Year in Running 2015
Wasn’t I just writing my 2014 Year in Running review? 2015 has been a wonderful whirlwind of a year. I’m linking up with Courtney over at Eat Pray Run DC for this year’s Year in Running 2015 review! You can join her link-up by going over to her blog and grabbing her button.
Best Race Experience
The Portland Marathon, despite the fact that my stomach rebelled against me and I missed my goal of running a BQ marathon. I am still so proud of this race. A 3:49:32 is not too bad for a first marathon, Portland is a beautiful city and the race is a fantastic experience, and I overcame doubts and the desire to quit mid-race to find a stronger me at the finish line. Plus, the post-race beer that Ryan and I enjoyed at Deschutes Brewery was rather amazing.
Best Run
Can I narrow it down to just one? Ever since we moved to the Eastside of Seattle, I’ve had so many incredible runs. The trails around here are beautiful and I feel so at peace and in touch with nature.
The best run I’ve had recently was running with Ryan on Thanksgiving Day. It was the first time we got to run together since we moved to Washington, and I had missed those runs so much!
Best New Piece of Running Gear
That’s a tie between my SPIBelt, which holds my phone so I don’t have to carry it and slowly kill it in the Seattle sunshine (rain), and my Brooks Pure Connect 4 shoes. Ryan gave me both of these as 26th birthday gifts, which makes them even more special. I am currently in the process of hoarding Pure Connects 4s since I learned that Brooks is discontinuing them. I have big feet (women’s size 10!), so I prefer a lighter shoe, and the Pure Connects deliver that with the right amount of support and spring for speed.
Best Piece of Running Advice I Received
It is better to undertrain than to overtrain. I believe I heard this in my RRCA Coaching Seminar, and I’ve read it in several books/articles since. Don’t leave your race in your training, and when it doubt, go easy on your body.
Most Inspirational Runner
There’s a woman who I see several times a week on my trail. She’s probably in her 70s, and she runs at an easy pace with a smile on her face each day. I don’t know her name, but she inspires me to train now in such a way that will allow me to still be running decades from now.
Favorite Running Picture from the Year
Ryan took this picture at mile 26 of the Portland Marathon. At first, I didn’t share the photo because my stomach looked pouchy and soft, but running 26.2 miles with an angry stomach will do that to you. I think I’m both smiling because of a tremedous sense of accomplishment and because everything hurt and seeing Ryan made me feel better.
Race Experience You Would Repeat in a Heartbeat
However, I honestly would not repeat any race, because each race is its own journey, its own little victory. I wish to live in the present, not the past, and take each race as its own wonderful experience with its own ups and downs.
I wouldn’t mind running the Portland Marathon again some year, but I’ll skip the stomach pains next time.
If I Could Sum Up My Year of Running in a Couple of Words, What Would They Be?
Gracious: running is an incredible gift. I love how blogging and the connected medium of blogging about running has brought me together with so many amazing people. I am so grateful for my readers, for the kind comments and emails I receive, and for how running grows me as a person each and every day.
[Tweet “Year in Running 2015: the year of my first marathon via @thisrunrecipes #runchat #fitfluential #sweatpink”]
I would love to hear your responses to some of these questions in the comments! Tell me about your year of running.
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29 Responses
Love this! It sounds like you had an awesome year!
Thank you, Kristen! 🙂
I always enjoy year in running posts. There’s just something about it 🙂
Thank you, Jill! There is something so fun and satisfying about reviewing accomplishments from the year 🙂
You had a great year and accomplished so much! I’ve loved following your running journey this year and can’t wait to see what 2016 brings for you!
Thank you so much, Lisa! 🙂
I love this post! I have been considering the PureConnect too. It is on sale at Running Warehouse right now and you can get extra % off with discount codes (from runblogger). So I may pull the trigger and buy them soon. I remember your Portland recap and race and agree it was a great day, you had a really awesome marathon time!
Glad you had a wonderful 2015 of running. I love reading about your training because we train so similarly (Hansons style). Best wishes in 2016!
Ooohh, I should look at those discounts! You should try them – I really like them for longer distances where I still want a bit of speed, and they worked great for my marathon. Plus, they’re great for rainy weather, since they are so light and don’t hold a lot of water. And thank you so much! Best wishes to you too! 🙂
Congrats on your first marathon! I ran my first this year too and finished in nearly the same time! Definitely something to be proud of 🙂
Thank you! Congrats on your first marathon as well – that’s so funny that we ran nearly the same time!
I am always so grateful for every mile that I run. When people were like, oh, these injuries will make you more thankful and less likely to take things for granted! I was like WHAT! Running, and movement, truly is such a gift, and I am so glad that we are able to share it with others!
They really are such a gift, and being able to spread the appreciation and love of running is such a gift also!
It looks like you had a great year! I can’t wait to follow along next year 🙂
Thank you so much, Sam! 🙂
Such an amazing year you had, Laura! You ran your first marathon! Amazing! I love that picture of you at mile 26. You are strong and got through tough stomach issues and ran a great time! I had fun looking back at my year of running too. When you put it all together, its really something to be proud of. I look forward to continuing to follow your journey in 2016!
Thank you so much, Angie! That truly means so much to me! I love reading your year in review also! 🙂
The 70 year old woman on your trail sounds SO inspiring! That is what running is really all about. 🙂 Love the word gracious, too. It’s easy to forget that running is a gift and not something to take for granted.
It really is! Running should be a lifelong sport, and that to me really ties closely to be gracious about it 🙂
MapMyRun sent me my running year in review yesterday which was weird since December isn’t finished yet so how can they total up my miles? Lol. I hate when a shoe is changed/discontinued. My current model of Adidas Enery Boosts are considered “endangered” so I just ordered two new pairs. So far over the past few years of their model changes I have been find and adapt well but I always get nervous!
MapMyRun is a bit ahead of themselves haha! I always get nervous too when shoes even get minor changes – I used to run in a Merrell minimalist shoe until they changed them for a new model, but at least then I found my Brooks!
Gracious. YES. My favourite word! Okay and the spi belt holds your phone? Steady? I need to know this!! I have an iPhone 6 and it’s so huge! How do you keep your phone protected when it’s raining? I put mine in a ziploc bag. Also, I love love love that photo of you at the end of the race.
I’m SUPER sensitive about things moving/touching me when I run – I could never stand to have my phone in even the back pocket of my shorts or with arm holder – and I barely notice my SPIbelt. My iphone 5s (which is pretty big) stays in place most of the time, and if it ever moves/bobs around it’s because I was lazy and didn’t adjust the belt. My Spibelt actually has a ziploc type holder within it (they make some without it) to protect my phone from rain, which is so convenient. And it doesn’t bother me because it sits low on the hips, rather than touching my stomach. You should definitely try one!
And thank you so much, Suzy! 🙂
Okay, I totally will. It’s time. You should get a commission!
Great review! I only found you about halfway through, but I have enjoyed following the 2nd half of your incredible year! You have such a positive attitude, you’re a great writer and I always enjoy your posts. I really look forward to following you next year and seeing what incredible things 2016 has in store!
Aww, thank you, Hanna! That means so much to me!
love this so much! you rocked your first marathon – way to go and i LOVE that picture of you near the finish!
Thank you so much, Courtney – and thank you for hosting! I love this link up and I’m so glad you continued the tradition!
Congrats on an awesome year Laura. You had an amazing 2015 and lots to be proud of. Can’t wait to see what 2016 has in store for you! xoxo
Thank you so much, Jesica! I can’t wait to see what 2016 has in store for you as well! xo