(I was going to do a top 10. 11 fits my OCD better.)
1. Sunday, October 9 - Portland Half Marathon. To date, this was the best race of my life. I wish I could run with all of these people every day.
i love these people. love.
2. Sunday, April 16 - Oshkosh Half Marathon. My very first half marathon. The weather was horrible, but I DID IT. I ran a half marathon. I had the biggest grin of all time on my face after.
can you hear the "squeeee!"?
3. Wednesday, October 12 - #sqlrun – Seattle, WA. I was in Seattle for a SQL conference. I wanted to run with Steve. Then Grant mentioned he wanted to run with us. Why not ask Brian, and Doug, and Bill, and Allen to run, too? I organized a group run, expecting about 15 people. Over 40 showed up. We ran about 2-1/2 miles through downtown and along the waterfront. That was fun. I met people I never would have, otherwise. People thanked me for organizing it. I’ll be organizing this again next year.
just a few geeks, out for a run
4. Saturday, October 29. This was a six mile run on a gorgeous autumn day. I ran west of town, out in farm land. There was an apple tree every quarter mile or so, bursting with ripe red apples, and I kept wanting to stop, climb the tree, and eat one. Autumn days are my favorite.
5. Saturday, June 18. I ran 10 miles, my longest run since my half marathon. It was a perfect morning – sunny and 55º, with a light breeze. I ran south of town, along the lake. It’s a route I don’t run often, so it felt fresh and new. All I could think, at the end, was, “I feel ALIVE.”
6. Saturday, September 3 – birthday run! It was gray, cold, and misting rain, but it was beautiful. I ran out to my favorite point along the lake and back. I passed the library and its lions, the fallout shelter, my first apartment, and other favorite Places in Oshkosh. There is no place in the world like this point.
i love this Place
7. Sunday, March 27 – #sqlrun – Addison, IL. I was in town for a SQL Saturday. I was training for my half marathon. I made a run date with Brian, Allen and Mike. For 9 miles, we talked and talked and talked. I got running advice from Allen, who’s run over 50 marathons. I talked about crazy races I want to run with Mike. And Brian had blue Gatorade waiting for me at the end. Afterwards, we had a bacon-loaded breakfast before scattering our separate ways. They are a great group of guys that I want to run with far more often than I get the chance to.
8. Saturday, March 12 – Shamrock Shuffle 5K. I set a smashing new PR with 28:50 – the half marathon training was paying off. I told Jeremy and Lesley I would try to keep up with them. They left me in the dust after the first mile, but I stayed strong. I’m still trying to beat this time.
the Jaycee crew.
9. Saturday, June 11 – #sqlrun – Columbus, OH. Erin and I got up early to run 2 miles before SQL Saturday. I’d wanted to go for a run with Erin for a very long time. The 20 or so minutes flew past as we talked about why we started running, and why we were still doing it. I’d like to think we worked off the beers and cheese we’d enjoyed the night before, too.
10. Sunday, June 12 – #sqlrun – Columbus, OH. Before parting ways, I wanted to run with Brian and Allen. We went out to a park and ran 4 miles. It was beautiful. We talked running, and SQL, and friendships, and beer. I may be shorter than both of them by a foot, but I try to keep up with their pace! I remember flying the last half mile with Allen at a 9:00 pace. That was fun.
11. Saturday, February 26 – A brutal 8-mile run in below-zero temperatures. What was I thinking? I learned a lot from this run. Mostly, don’t run when temperatures are in single digits, and when you do, water not close to your body will freeze. It will take hours for you to warm up after.
It was an epic year. I can’t wait to see what I do in the future.
That was a great recap of your your year…and so many #SQLruns there! I learned that chewies aren’t chewable in subzero weather.
WOOHOO! We love you too! That #SQLRun was one of the highlights of my year.