Widowmaker was a new race this year for Revolution Running. It was also an hourly race with a 5k option. I was only able to run a couple of loops because this was right before my 100. I hope to run the whole 12 hour race next year!
April:
*Umstead 100
Umstead 100, it has its very own blog post you can find HERE. But, here a few of my favorite pics from the weekend!
May:
*Peach Jam Half
*Monastery 8k (turned 5k)
After a month long recovery from Umstead, I slowly got the use of my foot back. My first race back was the Dirty Spokes Peach Jam half. We have done this race before and really enjoy it. It is ran entirely on boardwalks through the Big Creek Greenway.
Every year, there is always that one race. The one that brings monsoons, and lighting and all sorts of other crazy weather... and this would be it! It started out just fine, notice in the pic all the smiling happy faces...
But notice in the background what happens as soon as the race began! Me and Arabelle decide to say f!@# it and we dropped down to the 5K and ran our assess off back to the Monastery for shelter!!
July:
*Peachtree Road Race
*Merrill's Mile
My 7th Peachtree Road Race!
Merrill's Mile is a 1 mile loop ran for time- they offer a 6 hour, 12 hour, 24 hour or 48 hour. I chose to run the 24 in hopes of hitting 100k in prep for Yeti 100.
Me and Barbra running circles all day in the heat. At least the view was nice!
August:
H9 50 Mile
Oh the infamous H9. This race was freaking killer. Literally. It took over 19 hours to finish on some of the most difficult trails in the state of Georgia. I had no idea what I was in for when I signed up for this race. Thank God I hooked up this wonderful group of people and we toughed it out together! This is what it is all about. I pushed mt body hard and when it didn't want to continue, my group pushed it on along. So as much as I hated this race, I loved it just the same.
We finally finished, about 1:45 am
September:
Yeti Snakebite 50K
Yeti 100
Such a fun day on the trail at Snakebite that day. Arabelle and I had a wonderful time and ended up with good times!
Southside repping at the Snakebite
My awesome goodies from the Yeti 100
You can find all the details from the Yeti 100 in the blog post I wrote HERE
October:
Cammo Catfish Crawl 12 hour
Jack-O-Lantern Jog 5k
Me and my long lost trail sister!
Somehow, I ended up doing a 50K at this. It was the weekend after Yeti and I was spent! The race had an excellent cause and benefited my friend Arabelle's trans con run she is attempting next year! Even though I was exhausted, I still had a good time and even talked Dave into a 200... maybe.
A little pit stop every few miles.. lol
Annual Jack Jog... this benefits my sisters school and the kids love to participate in it every year.
The kids came in DFL.. on purpose. HA!
November:
*Tough Turkey Half
Each year my sister and I add a piece to our costume! This is the only race I dress up for.
This race benefits the Griffin Run Club that our church is a part of.
December:
*Pine Mountain 46 Mile
Oh how sweet revenge is. I attempted the 46 last year, but the weather was just horrible and I dropped down to the 19 mile. This year the weather was just perfect! The course was hard as hell, but I finished!
I got to watch the sun rise and sun set on the trail! It was a beautiful day!
Finished 3rd place female, this is a tough race so not many finishers here.