It has been quite the ride. I can't believe I am writing my 10th Resolution Run blog. This crazy race streak started 10 years ago with the idea to run one race every single month to keep myself motivated and trained and in good shape. January 2013, I started the year off with the Hot Chocolate 5k... and the rest is running history.
I have carried on this "New Year's Resolution" to run at least one race every single month for the last 120 months. TEN YEARS! Through pregnancy, through post-partum and nursing. Through COVID and nursing school and raising 5 kids. Through rain and snow and hurricanes and tornados... I never let a month go by without finding a race to participate in.
I feel very accomplished in my racing career and all that I have been able to see and do. I have run races all over the US. I have run 5k's, 10k's, half and full marathon's, road races, trail races, ultra-marathons and triathlons. This resolution helped shape me, mold me and transform me. It has brought so many wonderful new friends into my life, including IRun4 and my buddy Erica (read about that HERE) It has really been a life changing experience.
I have blogged each and every race I participated in a post at the end of each year called "Resolution Run". You can find links to those blogs here:
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
I really am ready to close this chapter in my life. I have enjoyed the ride and will definitely be looking for a "new" New Year's Resolution... but for now... I am bidding this resolution goodbye.
Just for fun- here are some stats from the last 10 years:
175 races
Seven States: Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Washington DC, Virginia, Wyoming, Montana
- 5k: 43
- 10k: 16
- 15k: 11
- Half Marathon: 42
- Full Marathon: 8
- Triathlon: 4
- Relay: 2
- Hourly: 9
- 19 mile: 2
- 25k: 2
- 50k: 16
- 40 mile: 3
- 46 mile: 2
- 50 mile: 7
- 74 mile: 1
- 100 mile: 7
And now... my last year of races! I had the hardest race schedule I have ever attempted. This year I crossed the finished line of some of the toughest races in the southeast. Georgia Death Race, Cruel Jewel 100, H9 50 mile and No Business 100 definitely showed me a new level of pain, excitement, joy, tears and everything in between. I came up a little short this year on mileage, clocking in right at 1400, but I absolutely made up for the miles with the level of difficulty this year. I can truly look back and say I ended this racing journey on a crazy high note. I am beyond proud of my racing year and my racing career. Here is a break down of this year's races:
January- Huff and Puff Marathon:
I started off 2022 with a familiar favorite, Huff and Puff. This year Revolution Running added a new distance- a 26.2 full marathon. I had a great day on the trail at Dauset and won first place master's female.
February- Hot Chocolate 15k:
This is the only race that I have consistently ran every single year of my race streak. 10 years straight. Even that one year it was a freezing cold monsoon! This year I received a special "10 year" mug from the the Hot Chocolate race series. It was a cold year at the Hot Chocolate, but I enjoyed the day with a good running friend!
March- Jogging for Jude 5k
I have been doing this special race for several years. It supports our local down syndrome families and it is always a pure joy to watch these sweet families come out and cheer us on!
March- Georgia Death Race 74-ish miles
Like many other races, I let a friend talk me into this one. It is not only incredibly difficult with an insane amount of climbing- but ends the 74 miles climbing all the stairs to the top of Amicalola Falls! It was a difficult race that proved to me early on in this year that I could finish the rest of my race schedule on top. I was thankful to have this finish in my pocket- because I would use this training to help me through Cruel Jewel a few months later. You can read all about The Georgia Death Race on my post by clicking HERE.
The reason I signed up for this ridiculousness... my trail sister who I love dearly- Arabelle
The early race start was super cold, with lows in the twenties at the top of the mountains.
I was so happy to get to take my spike home!
April- Pine Mountain Out and Back
I needed a long run to train with and there really wasn't many options available that met the elevation, terrain and distance I needed. So I set up my own race at Pine Mountain. I dropped coolers at all the parking lots along Pine Mountain Trail and got started bright and early. I had a sweet friend come and do the whole first half of the the trail with me! She started with me and ran the first 23 miles out. After a quick Subway lunch from my husband, I turned around and ran all the way back to my car- 23 miles away. So the total trail mileage was 46 miles. It was tough, and got warm in the afternoon, but it was a bucket list for me to run the whole trail all the way down and back in one day.
I was very thankful to have Lori with me!
May- Cruel Jewel 100
I won't spend too much time here, since I already blogged this race. It literally brought me to tears and had me shook to my core, but I can honestly say that finishing this race is my biggest race accomplishment in the last 10 years. If you want to read all about Cruel Jewel- click HERE
These guys got me through the first 60 miles!
Marlene was just the cheer up I needed!
Couldn't of done this without David dragging me the last 30 miles. And so thankful for Becka and Dan who supported me through out!
June- Southside Medical Center 5k
This was a random last minute race I found in Atlanta to give me a race for June. This is not the first time I have showed to a random race I know no one at or nothing about and just run. I left work and got to the race just in time to start. I happened to win first place female overall!
My 1st place medal
July- Chattahoochee Challenge Triathlon
My July race was a sprint triathlon. I LOVE tri's! It was fun to swim and get on the bike before finishing with a little run! TRiColumbus put on a great event. Sliding into the river on the big inflatable was awesome. And finishing with a slip and slide was even better!
August- H9 50 Mile
Nothing like good old H9 to fill the spot for my August race! This was my 4th H9 at the beautiful Vogel State Park. Next summer will be my 5th finish and I will earn my coveted H9 jacket! It's an insanely tough race but yet I keep coming back for more every year.
I ran this year with Trena, it was a great day on the trail!
September- Wet Hot American 5k
This was a fun race put on by Revolution Running. Kevin and I ran this one together and other than the heat, we had a great time hanging out after with good brews from Camp Brewing Company and great friends!
October- No Business 100
This was my fall 100 mile race. I had already qualified for Western and Hard Rock with Cruel Jewel, but I like to run two 100's a year to stay trained. I have yet to write a race recap blog for No Business, but I have it on my "to do" list, and when I finish it, I will come back and link up here. But, for the most part- this race was a blast. The scenery was gorgeous, the company was fantastic and the race was well organized. Kevin and Sara were my crew and we stopped and picked Arabelle who ran the first 70 miles with me. It was the perfect crew and pacing team. I seriously had a great time! The race started in Tennessee, looped through Kentucky and finished back in Tennessee. The views and scenery were incredible. I am even considering going back and doing it in the opposite direction to get the double buckle!
November- Tough Turkey Half Marathon
This is another classic race for me and my family. I help with putting the race on and it is the biggest fundraiser of the year for Impact Racing Ministries. This is the first year my friends have not ran the half with me. But that's ok, I was able to run with some very special people along the way! I was so happy to have Arabelle, Brooke and Emma out there this year. Kevin and Keke both ran the 5k while Jada did a stand up job as the race DJ again this year.
December- Christmas Lane 5k
I ran this race last year when my friend's at Revolution Running Company took over it. It was so great that we decided to run it again this year! We had a wonderful time running through the lights in Thomaston and having soup and hot chocolate after. I highly suggest this one to everyone for next year! It really is a Christmas treat.
And that's it. That's a wrap. Here's to 10 glorious
years of racing and all that it has brought me.
