Happy Holiday! Just a few more days till we ring in 2018!!
I will end the year with 156 races (10 in 2017). I didn’t race as much as I would have liked to but I am happy with the races I did. I had a goal to run at least 1,000 miles but sadly I did not meet this goal. Will try again next year.
So now let’s talk about my 5 best races this year in no specific order.
1. Great Alaskan Half Marathon. In July I went on The Great Alaskan Running Cruise and ran 4 races but the half marathon was my favorite. Running in Alaska was state #38 for me in my goal to run a half marathon in each state. It was a small race and the view was spectacular! It was on this cruise that I finally met Elizabeth.
2. Elmhurst Running Club 4 on the 4th. I’ve been running this race since 2013 and absolutely love it! It is cheap, not too far from home, plenty of parking, and the only 4 miler race I do. This year I met up with a few Oiselle girls. July 4th is extra special for me because it was on this day in 1978 that my family and I came to this country from Mexico. Double the celebration!
3. Run Mag Mile 10K. This race was lots of fun! I enjoyed running along Michigan Avenue and eating some delicious food after the race. The hoodie and medal were cool too. Oh, and I love that we got FREE race photos.
4. Utah Valley Half Marathon. Utah was state #37 for me. I met up with a few bloggers (Marcia, Judy, Teresa, Holly, and Mary Beth) and had a great time with them. The course was downhill and beautiful but I was sore for days. We had great weather and while it was sunny, I never got too hot because the course through the canyon was shaded.
5. Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle. This is another one I do every year. This race was my first one this year. My goal was to finish it in under an hour and finish time was 56:26. I knew I wasn’t going to PR because I’d been running here and there due to various injuries in the beginning of the year. I already signed up to run it again next year! I love the course and the medal is a plus!
What was your favorite race this year?
I’m linking up with Running on Happy and Fairytales and Fitness for Friday 2.0.
How cool you went on a Running Cruise. I never heard of one. You now have me intrigued about one.
Do it! Definitely a great one to go on filled with many adventures and a great time.
We came close to doing that cruise a few years ago!
I love a good hoodie from a race & you can’t beat free photos.
I’m not sure what my favorite race was this year!
It is an awesome cruise! Definitely consider it again.
Some day. Although I haven’t made up my mind if I want to do the cruise or do a half & explore there — we’ve done a regular cruise to Alaska.
Either option will be fun! By the way, totally unrelated to this post, I have tried leaving comments in your posts but mine do not post. Can you check the spam folder?
I will! Things do get dumped in there for certain people — don’t know why — sorry!
Oh, no problem. Just wanted you to know.
The dame thing happened to me and I had to check my spam folder too.
I remember reading about your Alaskan running cruise and it looked like a blast and such a fun way to see Alaska. Hope to make it there one of these days!
Hope you do! It is beautiful and fun in Alaska.
I loved reading all about your time in Alaska – what a cool experience!
Thanks!
I did 3 races, and they were all fun. I might say Vegas stands out a little bit since I did it pain free!
I understand about Las Vegas. That is a great race!
I can’t name one favorite race this year…I think every race was significant in one way or another. The five races I was able to do this fall, though, were pretty stellar in that they symbolized my return to running after my summer sabbatical
Oh absolutely!
Oh! I’m going to do the Shamrock Shuffle in March. I took advantage of the $39 special they had one day. I don’t remember the last time I paid $39 for a race in Chicago! Will you be there?
Yes, me too! I think I signed up when I saw your Facebook post.
I think I have to pick the NYC Half as my favorite, although it is a tough call. Still jeaous of your cruise!
I almost put my name in the lottery but backed out when I saw the cost of it. Now I think I regret not doing it. Maybe next year!
The Alaskan Half Marathon sounds wonderful! My favorite race this year was a toss between Earth Day 50k and Ice Age 50 mile.
50ks huh? Wait, I just realized that one is 50 miles. Wow! Impressive! I’ve done a 50k and that was tough and cannot imagine 50 miles.
That cruise sounds amazing! You had a great year of running and racing. Happy New Year!
Such great races! I would love to run in Alaska…definitely a bucket list destination! Congrats!
Thanks! Definitely go to Alaska!
You had some really cool races this year and I’m so glad that I got to meet you in Utah!! Hopefully we can meet up again in 2018 …Happy New Year!!
The Alaska running cruise sounds like such an amazing experience! And I love free race photos
My favorite race this year was probably the Avengers Half Marathon at Disneyland.
That is one race I would love to do! But that’s in CA, no? And aren’t those the races that were cancelled this year?
Yeah, sadly they cancelled these races
Hopefully they bring them back after the constructions is done.