When we first discussed the theme “My Year in Running” for this linkup, I laughed. What year in running? This pandemic year has shut down almost all races, caused us to avoid group runs, and changed the way we look at running (running as therapy, anyone?).
The more I thought about it, though, the more I realized that 2020 was not a death knell for running. Instead, it forced us all, especially race directors, to think outside the box. Virtual runs, in particular, went from a kind of hokey way to earn a little bling to full-fledged events to train for and even set personal records at.
Even I, a virtual run resistor, ended up converting, and I have several races under my belt (and one more to go this year). So taking a look back at my year in running does have some worth, though it will still leave me wanting more races, running friends, (fingers crossed) running travel.
My Year in Running
I tend to very last-minute about choosing races. Well, yes, I leave myself time to train but I rarely plan my year in running out in advance. For some reason, though, 2020 was different. Way back in January, I filled out my calendar, signed up for races (including what was to be my 40th marathon in June), and even got Alan on board for several of them. That’s really why I jumped on the virtual bandwagon, as race after race switched to virtual-only. It didn’t feel right to accept the bling without doing the race so, jump on I did.
My Live Race
Yes, that is my live race singular. My year in running included one race this year, way back in February. The Sprouts Mesa Marathon was my 39th marathon. It didn’t go as well as I’d hoped (full recap here), but I finished, and that’s always something to be proud of.
I had planned to be there in February 2021 for what would turn out to be my 40th marathon. Sadly, that is not to be. I just got word tonight that the Mesa Marathon will be postponed to later in the year (date to be determined).
Canceled, Postponed, Gone Virtual
As I mentioned, I had signed up for quite a few races early in the year, including what would have been my 40th marathon, Rock ‘n’ Roll San Diego. I also planned to do the Encinitas Half Marathon, the Carlsbad 5000 All Day 20k, America’s Finest City Half Marathon, and the Temecula Half Marathon (the only one I didn’t pre-register for).
As 2020 went on, my year in running started to look quite different, as it did for everyone. All of my races “went virtual.” And only one, Rock ‘n’ Roll, offered a deferral for 2021. At this point, it looks that that will be my 40th marathon in June 2021.
My Virtual Races
I was slow to switch to virtual racing. They just didn’t thrill me. To me, while the bling is nice, the real fun of racing is the other people, the atmosphere, the competition. But then, as my races started to fall, I decided, what the heck? I still didn’t consider it racing, but I did the distance and earned the medal. Here are my virtual races from my year in running, the Instagram version.
America’s Finest City Half Marathon
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Carlsbad 5000 All Day 20k
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The Virtual Women’s Half Marathon
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Team Nuun Half Marathon
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The Pro Compression Fall Classic
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I have one more virtual race left to run this year, the Encinitas Half Marathon. Wish me luck as my motivation has plunged with the holidays. Still, what’s one more 13.1 mile run?
Tahoe to Malibu Challenge
I signed up for the Tahoe to Malibu Challenge back in July as a fun thing to do. It was a six-month, 700-mile excursion, which sounded perfect for the mileage I generally run. As of the end of the week, I just hit 600 miles with exactly one month to go! Unless something happens I should breeze into Malibu right around January 10!
General Running
In all honesty, most of my running this year has been just that, plain old running. I’ve tried to keep a base of around 30 miles a week, and a long run of about 10 miles, which made it easy to head out for a virtual half marathon when they came up.
Last year I just squeaked out 1,500 miles but I’m not going to make that his year. Close though, which is fine since it wasn’t a goal anyway!
All in all, though I missed live racing, I am pleased with my year in running. In 2020, running, was, as it always is, my old friend. I depend upon it. It has helped keep me sane this year when everything seemed to be falling apart all around. It helped me stave off the “Covid 15” though I did gain a few pounds over the course of the pandemic.
How was your year in running? Did you get to do any live races? Did you jump on the virtual bandwagon?
And Now It’s Time for the Runners’ Roundup!
Weekly Linkups
My weekly linkups! Please stop by and check out all of the great recipes, workouts, and information that all these awesome bloggers share every week!
Meatless Monday with Sarah and Deborah
Inspire Me Monday with Janet
Tuesday Topics with Kim and Zenaida
The Runners’ Roundup with Deborah, Lisa, Jenn, Laura, and Me!
The Weekly Run Down with Deborah and Kim
“Running is an old friend” – well said. Well done on all the virtual races. I know what you mean – they are not the same as the live event but at least they keep us going.
I’m sorry about the Mesa Marathon being postponed. Hopefully, it will happen later in 2021. A 40th marathon must be run as a live race!
I can’t see myself running a full marathon virtually no matter what. When I was young I’d run up to 25 in training, but now? I don’t think so!
Virtual races definitely aren’t the same, but I kind of liked how convenient they were. I thought of it as a way to challenge myself rather than just running every day. You had a lot of accomplishment this year even though most live races were canceled!
I was kind of surprised when I started making the list. Wow, I did quite a few half marathons!
Like you, I used to snub virtual races as well. In 2020, though they became a vital means of persistence and true tests of strength (physically and, especially, mentally). That’s a bummer about the Mesa Marathon…
Virtual races, especially long runs or shorter runs if you’re pushing hard, are definitely a mental challenge. Yeah, I’m sad about Mesa, though I had a feeling it was going to happen.
This year taught us a lot about running and endurance and why we do the crazy things we do. We ran for running’s sake and not for races. It is fun to look back on the year even if it did not go as planned
We really had to be creative this year and that’s a good thing. Not that I want to do it again!
I agree that even with virtual races, it was just running. I did quite a few though not by choice…these races were concelled.
I was lucky to run a few in-person… those were the highlights of my year.
But I am thrilled to hit 1000 miles for the year!!
Congratulations! That’s a great landmark!
My one live race was deferred — I’d signed up because of their generous deferral policy (thinking about my Dad, probably) — little did I know how handy that would be!
I did a few virtuals. I do like a challenge here & there, but mostly the bling doesn’t motivate me. Although a new tee sometimes does. 🙂
Good luck whenever you do run that 40th marathon — that is quite the accomplishment.
I hope I’ll get a chance for #40 this coming year. I keep thinking it will be my last (nice round number, you know?) but who really knows.
I’m always amazed when people run PRs in virtual races. There’s no way I could push myself like that without other people and competition. Not that I’m running any PRs these days, but you know what I mean. 🙂
In truth, I can’t be mad about the amount of running I did this year. Especially when you consider where I started from.
Having live races canceled for me meant that I didn’t rush my comeback. I probably would have talked myself into doing something I shouldn’t, and ended up reinjured. I know myself enough to know that LOL!
I found the distance challenges helpful this year. A little bigger than the regular virtuals, with a bit larger of a goal.
You’re right, it was a perfect way to slowly recover. Hooray, 2020!
Even with the virtual races, you made the best of a tough year! I did not do any races, but that allowed me to build up a very solid base at the start of the year (before I had Covid) and then focus on recovering from Covid without rushing for a race. I don’t even have any races on my calendar until fall 2021 (deferred from 2020).
I have kind of felt that most of my year was actually a big base building period. Even my virtual races were essentially just long runs. Right now my first race is in early June. I hope things will be somewhat normal, running-wise, by then.
I wasn’t into the virtual racing when it first started either. I’m like you- for me the excitement of racing is the atmosphere and the people and the after party. I held off on virtual events for a while but then I decided to try a few because I wanted the races to come back and I realized it was a form of supporting the smaller race companies. 🙂
I’m glad some race companies get a little benefit from virtual races. That makes them worthwhile. I hope they can survive into 2021.