Year o' Races

Last year, I set an annual fitness goal for swimming as a way to keep motivated and to challenge myself a bit. For this year, I decided I would change things up and focus on running a race each month, with an effort to include different races from those I've done before and/or to find races in new places when we were traveling.

My "Year o' Races" culminated with the Urban Cow 1/2 Marathon this past Sunday, October 4th. This is a race I've run every year since we moved to Sacto in 2004. For the past three years, I've done the 1/2 Marathon relay (6.55 miles each) with a different girlfriend each time, since my overall running activity has decreased and the 13.1 distance no longer was in reach. This year, however, I determined to challenge myself by doing the entire distance with a run/walk combo, which is how I've been able to get back to running any longer than 1 hour. I did three 10-miler training runs to get ready and was aiming for a 10:00/mile pace. I made it! My overall time (see final item in list below) was 2:10:33, which is a 9:58/mile pace. Yay! That was a great way to finish out the year.

And as I've mentioned to Mr. E and several other folks, I truly don't feel any need to do that ever again. :) I'll be just fine sticking with shorter distances and still being able to enjoy running and take what my body is willing to give.

Here's a recap of the Year o' Races:

• October 5, 2014 - Urban Cow 1/2 Marathon Relay (with M). Sacramento. Leg 1 6.55 miles. Time 1:05:39. Pace 10:01.
• November 27, 2014 - Turkey Day Race (with Mr. E). New Orleans, LA. 5 miles. Time 48:45. Pace 9:51.
• December 7, 2014 - California International Marathon Relay Challenge (with CPCA ladies). Folsom to Sacramento. Leg 1 5.9 miles. Time 57:10. Pace 9:41.
• January 3, 2015 - Resolution Run. Sacramento. 5K. Time 28:39. Pace 9:14.
• February 1, 2015 - Super Sunday Run. Sacramento. 10K. Time 55:44. Pace 8:59.
• March 29, 2015 - Girls on the Go Run. Sacramento. 10K. Time 57:08. Pace 9:13.
• April 25, 2015 - Crazylegs Classic (with Mr. E). Madison, WI. 8K. Time 47:52. Pace 9:37.
• May 21, 2015 - Corporate Run (with CPCA ladies). Sacramento. 5K. Time 30:11. Pace 9:44.
• June 7, 2015 - Women's Fitness Festival. Sacramento. 5K. Time 26:25. Pace 8:31.
• July 12, 2015 - Be The Match Walk/Run (with Mr. E and A). Portland, OR. 5K. Time 37:34 (includes 5 minutes delay for train crossing!!!). Pace 12:05. Adjusted time 32:34. Adjusted pace 10:28.
• August 8, 2015 - Susan B. Anthony Women's Run. Sacramento. 5K. Time 28:04. Pace 9:09.
• September 13, 2015 - Run to Remember (with Mr. E). Sacramento. 5K. Time 29:28. Pace 9:30.
• October 4, 2015 - Urban Cow 1/2 Marathon. Sacramento. 13.1 miles. Time 2:10:33. Pace 9:58.