I ran one of my fastest half-marathons to finish things up! Here is a recap of the year’s results:
—Donations: currently $2,762, so we have a shot at $3,000…please donate if you can! Remember, it all goes to the Run Far Foundation for youth mental health, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and donations are tax-deductible.
—162 half-marathons
—Broke 2,700 running miles
—250,000ft elevation gain
—Longest run (65.6mi)
Many thanks to everyone who supported my efforts this year!
This is my highest elevation gain year ever, about 50,000ft more than last year.
This one was made extra special because I was joined by my daughter, Jocelyn, for the first couple miles. Ran it as a loose progression run, speeding up to just under 7:00min/mi by the end. It is unseasonably warm in South Dakota today…ran in shorts!
For me, no year of half-marathons would be complete without hill repeats of my closest “major” street, Baker Hill Rd. This run was the full length, back and forth, four times over, for a total of 12 hill climbs in all.
I made a conscious effort to hit the hills: Blakely, Old Mill, Halls, Toe Jam, Fort Ward, Blakely (from the other side), and Baker (in that order).
I’ve been hitting it pretty hard recently, with 12 half-marathons in the month so far (20 days in), and this one being the third day in a row. It’s possible that general fatigue is setting in, because I was dragging by the end of this one.
This is a special one, because it equates to 3 half-marathons a week, every week of the year (plus another 11 mi or so each week in other runs).
I ran to the group run again, and the recent storm meant I saw more downed trees and lots of water. I fully submerged my feet in several deep puddles along the way.
I ran with Spencer Nicholas, who was so patient with me as I made my sales pitch to a trail runner for adding road runs into the mix.
I joined Angie Spooner, Leann Mullender, and Mark Goodro for a quick photo op with Bainbridge Parks and Trails, which we then turned into a run through some of the trails in the southeastern area of the Island.