I always enjoy writing my resolution run blog post and looking back through all the miles I put in over the course of the year. In case you don't know my story, I set out 9 years ago to run at least 1 race a month to keep me motivated to run..as you can see.... it stuck. I have a month by month break down of the races and you can scroll back through my blog and read about all 9 years of my races- each one is broken down into the year. But, as for 2021... it was a far better race season than 2020 and I was able to complete 18 in person races! I am looking forward to 2022 when I will celebrate 10 years of racing!
January:
Red Nose Half- The first race of the year is usually the Red Nose Half. Covid shut down the race fairly last minute and we were unable to attend. Stacy and I decided we would have our own Red Nose Half at Callaway Gardens. It was a beautiful run, but it was very, very cold!! We had a great time despite the cold and managed to get our half marathon in.
Huff and Puff Half- This year, I was chosen to be a team member for Revolution Running. I love their races and Huff and Puff at Dauset trails has been one of my favorites for years. Huff and Puff was my first Rev Run race of the year and it did not disappoint! It is a great trail race atmosphere with lots of good friends and amazing energy.
You can tell we were cold!
One of the pretty bridges at Callaway Gardens.
Sporting all my Rev Run attire!
Lots of good running friends attend this event!
February:
Pine Mountain is for Lovers Half- Oh man, this race was something else... first of all, this race was on my favorite trail.. Pine Mountain. In particular.. it was on my favorite loops (that I run often.) It was also a Revolution Running race, which I adore. BUT... it poured raining almost the entire race! It was so cold and miserable... I ran as fast as I could to get back to my car! I finished first place female I ran so fast!
First place award
Love this hoodie!
March:
Yeti 7/11 (11 hour)- This race takes place at Sweetwater Creek State Park. It is a 4 mile loop and the race is hourly. You complete as many loops as possible in either 7 or 11 hours (you choose your time). This state park is a beautiful place to run and I have spent many hours and miles out on those trails. This year, I chose the 11 hour and I decided I would go hard core. I ended up with 52 miles and 2nd place female! The aid station here is really cool. Everything is set up like a 7/11 gas station... so I fueled with honey buns for energy!
Jogging for Jude and Max 5k-This is a race I have done every year and it goes to support our sweet friends Max and Jude and Down Syndrome. It is a 5k that takes place in Griffin and we love this family.
Every year there is a parade before the race where all our local down syndrome families walk down the hall of fame and celebrate each other and the day!
April:
One mile at a time- This was a new race put on by Revolution Running. The race was only $5.00 and it had the most interesting format... you simply run 1 loop (approx. 1 mile) in the 15 min time allocation. Then you line back up and do it again. You run as many 1 mile loops as you can ... as long as you can do it in the 15 minute time frame. Unfortunately it rained, almost all day and I just wasn't "feeling" it. I ran a half marathon and called it a day. Many others lasted much longer! Some even 70 plus miles! I am considering giving this race another shot again this year and set out to run a further distance. The race is in Griffin at a beautiful property around the lake and is a great location for this event.
The only pic I got from this race!
May:
Strolling Jim- The month of May brought 2 races. The first being Strolling Jim. There are so many things I could say about this race. It is an iconic race held in Tennessee every year.. for years... one of the most famous ultras in the south. It consists of 42 miles, all road- through the beautiful rolling hills of Wartrace. This iconic race sets the bar high and rewards fast runners with a special shirt at the finish line. The fastest runners receive the gold shirt, the next fastest will score a blue shirt by finishing in under 6 hours and the under 7 hour will get the red shirt. Somehow, I managed to skirt in with 1.5 mins to spare and grab a red shirt! The last few miles were torture- super hot and super tough. This race definitely challenged me, which was great training for some of my other races in 2021. I was super happy to have the opportunity to try this, it was definitely a bucket list race.
Sole Fight- This was another fun take on a race by Revolution Running. This was "bracket play" so to speak, and advancing to the next round of the race meant beating the others on the board. I think I made it round three on this race before I got beat out. But it gave me motivation to try and run after my long race, Strolling Jim. And it could be done from any location! All you had to do was submit your results. Very cool and creative!
My friend Juan ran this race too! We stayed together the first half and he pushed me to keep a good pace.
Never a bad time for a mid run PBR!
Sporting my hard earned red shirt!
I was happy to have my whole family join me on my adventure to Tennessee!
June:
Rockin Choccolocco 50K- This was a last minute race I found to help me train for my 100. It was sooo hot that day! This was on the beautiful Pinhoti trail. This race was one of the toughest 50ks I have done in a while, mainly because of the intense heat. I finished 2nd place female and 12th overall. There were not too many that even finished this race.
Zebra Dash 5k- I had never ran this one before and decided to give it a go this year. Kennedy also wanted to run it. We had such a great time! The race is at Noah's Ark in Locust Grove and the entire course is full of animals! We even ran with the horses and ponies. Seriously, it was the coolest thing ever! Another amazing Revolution Running race.
July:
Merril's Mile 48 Hour- This was my second attempt at Merril's and I had some pretty big goals for this race. I ran the 24 hour version a couple of years before this and did a little over a 100k. I really enjoyed the event and people so I decided I would use the 48 hour to train for Grindstone. I was hoping to run through two nights to get a feel for how I would do at the 36 hour mark. I set out fast and the miles were just piling on. I felt incredible and just kept going with it. For those who are not familiar with this race, it is a 1 mile paved track loop at Camp Merrill in Dahlonega. This is an active army training base and sometimes you will have soldiers running out there with you. It is a very unique experience. At some point about 3 am, I decided I should force myself to take a 1 hour nap. I was not tired at all, but I just thought if I was going to make it 48 hours I better rest. I believe I was 75 miles in. So I stopped and went to my little tent and set an alarm for 1 hour and slept. When I got up I felt groggy, but pretty good. After running about 5 miles however, my foot started bothering me. This was the same foot with the same exact problem I had experienced at Umstead 100 a couple of years ago. By mile 90 I could tell that it would be very painful and not worth it to continue past the 100 mile mark. So I didn't. I called it quits at just over 100 miles. Had I not stopped to sleep I believe I could of made the 100 in under 24 hours. One day maybe I can go back and give that a go!
Our awesome running crew!
This was after I stopped. I was waiting for Kevin to come pick me up and couldn't hold my eyes open any longer!
August:
H9 50 mile-
Oh man... good old H9... This race right here... I tell ya.. there is just something about it. This was my 3rd H9 50 miler which take place in the north Georgia mountains on one of the most difficult trails in all the south- the Duncan Ridge and Coosa Backcounrty. I don't know why I love this horrible, miserable suffer fest so much, but I do! This race will chew you up and spit you out. You get a jacket for finishing 5 , so I will be doing this one again come August. Tony got his jacket this year and Alex will get his next year- then it will be my turn. Kevin and the little kids came and stayed in a cabin with me at Vogel State Park, it was nice to have them with them for another race!
September:
Grindstone 100- I blogged about Grindstone HERE
October:
Atlanta Halloween 5k- this was such a last minute race. I was out of options and had to find something so my sweet running friend from work said she would do it with me and we would both dress up at ghosts! So we made our little ghosts shirts and we had a great time running through Piedmont Park. I even ended up with a master's award!
November:
Stinger 6 Hour-
The Stinger is a very popular Revolution Running race. This is a track event that requires you to run in circles around a quarter mile track for either 6, 12 or 24 hours. I chose the 6 hour and was very skeptical about the running in tiny circles part. Overall it went better than I expected. I enjoyed the encouraging atmosphere and wonderful running community. I do not think I would be able to last more than 6 hours though at a track loop- you can run fast, but it it definitely is hard on the body! I walked away with 3rd place female at the 6 hour.
Tough Turkey Half-
This was my 5th tough turkey, and my 2nd year helping with the directing of the race. It is one of my favorite races, specifically because it benefits the local run club and Impact Racing Ministries. The course is through Griffin- and even goes through some of the neighborhoods the kids of the run club live in! And as usual, me and Denise dressed up as turkies. This year was extra special because I had all of my family present and volunteering and/or running!
Me running in circles at the Stinger!
December:
Pine Mountain Hootie Hoo Half- I did this race last year and I just really like it. It is ran on my favorite trail- Pine Mountain. I also like the half marathon distance, where I am not out there all day long. The race directors at Project 42 do a great job and the swag- mainly the sweatshirt is literally the best sweatshirt I have ever received. I wear them all the time! Plus you get a really cool wooden medal as well!
Christmas Lane 5k- last race of the year and I did it with my Keke. This was a race Rev Running took over this year and it really was cool to run through all the Christmas lights in Thomaston at Christmas Lane! Keke really like it too. I will definitely do this one next Christmas, it was very festive!
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