Happy Friday, friends! Welcome back to another Friday Five 2.0. This week we’re talking races — favorite races, memorable races, holiday races — whatever kind of races you’d like.
As I was perusing my 2016 race calendar it became quite clear to me that 2016 was not the year of the races for me. I only raced eight times! I ran a lot of miles, no doubt — at the time of this writing I’ve run 1,273.4 miles in 2016 and there’s still a week left. That’s nothing to scoff at. But the racing just didn’t quite happen for me. And I am 100% okay with that. 🙂
Obviously not every race can make this list, but I do remember something special from all of them. Without further ado, these are my top five races of 2016.
Top 5 Favorite Races of 2016
1. Marine Corps Marathon
The Marine Corps Marathon was, without a doubt, my absolute favorite race in 2016. The only thing I didn’t love about it was when my IT band flared up at the half. But other than that, this race was amazing. The city, the spectators, the ENERGY. It was so incredible that Julie and I are making plans to return in 2017. I seriously can’t wait.
2. Northern Ohio Half Marathon
Next up on my list of favorite races of 2016 was the Northern Ohio Half Marathon. I have a strange love for this race. It’s so chill and laid back. The atmosphere is great and I love seeing friends at this race, and making new ones. I had a tough time with my back/shoulder aching during this race but overall it was amazing. This is another repeat race I can’t wait for in 2017.
3. Rock Hall Half Marathon
The Rock Hall Half Marathon is hands down one of the best races in Cleveland. The 2017 date was just announced — August 20, 2017 — so if you’re in CLE and want to run a great course and mingle with some awesome people, this is the race for you. And if you’re not in CLE, come check it out and see what our great city has to offer!
4. Hoosier Half
Despite being completely chilled to the bone due to 30˚F temperatures and 28 mph wind gusts, the Hoosier Half was spectacular. There was plenty of sunshine, I got to run the streets of B-town (Hoo-Hoo-Hoo-HOOOOOOSIERS!!!!), and I ran with my friend I hadn’t seen in a long time. I’m hoping to make this race happen again in 2017 because it was amazing — hills, weather, and all!
5. Kiss Me I’m Irish 10K
I ran the Kiss Me I’m Irish 10K in March 2016 and it’s one of my favorite races because, are you ready for this…? It was my first 10K race. Ever. And I got to coach several of my runners through it, which was amazing. I loved cheering them in at the finish line. I’m looking forward to this race in a few short months — fingers crossed we get lucky with the weather again!
Honorable Mention
Cleveland Half Marathon
The 2016 Cleveland Marathon/Half Marathon was dubbed the “Most Cleveland Race Ever.” And for good reason. Rain, sleet, snowballs — even thunder snow and waterspouts on Lake Erie! This race will go down in history for a lot of people, including me. I was freakishly cold. I couldn’t get warm for the life of me. And when I finally finished, I couldn’t stand still to wait for my husband. I trudged all the way to his car in the parking garage, promptly stripped off all my clothes, and sat with a towel wrapped around me with the heat blasting (thank you Orange Mud transition wrap!). It was insane. And my friend Sara got frostbite from spectating!
Definitely the most Cleveland race. Ever.
Looking back on my 2016 races, this year was about quality over quantity. I definitely had some great racing moments. No major PRs (though my marathon was technically a PR even if it wasn’t the PR I was gunning for. Oh and the 10K is an automatic PR!) but lots of memorable runs and races. I had a good year of running and I’m thankful for it.
I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday weekend with friends and family. For those of you that celebrate Chanukah, Happy Chanukah! For those that celebrate Christmas, Merry Christmas. And for those of you that celebrate both, like me, Happy Christmukah!
xo
TALK TO ME!
How many races did you run this year?
Do you prefer racing a lot or only a few times?
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29 Comments
Looks like you had some great races this year! My husband is signed up for the Cleveland marathon in 2017. I’ll either do the half or just be spectating. I’m hoping the weather isn’t like last year! I ran the 10k there in 2012 and it was like 90 degrees that year!
Awesome! We should try to meet up!
Since the weather was frigid last year, it will likely be very hot this year. It seems to switch every other year. In 2014 it was cold. 2015 it was hot. 2016 cold again… 🙂
1k+ miles is definitely nothing to sneeze at & I can’t believe you’d never run a 10k before! I don’t do it much because they’re not plentiful around here, but I did run one before my first half & remember thinking: seriously? You want to run TWICE that long? LOL!
I don’t know how many races I ran — I think 14. So not much more than you. There were a few more I wanted to run, but not much. Almost half of them run in the last 6 weeks — I hate racing in the heat.
Ha! I’m kind of glad I hadn’t run a 10K before a half, otherwise I would have had those same thoughts!
I’m total opposite, I don’t mind the heat at all. The winter makes me want to stay indoors and warm in my bed. 🙂
I had already signed up for my first half — the 10k was basically a tune up race (not that I even knew what that was then).
That first step out the door is tough when it’s cold, but I really just don’t do well in heat.
What a great year-1,273.4 miles in a year is so impressive 🙂 🙂 I’m finding the more I get into triathlon the less I want to race because training takes over, so I’m in the quality over quantity camp with ya. Have a Happy Christmukah!
I feel you on the training aspect. Sometimes training is enough on its own! Happy holidays to you, Stacey! 🙂
Since my daughter is at IU, I really want to do that Hoosier half one year! I remember thinking how cold it was last year and hilly too! Thanks for the link up!
Yesssss! Maybe I’ll see you in 2017? 🙂
Lots of great races for you this year! Have a happy holiday!
Happy holidays to you! 🙂
Hahaha! I also stripped down right in the parking garage–completely nude–toweled myself off and changed. I did not give one single f–ck about who saw me. #mostclevelandraceever
SAME! So ridiculous. I’m still cold just thinking about it…
#mostclevelandraceeverisright
I love to race. I think I ran 43. I hate speed work so I guess that’s what most serve (except for the 7 halfs.)
43 races?! Amazing!! I can’t imagine running so many races in one year. Nice job, lady!
That looks like a great year to me! I am originally from Indy so I need to look at that Hoosier half! I don’t count until the year is finally over- more to come! Merry Christmas!
Have you done Indy Monumental? That’s on my list for one of these years. My husband’s family is in Indy!
The Hoosier Half is amazing. Super hilly, but I loved it. Happy holidays!
Sounds like you had a pretty good year ! I ran 6 races this year, including my first and second marathon. I go through a love / hate relationship with racing. One year I will sign up for all the race and one year will be more laid back 2016 was pretty average, but its because I spent so much time training.
Wishing you a great holiday !
Your first and second marathon in one year is pretty amazing! Nice job. Happy holidays!
I ran 19 races this year which is at least 10 less than last year! I had a few DNSs and some get cancelled for weather. I have one more on 12/31 but it’s more of a fun run. I think I’ll get to ~2400 miles by 12/31, too! My racing was not fast (for me) this year but it was memorable. And that’s what counts! Here’s to a great 2017 in running (and life!)
2400 miles! Nice work, Erica!! What a wonderful 2016 you had!
Happy Christmakuh!!! 🙂 You look happy in all your race photos. I didn’t race much but my favorite was way back in January. It was quite an interesting race. It was a 1.4 mile loop and you had 20 min to do the first loop. Then after 20 min you can start the second loop but you have to be done in 19 min… third loop in 18… and so on. You can start the loops early. It was really fun!
That sounds so challenging! How many loops did you end up completing? What a fun idea for a race!
I forget! 8 or 9 of think.
Lots of great races…and it looks like most of them are worthy of repeating 😉 I tend to run a lot of the same races, year after year. True, I run them because I like the events, but there are not too many options for variety. I’m hoping to run more “out of state” races in 2017, or at the very least, run more new-to-me races.
I know I’m in the minority but I rather enjoy repeating races. I like knowing what to expect, I like knowing the course, and I especially like seeing familiar faces. 🙂
[…] I would have liked, but I also needed a break from racing in 2016. On Friday, I recapped some of my favorite races, but I left a couple things out. I needed a break because I wanted to focus on having an amazing […]
What a great year of races. The Marine Corps Marathon really stood out for you.
I “only” ran a handful of races this year, but this was also my first official year of races, so we’ll see how 2017 goes.
I think I will never be someone who runs races every month (it’s expensive, damn it), but I like to keep some races spread out throughout the year 🙂
SO expensive! I’m with you. I like to spread them out throughout the year. One race a month is a lot!