Very cool to make someone's highlight list!! That race/trip was definitely a highlight for me as was hanging out with you both. I can't wait to go back.

 Despite running the half here 8 times and counting I have yet to run the full.

Perhaps we will do it together next year?

My 2013 Year in Review: 

I turned 58 last March, and it was a decent running year for me - not my best year but also not my worst. I'm on track to run about 1700 miles total for this year, which is a lifetime yearly high for me. But after running hard for the past 6 years, I've probably hit my peak in terms of absolute PR's on distances I've raced frequently in the past. I had a tibial stress fracture or reaction starting on  April 1st after a very hilly 5K race and a 16-mile long run the previous two days, which put a big crimp in my training and racing for the next couple of months. But I was able to work past it and salvage my July marathon and a couple of other important May-June shorter races.

2013 PR's

800 meters:  2:29.41 at the U of I Vandals open track meet on Feb. 3rd in Moscow, Idaho. Age-grades to 82.5%

Full Marathon:  3:08:34 on a fast downhill course, my first ever full marathon so an automatic PR. It was 31+ minutes under my BQ qualifying time, and age-grades to 79.7%.

Some of my other best races for the year were:

5K: 18:50, which age-grades to 83%,

1 mile: 5:28, which age-grades to 82.1% (All-American qualifying time)

Half-Marathon: 1:26:09. which age-grades to 82.6%

10K: 39:35, which age grades to 82.9%

Bloomsday 12K:  47:45, 2nd A/G, age-grades to 83.1%

In June I ran a 1-mile race at the "Festival of Miles" in Spokane, WA in 5:30, which is not my 1-mile PR time but it was and still is the new M55-59 age-group course record for that particular race.

For the entire racing season I only ran 12 non-relay races, a very low number for me. I finished 1st in my age group 9 times, and 2nd in my age group 3 times. No finishes were lower than second place A/G.  I had two 3rd place, one 4th place and one 5th place over-all finishes.

I've been on "light-duty" running since my July marathon due to an apparent peroneal nerve problem in my left leg below the knee, which doesn't seem to be healing, but also isn't getting any worse at the moment.  I can run on it, but I'll probably never run another marathon . . .

.

 

 Despite running the half here 8 times and counting I have yet to run the full.

 

Perhaps we will do it together next year?

2015 seems great. I am running Boston, and was trying to decide if it could work this year but that seems more manageable. I can add a fall marathon, and now have 2014 set. In 2015 I will just run that only.

2013 was an overall good running year for me, even though it was also the year I experienced my first ever true running injury, which took me out for two months. I ran 4 marathons, which were 4 BQs. One of them allowed me to run in the company of some of the greatest recreational runners from around the world. It was a real honor for me. In Chicago, I fell in love with the city and learned that I'm able to get up again after being down for a while. I also learned that I am not mentally dependent on running, and that's a relief to me. I prefer not having any dependence in my life. I know I'm crazy like many here, but I have learned to deal with it with whatever means I have, not just only one. I also ran two fun and beautiful destination marathons which each earned me $100 US as prizes in my AG. It paid for a few drinks for my SO who deserves the award for the best supportive partner ever. Oddly, my running and racing have tightened the bond between us  My finish times went between best and worst and from that, I learned a ton about running, and about myself as well. Mostly, I learned that I'm not that badass after all, not made of steel, and from now on, I'll need to use my brain more if I want my legs to deliver better finish times in the future. 2013 also brought me two PRs in the HM and in the marathon. Overall, I feel blessed. If 2014 is half of what 2013 was for me, I'll be completely ok with that.

That's a wonderful attitude and I appreciate reading what you've learned about yourself.

2013 was good for me up until November. I got PRs in the 5k, HM and marathon. I still didn't get a 10k PR even though it should have been a gimme. I just can't seem to conquer that distance. I achieved my goal of 2013 in 2013 at the end of November  December so far has been a challenge with some kind of knee issue with inflamed cartilage and lot of fluid build up. I'm getting that taken care of and may do some PT as well. I didn't run for 6 days straight which is the longest I've gone since coming back from a pelvic stress fracture in 2011.

All in all it was a pretty good year. I have a feeling 2014 may be sort of a rebuilding year and then I hope to be ready to kick butt in 2015.

2013 started off slowly, my Resolution run was a disappointment, it was cold rainy and with a bit of wind, so I didn’t take it to heart too much. The real reason manifested itself shortly after with a nasty sinus infection. Took several rounds of increasing strong antibiotics to finally get rid of it (and the same in DW and DD, we were a very unhappy house for the Spring).

Had to DNS my next 3 races, and I only avoided the DNS in the 4^th as it was cancelled due to adverse weather. Then in April I started back slowly, and with much less distance, but began building in a decent manner. My sole race in April reflected the poor start to the year, with another disappointing time.

May June and July were better training months, and a race in July I got a Wave B Peachtree time, although 40 secs off my 5K PR showed I was still a long way off my best.

August was good, then again I was under the weather in September not logging enough miles, and hitting a Wave C in a 15K that had previously been a great race for me. 8 mins slower on a 15k ? Not good for me. I did complete my first Triathlon (sprint) at the end of September, which was good.

Early October was my low point, nailing 2 hours exactly in a half, and getting only a Wave D time. Then October turned around. I hit Wave B in a 5K later that month, then I really hit form and pushed the Silver Comet HM to a PR I really wasn’t expected. Followed that up in November with another HM PR.

Then at a 12 hour race I set a distance PR, and despite easing down in the Atlanta HM on Thanksgiving, I still recorded another Wave B time, to close out my racing year.

All told a Horrible start to the year, and but for the last half of October and November I would have said a bad year all round. The races on my list are:

So 5 wave B times and 3 PR’s for the year, less than 2012 but I did run fewer races.

On average my performance was slightly better than for 2012, but it was hugely more variable and very much backloaded. Perspective though allows me to look back to 2010 and see just how far I have come, when a Wave D time was seemingly out of reach, and Wave C a distant dream (instead of a disappointment).

Nov and December have been good training months so far, roll on 2014 its going to be a kick ass year. I’m starting it in the best shape I have been in for over 20 years, and with a fire to really set some new PRs at a variety of distances.

I do need to work on some raw speed for the shorter races though.

^^ I'm right there with you Jenny! 2014!