The San Diego 50 Mile
I started the year off with a bang and ran the San Diego 50 Mile. This was my second 50-miler and the first for my partner in crime, Vanessa. It was a tough race, but it was a great way to start off 2016!
The Los Angeles Marathon
This was a dream race come true for me! I have always wanted to run the LA Marathon but since it's always around my twin girls' birthday, I figured I'd have to wait until they were a little older to either want to come with me or not care. But when the 2016 Olympic Marathon Trials were set to run in LA, the marathon was moved to the same weekend: a month earlier on February 14th! That's all it took for me. Between the Trials, the marathon, seeing so many friends and time with my girl Smitha, and seeing Bob Harper on the course, it was a race weekend I'll never forget!
The San Diego Half Marathon
This is a race I've done every year of it's existence. In fact, it's the only race I've done every year and I'm hoping I can continue the streak for as many years as possible. This "legacy" status grants such perks as additional race shirts (years 2 and 3), a half-zip (year 4) and a jacket (this year for Year 5)! Can't wait to see what we get for running Year 6!
Old West Trails 50K
This was my first year running this race. The Old West Trails 50K and 30K take place out in Borrego Springs Desert and it was quite hot and dry. It was a well-organized, fun race with a great post-race spread. It was also the first race I ran as an InkNBurn ambassador, so I was proud to represent my favorite gear. I'm so glad I had the chance to run it as they have since cancelled it.
Ragnar SoCal
This was my second year participating in the Ragnar SoCal. Just 200-ish miles from Huntington Beach to San Diego. This year our team name was Hello...where's the finish line? and we had Adele shirts made. It was pretty cute. We were one member short in our van due to a last minute drop, so I ran the miles for my leg as well as the empty leg. I ran 31 miles over the course of the 24 hours. It was tiring but still so fun! Can't wait for next year!
PCT 50 Miler
This was the second year running PCT 50 and it was so different from last year! It was quite a bit warmer and there wasn't snow on the ground this year! I also ran it with Vanessa, which was so fun! I did have some issues with dehydration and stuff towards the end of the race but overall, it was a good one. Looking forward to the three-peat in 2017!
The Strawberry Festival 5K
My family has participated in the Strawberry Festival over Memorial Day Weekend for the past 3 years. There is a 10K, a 5K, a kids' 1-mile and a kids' 1/4 mile. This year was super exciting because my son wanted to run the 5K with me. He has only done the kids 1-mile before and while this wasn't his first 5K, he hadn't run one in about 6 months. We had a blast and he did great! In fact, he then ran the kids' 1-mile with his friend. I'm so proud of the runner he's become!
Bulldog 50K
This was my first time running the Bulldog 50K in Malibu. We ran the Malibu Creek 50K last year, which has a similar course, but run in the opposite direction. I am not sure which one was more difficult! Bulldog had the heat to contend with, which wasn't as bad as it could have been, but wasn't fun either. All in all, it was a good training run and a fun time.
Noble Canyon 50K
When I ran this race for the first time in 2014, I swore I'd never do it again. It is tough, hot and just brutal. But I ran it again in 2015 with my friend Jean because it's always fun to run with her. And then this year, it fit well with our training. Don't get me wrong, it's a well-organized, fun race with friends. But it's just brutal. Each year I've been able to shave some time off my time for this course, which is always a good thing. And when you run this race 5 times, you get a vest which I'm sure I'll try for some year. I'm so close now, I might as well go for it. Sheesh.
Cuyamaca 100K
This was the big one. The one I was gunning for all year. The Cuyamaca 100K. At this point, I was having some major health issues stemming from my pregnancy with the girls. Running was painful and I was scared I wouldn't get to the start line, let alone finish. But not only did I start, but I crossed that finish line and crossed this one off the list. Woo hoo!
And that's all for 2016. After Cuyamaca, I had surgery and I've taken the rest of the year really easily. I've gotten back into yoga, I've been cross training a lot more and have learned to love running again. I've slowly built my mileage back up and I'm looking forward to getting back into training. I have some big plans for 2017, so hopefully all that pain is behind me and it's full steam ahead. Stay tuned for some goal talk next week :)
How did your 2016 shape up race-wise? What was your favorite memory?
Also check out Susie from the Suzlyfe, Lora Marie from Crazy Running Girl, Debbie from Coach Debbie Runs and Rachel from Running on Happy, whom I'm linking up with for the Coaches' Corner blog link up.
I'm also linking up with Wild Workout Wednesday Link Up with Annmarie from The Fit Foodie Mama, Jen from Pretty Little Grub, Michelle at Fruition Fitness and Nicole at Fitful Focus. Check these badass women out!